The title alone sold this book for me, I knew I had to read it. I’m a sucker for a good one.

The storyline is so much fun. I loved our main character Cyra and I especially loved that she was crossing the lines of right and wrong. It felt dirty and good all at the same time. 😅

I had my suspicions on who Cyra’s sister’s murderer was from the very beginning and up until the very last second, I thought I had solved it.

The idea of a serial killer support group was exciting to me and I loved that aspect of the book. It’s quick and fun, and the ending is satisfying. I’ve been going through a lot lately and for a while lost enjoyment out of reading. I’m glad that when I decided to pick back up, this was the book I picked up first. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my eARC. Serial Killer Support Group is available now.

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

The premise of this book hooked me immediately, unfortunately, that's all that hooked me. The characters fell flat, some parts dragged on and on.

Serial Killer Support Group follows Cyra, who lost her sister a year ago to murder. After meeting with the detective covering her sister's case, she finds out her sister is a probable victim of a serial killer, but the police have run out of leads. Determined to avenge her sister, Cyra finds out about a support group for serial killers, and infiltrates it in a desperate attempt to get justice.

This book for me was a just fine thriller, whose concept was amazing but the execution fell a little bit flat. You really have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this one, from the way Cyra gets into the group, straight through to the very end. Besides Cyra, all the other characters, especially the members of the serial killer support group, felt very flat, and it was sometimes hard to remember who was who. I found the writing to be a little clunky, and needed a little more polish. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either.

This one just didn't hit for me... I was interested in the premise, but the writing was confusing and incongruent at times. The side characters felt like over-emphasized tropes, and the main character was really hard to get a read on. In some scenes she comes off as a vengeful sister in over her head, and in the next she seems like an assassin who knows exactly how to pull off her revenge. I don't quite know how to explain it, but this just felt abrasive from beginning to end, and I really struggled to get into any kind of rhythm while reading it.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

SERIAL KILLER SUPPORT GROUP by Saratoga Schaefer is a twist on the serial killer crime genre. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @crookedlanebooks for the e-ARC.

🔪🔪🔪

Cyra Griffin's sister was murdered and she is going to get to the bottom of it and find the killer. After receiving some very convenient information regarding a local serial killer support group, she joins and takes on the persona named Mistletoe to play while she investigates. Can she figure it out before the killers figure her out?

This was silly and wildly lighthearted for the subject matter. I liked the premise and the heart of the story which is a sister seeking revenge for her murdered sibling, but that is about as far as my like goes. I really despised most of the characters and am flabbergasted as to how any of them could be serial killers as they are all pretty much dumb as rocks.

If you are looking for a fun, playful story about serial killers, this certainly has a somewhat unique premise. I wouldn't say it was awful, just came across kinda forced. I do love the cover though!

Serial Killers Anonymous is a sharp, dark debut novel that pulls you into the twisted underworld of serial killers in a way that’s both chilling and clever. Cyra Griffin’s quest for revenge after her younger sister is murdered is as raw and ruthless as the world she’s about to enter. Desperate for justice when the police fail her, Cyra takes matters into her own hands, infiltrating a support group for serial killers to track down her sister’s murderer.

What makes this novel stand out is its chilling stroy is Cyra’s dangerous game to blend in with monsters while pretending to be one herself. The characters in the support group are disturbing, but they aren’t her only threat. As she dives deeper into this shadowy world, the lines between good and evil blur, making you question how far someone is willing to go for revenge—and how much of their humanity is left once they’ve crossed that line.

Fast-paced, darkly witty, and utterly gripping, Serial Killers Anonymous will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a book for those who love twisted revenge tales with a psychological punch. The storytelling is sharp, and the moral complexities will linger with you long after the final page.

I did enjoy the overall story of Cyra, whose sister was murdered in a park, therefore she infiltrates a support group for serial killers from the black web, in order to find her sisters killer. However there are reason I rated book 3 stars instead of 5. At first I really liked MFC but as story went on she became very annoying with having to avenge her sister’s death and it came apparent she was obsessed with her sister to the point it was sickening. Also, I would have liked more gory killing scenes from the serial killers. Lastly, everything was wrapped up too nicely for me. Like the MFC being able to accomplish her goal too easily it seemed very unrealistic. But if you are just looking for an easy good time read with serial killers then this one is for you.

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Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer
Serial Killer Support Group
by Saratoga Schaefer (Goodreads Author)
5948071
Ghoul Von Horror's reviewMar 26, 2025 · edit
did not like it
bookshelves: 1-star-hated-it, almost-dnfed, audio-book, forgettable, gay, netgalley, read-books-2025, stalkerish, started-great-ended-meh, thriller-s

TW/CW: Language, grieving, mourning, drinking, toxic family relationships, alcoholism, death of sibling, abusive relationship, child abandonment, cheating


*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.

Using insider information (don’t ask) Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life. Proving herself to them comes at a cost, but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge.

Unfortunately, the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacle in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity.
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Each killers story about themselves

What I Didn't Like:
1. Serial Killers are boring and bicker too much
2. Cyra not like other girls
3. Boring
4. Predictable
5. The ending

Final Thoughts:
I rolled my eyes so much reading this book. So stupid. I didn't know serial killers could be so boring. I just can't imagine serial killers getting together to NOT brag about their murders. They join the group and it's banned. Yeah, because serial killers listen.

So much happens in this book that makes little sense. Like a serial killer helping Cyra find the man that killed her sister.

I hated Cyra painted herself as this person out to save innocent people when she's out there killing people too.

I hated how it's beat over our heads that she's taken classes to fight when it's so obvious that it'll come up later and she'll need to fight someone. Of course she wins against this much bigger and stronger man.

The way everyone just throws names around is so comical. Jason gives up his name in like 2 seconds.

It's all so convenient that the group that's on the black web is right in the same area where all these killers live. Plus to get in was so unbelievably easy. It didn't make sense why the police (other than the one) didn't try to get into it more.

I did enjoy how the killers broke down their killing tendencies one by one.

This book did that thing that drives me insane in books;
Our character remembers something one way or forgets to mention it - acting dumb but when we get to the ending it's a reveled that they actually knew everything. It doesn't make any sense to withhold information from the main character in their own brain and no one does that in real life. She did it with PJ. She acted like she was remorseful and an accident when she hit him but at the end we find out that she did it on purpose and actually finished him off with a rock. It makes no sense to spin the inner narrative.

Ok I loved this one!!! The suspense. The tension. This was so brilliantly twisted. Loved the characters. Loved how I couldn’t put this down.

I was obsessed with the group therapy sessions. Each killer’s backstory was so amazing.And disturbingly fascinating. I love all things serial killers! There’s more and more tension after every secret is unraveled. Loved the strong female lead. I was hooked and I could not put this one down.

Cyra is looking for answers in her sister's murder by infiltrating a serial killer's support group. As Cyra gets more and more deep in the group, she faces dangers to herself and needs to decide how important finding the killer is.

This book required A LOT of suspending disbelief. Why would serial killers willingly meet in public? Why does Cyra assume Mira's killer is part of the club? And why would they allow random newcomers? In any case, the premise was original and the overall story was entertaining. I thought the big twist was done well! I do however wish the characters were a bit more fleshed out. It felt like the killers were all stereotypical characters without any real depth and Cyra was not the most likable.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cyra is determined to find the truth about her sister Mira's murder and take justice into her own hands when she discovers a secret serial killer support group tied to the case. She infiltrates the group, hoping to uncover the identity of her sister's killer, but soon finds herself caught in a dangerous game where trust is scarce, and the line between victim and predator blurs. While the premise is gripping, the story unfolds slowly with a few twists toward the end, leaving readers to reflect on the darkness within us all.

Thank you Netgally for the adavanced readers copy of this upcoming romp!

In a culture where serial killers are some modern celebrities of sorts, books like these really soar. I cannot fathom this trend ending anytime soon, however, this is a fun take. I much prefer it in this format rather than a serial killer love story. (insert shivers here)

3.5 rounded up

How far would you go for someone you love? For Cyra, the answer is, as far as she has to. When she finds out that her sister was murdered by a serial killer, and that there is a secret serial killer support group in the area, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She finds a way to join the group, and starts attending. Each meeting, watching the others to figure out who was responsible for taking her sisters life. But, like her, these people cannot be trusted. Before long she is in over her head. Will she find the truth before she becomes the next victim? This was a quick, interesting read with some great twists.

Definitely had elements that help it stand out in a crowded genre. I finished this in a day and was invested in the plot. I liked the small chapters for each of the participants.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and probably shouldn't have finished it right before bedtime because WOO BOY, did I have some crazy, creepy dreams!

Some reviews are saying that there's too much going on and too many threads, but I found it to be a perfect balance. Every few chapters we get a flashback/origin chapter for one of the serial killers in the group, and it's done in a such a way that it follows along in tandem with Cyra's own investigation into which of the killers in the group (if any) killed her sister. And then there's Cyra's own journey (transformation) with the serial killer facade she's putting on, codename: Mistletoe.

Even more impressive is that this appears to be Saratoga Schaefer's debut novel. They're definitely on my radar now, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

DNF around 25%

I'm not going to lie, I am very disappointed that I didn't like this! The premise sounded so interesting, but I really disliked the main character and the whole setup just didn't make sense. I hadn't picked it up in months, which is clear indication that I just didn't care about it.

*SPOILER WARNING AHEAD*

Normally I try not to talk about spoilers when writing these, but I feel like this book is impossible to talk about WITHOUT mentioning some of the spoilers.

I loved the premise of this, but I think it just didn't live up to what I wanted in my own brain when I read the synopsis. I was kind of expecting this very generic girl trying to avenge her sister by joining a serial killer support group and trying to solve the mystery. That was the BASICS of what this was, but I didn't love that our MC basically was a sociopath herself? I was shocked by the twist and not in a good way. I thought it would have been more interesting to have her reactions as someone shocked by everything, but instead she barely flinched when she was tasked with getting rid of blood evidence.

I also never like reading from a serial killer perspective. It's not even like a personal reason, I just find it boring so I didn't love those chapters and they honestly all blended together. None of the serial killers felt unique in any way and felt like a copy and paste of each other. The end also fizzled out because of this reason as well.

Cyra's (made very clear that it's "sigh-ra") sister Mira (Really? Is it my-ra or meer-ah?) is found murdered in a park. Eli, their mutual friend, has an in to police information and let's Cyra know that there are circumstances surrounding the murder that may fit the pattern of a serial killer, and that there is possibly in existence a serial killer support group on the dark web. Cyra gets the idea to join the group to see if she can figure out who killed her sister, and perhaps avenge the murder. She tricks the group into allowing her in, but she isn't like these men. Or is she?

This is such an interesting premise for a book, and I was excited to read it. The book was well written, but a bit of a slow-burn. There were a couple twists toward the end but it took a long time to get there. I think that the relationships between Cyra and the rest of the members of the group could have been better developed to give the book a little bit more depth but I did enjoy the story. It does a good job of making you think about the darkness that could be lurking in all of us and what it would take to bring it out.

What do you get when you mix a grieving sister, a fake identity, and a room full of serial killers working on their feelings? Saratoga Schaefer's "Serial Killer Support Group" - a twisted and clever story that delivers exactly what the title promises.

Cyra's younger sister is murdered, and instead of letting the police screw up the investigation, she goes full vigilante and infiltrates a support group for serial killers. And yes, it's as dark and delightful as it sounds. Pretending to be a young female serial killer, Cyra embeds with the very people she suspects might have taken her sister's life - and then has to lean on those same monsters to help her catch the real one. What could go wrong?

Admittedly, I didn't fall for the book right away. The setup was intriguing, but I think I was too eager to love it. But then, somewhere around the halfway point, I was in deep. The suspense built quickly, the characters became disturbing and pretty compelling, and I found myself flipping pages like I was possessed.

This was my first Saratoga Schaefer read, and it will not be my last. Her writing is pitch-perfect for this kind of story - sharp, biting, and just unhinged enough to keep things interesting. She doesn't shy away from the macabre and thank goodness for that.

If you're the kind of person who casually watches "Criminal Minds" while folding laundry, or you've ever said, "I'm not into serial killers, but I find them fascinating," check out this book. It's a twisty, weird story that is wrong in the best way possible and totally worth your time.

Recommended for fans of dark thrillers, morally gray protagonists, and stories that aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Serial Killer Support Group is about Cyra and her mission to find her sister's killer. After gaining some inside information, she finds a way to get access to a suspect pool. Are any of these people responsible for her sister's death? Will pretending to be like them change her? Can she actually trust anyone?

This is not a genre I usually pick up, but it had my attention immediately and I read it all in one evening. Like Cyra, you never really knew what was coming. Even when you think you know at the end, there's still a twist. It was definitely an interesting change of pace for me!

Side note: I do have to say that the pronunciation of the main character's name (Cyra) is explained near the beginning of the book, but I still ended up questioning myself through the rest due to what my brain thought was a similarity with the sister's name (Mira). I appreciate that the explanation was there, but it was still hard to switch off.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.