A great thriller - I did have hesitations that this might be too similar to Final Girl Support Group but it more than holds its own. The main character is particularly complex and well developed. I would recommend to any thriller fans

ARC Review: Serial killer support group 🔪

Pub date : 18.3.2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

First,was super intrigued by the blurb of this book. When Cyra Griffin’s sister is murdered by a serial killer, she follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward by joining an in person serial killer support group.

Twisty like a pretzel, dark like unadulterated chocolate, and as compelling as a twisted car wreck, this thriller delivers a compelling story with strong focus on revenge! Just when I thought I figured it out, I was wrong. This turned out to exactly what it promised, a murder mystery and a mad thriller.

An entertaining and a slick story which I cannot say much about with out spoiling it. I did have to suspend disbelief a bit, but then I have to remember how absolutely terrified Cyra would have. My dear book besties, get ready for your new to be booktok murder mystery and this book is should interest large number of crime fiction fans.

Many thanks to the @crookedlanebooks and NetGalley for the arc in exchange of honest review.

Fantastic book ,couldn't put it down. Was very invested in the main character. Have recommended to all of my friends.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC to read and review.

I'm seeing a lot of glowing reviews for this book so I'm happy to know it has found an audience. Unfortunately, I'm just not one of them despite really wanting to be. The premise and cover definitely piqued my interest, but I can't say I enjoyed my time with this one.

The story gets going VERY quickly — something I would typically praise — but here, I just felt a lack of tension or believability. Cyra infiltrates the Serial Killer Support Group by chapter 4 and it was all just too easy. It required an extreme suspension of disbelief that I couldn't muster. I would have preferred to spend significantly more time with Cyra discovering the group and struggling to sneak in. I wanted her acceptance to feel *earned* and impactful.

But still, there are things to like here. It's a very quick read. Some fun reveals. Fans of Dexter should enjoy this if they aren't looking for anything too deep.

The premise sounded really unique and intriguing and it's what made me want to read this. I think I needed more from Cyra though, as it almost felt like her being "numb" was an excuse to not delve into her feelings/emotions more. I initially pegged Mira's killer to be the same person Cyra figured it out to be, pre-twist. Overall I'd recommend this if you enjoy Dexter, serial killers, etc.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!

When I saw this pop up on NetGalley, I thought the cover was cool and the description sounded really cool. And oh my god. It was so worth the read.

Because this is a mystery/thriller kind of book, this will be a very vague review because I want you to experience this without me giving anything away. But I will say this: what do you think would happen if you tried to infiltrate a serial killer support group? (And not the victims of serial killers or serial killers trying to better themselves, I mean active serial killers who have no desire to quit.)

I really enjoyed how I couldn't predict the ending (who the Big Bad was), I thought I had, but NOPE. I was wrong. It felt like the reader gets to learn and discover at the same rate as the main character.

And if you're a fan of a great and unique character arc, this is for you!

If you liked Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (or in my case, were disappointed in it), I highly recommend you read this book. Such a fun premise and so amazingly executed (pun intended).

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my review on TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

Thank you for this ARC. The dialogue at times was awkward and the story was a bit slow to begin with. Found myself skimming just to know what happened.

Serial Killer Support Group: A Thrilling Debut
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Saratoga Schaefer’s debut novel is a dark thriller with heavy focus on revenge and turning the tables once in a while. When Cyra’s sister is killed, she joins a support group for serial killers to seek justice and revenge.
The concept is actually interesting and a little original and Schaefer does a good job of ratcheting up the tension. I like the character representation and the characters are complex and interesting and the thing which adds the deep interest is that the twist is unpredictable, as far as I saw it.
Of course, the book has its fair share of the gloomy moments; however, it is an excellent analysis of people’s souls. While the book was a little dark and disturbing at some points, I can pay a special attention to the dynamics of Cyra’s transformation into the collector of serial murders.

Please read the Trigger and Content Warnings before reading this book!
Overall, Serial Killer Support Group is a fairly sound entry that should please devotees of post-modern horror and suspense thrillers, releasing on 18th March 2025.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving the opportunity to read and review this book!

This book was a quick easy read. I enjoyed the premise, something new and refreshing. However, I could not stand Cyra, the main character. 4 stars because for those that like books similar to Frieda McFaddens I think they’d enjoy this one as well.

So this book was a unique one with a serial killer support group and Cyra's character was by far my favorite. However, the book lacked the suspense and was entirely too predictable. It's a shame as there was so much promise here!

thanks to netgalley & crooked lane books for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

this book has a really unique premise, and i think it delivered.
the characterization was really good considering the somewhat limited length of the book in relation to the depth of the plot. i was impressed by how much was packed into the book, and it really kept my attention for the full length of the book.
i found most of the plot twists to be very predictable (whipworm having been pea crab's killer was very obvious given the photo thing being whipworm's mo, and honestly i thought the real killer was eli or izzie from the beginning) but i was so genuinely entertained by the development of cyra's character that it didn't really bother me.
this is a really solid book with a unique plot. read this if you enjoy: serial killers, psychopaths, and really cool character development.

Cyra's sister has been murdered and now she is going to infiltrate a group of “anonymous serial killers” to try to uncover the culprit.
The book's approach is a bit unusual with a group of killers getting together to discuss their little stories and share tips to improve their efficiency.
Cyra is not a usual character either, she has always felt different and meeting with these killers will reveal some sides of herself that she didn't know about.
Although it does not go too deep in some aspects, the plot is interesting, with chapters that tell a little of each of the serial killers, however you can get to imagine who the culprit is without too much effort.
Recommended for those looking for a light and entertaining thriller.

I received this book as an ARC from Crooked Lane books and NetGalley. Cyra Griffin lived in New York City with her sister, Mira, until Mira was murdered. Cyra believes her sister was murdered by a serial killer. She sets out to infiltrate a serial killer support group to avenge her sister’s death. I enjoyed the action-packed story, which really kept me guessing. I will read more by this author.

unfortunately i found this one extremely hard to get into and enjoy overall. i was extremely intrigued by the premise of this book but felt like Cyra and honestly most of the characters in this fell very flat and one dimensional. quick read but just not a very fun one

Absolutely LOVED this book. Cyra was complex, funny and so damn courageous. I thought this was a fantastic plot and the freaking mystery to me, was not predictable. I was shook!

This was a really fun read- and all opinions are of my own. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Cyras sister Mira was killed, presumably by a serial killer based on some insider info at the police station. Cyra is outraged and devastated and ready to avenge her sisters murder, but the police are taking forrreevvverrr- so she takes matters into her own hands. She hears whispers of a serial killer support group happening and she digs in on the dark web, and finds that it DOES exist. She does some questionable things and is approved by the group to join the support group.. where she befriends one member of the group in particular, who promises to help her find her sisters killer in return for her help on his next kill.

It’s a really fun mystery with a good game of cat and mouse woven in. And I love how it was a serial killer support group versus a victims group or final girls group. This plotline was refreshing! I was totally into seeing how her ….relationship?… would progress as a friend of a serial killer, and also with herself. She was really struggling with finding out she is in the wake of her sister’s death- so much of her identity was tied in caretaking for her younger sister from a young age.

4.5 stars overall, and will totally recommend my thriller friends dig into this gem.

I loved Serial Killer Support Group, but I'm not sure how to review it without spoiling it as it's so different to what's out there.

Cyra joins a serial killer suppoer group (yes, really) after her sister Mira is murdered. She believes by joining the group, she'll get closure and possibly solve her sister's murder.

The twist at the end was shocking!! I had to read it twice, and then, of course, the penny dropped! How could I not see it?

I'd recommend this book to anyone who's after a different type of whodunit...!! 10/10

When Cyra's sister is murdered by a serial killer, she decides to undertake her own investigation. She joins a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life.

I found the idea of a serial killer support group intriguing, however the story felt flat and lacked suspense. The characters were one dimensional and I felt as detached from Cyra as she was from everyone else.

more of a 3.5 star overall, but i really enjoyed this one!

we follow Cyra who’s sister is murdered and Cyra is told by investigators that they think her sister was murdered by a serial killer that they have yet to catch so Cyra goes under cover in a serial killer support group to try and catch her sisters killer.

while this is dark and intense at times it was a pretty fun book. very different to anything i’ve read in awhile and i appreciated that. i enjoyed the little snippets we get of some of the serial killers backstory’s - i found that super intriguing!

there were a few things i wish were more fleshed out, like Mira (cyras sister) and Cyra’s relationship. i wish we got more of their relationship/bond because i didn’t really buy it or Cyra wanting to go to such great lengths for her. i also wasn’t a huge fan of one of the “twist” reveals and what follows (have to be vague because spoilers).

overall, a super solid debut and ill be looking forward to more by this author.

Cyra's sister, Mira (no, their names don't rhyme and yes, this was VERY hard for my brain to grasp) is killed and Cyra gets a tip that it was at the hands of a serial killer. Naturally, she has to get revenge and does this by infiltrating a support group for serial killers. As one does.

The whole 'getting revenge for a murder by also trying to murder' thing has gotten pretty popular lately; an idea that I love, but the execution is rarely there for me. Saratoga Schaefer, where you been all my life, BECAUSE YOU DID IT.

Cyra is a badass. I think a lot of people are going to have a hard time liking her, but I absolutely loved her. She lacks some emotion, which is something she even gets mad at herself for. This may seem unrealistic to some, but I found it super real and relatable. I liked reading about her throughout, but those last few chapters? I really hope this is being setup for a series because I would read about her forever.

The mystery was a little bit predictable, but that's all I'm going to say on that so I don't spoil anything. I don't care that I figured it out, I still loved every moment of it.

Honestly, the only part of this book I didn't like was Mira. She seemed like an absolutely dreadful person and I don't think her death was worth surrounding yourself with serial killers. Maybe that makes me the dreadful person.