serial killer support group's biggest strength for me is its unique premise. can't say for sure that it's never been done before but it was my first time reading something like it. as anyone can guess from the title alone, the main character gets into this support group setting, but only for serial killers!

i don't usually guess who's done what in mystery thrillers unless i'm really engaged and it's like super obvious to me. but this time, i couldn't guess because i couldn't tell the rest of the support group characters apart enough to care about them. every single person in this was horrible but it was interesting to see cyra's development.

thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy!

I loved this book!

A neat concept - a serial killer support group. Even though everyone in the group were killers I did appreciate and like all of their characters.

Some predictable twists, and some that I didn’t see coming!

I do however hate the relationship of the sisters, and the actions of the younger sister, but without it there would be no novel.

Pros: cool idea that was well executed, action packed, girl power!, and I love a female killer

Cons: the sisters relationship and the younger sisters behavior

A/4.5 ⭐️

Release: Mar 17, 2025
Publisher: Crooked Lane books

 
 
Rating:  3.75/5 ★ 
 
 
Serial Killers Support Group is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking thriller that offers a unique twist on the typical crime narrative. The story revolves around a group of individuals who meet in a support group setting, each grappling with their own dark pasts related to serial crimes. This unconventional premise allows Saratoga Schaefer to explore themes of morality, trauma, and the complexities of human behavior in a fresh way. 
Schaefer’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a clever blend of suspense and wit that keeps the reader invested. The characters are richly developed, each bringing their own backstory and perspective to the group dynamic. This creates a fascinating interplay between their shared experiences and individual struggles, making for a compelling character study. 
The pacing is well-structured, balancing moments of tension with introspective dialogue. As the plot unfolds, unexpected twists and revelations add depth to the narrative, challenging readers to question their perceptions of guilt and redemption. 
Overall, Serial Killers Support Group is a standout read that combines dark humor with psychological depth. It’s perfect for those who enjoy thrillers that provoke thought while keeping them entertained. Schaefer has crafted a memorable story that lingers long after the last page, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. 
 
Favorite Quote: 
 
"Sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones we let into our lives willingly."

Serial Killer Support Group is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that delves into the depths of revenge, justice, and moral ambiguity. After Cyra Griffin’s sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra’s frustration with the stalled police investigation drives her to take matters into her own hands. Armed with insider knowledge, she infiltrates a support group for serial killers, pretending to be one of them, hoping to find her sister’s killer among them. But as Cyra gets deeper into this dark world, she finds herself balancing the pursuit of vengeance with the risk of losing her own humanity.

The story is both intense and thought-provoking, blending dark humor with a sharp exploration of women’s rage and the blurred lines between good and evil. The story’s unique premise and fast pacing held my attention from start to finish, making it difficult to put down. Serial Killer Support Group is an engaging read for those who enjoy thrillers with complex characters and morally gray themes.

The premise behind this book is so intriguing. A support group for serial killers. The book really took off at first but overall had some weird pacing issues. It felt like the beginning was happening so quickly but then nothing really happened again until almost 50% thru. I did like that there was a little bit of background on the killers.
Overall the ending seemed really obvious from the start. I wasn’t surprised about who killed Mira or the motivations and I wasn’t surprised at all about Cyra.

I likely did not connect due to repetition, it never really got off the ground for me but I loved the idea of it. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 3/18/25

This book was amazing!! I was pulled in immediately and flew through it. It is twisty and engaging. I was shocked at how much I loved the unlikable main character. I will be on the lookout to see what this author does next!

Not the darkly humorous book I thought it would be…

1.5 stars rounded up.

The book’s title, cover, and the support group rules at the beginning - and not least its description as a “biting” thriller - all had me thinking this was a deeply sarcastic and/or darkly humorous book (think “Dexter”, but in a support group setting). Well, it’s not.

The book takes itself extremely seriously, and while that still could have worked, just in a different way than I expected, its frankly ridiculous (albeit original and potentially fun) premise (that there would be such a thing as a support group for serial killers, who *of course* absolutely seem like the type to want to share their feelings, but then also - don’t, merely bicker?) and even more ridiculous, not at all tongue in cheek storyline (that a grieving, otherwise completely incapable sister who accesses the dark web from her home computer could get where the NYPD could not) were not the best starting points for an earnest - or thrilling - exploration of evil.

It doesn’t help that the descriptions of the serial killers in question are flat and the individuals (if you can even tell them apart) are, for the most part, pretty dumb (or don’t even technically belong in the group), and it’s a stretch to think most of them would have gone undiscovered for so long. But Cyra is honestly the worst character of all. She is just a horrible, deeply unlikeable person who becomes worse with every chapter, so much so that I found myself wishing one of her support group pals would just do us all a solid and end the suffering.

And finally, there is the absolutely weird “twist” at the end. I actually liked the idea, and it might have worked under any other circumstances. However, the execution was just so flawed - it was at complete odds with chapters upon chapters of previous internal dialogue (while also being predictable and honestly not at all surprising, given how horrible Cyra is being portrayed), and for that reason, made absolutely no sense. If you want to end on that note, please set it up properly - then it actually would have improved this book a bit.

I wish I could have liked this book more, but I found it neither witty nor especially thrilling, and I had a hard time getting through it after the first few somewhat promising chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Serial Killer Support Group” is slated to be released on March 18, 2025.

How is this a debut novel for this author. I do you like my share of true crime, andI am definitely not asking how to get rid of a body on a first date, maybe the second one. But this book Serial killer support group by Schaefer was not flawless but a perfect mix of keeping you on your edge, deliciously wicked and injected with dark self aware humor, all in the face of this tragedy.

First of all it had me at the title, peeking my interest and intrigue about the story. Thrown right in the middle of the mystery and as things progress many other things unfold specially by a protagonist Cyra. Yes Schaefer relies on quite a fair few stereotypes of serial killers but it also explores deeper understanding of human condition. The capacity of being bad and how far one can push it and was it always present or is it triggered.

Cyra’s slow but assured transformation is believable and how she gets more comfortable with things, or was she always, is explored rather well. An exploration of becoming the very thing you most hate and avoid, eventually is a self fulfilling prophecy. The support group that she joins after her sister’s murder, with all male participants, does rely on stereotypes of personality killers. However, it was good to see that each one was given a distinct one along with their own backstory. While this might not be a News for me, who is interested in true crime, it was interesting to see each one’s background explaining their kills, methods and motivations.

The writing is pacy and smooth with you as a reader thrown right in the middle of the aftermath of the murder of her sister and after effects on Cyra. How she joins the support group and the connections she establishes as well as the changes that happened to her and the repercussions of it all, make up the story. 80% in I kind of guessed who she would peg as the killer. However, there were a few instances and fights that were a bit difficult to believe.

what a ride this one was. A triumph as a debut and expertly written. It is sharp, at times witty and at times sarcastic. It kept me on the edge making me want to know every time what happens next so much so i abandoned others i was reading to finish this one. A must to add to your reading list for the next year for this one will keep you hooked.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane books (love that name) for eARC in exchange for an honest review

PS just for fun sake I wanna see if love letters to a serial killer Might be a good companion piece to this one.

I enjoyed this read but I think it would benefit from another round of editing, specially concerning some of the stuff that does not make totally sense to the reader. But it's nice for a debut. I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

This was a newer concept in the terms of serial killer fiction and a concept that has not been over done the way a lot of them have. In that sense this one was great.

The second layer of this book is that there are multiple points of views ad a bit of a dual timeline by the means of flashbacks. IMO the flashbacks get a little confusing if you are trying to read fast so this is not a fluff book. Cyra goes in and out of flashbacks rather quickly.

This one is hard to review without giving away spoilers but the synopsis does a good job to prepare you for the story. I especially liked the ending in the sense that it pulls a 360 and ties us back to the beginning.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was such an interesting read and I just really got sucked into the story on page one and didn’t quit until it was over. I just want more books like this one as soon as possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC of Serial Killer Support Group!
I would rate this a 3.25/5. It was an interesting and unique plot, but I would say a little underdeveloped and chaotic at times.
I am not one to try and guess the ending of mystery type books, so I was blind to that ending!! I really liked how it wrapped up.

4.5⭐️ Thank you so much Saratoga Schaefer, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the early release of Serial Killer Support Group. I loved this book! It was fast paced , kept me guessing , had a lot of unreliable but likeable characters and a crime to be solved.

A sister will stop at nothing to figure out what really happened on the morning of her sister’s murder. Dealing with grief and hitting a new rock bottom Cyra takes things into her own hands to avenge her sister Mira’s killer. Mira’s murder was similar to a local serial killer and when Cyra learns this information she will stop at nothing to make the killer pay even if that means going undercover. Cyra goes undercover as a serial killer to a dark web support group for serial killers. By infiltrating this group she knows she is closer to solving this crime more than anyone else.

This book was dark but hooks you from the very start. So many gruesome characters that were still likeable. Told from multiple points of view between each member of the support group find out just how far a sister will go to find justice for her sibling.

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer is an absolute page-turner, offering a clever twist on the thriller genre! Schaefer masterfully blends dark humor, suspense, and well-crafted character dynamics, pulling you into a world where serial killers seek ‘help’—but with a wickedly entertaining twist.

Each character brings a unique and chilling backstory, and the group therapy sessions become fascinatingly tense as secrets unravel. Schaefer does a phenomenal job balancing eerie moments with satire, creating a narrative that’s as thought-provoking as it is darkly funny.

For fans of unconventional thrillers, this book is a must-read. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down. Five stars!

Honestly a really fun concept to “get to know” several serial killers, going undercover while also being a bit twisty. I like how dark it got, could honestly be a good netflix show and yeah, would definitely recommend!

After losing her sister to a serial killer, Cyra begins to spiral. When she discovers through a friend that there is a serial killer’s support group in the city, Cyra is determined to join to find her sister’s killer and bring them to justice.

It was a fun story with unlikable characters that you liked to hate. However, I had my suspicions narrowed down to two pretty quickly (and one of those two was the murderer).

3.75⭐️ rounded up.

This dark, edgy thriller takes a unique approach as Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers to avenge her sister’s murder. With biting humor and a twisted plot, the story keeps you on edge while exploring the blurred lines between vengeance and humanity. Though the pacing occasionally lagged, the clever writing and Cyra’s journey make this a memorable debut.

I liked both the books The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer and this book completed the trilogy of final girls/murder trope. This book was so interesting and cool. it was such a unique story too!

This is really a unique thriller with a very interesting twist at the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!