thanks to netgalley for the arc (sorry that i was like .... way late on reading it)

This is a really unique twist on the thriller genre. It felt like You mixed with a sibling-grief story. I understand why people say it is a bit silly and hard to believe at times, but i would counter: you saw the title of the book what exactly did you expect to be inside?

Cyra's sister was murdered a few months ago and the police are not solving the mystery fast enough for her liking. Luckily for Cyra, shes got a friend inside the police force and is able to get some inside information to try and find her sisters killer.

Once she finds out about a very secretive support group for Serial Killers she decides she needs to infiltrate to catch her sisters killer.

We spend the novel mostly in Cyra's perspective with the occasional POV switch to the serial killers in the support group. I really liked how you get their perspectives and can see how they justify what they're doing meanwhile wondering if Cyra can realistically go up against them if she gets found out.

I picked this up expecting a breezy thriller and it actually had more depth than i expected with the relationship between the sisters, and Cyras spiraling mental health after the loss of her sister.

This was a really unique take on a thriller and i'm really excited to see what Saratoga comes up with next. They are a really compelling storyteller.

I love the concept of infiltrating a serial killer support group to find her sister's killer! I haven't read anything like that before. Unfortunately, the delivery just wasn't enough. I had to force myself to keep reading as I lost interest. So much of the plot is not believable and honestly makes the characters look dumb. We have serial killers that are good enough to have been getting away with it for years and not get caught meeting together, but it took one woman to take it all down? This had the potential to be so much more beacuse of the unique storyline, so maybe the author will grow from this.

Thank you to Netgalley, Saratoga Schaefer and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fresh and interesting thriller - I was thoroughly impressed by the concept (somehow one I hadn't read before in spite of being an avid thriller reader). This book kept me on edge throughout and I can't stop thinking about it (months later - this review is laaaaate). This has everything I want as a thriller reader: intrigue, suspense, solid plot, and actually thrilling scenes. I can't sing this book's praises enough. I'm SO looking forward to future books by Saratoga Schaefer. Definitely recommend this - especially as we head into spooky season!

Serial Killer Support Group is a bold, unsettling, and surprisingly original debut that hooked me more than I expected. The premise itself is wild—what if you could infiltrate a secret support group for serial killers in order to catch your sister’s murderer?—and Schaefer runs with it in a way that’s equal parts chilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

Cyra Griffin is not your typical protagonist. Still reeling from the brutal loss of her younger sister, she takes justice into her own hands, creating a fabricated persona as “Mistletoe” to worm her way into a group of killers with parasite-inspired nicknames like Python, Whipworm, and Sand Fly. Watching her gradual descent—how grief hardens into obsession, how her numbness becomes both armor and weapon—was one of the most compelling aspects of the book. She’s naive and irrational at times, but that vulnerability makes her transformation all the more believable.

The structure is smartly layered: alternating between Cyra’s perspective and glimpses into each killer’s origin story. These side chapters kept the tension sharp while also humanizing the monsters she’s surrounded by. By the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down—the pace kicks into overdrive, the stakes feel high, and the twists are placed just right to keep the reader off balance.

That said, the book does demand a certain suspension of disbelief. The setup is a bit outrageous, and in the first third, I found myself questioning whether I’d stick with it. But by the middle, I was fully invested. Schaefer knows how to build tension, and while not every twist lands perfectly, the cumulative effect is gripping.

The ending left me a little torn. The final reveal is devastating and reframes much of Cyra’s journey in a clever way, but it didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted. Still, the emotional payoff is there, and it lingers after the last page.

Overall, Serial Killer Support Group is a gritty, provocative thriller that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s messy at times, but in a way that feels fitting for a story about blurred morality, obsession, and the cost of vengeance. If you’re drawn to antiheroes, psychological tension, and thrillers that make you question right and wrong, this debut is worth the ride.

Not bad. A fun premise- a few twists and the end that left a bit to be desired. Overall worth the read. It was definitely original. I enjoyed the characters and the setting- a couple of the twists toward the middle could have been better but still good!

This dark, gripping read pulls you in from the first page. Filled with gruesome yet strangely likable characters, the story unfolds through multiple perspectives of the support group. At its core lies a sister’s relentless pursuit of justice, revealing how far she’ll go to avenge her sibling.

Is this a perfect book? No, but it just keeps growing on me even months after finishing it. I found the MC compelling and imperfect. The whole concept of the 'support group' requires pretty significant suspension of disbelief but I love a good antihero and I really liked how suspenseful it was. I'll be recommending this to folks who like thrillers and true crime a lot.

I've never read another story quite like this. I did enjoy the originality. There were a few plot twists, some of which I didn't like. I feel like the ending really left something to be desired.

I found this book hard to rate and also hard to explain why. I liked the book but at the same time sort of didn't but its hard for me to put it into words. It kept me intrigued and interested to keep reading and know what was going to happen but at the same time I was like eh this isn't that believable. I know books don't need to be believable. I read all sorts of stuff but I think when its a book that is supposed to come across as something real and not far fetched that's where I was struggling. I will say the I was surprised with the twist and how the book ended. I think i felt the ending coming but it did wrap it all up that could lead to second book. I do think if there was a second book I would read it! So I call that a win!

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer is a razor-sharp debut that dives headfirst into the murky waters of grief, vengeance, and identity. As my first read by this author, I was struck by their fearless storytelling and psychological depth. Schaefer doesn’t just write about monsters she asks what happens when we become one in pursuit of justice. Cyra Griffin, the protagonist, is a masterclass in emotional complexity. Her grief over her sister Mira’s murder morphs into obsession, and watching her transformation into “Mistletoe,” a fabricated serial killer persona, is both chilling and fascinating. Cyra’s descent is gradual and believable. Her numbness becomes her armor, and her ability to manipulate others while losing pieces of herself makes her one of the most compelling antiheroines I’ve read in a while. The support group members each with parasite-themed nicknames like Whipworm, Python, and Sand Fly are grotesque, charismatic, and disturbingly human. They’re not just villains; they’re reflections of Cyra’s own unraveling. The premise is wild in the best way: Cyra infiltrates a secret support group for serial killers to find her sister’s murderer. The setup is taut with tension, and Schaefer keeps the stakes high with a series of disturbing initiation rituals and psychological tests. The pacing is relentless, and the alternating perspectives between Cyra and the killers add a disorienting layer that mirrors her own unraveling. The narrative doesn’t just move it spirals, pulling you deeper into a world where morality is murky and survival demands compromise. The initial twist with Cyra faking her own kill to gain entry is bold and sets the tone for the moral ambiguity that follows. As she gets closer to the truth, the lines blur: is she still hunting a killer, or becoming one herself? The final reveal about Mira’s death isn’t just shocking it’s emotionally devastating, reframing Cyra’s entire journey and forcing readers to confront the cost of vengeance. Serial Killer Support Group is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a brilliant exploration of how trauma can distort identity and morality. Saratoga Schaefer’s debut is gritty, provocative, and unforgettable. I’ll absolutely be reading more from them. If you’re drawn to thrillers that challenge your sense of right and wrong, this one will leave a mark.

The Serial Killer Support Group is a wild ride. It’s equal parts creepy and clever, and I was very much along for the ride.

oh this ate so bad. i ADORED cyra. i will always support women's rights AND wrongs. this plot was insane i have never readd a book like this! i thought that the plot and character development were tied together really nicely, and were well executed. i'm so excited to read more by this author!

Her sister is murdered and the case is well on its way to becoming a cold case. Using a tip from someone inside the police force, Cyra Griffin joins a serial killer support group. Cyra must get to know the members of the support group in an effort to determine who is behind the murder of her sister. It was a little hard to suspend belief that this could be a thing. Her attempts to double cross her fellow support group members almost gets her killed. Will the answer to her sister's murder be found in this support group? Or is the answer closer to home?

Serial Killer Support group is exactly what it sounds like… a book about, well, a serial killer support group. The premise is a bit silly and the reader definitely has to suspend their disbelief to get into the story.

The first third of this book I found a bit ridiculous and hard to read. However, I found myself quite invested at the halfway point. I found Cyra naive and irrational at times, but I did want to see what would happen to her as the book felt very high stakes. I also did not see a few of the twists coming which kept me on the edge of my seat.

This book was fine. I definitely would only recommend it to you if you are truly interested in the premise and are willing to suspend disbelief and irrational characters.

After Cyra Griffin’s sister is brutally murdered, she takes justice into her own hands—by infiltrating a support group for serial killers, pretending to be one herself. It's a premise that immediately grabbed my attention and delivered on its creepy, unsettling promise.

The standout element here is the book’s unique structure. Saratoga Schaefer skillfully weaves in the killers' backstories from their own twisted perspectives, which adds a layer of psychological depth and keeps the tension high. It’s eerie, sometimes uncomfortable, and always intriguing to get inside the heads of these characters.

While the novel doesn’t go especially deep in terms of character development or moral complexity, that didn’t take away from the fast-paced, suspenseful ride. This is a book that leans into its genre and premise without overcomplicating things—which works for what it sets out to do. There’s also a late-game twist that, while subtle, added a nice extra punch.

Overall, this is a solid three-star read. It’s clever, unsettling, and sharp in its feminist commentary without being heavy-handed. If you're into thrillers with a dark edge and an original concept, I’d recommend giving this one a shot.

dark, funny, fun, weird, and then some more dark fun. wildly entertaining and gripping read. definitely not your typical thriller read in the best way possible,

A clever take on a serial killer narrative. The author did an excellent job centering the victims while humanizing the alleged killers. Unsettling in the best way.

Cyra’s sister died several months ago and the police have yet to catch her killer. Cyra spent her entire life protecting her baby sister, and now that she’s gone, she’s lost, numb, and wanting nothing more than justice for her sister. The police have no leads–but they let it slip that her death had an unsettling similarity with those of others in the area. Her sister was the victim of a serial killer. When Cyra finds out there’s a local Serial Killers Support Group, she does what any other grieving sister would do–she joins it. And she will do whatever it takes to get vengeance for her sister. But will she kill?

I devoured this book in one sitting. The pacing is smooth, like sliding down a gradual, then steep incline. Cyra is a captivating protagonist. She’s numb from her sister’s death, but it becomes clear she’s always been different. She doesn’t have the same emotions others have–except for where it came to her sister. I adored her POV scenes, and her motivations were clear, yet compelling at the same time. Cyra’s character development is a highlight of this book, along with the rocket-fast pace and twists and turns in the plot.

We also get other POV scenes throughout, as we’re introduced to each of the serial killers in the support group through a chapter that describes their origins–or their first kill. These added a fantastic layer to the story, as each serial killer’s POV chapter was released in a strategic way, advancing the plot forward as Cyra searches for the one who killed her sister.

I adored this book, and while the very end was a little bit predictable, there were enough twists throughout to keep me guessing, and there were several possible endings that I didn’t truly know which one the author would settle on.

All in all, this is a fantastic read for those who love thrillers that explore anti-heroes you can easily root for.

A bold, genre-bending debut that blends thriller, satire, and psychological horror. The premise requires suspension of disbelief—would serial killers really meet for snacks and emotional check-ins? Maybe not, but it’s fun to imagine. Some characters felt underdeveloped beyond their backstories. Overall, a great story.

Saratoga Schaefer’s Serial Killer Support Group is a darkly satirical and fast-paced thriller that explores the twisted psychology of killers trying—often failing—to reform. The story follows Evan, a man trying to leave his violent past behind by attending a support group for serial killers attempting to stay on the straight and narrow. But when members of the group start dying, Evan is forced to uncover the truth while resisting the pull of his old instincts.

Schaefer masterfully blends macabre humor with gritty suspense, creating a narrative that’s both disturbing and oddly entertaining. The plot is packed with sharp dialogue, unpredictable twists, and a cast of deeply flawed yet compelling characters. It’s a unique take on crime fiction that examines morality, addiction, and the nature of evil.