4.25 stars

fully went into this book blind and came out on the other side mystified, surprised, and thoroughly entertained. If you’re a fan of butcher and blackbird, dark humour, some morally-grey situations, and characters whose love language is being mean to each other then this is for you!! I couldn’t put this down.

I truly couldn’t predict which way this story was going. the author does an amazing job of throwing in loops and curveballs every chapter to capture the reader’s interest. I found it so entertaining!! I love Jake and Dolores and their crazy dynamic. I found myself laughing and smiling a lot at the dialogue and funny plot twists happening.

this needs to be high on your tbr!! thank you berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I was fully expecting this book to be a witty romantic suspense romance with two morally grey characters, think Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Well this book was certainly not it……. It was so disappointing. Honestly, the title of the book is just click bait. I’m not really sure what this book was trying to achieve. Most of the time I was just confused about the characters behavior. The twists in the book only came from the characters deliberately lying to the readers, and not in a clever or craft way. Not a spoiler but the FMC constantly mentions a cat and how much she cares for this cat, well guess what, the cat is actually Cat, her toddler daughter…. . This is a skip.

I didn’t know what to truly expect going into this book. It was different to say the least but I truly enjoyed reading an interesting story line. I think we’ve all had our moments where we wonder if we could truly pick out a serial killer in the wild but Dodi was definitely head on with it lol. I loved reading about the unexpected chemistry and connection they built. It was definitely a good book. Had its slow moments but so glad I got to enjoy this crazy ride.

I've been seeing this a lot lately, and I've gotta say I'm becoming a big fan of thrillers that add dark humor. This was an easy and fast-paced read. There's defintely some romantic aspects, but there's also unexpected twists. If you're looking for a thriller to make you laugh out loud this is it. I am defnitely going to keep an eye out for this author's future works.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out at the end of April 2025!

An unusual premise that works beautifully. Serial Killer Games is a fun read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Dark humor paired with romantic suspense.

I’ve never read romantic suspense, usually leaning into the serious, darker side of fiction. But Kate Posey’s debut, Serial Killer Games is a wild ride not to be missed. Filled with macabre humor, it definitely feels cutesy and character driven, with two very different protagonists. I had no idea what to expect, but was quickly pulled into the story with Dolores, a quirky true crime fanatic, and Jake Ripper (haha) the new office temp whom she suspects is a serial killer.

The author’s voice was strong and I found myself smiling a lot at the dialogue and unique relationship between Dolores and Jake. The pace was steady in general but I would have liked it to be a smidge faster. I ended up liking Jake’s character more than Dolores (and her constant mood swings), and I could definitely see this book become part of a series.

For readers who enjoy a genre mashup, dual narratives, and dark humor.

From the very first chapter, Serial Killer Games is fast paced, binge-worthy, and full of a dry wit that will make readers laugh out loud. This novel’s dark humor is reminiscent of The Addams Family but set within the backdrop of every metropolitan office’s soul-sucking 9 to 5. Posey blends the morbid and the mundane with an effortless lyricism that breathes fresh life into the genre and fully immerses readers into her macabre mirror of everyday life.

Many stories establish mundane protagonists that become more extraordinary as the story goes on. In her debut novel, Kate Posey does just the opposite. The main characters, Jake and Delores, pull you in by being strange and unsettling, their office-antagonism-turned-courtship unlike the typical workplace meet-cute romance readers have grown used to. But by the end of the novel they are deeply human, their flaws bared to readers like tender wounds. Posey flawlessly pulls off this transition from the odd fascination these characters initially incite to a sense of homey familiarity by the time readers reach the final page.

The standout attribute of Serial Killer Games, however, is the successful execution of its plot twists— of which there are many. Seriously, this book seems to present readers with a new revelation every thirty pages. And it manages to do so without being predictable or exhausting. While reading I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering where the story will go next. The story’s every turn felt like a delicious, new surprise, primed to thrill gluttonous audiences into eating up every word.

This was a fresh take on the romance genre with such a unique voice and masterful incorporation of thriller/mystery elements. Readers like me won’t forget Serial Killer Games anytime soon— Kate Posey is definitely an author to watch!

Compared to the synopsis, this book was not at all what I expected, and honestly, I found myself feeling a bit disappointed.

There were times I was completely lost, unsure of what was happening, but there were also moments I found myself enjoying it—until the confusion came back. Early on, I found Dolores pretty hard to tolerate, which made it difficult to root for her and Jake as a couple. It really pulled me out of the story and made it harder for me to stay invested.

The plot had potential, but in my opinion, the execution just didn’t quite hit the mark.

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

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey was not what I was expecting in the best way possible. Kate has such a fascinating way of writing a story. It is the best book I have read so far this year. I will be buying a copy and re-reading (listening) once the audiobook is released.

Warning the synopsis is a little misleading and I was confused what was happening the first 20% of the book but once I stopped wondering where the story is going, I really got into the story. The story follows Dolores and Jakes workplace relationship and the mysterious serial killer, the Paper Pusher. Dolores is a huge true crime fan and has wanted to meet a serial killer in real life.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much, @NetGalley, for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#SerialKillerGames #NetGalley

I’m not gonna lie this book was a little strange. I don’t know how exactly to categorize it because it doesn’t necessarily fit the mystery or romance genres very well, I wouldn’t even say it’s a mix, but it was a weird read? It was somewhat misleading if you go into this book based on the synopsis or the book cover as it doesn’t really relate to what you might expect the book to be like. I thought it was going to be something like Butcher & Blackbird, but it was a lot more lighthearted than that. I did find myself bored for most of the book, which is why I should have probably DNF’d it, especially since the fmc is somewhat annoying in her actions, and I didn’t see a lot of growth in her. Overall an okay read.

2.5⭐️

serial killer games had so much potential but unfortunately, it just didn't quite work for me.

i was intrigued at first, given the premise of the book. but more than halfway through, things took a turn and i wasn't sure i was following the writing style anymore. it took a turn in the plot and suddenly, i became disinterested - mainly because i didn't know what exactly was going on and the pacing felt all over the place and quite bizarre. both dodi and jake seem like interesting characters and i was heavily invested in catriona's story, too. but with the way the plot went, i just could not bring myself to really care.

so sad that this one wasn't for me.

thank you to berkley romance for the gifted ARC, all opinions are my own.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey, this is such an original thriller/romance story and I absolutely loved it. I am not going to do a summary about the whole story just know Dolores and Jake meet in an elevator she is obsessed with True Crime as is he but more than that she believes him to be a serial killer. From their first meeting you can cut the sexual tension with a knife and I thought the author did an absolutely brilliant job of building it up. Throughout the book you wonder will they or won’t they… She tries to keep him at arms length but it’s hard to do when you find yourself needing a service only the person designated to that arms length can provide. throughout the book real and made up serial killers are mentioned but the main one is the Paper Pusher, who may or may not be real. if you love witty snarky commentary in a brilliantly executed story, then you absolutely need to read this one. just make certain you’re not afraid of heights! #NetGalley,#BerkeleyPublishingGroup, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #KatePosey, #SerialKillerGames,

This book wasn’t for me. I thought it was going to be a fun and slightly disturbing read, similar to Butcher & Blackbird, but it ended up being more meticulously written than that. For me the writing was slightly strange and just wasn’t holding my attention.

First a big thank you to the publisher, as well as to the author and Netgalley for the invite to read Serial Killer Games , I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this. Because there was times I was so confused about the main characters themselves and kept asking myself are they really Serial killers who are hiding in plan sight or just pretending to be Serial killers. But that made the story enjoyable, as did the banter between to the two main characters, Another thing I like was this wasn't just a romance ,it was more then that it's a mixture of mystery/romance/ as well as dark comedy, so if you decide to pick this up be prepared to laugh at some of the things that happen in this book.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey is a captivating fusion of romance and mystery, expertly crafted and truly one-of-a-kind. Prepare to embark on a darkly humorous and chilling love story, where murder becomes a twisted game of passion.

I don’t think I have ever been so confused yet so entertained by a book. I enjoyed the banter between Dolores and Jake, but found their romance to be lacking. Maybe that was just because I wasn’t a fan of Dolores in general, idk.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the eARC

This was my first ever ARC and I was so excited to read this. First off, this book was not at all what I was expecting but it was good nonetheless. I did not know the path the book would take but I enjoyed where it ended. This was a quick and easy read that sucks you in from page one. Kate Posey has a way with words that just captivates you and takes you on journey. I would say that this book is a mystery/romance/dark comedy because it had all those aspects but doesn’t fit into one category, which I personally loved. The first half of the book was amazing, but I did get a little bored towards the middle and it ended in a strange way (open ended) but overall it was a good read and I look forward to reading more of Kate’s books.

United States Publication: April 29, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Jake Ripper—yes, that's his name. He is a temp employee who jumps from job to job. At his newest posting, he starts working closely with Dolores dela Cruz, and she's convinced he's a serial killer—the Paper Pusher, to be specific. Someone has been pushing people off office buildings, and Dolores is convinced that Jake checks all the boxes for the profile. He's worked as a temp at all the workplaces the dead people were from, he's handsome like a serial killer usually is, and he has dead eyes. That's the biggest giveaway, in her opinion. Turnaround is fair play because Jake is convinced that Dolores is a serial killer and has his own reasons for his opinion. Let the games begin. Jake and Dolores start a flirtation with one another based on their views of one another being serial killers. But as they flirt and play games, something happens, and they start to get to know one another. It moves beyond flirtation to loyalty in protecting one another's murderous secrets. When the bodies start cropping up and need to be moved, Dolores and Jake can only trust one another - well, as much as one killer can trust another.

I'm indifferent to this book. For probably the first half, I was annoyed and irritated, but then I warmed to it a bit to finish it. What annoyed me personally was the cat-and-mouse games between Jake and Dolores, how Posey dragged out each of their stories, and the baggage they were hauling around with them. It was, in my opinion, tedious to read. Several times, I thought, "Just get on with it, what's the big secret?" And then when the big reveal did come, I was like *shrug.* I had already figured out Dolores's secret, and Jake's was predictable, I felt, in its resolution. I loved the story's premise, but the execution left me lukewarm.

I don't know what I expected from this book, and I'm still not sure I enjoyed what I got. I enjoyed the premise of a murder junky office worker being intrigued with a possible serial killer at her workplace, but at times I fought myself on whether I liked these two characters. Despite Jack and Delores's chemistry, there were bouts when I almost put it into my DNF pile. I also didn't enjoy the open ended conclusion. All this confusion is why I give Serial Killer Games a 3/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey.

I truly had no clue where this was going. I lovedddddd the front half. It was mysterious and so fun. Jake was such a fun character and Dodi was such a bad ass.

The middle of this book kinda slowed for me. I didn’t find myself super invested with their separation and the big thing hanging over Jake’s head.

The ending was satisfying but a little open-ended!

🎧 the audiobook was well done but wasn’t a favorite. I found dominque salvacion and christian leatherman to be engaging but I wish they were a bit more emotive.

thank you Berkley romance and PRH audio for the arc/alc!