grieving, grief, twisted, mental-health-issues, depression, panic-attacks, PTSD, sisters, murders, disguises, serial-killer, obsession, abandoned, abandonment-issues, LGBTQIA, debut-novel, thriller, abuse, triggers, dark-humor, revenge, NYC****

Cyra isn't buying what the police are selling about the murder of her only sibling/relative. The police believe it was the work of a serial killer, so Cyra does whatever it takes to enter into a social group for serial killers. Say what? I really had to suspend disbelief before I could get into this strange story, but it was worth it.
I requested and received a temporary review copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thanks
Avail Mar 18, 2025

**Book Review: *Serial Killer Support Group***

*Serial Killer Support Group* is a razor-sharp, gripping thriller that fearlessly plunges readers into the shadowy depths of vengeance, grief, and morality. With its biting wit and unflinching exploration of human darkness, this queer feminist debut establishes itself as a standout in the crowded thriller genre. Fans of *The Final Girl Support Group* and *My Sister, the Serial Killer* will find plenty to savor here, but this novel stands firmly on its own as a daring and inventive take on the trope of vengeance-driven heroines.

Cyra Griffin is an unforgettable protagonist—brash, determined, and deeply flawed. Her journey begins with a singular mission: to avenge her younger sister’s brutal murder. But as Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers, pretending to be one of them, her quest for justice becomes a labyrinthine descent into moral ambiguity. The novel skillfully blurs the line between hunter and hunted, forcing readers to grapple with Cyra’s choices and the emotional toll of her obsession.

The support group itself is a chillingly compelling concept. Each member is a unique and horrifying character study, their dynamics laced with tension, paranoia, and dark humor. Watching Cyra navigate this volatile circle while concealing her true intentions is both nerve-wracking and fascinating. The psychological stakes are as high as the physical ones, and the novel doesn’t shy away from exploring the toll of living a double life amid monsters.

What sets *Serial Killer Support Group* apart is its feminist edge and sharp social commentary. It’s a story about revenge, yes, but also about the systems that fail women and the lengths some will go to when denied justice. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers; instead, it leans into the complexities of rage, grief, and what it means to reclaim power in a world that seeks to strip it away.

The prose is as dark and cutting as the subject matter, with moments of bleak humor that provide a sharp counterbalance to the tension. The pacing is relentless, driving readers forward as the mystery unfolds and Cyra’s world unravels. The twists are as satisfying as they are shocking, building to a conclusion that lingers long after the final page.

*Serial Killer Support Group* is not just a thriller—it’s a bold, unflinching exploration of vengeance, justice, and the monsters we all carry within us. This debut is a must-read for anyone who enjoys dark, thought-provoking fiction that doesn’t pull its punches.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read Serial Killer Support Group. This darkly humorous and surprisingly thought-provoking novel takes an unconventional premise and turns it into a story that’s equal parts chilling and clever. Following a group of individuals with a shared—and sinister—past, the book dives into questions of morality, redemption, and the human condition, all wrapped in a fast-paced and entertaining narrative.

The characters are uniquely flawed yet fascinating, and their dynamic keeps the story engaging. The blend of dark humor and suspense is skillfully balanced, making it both unsettling and oddly relatable at times. The plot twists are unexpected and keep you guessing, while the sharp dialogue and unique premise make the book hard to put down.

While the tone might not work for everyone—particularly those who prefer their thrillers less irreverent—the book’s originality is undeniable. Serial Killer Support Group is a quirky, gripping read that’s perfect for fans of dark humor and unconventional storytelling. If you’re up for something a little offbeat and entirely compelling, this one’s worth checking out.

Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect but this book was it. I feel like I was captivated by this story from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. I’m sad I waited so long to read this book, but I’m so happy I finally did!

This book was good in theory but the execution at times was poor. Each of the characters were so terrible it made it hard to love this book. It also was not a fast read as I kept getting bored and putting it down. I am appreciative of the arc tho

Really interesting premise a bit far fetched but still… I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those books where all the characters are un-relatable but I enjoyed the twisted point of views. Keen to hear other people’s reviews!

The title is appropriate for the novel- it’s a Serial Killer Support Group. Cyra’s younger sister is murdered and to find the killer, she decides to pretend to be a killer and join a support group for serial killers hoping to find out just who killed her sister. I was hoping for more of a connection to the characters, but it didn’t happen for me. It wasn’t a bad novel, but didn’t live up to my expectations. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

These people are really stupid.

By this, I mean all of them. Our MC. Her dead sister. Her friends. The serial killers (who all would be picked up so fast their heads would spin). All of them.

The support group concept is never, ever explained in a way that makes any logical sense. And why on earth would she assume that her sister’s killer would even be among this group? I mean, I got the little clue she was given, but still. Made no sense.

The *who* of everything was not a surprise. I just sighed a little and muttered, “of course” and then moved on.

I will say that this is an entertaining beach read, but you really, really need to turn off any bit of logic and intellect and just go along for the ride.

• ARC via Publisher

This book has everything going for it. The cover is simple, but eye catching. Booktok will go wild for it. The title will entice any fan of serial killer lore.

I really enjoyed reading the book. I found myself engrossed in Cyra's life after her sister's murder. She does some crazy things to find out who killed her sister. I think the idea of the book is very unique and I think it all panned out nicely.

I would definitely read more in the future by the author. They are doing something different and I'm here for it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read Serial Killer Support Group. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly!

I really enjoyed this book! There were so many plot twists that kept me on my toes. Just when you think everything has been revealed, another twist occurs!

I wanted something a bit more suspenseful, and this was not it. I just couldn't connect with the characters and was disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer.

Be careful who you spend time with...

Cyra is searching for her sister’s killer and she ends up in a serial killer support group after learning her sister may have been killed by one. She learns a little about the serial killers and a LOT about herself.

Fascinating concept, fast-paced read. I enjoyed seeing the brief glimpses into each serial killer’s background without having to get into heavy details. Left me guessing to the very end!

3.5/5

After her sister Mira is murdered, Cyra receives information that it might be a serial killer's work. She then infiltrates a serial killer support group to find out her sister's killer.

So, first things first, I did not like Mira at all and could not care less as to why she was murdered or who murdered her. But I really enjoyed following Cyra's journey.

There were some twists I expected and some that threw me off - but I can't say more without spoiling the whole book.

If you are looking for a thriller that is easy to read and can be consumed in a day, definitely give this one a go!

Thank you very much to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the ARC.

I don’t know how one writes about serial killers but they are not particularly interesting characters. We get minimal deep dives into them, but get too much focus on the h and her trauma. Great great start that wrapped up to something messy. For me an unbalanced story overall.

Thank you S. Schaefer and Crooked Lane Books for the, Serial Killer Support Group ARC. My opinions are my own.

| Thank you @crookedlanebooks @saratogaishere for the free early review copy! |

📕(𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥):
𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 • 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 • 𝙪𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 • 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 • 𝙇𝙂𝘽𝙏𝙌𝙄𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙥 • 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩 • 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 • 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 • 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 • 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧 • 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 • 𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 •

🍩:
𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐’𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱. —>

💭:
This book ya’ll..! I never say “ya’ll” but this book has me feeling some kind of way, so it just felt right. 🧐

A support group for serial killers? Sign me up! From the title alone I just knew I had to read it!

When I say this book was bingeable, it truly was! I had to know what the FMC Cyra ends up discovering through her intrepid actions.

I found the pacing to be on point, the premise and plot unique and interesting.

We get a lot of story with some character background that made this book that much more enjoyable!

🔪:
𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘝𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱.
𝘐𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺) 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴.

🫤:
Nothing I disliked! It was a fun and engaging read!

📝:
𝘾𝙮𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚? 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩!

Thank you Netgalley and crooked lane books for the wonderful ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Serial killer support group was really a fun read. I enjoyed it. There are still parts of the book that are far fetched and somehow I was able to figure out who killed Myra and yet I was intrigued in what's happening next throughout the book.
Like Cyra being able to infiltrate the group which even FBI has not managed to and then all these killers did not feel sharp given how things escalated out of control so fast but still it was fun to read about what was going on with Cyra and other killers.

I think one thing is they all were given a humane side which I feel made them not so scary but I personally feel that to make them seem humane is not a good angle.

Anyways I will definitely recommend to people who enjoy some fast pace mystery.

Star rating : 3.5 stars

Serial killer Support Group is a book that follows Cyra the main character after finding out that her sister was murdered she gets upset that the cops aren’t being faster or more helpful so she decides to try and find her sisters killer on her own ending up at a support group for serial killers where she is convinced she will find her sisters murderer.

This book is probably one of the best Murder Mystery/ Thriller books I’ve ever read, I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Normally I am very quick at figuring out who the killer is in these kind of books so I was caught by complete surprise by the ending.

Saratoga Schaefer , although this is the first book I’ve read of hers has quickly flown to the top of my favorite authors list .

If you like mysteries and thrillers you have got to read this book I promise you won’t regret it.

Thank you Netgalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and crooked lane books for the arc

This book is a wild ride. Going deep underground into a serial killers support group (NOT a group for victims, but one for the killers themselves). This book is as dark and twisted as you could imagine!

This definitely fits in the “feminine rage” category if you’re currently on that kick. Along those lines, if you liked “They’ll Never Learn” or “Final Girl Support Group,” I think you would like this!

Cyra is a main character that you love to hate to love but still do a little 😂 I found her transformation from a grief and anxiety-riddled character to Mistletoe, the tough and unfeeling serial killer persona she puts on to be fascinating and really well written.

There’s some great twists and turns, especially as Cyra investigates her sister’s killer..

In all, this was a good, fast, action packed book and a great debut novel!

Searching for the serial killer that killed her sister, Cyra might find out more than she thought.
Especially about herself.
It’s thrilling, being a part of the investigation, uncovering clues, putting the pieces together before the MC does.
The plot was well-paced, kept its claws in me. Between the hunt for the right serial killer, the uncovering of Cyra’s past, the meetings, there really wasn’t a dull moment throughout.
The ending was perfect. Nail-biting tension, plot twists on plot twists, and a quite kismet resolution.
I really enjoyed Serial Killer Support Group, it’s take on a common trope, it’s fully fleshed-out characters, the engaging writing style. I will most certainly be on the lookout for more by this author.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. my god, how boring. the story is literally the title the entire time.