This book was not for me. I thought it would be more humorous, instead it depressed me. I couldn’t like either character, but especially Dodi. I had some trouble following the beginning, wondering what the book was trying to do. At some points the story dragged and I just wanted it to end. Unfortunately, everything about this book missed the mark for me.

Got it! Let's revise that to better reflect the tone and genre of the book. Here's a more fitting review:

---

*Serial Killer Games* wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Despite the title, it’s not a dark psychological thriller or crime story—far from it. Instead, this is a romance that plays with the idea of danger and mystery but in a way that feels more playful than perilous. It’s a book for those who like to think of themselves as a bit "troubled" without actually stepping into truly dark territory.

For the first 40% or so, I was left feeling confused. The author seems to deliberately withhold information from the reader, but the approach felt more like teasing a secret that was never fully explained. Hints and clues were scattered throughout, but they didn’t quite add up, leaving me unsure of what was happening. Once the story shifted into its romantic rhythm, though, I started to let go of any expectations of serial killer intrigue and just accepted it as a quirky love story.

The title is misleading in that sense, and it wasn’t until later in the book that the author makes an attempt to explain the connection. But by then, it didn’t quite land the way I think it was meant to. The twists and reveals didn’t have much impact—they were fairly predictable and didn’t add much excitement to the plot.

As for the characters, they felt like they were trying to be edgy and unlikable, but never quite hit the mark. They were meant to feel complex, but in the end, they didn’t evoke the emotional response I was hoping for.

If you’re looking for a unique romance with a bit of edge—something that flirts with danger but never quite goes there—then *Serial Killer Games* might be worth checking out. It’s a different take on the genre, but don’t go in expecting a psychological thriller or intense mystery. It’s all about the romance, albeit with a slightly twisted angle.

"𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
Jake Ripper enjoys being invisible at his corporate temp job. Until he spots her: Dolores de la Cruz, the mystery woman who captivates his attention. Could she be the serial killer who is pushing execs off the building? But when Dolores turns her attention back on Jake, the hunter becomes the hunted.

𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
I’m going to be honest here, I have absolutely no clue how to rate this one because I truly have no clue what I just read. But I enjoyed it? I liked it? So I guess thats what my rating is based on!

I will say that I think this book’s success lies in going blind. Don’t have expectations. Honestly the entire time I had no idea what was going on. I literally screeched, “WHAT THE HECK?!” so many times - & it made this book SO fun to read!

I have never read a book like this before, and while I may have struggled to grasp exactly what was going on at times, the writing was fabulous and the dialogue was snarky and weird and borderline twisted.

But this books isn’t just all fun & serial killer games. There’s plenty of emotion tucked into the story, which allowed for real heartfelt moments throughout the twisted humor.

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 -𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘣𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

I thought this was a great debut, and I’m definitely interested to see what this author writes next!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🖤twisted romcom
🖤opposites attract
🖤plenty of WTF moments
🖤dark humor
🖤marriage of convenience
🖤true crime fascination
🖤found family

*Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own*

This was a fun mix of dark comedy, romance, and thriller. Dolores, a true crime-obsessed office worker, suspects the new temp, Jake Ripper, might be a serial killer. Their dynamic is full of banter and tension, making for an entertaining read.

I enjoyed the humor and unique premise, but the book leaned more into romance than thriller, which wasn’t quite what I expected. The pacing felt uneven at times, but overall, it’s a clever, unconventional story that fans of dark humor and quirky relationships will enjoy!

Liked it . Due to health issues cannot not but will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Many thanks to Berkley | Penguin Random House for a chance to read this book in advance!

Serial Killer Games is like Dexter in the form of a Rom-Com. Kate Posey is an author who will be one to watch in the future. Her debut novel is delightfully unpredictable and morbidly sarcastic. As she states in her author’s note, she wrote each of the tropes she wanted to read herself; albeit in one twisty, turny novel! There’s forced proximity, a found family, enemies to lovers, and friends to lovers — to name a few. The quippy lines had me cackling: “Are these your Boomers?”

Serial Killer Games is full of macabre misunderstandings between Dolores and Jake, but will warm even the blackest hearts by the end. This is a literary launch to make Wednesday Addams proud. Undoubtedly a five-star favorite!

Jake Ripper leads a mysterious life, when he comes across Dolores dela Cruz at his new job. They share dark, secretive lives, and could one of them be a serial killer?

I really wanted to like this book. I was excited after reading the synposis. As a lover of contemporary romance and true crime podcasts, this book, at the surface, checked off all those boxes. However, it lacked in execution. I felt that the story felt scattered and the pacing was off. I struggled to finish it.

I will say, if you loved Butcher and Blackbird, you might like this book, but I did not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey is a light fun read.

We all have that coworker that can get away with murder, but what if they actually were?

Dolores Dela Cruz believes the new office temp is a serial killer. Jake ripper is the new temp with a very fitting name. This book is a morbidly funny take on how our society is obsessed with serial killers. When we see serial killers in the news, we would like to believe we would be able to pick them out of a crowd. So when a potential killer appears at Dolores work, she observes him. As evidence starts to stack up she wonders if she will be next.

Special thank you to Kate Posey and Berkeley Publishing for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This book will be published April 29 2025

This book was unique, and I was here for every twisted, hilarious, and strangely romantic moment. From the very first page, you have absolutely no idea what to expect, and honestly? That’s what makes it so damn fun. This book leans into my fascination of serial killer psychology, but in a way that feels more like a cat-and-mouse game than your typical thriller. Dolores is convinced the new temp is a killer, and instead of running, she’s… intrigued. I think I might have been too....not gonna lie. The narrative style pulls you in, even when you’re not entirely sure where you are or what’s going on. And somehow, despite the dark premise, it’s weirdly addictive. It’s equal parts unsettling and hilarious, making it impossible to put down.

The dynamic between these two is something else. Their flirtation is dark, their chemistry is electric, and the way their relationship unfolds keeps you constantly on edge. Just when you think you know where it’s going—nope, think again. This book is like nothing I’ve read before. It’s a morbidly funny, totally offbeat take on romance, mystery, and obsession. If you love dark humor, unconventional love stories, and a dash of true crime energy, Serial Killer Games is definitely one to check out.

A Thrilling and Witty Ride – A Must-Read!

Serial Killer Games is a refreshingly quirky take on the thriller genre, blending dark humor, unexpected twists, and a cleverly crafted mystery. The novel keeps you engaged from start to finish, balancing suspense with moments of sharp wit and laugh-out-loud absurdity.

The characters are dynamic and unpredictable, making it impossible to guess who to trust. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the story takes another sharp turn, keeping you on edge until the very last page. The writing is sharp, fast-paced, and effortlessly entertaining, making it perfect for fans of both psychological thrillers and dark comedies.

If you are a fan of “Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone” and other Ernest Cunningham stories, and love a novel that keeps you guessing while making you chuckle at the same time, Serial Killer Games is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC read.

#netgalley

I really didn’t like this book. It sounded like it was going to be so good. But I thought the plot was boring. I didn’t like the writing style of this book. I wanted to DNF and I should have. This was just not for me.

I have to say this book started very strangely. You are not really sure what you are getting yourself into. The author did a great job with the weaving and wandering to capture the reader's interest, but at some point, it got to be a lot for me. I like to know what I am reading, and something about where we are going in the book.

This is a very odd story in many ways. I’m not even sure what to classify it as but I think it’s a romance. It is also classified as a mystery; true crime could fit, though.

Regardless, Posey manages to take the weaving and wandering into a story that is very compelling with the developing “interest” between the characters. Loaded with dark humor, inuendo, and, dare I say, romantic interest, the two became partners, at work and at home, and that is when it gets interesting.

I loved the transformation of the characters as the story develops from the weird and strange, loaded with secrets, to misunderstood people harboring pain and loneliness.

Overall, Serial Killer Games is loaded with games. You have to be savvy enough to follow along and play too. Clever and unique.

While there are thriller aspects to this book this is so much more than a traditional thriller it is more of a dark rom-com thriller. While I enjoyed this one and read it really quickly it was not exactly what I was expecting! It was full of a lot of dry and dark humor. The writing felt very witty and creative. The characters and their actions all felt very mysterious and intentional, like all parts were fully thought out.

Doloras and Jake work in the same office building, one day after being in the elevator Doloras becomes convinced that Jake is a serial killer. After that day the two start to have conversations full of banter that helps keep the story moving. The relationship between these felt like an intense game of cat and mouse! There were also a lot of lovable side characters that helped make the story great.

Overall this was a enjoyable read! If you like dark rom-coms full of witty banter, morbid humor, and unexpected twist then this is the story for you!

Thank you Net Galley, Berkeley, and Kate Posey for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Loving the crossing of murder and romance going on, it was fun! It was well blended with some charming dialogue between the two main characters but it was also very obvious. I found it fun but unsurprising.

I'm a little unsure on how to rate this book. First this book was labeled as suspense and thriller which is neither. It would be more of a romance book in my mind but not even that entirely. This book is not what I expected, but it was decent. I felt like it was overall a faster read, although there were parts that took time to try to trudge through. I was mostly disappointed that it wasn't a thriller like it had been labeled. I'm a huge mood reader and it just took me about. If you're into reading a book about 2 characters who connect over serial killers briefly, then this may be a book you'd enjoy. but its romance not a thriller or suspenseful book at all.

Thank you Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for my honest opinion.

Okay so overall, this is a 3/5. The copy was kind of misleading (and I totally get why) but this wasn't what I wanted it to be. I was here for the Butcher and Blackbird of it all and the reveal (no spoilers) was so much more lighthearted than that. I know people will love this but it wasn't what I was expecting so a little disappointed on that front, personally.

This book was not what I expected, but in a very good way! I kept thinking I knew what would happen and by the end of it I can honestly say I wasn’t even close. Will definitely be recommending to friends.

I don’t know that I should admit this in mixed company (or any company, really) but I’ve been on a bit of a serial killer romance binge. I’d blame Brynne Weaver’s “Ruinous Love” trilogy but the fascination began a few decades before that. I was obsessed with the late 70s flickTime After Time, in which Jack the Ripper steals HG Wells’s time machine and the OG serial killer runs amok while romance blooms in the background. Did I mention I watched this as a small child and my dad introduced me to this film? How very Wednesday Adams of me. And, oh look, a segue . . . 

Speaking of delightfully morbid Goth girls, one of my favorite characters, Cat, in Kate Posey’s Serial Killer Games - the title, of course, caught my eye when it came across my ARC offerings - is just that: a delightfully morose six year old with the voice of a chain-smoker and fashion sense of a Victorian ghost. Despite the fact that SKG focuses primarily on love interests Jake, an oxymoronic permanent temp who’s either one hell of a serial killer or just another grey-suited cog in soulless corporate Canada’s cement jungle, and Dolores, aka Dodi, who’s either a black widow or vampire moonlighting (daylighting?) as a C-suite wannabe, the minor characters really flesh out their questionable budding romance.

There’s so much to say and yet, though I’ve never met a spoiler I didn’t like, I don’t (and can’t really, because ARCs) want to give too much away. In a nutshell, or, rather, the cold corporate elevator that Jake and Dolores find themselves flung together in, Posey’s protagonists capture each other’s interests almost immediately. Jake, who is “grey rocking” his way through life, attempting to blend into the scenery as the perfect temp, one who’s a bit too observant about his fellow, albeit temporarily so, employees, is just a little too on the nose, what with his same corporate drone suit, thick-rimmed (read: Clark Kent) glasses, and hair parted just so. Dolores, however, notices that there’s something, well, several somethings, off about him, and immediately hones in on the gratuitous gloves he wears at all times. Canadian winters aside (and, believe you me, I know something about that level of cold), the gloves seem less about warmth and more about protection . . . of the wearer, from having their fingerprints left behind. 

The fact that there’s a serial killer on the loose that’s offing finance bros across the downtown area by staging their suicidal jumps from very tall buildings, aptly named the Paper Pusher? Well that’s just the icing on the cake and also what has Dolores’ hackles up. She immediately recognizes Jake for what he is: an imposter. In her mind, there’s no way someone this clever, attractive, and desperately seeking to blend into the scenery can be anything but a serial killer. And her mind would know, in that she’s got her own dark past that Jake can’t help but sense - a beautifully dark spider capable of spinning her web around unwitting men - and also wants to indulge in. In noticing one another and, subsequently, throwing each other a lifeline to avoid being sucked into conversation with Doug, your stereotypical clueless middling manager who has no idea how he got his job or what it really entails, the two engage in their dark fantasies of seeing the other as a potential killer and, in this, kindred soul, and begin their flirtation with the titular serial killer games.

I’ll give it to Posey, I was on my toes throughout the first third of the book and felt off-kilter for much of this reading. In a good way. After their first “date”, in which Jake follows a nearly naked Dolores into his roommate's luxury bathroom - wielding a knife, no less - and she trips on the also nearly naked corpse of a very endowed young woman lying lifeless in the shower, it’s clear that these two share the same killer kink. Little spoiler here, spoilerette if you will, but the corpse turns out to be one of many that Jake has had to dispose of for his egomaniacal, tortured, and rich roommate, Grant. In fact, it’s Jake’s specialization in “removal” that really enamors him of Dolores. The spoiler part of this (and, really, this is still within the first few pages) is that the corpse isn’t dead, as such, but rather a high-end sex doll, one with whom Grant has run the course of his “romantic” relationship with and needs to have out of his sight like yesterday.

The sex doll, one of oh so many, as it turns out, provides fodder for the Best. Date. Ever. Dolores and Jake reenact one of her favorite podcast murders in which a killer mall Santa (it’s the Christmas season, by the by) left the limbs of his corpses as perverse presents all around town. Of course, the magic of their date is fleeting and reality sets in and Dolores pulls away and Jake doesn’t even have an idea how to make a move on the woman with whom he not only shares his unique “interests” but also was, you know, just naked in his shower hours earlier and yet could not seal the deal with, to her chagrin.

Along the course of their relationship, wherein Jake is keeping close tabs on Dolores, who crashes his obligatory birthday dinner with his beloved aunt Laura and her husband, his despised uncle Andrew, who never fails to remind him that he’s not his son and that the now-grown orphan needs to better in every facet of his life. Especially, once Dolores arrives, in the realm of female company, as Andrew’s clutching his pearls at her appearance and general zero-f's-given demeanor. In fact, it’s after she storms out of the restaurant, clutching a half-drunk bottle of wine like a lifeline, that she and Jake indulge in their passion, in the form of a kiss that is, and she gifts him with a real part of her: Dodi, her nickname. 

And herein lies the rub. How can these two maybe (but probably not, but maybe?) serial killers distinguish reality from their far more vibrant imaginary lives in which they’re not just trying to make it through the day but powerful and, moreover, important to someone else in their own right. And that, when all is said and done, is what makes Serial Killer Games one of the most entertaining (despite a severe lack of smut) books I’ve read in a while. Whirlwind trips to dispose of bodies in Las Vegas and Elvis-ordained marriages aside, the good stuff is what’s at the core of the story: two sad, seemingly boring people who simultaneously want to be ignored and seen at the same time. Jake, as his job suggests, has been temping his way through life - a butler side character who lives to clean up others’ messes and make their lives run more smoothly - for the better part of a decade after he discovers he’s succumbing to the same tragic and terminal illness as his biological father. Dolores, who both is and isn’t the black widow she’s presumed to be, is so intent on sheltering her fragile heart and toeing the line that she too is like the vampire Jake jokes that she is: without substance or reflection.

Ultimately, this book hit my sweet spot: just weird enough (between criminal (also maybe criminal) lawyer Grant and his sex dolls, Cat and her Goth girl eeriness, sweet Aunt Laura, whose favorite game to play is I Spy (A Murder Weapon), and Grandpa Bill, whose convinced Jake has come to kill him and is polite enough to invite him in for tea before he does it), intriguing enough (who’s the real killer here?!), and endearingly romantic enough (Jake and Dolores are long-game couple goals). At the end of the day, it’s a treatise on family, in whatever form that may be, and how a healthy fantasy life can be the key to a healthy and satisfied reality. I’m looking forward to seeing what Kate Posey has in store for me next, even if I'm groaning at the fact that she has me tap-dancing on the knife's edge of trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

ARC Review ✨️

♡Delores & Jake♡

Kate wrote such an enthralling story! I was sucked right into it by the end of the first chapter.

This is the perfect read for any fans of dark humor and a slight obsession with the crime world 🤣🖤

Delores, our MFC, is absolutely obsessed with anything crime related, specifically serial killers. She's desperate to find one "in the wild." Her fascination with that might end up putting her in a twist of events.

Jake is the new office temp, and Delores is 100% convinced he's one. When her morbid fascination leads to something totally different, a new romance buds. That's when the suspense aspect comes into play because now you're unsure if he's the killer and dangerous, or do they actually just have a very unusual romance✨️🖤

This being a debut novel really surprised me. I thought the author did a perfect job blending all of the different aspects together as well as creating some enjoyable main characters with some pretty amazing side characters as well🙌🖤

Tropes:
🖤Dark humor
✨️Suspense
🖤Unusual romance
✨️Fascinating main characters

Thanks so much to the author, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing for the Advanced Copy!

Sorry.....I informed you that although I tried to read this book, I was not at all interested and gave up on it. I was surprised as the titled was quite interesting. I might try it again.