**4/5 Stars – Darkly Funny and Unnervingly Clever**

Saratoga Schaefer’s *Serial Killer Support Group* is a wickedly entertaining blend of dark humor, psychological tension, and sharp social commentary. The concept is as bizarre as it is brilliant, delivering a cast of morally gray characters whose interactions are both chilling and strangely amusing. Schaefer balances suspense with satire, making for a fast-paced and engaging read. While some moments stretch believability, the book’s originality and clever execution make it a standout for fans of dark thrillers with a twist.

2.5 ★

A quick, easy read with a fresh take on the whodunit concept, 'serial killer support group' is an okay-ish read that has potential but falls short of it. The story follows the main character, Cyra, who embarks on a quest to find the serial killer who murdered her sister by infiltrating a support group made for serial killers.

The book alternates between action-packed chapters and chapters dedicated to each serial killer, exploring their backgrounds and how they reached their current state. While I understand these chapters aim to offer a deep exploration into these character's motivations, I found the storylines clichéd, and the characters underdeveloped, which made it hard for the book to leave a lasting impression. Nonetheless, it was still a fun read.

Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

What a refreshing premise compared to the typical horror/thriller storylines! In Serial Killer Support Group, we follow Cyra on her quest for revenge against the person who murdered her sister. As she infiltrates a support group for serial killers, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the emotionless void within her own mind, struggling to hold on to her humanity.

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book—from the dark, witty storytelling to the rich character development, and the intriguing chapters that offer the unique point of view of each serial killer. While the plot twists aren’t overly complex, the story grips you from the very beginning, and it’s impossible to let go.

A thrilling and fun ride, Serial Killer Support Group is set to be released in March 2025—be sure to add it to your TBR!

A huge thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cyra would do anything to find her sister's killer - including joining the local serial killer support group. By infiltrating the group, Cyra knows she'll be able to find Mira's killer. They have to be in the group, right? But first, Cyra must prove herself to the group and gain their trust. After gaining entrance, Cyra begins analyzing each group member, determining if they match who may have taken Mira's life. However, things aren't as easy as Cyra had hoped; she is soon recruited by a fellow group member to find out who may be a rat. With the promise of helping to find her guy, Cyra goes along with the request, soon finding herself in a dangerous situation. As the suspects are narrowed down, a surprising new person is added to the list - someone Cyra had not thought of including. Now that she's fully engrained in the group, will she be able to get out safely? Or has joining the group altered the trajectory of her life?

I went into this thinking it would be such a unique read, but was quickly disappointed. The characters and the overall story felt very surface-level. I frequently found myself thinking "Okay, and?" and just getting more and more frustrated as the story progressed. However, I did not guess the twists, so I guess the author had me there. It just felt like it needed more. The last few chapters were some of the best because that's where the "exciting" parts of the story took place. This would be a good book for someone who is just getting into thriller novels. However, if you're an experienced reader, you may be let down by the pacing and overall structure of the book. Overall, I feel very meh about this book. It took me forever to get through because it was just so slow at points and literally put me to sleep a few times.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the synopsis for this book, I was really excited to read it. However, I felt like my expectations fell short. While this book wasn't bad by any means, I just wasn't really hooked throughout the story and feel it will end up being forgettable.

There were a few parts I enjoyed - I really liked the side characters, which were the other serial killers in the support group. I loved the chapters that were snippets into who they were as actual people, and why they became serial killers. More of their backstories would have been more interesting to me than the main storyline. The second half of the book picked up a bit more as well, and I decided to keep reading until the conclusion.

I really didn't connect with the main character at all - many parts of her story were cliché and predictable, from start to the end twist. It felt like the author was following a textbook about serial killer traits, along with influence from the Dexter series. Nothing felt really new and refreshing that I haven't seen or read before. Other parts felt like they were added in as an afterthought, either to check a box to represent certain groups of people, or because there were some plot holes caught during the editing process, so a few sentences were added in to "fix" those plot holes. I would have liked more details and explanations; for these things to be more fleshed out. The ending was also chaotic and happened really fast. It felt a little messy to me.

Maybe I've been reading too many other books about feminine rage and women getting revenge, but this one didn't feel as satisfying as many of the others out there. Was it bad? Not by any means, but for me I was left wanting more.

Try as I might, I cannot stay interested in this book. I've been trying for quite a while. It's definitely a me issue

A support group for serial killers. You know, a group where they can talk about their crimes....without worry that the police will bust in and arrest all of these troubled men.

Look, I can suspend reality in many ways, but this was....not it.

Anyone who has lost a loved one at the hands of someone else can understand Cyra's perspective. This book focuses on Cyra trying to find the person responsible for murdering her younger sister. In order to do so, she must infiltrate a serial killer group (hence the title) to solve the case. Readers go down the dark path that Cyra takes to get answers. It'll grip you and keep your heart pounding as you read to find out what happens. I highly recommend it to those who love thrilling reads.

A truly dark and suspenseful read, with a unique concept. My heart was in my throat for Cyra throughout the entire book. She is determined to figure out who killed her beloved sister, Mira - but as she gets deeper and deeper into her undercover mission, infiltrating the serial killer support group, she can feel her real self fading further and further away. With a few shocking twists toward the end, this book is sure to entertain fans of thriller, mystery, suspense, and horror books. Don't miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Serial Killer Support Group follows Cyra as she navigating the loss of her younger sister, Mira. The police believe that Mira was murdered by a serial killer. Cyra decides to use information from her friend, to infiltrate a serial killer support group. She is determined to find the man who killed her sister and is willing to do anything to get revenge. Of course, it won’t be that simple. I’m torn about whether I liked this book or not. It was an interesting premise, but it was very predictable. I did like the insight into the different serial killers, but I was more interested in those than the main storyline. I didn’t really connect with Cyra. I also had a tough time differentiating the characters. Overall, it was an okay read.

Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ғʀᴇsʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴɪϙᴜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ. I ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ sᴏ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.

Cᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀs ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴄᴜss ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɪssᴜᴇs!? Gʀᴏᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴘʏ?

“𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯"

Sᴀʀᴀᴛᴏɢᴀ's ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪs ᴏɴ ᴘᴀʀ ʀᴇsᴜʟᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs.
I ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋsᴛᴏʀʏ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ғᴏʀ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀs, ᴀɴᴅ Cʏʀᴀ ᴡᴀs ʙᴀᴅᴀss ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sʜᴀʀᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʟᴄᴜʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴍɪɴᴅsᴇᴛ. I ғᴇʟᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴜsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ.

Tʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴀ ғᴜɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴛᴏᴏ sᴇʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ. Eɴᴊᴏʏ ɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs. Fᴀsᴛ ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ, ғᴇᴍɪɴɪɴᴇ ʀᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ.

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ Cʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ Lᴀɴᴇ Bᴏᴏᴋs, Nᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ɢɪғᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴀʀʏ.

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After Cyra's younger sister is murdered, she sets out to solve the case herself. Since the police suspect a serial killer, and she catches wind of a group for serial killers where the one she's looking for could be frequenting, she sets out to infiltrate the group and get her guy. Cyra is a really interesting character, who is definitely a bit of a sociopath. She has to fight to hold on to her humanity as she has to prove herself to the group so she can get close enough to solve her mystery. She was an oddly compelling character.
The premise of a group/network of serial killers is always pretty suspect to me, since it just logistically really doesn't seem like it would work or benefit anyone involved. That was the hardest part for me. It makes no sense. I liked Cyra, though.

Get lost in this impressive debut thriller that brings us a fresh & unique storyline that comes to an unsettling, surprising & satisfying conclusion. I found this novel to be a deliciously clever & entertaining read with memorable characters. I especially liked the chapters of the serial killer’s backstory which gave the story more depth.

Grab a copy when it releases on March 18th. You won’t be disappointed.

Looking forward to see what’s next by this author.

Favorite Lines:
“It’s a lonely existence. And even psychopaths want human interaction.”
“He was too attractive. Too confident. A shiny piece of fruit that was rotten inside.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books & the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Suspend all reasonable beliefs and imagine a support group for serial killers. You know, a group where they can talk about their crimes....without worry that the police will bust in and arrest all of these troubled men.

Look, I can suspend reality in many ways, but this was....not it.

This was dumber than dumb. I kept hoping they would all kill each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

My thanks to Net Galley and Crooked House for allowing me this arc.

I'm a bit on the fence with this one. The title and premise sounded very promising and kind of fun. Cyra joins a serial killer support group to find out who killed her sister Mira. I liked how each member got their own chapter and back story , but it was a bit far fetched that a person would put themselves in that danger

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up.

I really wanted to love this. When I read the premise, I was excited about this one, thinking it'd be a bit more focused on the serial killers. While each one did have their own chapter, the base of this book was a woman avenging her sister's murder by cosplaying a serial killer.

It felt a bit too corny if I'm being honest. Some of the dialogue and Cyra putting herself into the mind of a serial killer felt like something more out of a comedy than thriller.

I also expected a book with queer characters, by a queer author wouldn't utilize the same women vs. women trope as other thrillers. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

The concept here was pretty good, but the execution didn't work for me. Also, Cyra (sigh-ra) and Mira (meer-ah) were a choice and I kept reading it as Cyra (seer-ah) because of the similarity in names.

As a fan of thrillers and true crime, I was disappointed to find that this book about serial killers lacked thorough research.

The portrayal of the killers was unimpressive, and the use of anonymous names felt juvenile, I was constantly thinking of
Christmas (weird).

I considered abandoning the book halfway through, but my curiosity kept me skimming through to the end.

Does the main character successfully confront a group of seasoned serial killers, or does she fall victim to them? The outcome may be surprising.

This was a fun book! It was fast paced novel that I could not put down. Full of feminine rage and revenge.

Cyra’s sister was murder and now she is going undercover into a serial support group to find her killer.

I loved the main character in this book! She was so determined and witty through out the entire book. I loved the side characters especially the serial killers in the group.

Did I hope for a romance between two of them?? Maybe…. I think I’ve read too many dark romances.

The ending was not what I except but it was a perfect ending for Cyra.

Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone.


Thank you Crooked Lane Publishing for a free copy of The Serial Killer Support Group for a honest review.

Read with caution!

Saratoga Schaefer’s Serial Killer Support Group is a debut novel with a dark, unsettling and unsettling premise. I originally asked for this copy because of the cover thinking it would have a lot of humor in it. That did not occur! The story follows Sira, a woman consumed by the brutal murder of her sister. Desperate for answers, she constantly hounds the police, unwilling to let the case go cold. When a friend at the station hints at a possible serial killer operating within a so-called "support group," Sira embarks on a dangerous mission to infiltrate their ranks.

This is not a book for the faint of heart—it's gruesome, disturbing, and filled with shocking moments. Schaefer doesn't hold back on the blood and guts, making it an intense read for horror fans who appreciate the genre's darker elements. The structure, flipping between Sira’s perspective and the support group members, adds to the tension and keeps the reader engaged. The twist at the end was unexpected but a perfect way to end the story!

If there’s one downside, it’s that the book felt a bit too short. I would have loved more development around the characters to deepen the emotional impact of their stories. A decent debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this author!

Overall, Serial Killer Support Group is a twisted, gripping read that horror lovers will appreciate—just be sure to go in prepared for a brutal ride.