Thank you netgalley, the publishers, and DB Stephens for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.



Book contains subject matter that some readers may find disturbing. Book talks about domestic violence. Review contains spoilers.



On New Years Eve a young woman named Jess is abused by her boyfriend, which lands her in the hospital. Knowing she can not continue to stay in this relationship, she leaves. A flyer that had been shoved into her hands, advertises a domestic violence support group. Needing help, she attends, meeting women who are just like her. The group gives her life back. She forms a bond with these women, gains back her confidence, and stands up to her abusive ex.

We are also introduced to The Caretaker. A nameless man, a vigilante. He has one purpose, and that's to make these abusive men pay. At first he attacks these men the same way they attacked their partners. Then it elevates to murder. The victims, all the abusers of the women in the group. The police, especially a Sgt Salam, needs to figure out who the killer is. But is the killer a man or someone else? That's where the serial killer support group comes into play.





I have to say, I loved this book. It hits you right in the face from the start. It can get a bit brutal when describing the violence towards the men, but scales back when referring to the women. Don't get me wrong, it can be a bit graphic, but there is a respect given. Jess, the main character, grows as a person. And I found myself loving her and cheering for her when she stood up for herself. I suppose the criticism I have is with Sgt Salam. Not so much her as a character. She is a domestic abuse survivor, and while that's super important for this book, the brief introduction from her abuser wasn't. It was two lines and then nothing. Unnecessary. You don't have to introduce the abuser to show the damage he has done. Overall, I loved this book. And this is one of the books I will purchase a copy of when it comes out. Not something I do often. I suggest you do the same when it comes out.



5/5

I was so excited to receive a copy of this book because of the title alone. I thought this would be just up my street and I wasn’t disappointed.
Jess Pendle has suffered domestic abuse in the hands of her boyfriend Lewis. She has suffered it on a regular occurrence but this time he has gone too far, when she ends up in hospital. She reports Lewis but nothing is ever done, and she leaves in fear of happening again. She is given details of a support group for people in abusive relationships. She decides to go to the group, and she is sceptic at first. But she finds out that there is more to the group that meets the eye.
When a killer called ‘The Caretaker’ starts injuring and killing the abusers of the victims of the Support group the Police get involved and try figure what is the link between the two and who ‘The Caretaker’ is.
The is a fabulous, fast paced page turner. It is a gritty thriller, with great well-developed characters that you wanted to route for. and found the storyline unique. This had lots of twists and turns to the end. But it was left hanging I thought. Is there another book in the mix. 4 stars from me.

If you want something different then this is for you
Right from the beginning you know there is something different and unusual about this book. You can visualise the characters and the part they play in this book,
When the book starts to unfold, then watch out because it will be an all nighter

Thank you B.D Stephens
Harper Collins UK
One more chapter
Netgalley

I have never read this author before but when I saw the title and read the synopsis I knew I had to read this. I was hooked from the first sentence. I love the unexpected twists and turns of the Caretaker. Incredibly done. The ending was not what I was expecting either and put such a smile on my face. I definitely want a continuation of this story. If not, I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was an interesting premise! I was hooked by the synopsis, and I think it somewhat delivered. I’d not realized this was the start of a series, and I can’t say I’m interested enough to keep going. But it was a quick, easy, fast-paced read. The twists weren’t entirely surprising and I found myself skimming sections that dragged, but I think more consistent thriller readers will enjoy this one.

Jess, fed up with the abuse from her boyfriend, opens up to a doctor treating her latest injuries. He gives her a card for a support group for women in similar situations, where she begins to face her reality alongside others who understand her struggle. As a vigilante begins taking down abusive men, the women grow stronger, especially as their own abusers become targets.

With plenty of unexpected twists, the story only gets more intense. The ending leaves room for a possible sequel, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it!

Astonishingly Brilliant and hugely addictive.
I binge read this thrilling tale in one sitting as I could not and WOULD NOT put it down.
The story is crafted exquisitely with believable characters and chills and cheers in equal measure.
DEFINITELY NOT ONE TO MISS THIS YEAR!
Recommended without question and an obviously deserving 5 Stars.
I cannot wait for another installment.

3.5 stars ⭐️

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7338408855 The title of this book intrigued me and reeled me in so where do I even start? Jess joins a support group for domestic abuse survivors but then the abusive ex-partners of some of the women of the support group start being taken out whether that be attacked or even murdered by a vigilante calling themselves the Caretaker. The caretaker has made it their mission to help these women when the police had failed to do just that but why?
Do the support group know this “caretaker”?

It was a good read and did keep you gripped at certain points and a good plot twist but I don’t think it’s a book that I’d want to read again.


Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this

D.B. Stephens delivers a gripping, high-stakes thriller in The Serial Killer Support Group, blending dark humor, suspense, and an original concept that keeps the pages turning. The story follows a group of people bound by a chilling commonality—each has survived an encounter with a serial killer. But rather than moving on, they’ve formed a support group, determined to stop the monsters still lurking in the shadows.

From the first chapter, the book hooks you with its sharp writing and intense pacing. The characters are distinct and flawed, making for an intriguing mix of personalities, and the group’s dynamic adds a fresh twist to the usual crime thriller formula. While the plot leans into action and tension, it also explores deeper themes of trauma, survival, and justice.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5-star read for me is that some moments stretch believability, and a few side characters could have been developed more. That said, it’s an adrenaline-fueled ride that fans of fast-paced thrillers will love. If you enjoy books like The Serial Killer’s Wife or Final Girls, this is a must-read!

Would I recommend it? Absolutely—especially if you like a thriller that keeps you guessing.

I came for the title, I stayed for the revenge fantasy, retribution and morally questionable characters.

Our main narrator, Jess, has watched cycles of domestic abuse happen and is determined to break it. Then she finds herself like a frog boiling in a pot, repeating the story— finding herself being abused, hurt, controlled by a man.

I loved her, her storytelling was easy, simple, conversational, and so personal — and her voice slipped smoothly in and out of other perspectives looking from the outside, watching. The enigmatic and mysterious caretaker, someone out there greeting vigilant justice and an inspiration for our women as they start to create their own plans, and an investigator trying to solve the puzzle. It moves slowly, day by day, but always something dramatic going on, dark things happening in the shadows all around.

"If the Caretaker was a woman they would want to burn her at the stake. They always want to burn women at the stake, even now. The Caretaker being a man means people will talk about the right things to do with this."

The characters she meets at the group, our supporting players are sublime. At times I desperately wanted to know them more, have their characters developed but there were simply too many people to fully explore and in a way, it was beautifully realistic. They all suffered, they all want to find a way to survive and I felt for every single one of them.

From delving into when revenge is needed, addressing the neglect and negligence the law imposes on DB victims, to offering a darkly cathartic release to those victims, the sexist double standards in reporting and crime, this book packs a punch and isn’t scared to be loud, angry, violent — blurring the lines between a vindicator and villain.

The finale was so abrupt I did get a little whiplash and it felt almost like there was one more chapter that just didn’t get included - but my god if that wasn’t one of the most delightful endings.

OMG where do I even start with this? Jess joins a support group for domestic abuse survivors. Suddenly, the abusive ex-partners of some of the women in the group start being attacked or murdered by a vigilante called the Caretaker. He has set out to avenge these women since the police haven't kept them safe. But why is he helping them, and who is he?

I love absolutely everything about this book- the plot is flawless and I absolutely devoured it. This is easily going to be one of my top reads of 2025. I give it ALL the stars 👏👏

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this advanced copy to review.

3.5 ⭐️ I really liked the concept of “The Serial Killer Support Group”, but I think the execution could have been stronger. The first 80 pages were incredibly captivating, but then the pacing slowed down significantly until a big revelation about halfway through. After that, things picked up again, but the uneven pacing made the middle section drag.

I also struggled with the descriptions of domestic violence—there should have been a trigger warning. That said, I was impressed by how a male author tackled this topic, successfully conveying the pain and fear of the women who experienced it.

What I absolutely loved was the book’s focus on resilience and justice. It highlights how difficult it can be for victims to get the help they need, and I appreciated the way it explored (unconventional) paths to empowerment.

Overall, despite some pacing issues, this was a thought-provoking read with a compelling message.

Where do I begin? This book was a bit confusing to me. The book title implies something cool, like a literal support group for serial killers. Disappointingly it is not quite that.
This book is more of a support group for victims of domestic violence and what happens when the police aren't that helpful. I struggled to get past the first half of the book as it felt extremely predictable and very slow. Thankfully the second half amped up the action and became a bit more interesting. The ending was a bit abrupt with some loose ends still hanging. Overall, I do feel that the premise has promise, just needed some polishing.

A big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins/One More Chapter for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was better than I expected! I love the violence, rage, and justice. I am familiar with women in these situations and this novel definitely hits the nail on the head (errr or the hammer on the head (pun intended - you’ll get it if you read the book!) in its truth. I have a feeling there will be a sequel?? Looking forward to it!

Reminds me of one of my favorite authors Rio Youers in the pure revenge violence ♥️

With a title like this, I couldn’t not pick up this book & read it. It deals with the subject of domestic violence which is clear from the beginning so anyone who would find that a trigger knows immediately whether to read it or not.

Jess is being abused by her boyfriend but when she decides that she’s had enough and chooses to leave him, she is given a leaflet advertising a support group for victims of DV. Deciding to go along, she makes friends with other women who have suffered in the way that she has.

I won’t offer any spoilers by explaining how the support group moves from a DV support group to a group for serial killers, but the story is ingenious. Yes, it’s a bit lighthearted in the way it approaches a dark subject, and some of it is a bit far fetched, but it was glorious and delicious in the way the story is served.

Add in a female detective who clearly has a mysterious past of her own and the other element of the dual narrative and what emerges is a fantastic read that I found hard to put down.

I expected the book to be a one-off but in the acknowledgments, the author suggests that this is the first in a series. I will definitely be reading the sequel although I think this would be hard to top.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A clever book about women regaining their power.

Positives
Women power
Feminine mystique
Overcoming and regaining

Negatives
Very white-centric
Very heteronormative

Like the addition of males seeking a support group, although it was only a backdrop and not very deeply investigated.

Great premise and I love how others reached out. Highly recommend for lovers of serial killers and psychological reads.

Might consider including trigger warnings for abuse.

If you like Dexter, you’ll like this book. Instead of going after any and all bad guys, in this book, the Caretaker focuses on abusive boyfriends and husbands. The support group includes women that have been abused. This gives women a chance to be with like-minded people. They can see what each other is going through. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for an honest opinion.

Not the easiest book to read, the description of DV will be a trigger, and some of the statistics quoted are beyond shocking, that aside, I really enjoyed the book.

Jess is in A&E after being attacked by her boyfriend on New Year's Eve, he has coached her in what to say and tries to stay with her throughout the whole time she is being checked, Jess finally admits to a doctor who is stitching her up that she has been assaulted, police arrive, Lewis, the boyfriend, is taken away (but not held in custody) and Jess is told she can go home and is given the contact details of a support group for DV victims.

Just a very good read, which will also anger in parts!

Recommended

Spending New Year’s Eve sat in A and E wasn’t what Jess has envisaged but having been at the hand of Lewis many times she couldn’t be too surprised. Having grown up witnessing her mum going through the same paternal of DV Jess knew she had to break this cycle so when the opportunity was given for Jess to be alone with the Dr and a way shown out of the cycle Jess took it.
A new life opened up to Jess one which left her lonely and scared with Lewis making his presence ever felt. Taking the giant step towards a support group Jess became involved in the group for men and women but found support in ways she never expected!
The caretaker for the building where the support group was held had his own ways of supporting these abused women one which some may class as unconventional karma! Or is all what it seems?
Can detective Sophie Salam crack the case of the increasing number of bodies that are appearing all whom which share an interesting link of being dv abusers? The “Pendle” comment I’m not so sure non northern uk readers will maybe understand but I liked it !!!
I guess there may be triggers for a reader having experience DV but I don’t feel it went too deeply into it so don’t let that put you off. The characters were well written and intruiging and the plot line was very exciting and enjoyable for me this was a 5 star read so thank you NetGalley for the Arc I would have missed out on a truly great read otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an advanced copy of The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a solid 4-star read for me! One of the standout aspects of this book was its morally grey cast of characters. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains here—just people operating in shades of gray, making decisions that teeter on the edge of right and wrong. The protagonist herself is far from a traditional heroine, and the lines between justice and revenge blur in fascinating ways. Even the so-called villain had layers that made them compelling, and I found myself constantly shifting my perspective on who I should be rooting for.

While this wasn’t a traditional thriller in the sense that the “who” and “why” were revealed early on, that didn’t take away from the suspense. Instead, the tension came from watching everything unravel—seeing how these morally ambiguous characters would navigate the chaos and what the final fallout would be. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see where it would all lead.

This was my first book by D.B. Stephens, but I’m now very interested in going back to read the previous book referenced in this story. It sounds fantastic, and if this novel is any indication, I have high hopes that it will deliver just as well.

As the mother of a little boy on the spectrum, I especially appreciated the unglamorized and unsensationalized representation of an autistic child. It was refreshing to see a portrayal that felt real and honest rather than exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Overall, this was a gripping read with complex, flawed characters and a premise that kept me engaged until the very end. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author!