This was an outstanding story! I mean, let’s be honest. This is what every victim dreams of doing (even if they don’t say it). Not only were the pacing and characterization on point, but it was an absolute page turner. And the content was really well done. Either the author has experience with being a victim of abuse or he had someone who was act as a sensitivity reader. I was really impressed with how well he was able to target what it’s like to go through something like that. All the feelings, the actions of the victimizer and the victim, I mean it was like reading my own story. Really well done. (Although I feel like I need to clarify now, I took myself back, but not like these women did!) I’m really excited to find out this is going to be a series because I’m definitely reading the next one!

Huge thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

The premise for this book was fantastic. I think that a lot of people will love this book. Please do check the TW before going into this. It was a bit too rough for me, but that was my fault for not checking the warnings before agreeing to read this book. If I didn't have such a weak stomach, I'd have gave this book 5 stars without a doubt. Loved the premise of taking care of justice when it is for the greater good of society. Obviously not in real life, it's just fun to think about karma getting those who will still do harm. Thanks, NetGalley!

While I did enjoy this. I found myself losing interesting once we knew the reveal. I felt it happened too soon for me.
I missed the suspense of trying to figure out who was behind the murders.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.

This is the story of four women, Jess, Hannah, Kerry and Madison, who have escaped their domestic abusers and come together in a weekly support group to talk about their lives. It soon turns out their exes still make life difficult for them and the police does not help because everything they do, be it stalking or threatening behaviour, is apparently not considered a crime.

But there is the Caretaker, and he looks after those women. Suddenly, their former partners suffer violent accidents and even deaths, and interestingly those deaths all have a connection to how they have mistreated women before. Then the Caretaker releases some videos explaining his motivation, and all hell breaks loose.

DS Sophie Salam, who has a 6 year old autistic daughter named Lottie, is tasked with finding the killer. Her first suspect turns out to be innocent but then she gets an inkling. In the meantime, she bonds with Jess who is a carer for a family with two special needs kids and can therefore relate to Lottie.

This quite complex story is told in the first person POV of Jess and the third person POV of the Caretaker and Sophie. The twist is kind of hinted on in the blurb and therefore a bit obvious but it doesn't hinder the enjoyment of the story. I love serial killer stories, especially if they are vigilante women out for justice and revenge. The Caretaker is an exquisite twist on that, and I loved the female friendships that formed out of shared experiences. These women have created a safe space and would do anything for each other.

Domestic and emotional abuse including gaslighting by violent men who can be oh so charming on the outside is portrayed very realistically and is very upsetting, as is the misplaced guilt of the affected women. The male author knows exactly how abusive men tick - maybe someone should check his background out too???

The murders are quite grisly, but hey, these are bad men. There isn't a lot of dark or other humour to be found here but the dynamic between all the women, the caretaker and the female police officer is so interesting and DS Salam is a fascinating character.

If you are wondering about the open ending, please be advised that this is the first book in the Secret Vigilante series, so we can dive into Sophie's story, and the expansion of the Caretaker role sounds quite promising too. I am very much looking forward to it!

I feel like I shouldn't have liked this but I loved it! We are told the story of a support group of domestic violence victims and the system that repeatedly lets them down, for reasons that we can debate for hours. As we learn about this close group of ladies, they welcome one more, Jess, into their group. Then the fun starts, a vigilante begins 'taking care of' the perpetrators that were, for the most part, ignored by the police.

You shouldn't want to root for the vigilante to keep striking, but you do. You get attached to these ladies and you want to support them, learn more about them and dare I say join their friend group. This was the best part of this story, the women don't come across as victims, they support each other and move forward. It leaves the reader with a complex set of emotions but I loved every minute of it and am looking forward to the next in the series.

I really thought I had this sussed.
I started reading and was enjoying the story, but was thinking “this is really obvious” until around 2/3 of the way through and I was just like huh… not what I thought.
This was a great twist, I loved the storyline and touching on taboo topics such as domestic violence and the lack of action that comes from reporting incidents.
It was action packed, intense and all the while I’m questioning my morals for standing with the “bad guy”.
A quick, enjoyable read

Thanks to NetGalley and harper Collins/one more chapter for letting me read

When Jess Pendle attends A&E on New Years Eve she isn’t expecting her life to change quite so much. Accepting a leaflet for a support group, Jess expects to throw it away when she gets home, but something stops her. Gathering her courage Jess decides to attend the group hoping that
speaking to others who have gone through the same experience might just help her.
But Jess gets more than she bargained for, and what she finds out about her new friends shocks her to the core.
This story gripped me from the very first page and didn’t let go. There is an amazing twist that comes at the perfect moment and I didn’t want to put it down.
If you want a book that will have you on the edge of your seat, make you go from feeling angry to sad, and every emotion in between you must read this.

The Serial Killer Support Group by Do Stephens is a darkly humorous and unique take on the crime genre. The premise of a support group made up of the families of notorious serial killers is both intriguing and unusual, offering a fresh perspective. While the plot has some engaging moments and clever twists, the pacing can feel slow at times, and certain character developments are somewhat predictable. The mix of humor with dark themes is hit or miss, with some moments feeling forced. Overall, it’s an interesting read with a strong concept, but it doesn't fully reach its potential. A solid 3-star book for those looking for something offbeat, though it may not be for everyone.

The Serial Killer Support Group by DB Stephens had so much potential, but it fell flat for me.

Jess Pendle's character was well written, but the story fell flat for me.

Again, I like the idea of this, but there is unfortunately another book with this same title that was so incredible, I may of compared it to that book.

Not for me, but I know fans of serial killer books (Like myself) will enjoy this.

I loved the premise. It's always so satisfying ro read a good revenge story!

When after being beaten (again) by her boyfriend Jess gets the help she needs to walk away from abusive relationship. Joining a support group for women like her she finally feels like there is a chance of normal life. But it isn't coming easy and fast because abusers never want to be in the wrong and they won't let go easily. The only way how to stop them is to kill them...

This was a fast-paced action based thriller that could help get out of reading slump. Although i want to say that this was a popcorn thriller it also got real dark with some scenes.
I missed deeper introduction with the inner worlds of characters and some kind of closure for Jess's and Sophie's friendship. But i really liked the ending that gave a feeling pf contiunity. I recommend this for those who like more action driven and fast thrillers and like me likes to read about revenge.

Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

A unique, slightly twisty plot! There were some loose ends left untied but otherwise I found this book interesting. It kept my attention and made me fly through the pages. However I have questions about Salam and her story, I want to know! Also beware, this can get a bit graphic at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

This thriller had me hooked from page one. The suspense was perfectly paced, with just enough twists to keep me guessing without feeling overdone. The characters were sharp, and the stakes kept rising in all the right ways. If you're a fan of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat reads, this one is a must!

Female revenge at its finest! I am beyond excited when a book can surprise me, and this one did just that! This thriller kept me engaged from page 1 and though an extremely difficult topic, I loved that it focused on women regaining their power and bringing public attention to the battles many women, and some men, face at home. I thought the ending was beautifully done but, when I read in the acknowledgments that this was the first in a series, I jumped a little in excitement!

4.25 stars!

Jessica Pendle is a DV survivor. While seeking help she is given a pamphlet for a support group of women who have similar experiences. Reaching for closure and understanding, Jess decides to give the group a try.
Enter "The Caretaker" who will do anything to help these women where the law has failed them. And I mean - anything.

I felt like D.B. Stephens handled such a sensitive topic with such respect and grace. A lot of ugly truths when it comes to such a serious social issue. An empowering vigilante story with some twists.

Side note: The detective in the story has a child with autism. As an autism mom, this topic was covered so beautifully. A great highlight of awareness incorporated into the character's life. Much appreciated!

Thanks to NetGalley, D.B. Stephens, and the publisher for the eARC and chance to give my honest opinion!

I've never started an ARC and then decided to not finish it, but there's a first time for everything. Sadly, this wasn't for me. The red herring twist is very obvious from the start and I found the pace a little slow and the story a little boring. I've given it three stars because I'm not looking to tank it and maybe it would have become stronger if I'd kept going (and also because it's not the book's fault it just wasn't for me!).

Okay, this one hooked me from the title alone — how could I not pick it up? I ended up devouring it-thank you short, fast paced chapters!

On New Years Eve, Jess Pendle (our FMC) is in the ER to be seen for her recent injuries. While there, she finally finds the courage to seek help from her abusive relationship. After the police take her statement, they leave her with a pamphlet about a support group for DV survivors. Jess decides to attends the weekly support group to meet other women who have lived similar experiences as herself. At first, it seems like a safe space—lots of sharing and emotional support—but then things start to get a little weird. Like, maybe this group isn’t just about healing and heart-to-hearts after all.

Jess is super easy to root for, and the dynamic between her and the other women in the support group is both engaging and complex.

The ending felt a little rushed and kind of abrupt — like a “you decide what happens next” moment. I’m definitely curious about how one of the plot points would play out, so maybe there’s a sequel coming?

Overall, solid four stars from me. If you like dark, twisty stories with a side of revenge, this one’s for you!

When I first picked up The Serial Killer Support Group, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The cover is intriguing but doesn’t give much away, and the premise walks a fine line between thrilling and potentially overdone. Thankfully, the book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept me engaged throughout most of the story.

One of the strengths of this novel is how compelling it is right out of the gate. The pacing is brisk, and the setup is intriguing enough to pull you in quickly. That said, a major plot “twist” early on didn’t quite land as intended—I saw it coming well in advance, which took away some of the punch it was clearly aiming for.

As for the ending, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. It almost felt as if the story ran out of steam or the author simply ran out of pages. After such a gripping build-up, I was hoping for a more impactful or thought-provoking conclusion.

Overall, The Serial Killer Support Group is a fast, engaging read with a unique concept, even if some of the plot elements feel a little underdeveloped. Don’t expect a mind-blowing finale.

The premise of the story felt short but mysterious which drew me in. I don’t think I’ve been interested in a book quite like this before but it had me intrigued. This book will have you questioning everything and pondering what you just read but there needs to be more books like that. I wouldn’t put this book in my top ten list of favorite books but it is one I don’t regret reading. There were some instances where I was confused and kind of uninterested but the book made up for it in other ways. The word choice was not surprising for a book like this but overall it was an interesting read.

A great read! The very disturbing subject of domestic violence is the topic of this morally grey plot, which certainly made me think.

When Jess Pendle finally finds the courage to leave her abusive boyfriend, she is invited to join a support group for victims of DV and finds comfort in knowing others have escaped their horrific circumstances and survived. But what of their abusers? The police aren't interested, so when their ex-partners start being attacked and murdered, the dots all connect to this group of survivors.

The characters in this group, from Jess and the other women, Geoff, the caretaker at the centre where the group meet and Sophie, the detective in charge of finding the murderer, are all fabulous. Well developed, relatable and likeable. Although the subject is deeply disturbing, it is also real life for many men and women and it was uplifting to follow these women as they found strength, both emotionally and physically, to rebuild their lives and help other victims. I loved the writing style and the fast paced plot gripped my attention throughout. Brilliant!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, D B Stephens and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Serial Killer Support Group captures your attention from the first to the last page.

When Jess reaches her limit and gets the courage to report her boyfriend for abuse she decides to join a women's support group.

This support group is a group like no other. Strangley I was cheering the ladies on.

In the meantime bodies are piling up as a viglante hits the city and to the group's surprise several of them are the abusive partners.

The woman support each other, grow stronger and I loved their group chats.

The story is told from both "The Carpenter" as the viglante becomes known as and Jess the abused partners side.

Twists and turns, hold your breath suspense keeps the pages turning to the conclusion.

I cant wait for Book 2 in this series to see what happens next as The Carpenter is getting quite a following on social media.

I will be first in line.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Serial Killer Support Group.