A very unique spin on serial killers!

This was an easy book to breeze through and could definitely be read in a day because of its fast pace. It was a tiny bit challenging keeping up with what was a memory and what was actually happening. The memories sort of just started mid-chapter and threw me off each time.

The plot twist was predictable but I still really enjoyed the dark humor, all of the rage, and how over the top it all felt. I thought Cyra was an amazing MC, total baddie!

I would definitely recommend this one, and especially suggest for spooky season!!

Book Review: Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Rating: 5 Stars

Okay, I just have to rave about Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer because wow—this book absolutely blew me away. From the moment I saw that striking cover (and title), I was hooked, and let me tell you, it lived up to every bit of that promise.

The story follows Cyra Griffin, whose younger sister was brutally murdered by a serial killer. Frustrated and disillusioned with the police dragging their feet on the case, Cyra decides to take matters into her own hands. Using some insider info (which she’s hush-hush about), she infiltrates a support group made up of serial killers by pretending to be one herself. Yeah, it sounds wild—and it is! But it’s also darkly clever, biting, and packed with sharp wit. Watching Cyra navigate the twisted world of these dangerous men while chasing her own brand of justice had me completely glued to the pages.

What really stood out is how this isn’t just a thriller; it’s a fierce, feminist, and queer-affirming story that digs deep into the idea of what monsters look like—and who gets to wear that label. Cyra’s journey is as much about holding onto her humanity as it is about revenge, and honestly, it reminded me a lot of Dexter in the best way possible.

The pacing was spot-on, the plot full of twists, and the characters felt so real and well-developed that I was rooting for them even when things got grim. I tore through this book in just two days (and only stopped because I needed sleep—priorities!).

Please, please let there be a sequel—I’m crossing everything that we’ll get more Cyra soon because I’m not ready to say goodbye!

If you love thrillers with a dark sense of humor and a refreshing edge, do yourself a favor and pick up this debut—it’s a wild, brilliant ride you won’t regret. Five stars all the way!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I LOVED Cyra. She was a great main character. The storyline was really engaging, I was hooked throughout. I'll definitely read another book from this author.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Pub Date: 3/18
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The title of this book is fire. The synopsis of this book had me super excited; but the execution was a little off for me.
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So, we have Cyra, whose sister Mira was murdered... She then sneaks into a - you guessed it - serial killer support group because she is convinced on of the people in this support group killed her sister. Okay.... I have some questions. Out of all of the serial killers in the world, why was she so sure that one of the few in the group was the killer? This made the story feel a little more childlike in my opinion... Next up - why didn't any characters besides maybbbbeeee the main character - Cyra - have any kind of sustenance to them? Each of the characters pretty much fell flat. I struggled to keep up with who was who and honestly could care less as to who was who; but I will say I did love that each of the serial killers did get their own chapter to kind of give them a background, it just didnt work to flesh them out enough for me.
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This is a bit of a slow burn that turns into a more fast paced read. I thought that a few of the plot twists were well placed and I enjoyed them.
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My thriller fans, you may love this one, I saw many reviews in regard to loving this book, but unfortunately this was just not for me. Give it a go I would love to hear your thoughts!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Saratoga Schaefer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this one, but it didn’t work for me. I did not care for any of the characters. Nothing about the support group made much sense to me - why they formed, how the MC was able to join so easily, why she thought her sister’s killer would be in the group/easy to find. The book was fine, quick and entertaining enough that others might enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unique Idea, But Didn’t Fully Hit the Mark

Serial Killer Support Group had such an original and intriguing premise—I was really excited to dive into it. The dark humor and concept definitely stood out, and there were moments that were clever and unexpected. I appreciated the creativity and the bold approach to such a bizarre storyline.

That said, it didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven in parts, and I struggled to connect with the characters. Some scenes were engaging, while others dragged a bit or felt underdeveloped. I kept waiting for it to really pull me in, but it never quite got there.

I still think it’s worth a read if you’re into offbeat, unconventional thrillers with a satirical edge. It just wasn’t as gripping or fleshed out as I hoped it would be.

This book was so amazing! It was nice to read from a serial killer's perspective and to read what was going through their mind. It was twisty and left me feeling breathless.

I really enjoyed this book. I love a strong female character, and Cyra is definitely strong. I didnt figure out all of the twists, so that makes this book that much better for me. The ending was well done. I am hoping Saratoga keeps writing as I'd enjoy either a sequel to this book, or other books similar to it.
Wonderful LGBTQ representation as well.
A very strong 4 star rating from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

This was a very interesting premise. For some reason I found the first half of the book to be more entertaining than the second half. I enjoyed the build up of how the group began more than the actual solving of the crime.

I picked this up as a last-ditch effort to salvage my NetGalley reviewer score, but now I just want to scream into the void about why I didn’t read it sooner. Because wow, this book is good. Dark, twisted, and emotionally sharp in all the right ways.

The premise is original: after the murder of her sister, Cyra Griffin infiltrates a support group for serial killers, posing as one of them in a desperate bid to uncover the truth. But as she sinks deeper into her new persona, "Mistletoe," and begins targeting those she suspects, the line between performance and reality starts to blur.

As an eldest daughter and a certified fan of unhinged women, Cyra had me hooked. Her grief felt raw and real, and the lengths she was willing to go for her sister? I felt that in my bones. Would I do the same for my brother? 100%. Would I take on a serial killer alter ego to do it? ...I mean, who's asking?

The support group members were disturbingly well-portrayed, each one a different flavor of nightmare, but special shoutout to Lamprey, the charming, too-good-looking killer that Cyra teams up with. I hated how much I liked him, which is exactly the point. Schaefer does a brilliant job skewering our obsession with charismatic monsters. (Yes, I gave myself the ick.)

While the pace could’ve picked up a bit earlier (the first half leans heavily into grief and identity-building), it never felt unnecessary.

The final twist? Oof. When Cyra casually reveals her collection of trophies and it’s clear she’s not planning to stop... literal chills.

Serial Killer Support Group is the kind of book that sinks its teeth into you. It’s perfect for readers who crave morally grey protagonists and grief-soaked revenge arcs. This book asks what happens when you stare too long into the abyss and what it means when the abyss starts looking back, maybe nodding in approval.

Rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

The only issue *I* had is that most of the characters are using codenames, and I already struggle with remembering names and who is who while reading, and I had to pause this for a solid minute, and coming back to someone named 'Mocking Jay' and trying to remember who that was, was hard for *me*. If you're great with names, you'd be just fine.

I liked getting the different POVs and sides to some of the same plot lines. When it was the addict, it did a great job of really making sure you knew you were in the head of someone looking for their next fix and nothing else. Jay needed some help.

The ending kinda felt 'meh' to me, I don't want to spoil, but I was wanting for more or different.

This was an okey. Not the very best thriller i have read. You like forget what The story was about the minute you have finished it.... Nothing that will stick with you. Just an okey read...

By the title, I thought I would love this book but this was a bit to goofy and unbelievable for me to be vested in the story. If you like a dark, fun beach read give this a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read.
3 star

Serial Killer Support Group, was a unique set up and plot.

This book was very on the nose. Throughout reading, we did see a lot more unfolding of grief and how one articulates themselves around others. Relationship dynamics between sisters. This felt definitely more like a coming-of-age story and grief story more than a thriller revenge to me.

Felt very sleuth at first but quickly went unhinged.

I absolutely loved the setup of this book and felt it to be very unique. Cyara’s sister is murdered by a serial killer and Cyra Is desperate to find out who the killer is.

Cyra is a strong FMC, fearless and trained as an MMA fighter. She’s quickly passed off as a meek woman by the 'Serial Killer Support Group' quickly. She infiltrates This group with one goal in mind.

This book had a great premise and start to it. Definitely bearing the dark psyche of serial killers. The story is largely told between The current time and has past memories embedded in it.

I enjoyed the writing and thought this to be an enjoyable read for the most part. I enjoyed how the different POV‘s were brought in and enjoyed the background of some of the characters I can’t quite explain it didn’t hit home for me as well as I thought it would. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming, but I felt this story to be too long.

TW:
Death
Grief
Light Gore (imagery)
Suicide (off page)
Mental health
Substance abuse

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC copy for my honest review.

SERIAL KILLER SUPPORT GROUP is a unique story about how far one woman will go for her sister. Schaefer takes the best and worst of a person’s impulses and plays with them to create a taut and carefully crafted psychological thriller.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but what I read was a layered and complex tale with a strong and emotionally complex female lead. With the premise of seeking out her sister’s killer, Cyra manages to get into a serial killer support group. From there, she goes down the rabbit hole of vengeance. There are twists, turns, and deeply dark moments within this book. The characters are duplicitous, hold a variety of secrets, and are absolutely murderous. Their interaction has shocking and sometimes expected results.

And yet, the best part is that this story has Cyra try to get into the headspace of these killers and see how it all unfolds. The author pushes the limits and makes strategic decisions in how it all unravels. It is what made me continue to read this book. For better or worse, I needed to know what happened next. And by the end, I got partly what I thought would happen, combined with a little something extra I didn’t necessarily see coming.

After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer.


This book was exactly what the title said - first i thought it will be like a metaphor or something but no - there really was a support group for serial killers. Which took me by surprise.

I really wanted this book to be my fav - like really, really. But besides the main character, all the other ones felt flat. I would like to just get to know them better instead of getting their background stories on the plate. It threw me off a little and i wasn't interested in going deeper.
I also could not grasp the fact that serial killers would just have a meetings with other serial killers - i do not think it would happen in real life because there would be a 100% chance of someone from police finding that out - it is a nice idea but not so realistic.


It was okay-ish but i think it need to be changed a little

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. I DNFed around 30%. The writing was okay, but I just couldn’t get into the story, the characters weren’t compelling enough, and the premise - while exactly what the title states it is - was a bit silly the way it was executed. Because I didn’t finish, I won’t be leaving a review on other sites. Thanks for the ARC!

"After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer."

This was a really good debut and I look forward to more from this author. Well done!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"Serial Killer Support Group" – A Wickedly Clever Spin on Morality and Murder...

Saratoga Schaefer’s "Serial Killer Support Group" is not your conventional thriller—it’s a darkly comedic, unsettling, and strangely introspective ride that examines the morality of murder with razor-sharp wit. Beneath its bold premise lies a deeply layered exploration of power, control, and the blurred lines between justice and monstrosity.

From the title alone, one might expect a satirical take on the serial killer genre, and while Schaefer delivers plenty of dark humor, the novel also possesses a sobering intelligence.

The support group framework becomes the perfect incubator for tension, forcing individuals—each with their own chilling justifications—to confront the realities of their nature. The interplay between these personalities transforms every conversation into a psychological game, where manipulation and self-deception thrive.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it manipulates empathy. Schaefer’s killers are not grotesque caricatures; rather, they are fully realized people—some disturbingly charismatic, others terrifyingly detached. As the group dynamics unfold, readers find themselves questioning their own moral compass: At what point does murder stop being justifiable? Who among them is truly the monster? This moral dissonance makes for an unnervingly immersive experience.

While the novel maintains a sinister edge, Schaefer cleverly weaves humor into the cracks of suspense. The absurdity of a group designed to manage homicidal tendencies is played for irony, yet the underlying psychological tension remains unrelenting. This tonal balance keeps the pacing brisk, ensuring that the horror never fully dissipates, even when the writing invites a smirk.

"Serial Killer Support Group" is an audacious, genre-bending novel that refuses to conform to predictable thriller conventions. Saratoga Schaefer crafts a narrative that is simultaneously thought-provoking and wickedly entertaining, ensuring that readers remain trapped in its moral complexities long after the final page. Whether you seek psychological depth, dark humor, or a fresh take on the serial killer genre, this book delivers on all fronts.

Dark, darkly humorous and inventively plotted. The central protagonist is interesting and it’s excellent to see how she reacts and coped when the tables are tuned on her. A good read.