With thanks to netgallery and crooked lane books for the ARC.

A unique premise which encouraged me to read the book. Overall, an entertaining read with a fast paced plot.

3 stars due to a lack of developed characters. All the characters seemed one dimensional which I feel could of easily been fixed in a book like this. Additionally, the plot at times seems overly covulted.

I was so intrigued just by the title …. I thought how interesting and brilliant of a story. It did not disappoint. Curs trying to solve her sisters murder at any cost was so thrilling and I loved every second of it !!! I loved getting to know the characters and their own personal stories . It was so good 4.5 stars from me !!! I will be recommending this book to everyone !!

Retailer review I will submit the day the book will be published.

Thank you Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange of an honest review

Rating: 4/5.

Tdlr:

Pros: this is one of the wildest books I have read in some time now. The title itself was shocking and intriguing that I was afraid the writing would be dudd. But boy was I wrong. The writing is great as is the plot, the characters are fleshed out well and the killers are outright creepy.

Cons: weirdly there are a few grammer mistakes and one continuity mistake that I found annoying but that did not outweigh the plot and writing. (Scroll down below to see them)

Long:

This book follows Cyra whose sister Mira has been killed purportedly by a serial killer. She reaches out to the Police and of course they do not give her the entire details because of the pending investigation. Eventually she stumbles on something called a serial killer support group which she herself calls a demented and sick version of AA.

The best parts of the book is the support group and majority of the book revolves around it like more than 75%

Now the mistakes:
1. "tossed the burrito in her basket and let the freezer door closed" it should be let the freezer door close.
2. During a fight scene Crya is said to fight like a Lion. Would have been better if it was written she fought like a Lioness because the entire book they kept humiliating her because she was the only girl in the serial killer support group. Seems a tad backwards to compare her with a Lion
3. When Cyra and Lamprey meet the first time she is not wearing disguise. They meet months later alone and she is wearing a disguise and Lamprey talks as if he hasn't ever seen hwr without a disguise.

I was thoroughly captivated by this book from start to finish! As soon as I came across the premise, I knew I had to read it. The storyline was incredibly engaging, pulling me in and keeping me hooked throughout. The narration flowed beautifully, making the experience all the more immersive.

Cyra, the main character, is such a complex figure—even if you consider her unreliable , she certainly brings a unique depth to the narrative that I found fascinating. Her journey is filled with unexpected turns, and I genuinely didn’t see some of those plot twists coming, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

As a lover of strong debuts, I have to say this one truly shines. It’s always exciting to discover a new author who delivers such a fresh and compelling story. This book definitely exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next!

I ATE THIS UP!!!!!!! I was drawn to this book because of the title, and it did not disappoint; left me wanting more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. Serial Killer Support Group follows Cyra who is looking for answers after the murder of her younger sister Mira in Prospect Park. To Cyra the NYPD seems to be dragging their feet on Mira’s case which is cooling off by the second; so manipulating a close friend of Mira’s in the NYPD’s record’s department Cyra learns her little sister may have been a victim of a serial killer that’s part of a support group that’s meets in the city. Cyra numbness causes her to put her own life at risk for a sister who only took advantage of her. This a portrait of a woman who life finally reflects what she’s always had which is nothing.

This was such a fun read! The plot was interesting and kept you interested throughout the book! The idea that even serial killers need to talk to someone is a really intriguing idea and the author fulfilled that task. I liked the fact that not everyone is as they seem and all are wearing their own mask. The main question is, do we really know a person?

The only reason I have given this a lower rating was because the ending was very predictable and I knew what was going to happen. However, that does not make this book any less fun and cool to read!

3.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed the premise of this book and had a lot of fun reading it! You definitely have to suspend reality a little to enjoy it, but fun nonetheless.
As much as I enjoyed getting some backstory of the characters, they all felt a little one dimensional to me. Cyrus, the main character, is depicted as good and closed off from her emotions, which I feel like just results in us not really getting to know or care much about her either. I would have loved to get to know characters better instead of jumping straight into the action.
That said, the action followed all the way through and had several nice twists at the end.

Publication date 3/18/25!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC!

This was such a unique story- I’ve never read anything like it!

We get a few POV’s, that of our FMC, Cyra (pronounced sigh-ra)- the dominant story line and that of each of the serials.

It’s hard to do a review justice without spoiling the story, but read the synopsis and head in with no true expectations- it’ll be fun. Also, that reveal comes out of nowhere, so be prepared 😩

4.5 🌟. I loved this book! I’m so used to reading books about groups of survivors of serial killers. But a support group FOR serial killers? Genius!! I loved the fight between light and dark within the characters. The MC (whose name I absolutely hated and kept saying differently throughout the whole book!!) found her darkness within her light. I thought the progression of her inner psyche was really interesting and was really pleased with the end.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5

Overall, this book was good time! I rolled my eyes a bit at the beginning as it felt like a wild level of suspension of disbelief was required just to set up the plot. However, Cyra was a chilling, fascinating anti-hero and I felt delightfully squirmy as the book progressed.

I really loved the concept of this book. I have read multiple thrillers but the idea of a serial killer support group grabbed my attention instantly. I received an ARC from NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books. I felt like the book felt flat and didn’t really keep my attention the way I expected. It was very different but I was surprised by the killer. I thought I knew who it was but I was wrong !

I would read more from this author.

Serial Killer Support Group had a really fun premise. I wasn't sure about the story for the first few chapters, as I couldn't see where it was going, but by the mid-way point I was caught up in the action. I especially enjoyed Cyra's relationship with Lamprey and I thought their scenes together were some of the most compelling in the latter part of the story. There was a bit of a twist at the end which helped to wind things up nicely, and overall the book was well paced and entertaining reading. It's witty, dark and I could see it working well as a Netflix series. I am giving it four stars. It does have a bit of a slow start, but if you stick with it, the second half of the book gives you your reward.

In Serial Killer Support Group, Saratoga Schaefer brings an unsettling yet unique twist to the revenge narrative through the lens of Cyra Griffin, a protagonist whose intense grief and anger propel her into a world of serial killers. After the murder of her sister, Mira, Cyra’s desperation pushes her to infiltrate a secret support group for serial killers, hoping to find Mira’s murderer hiding among them.

The book explores Cyra’s journey from victim to avenger, with plenty of tension, psychological complexity, and moments of moral ambiguity. What initially captivated me was the novel’s premise: a revenge plot that intertwines with Cyra’s slow descent into darkness. Cyra, while difficult to like, is a fascinating character, and her cold, calculating nature keeps you intrigued as she navigates a dangerous game with the killers in the group. Schaefer does a great job of building suspense, making you question how far Cyra is willing to go in her pursuit of justice.

One of the highlights is how Schaefer dives into the backstories of the killers in the group, giving them depth and avoiding the usual trope of one-dimensional villains. Cyra’s interactions with them—especially a particular killer who forms an alliance with her—are tense, uncomfortable, and compelling, adding layers to the story. The constant push and pull between Cyra’s revenge mission and her growing involvement in the killers’ twisted world makes for a thrilling read.

While the mystery at the heart of the book isn’t hard to figure out, the psychological unraveling of Cyra and the exploration of her darker side elevate the story. The ending is particularly satisfying, with a twist that adds new dimensions to Cyra’s journey, and suggests that she may have been more broken from the start than we realized. Despite some moments that require suspension of disbelief—like how easily Cyra infiltrates the group—the book’s originality and intense atmosphere make it worth the ride.

If you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with morally grey characters and aren’t afraid to suspend disbelief, Serial Killer Support Group will keep you hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for this book in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, this book was not what I thought it would be: it was not entertaining for me at all. While the premise was really appealing, I struggled a lot with the author’s ability to develop character’s fully. There was a lot of unnecessary information in-between the main plot of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Serial Killer Support Group had such an interesting premise I was curious about whether it would be a great addition to the serial killer fiction kick I’ve found myself on (don’t judge) or one of the more forgettable additions. Lucky for me I enjoyed it and found it unique and engrossing, so (less lucky for me) I find myself eager to get even more into this quirky category of books.

We are introduced to the group through Cyra, whose sister Mira was murdered by what the cops suspect is a serial killer - though they don’t seem to be making much progress in finding the killer. Cyra is introduced to the idea of the group through Mira’s best friend Izzy’s boyfriend, and manages to make her way in. As she tries to suss out who in the group is Mira’s killer, we get introductions to the rest of the group which act as breaks in the story to Cyra and Mira. This is good because Cyra isn’t necessarily a likeable main character, but she is the right guide for this type of story.

What ultimately emerges is a study of a MC who may not have understood her own dark side, and a twist that isn’t super shocking but is very entertaining. If you have an interest in darker fiction, I’d recommend you give this a whirl - just be ready to suspend disbelief given the title and premise.

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Your sister is murdered and the police have no leads so what else can you do but infiltrate a serial killer support group and hope to find the killer among all the killers.

The title alone dragged me in. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. There were lots of twist and turns. I wasn’t completely shocked by who the killer was but nevertheless I enjoyed reading this booo so much. Cyra was bad ass and willing to go very far to uncover her sisters murder. The ending though, was shocking.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

If you are a “that wouldn’t happen in real life” reader, hopefully you read the title and politely set the book back down. This one isn’t for you.

EVERYONE ELSE - THIS BOOK IS GOLD.

The concept of this book is what originally caught my attention. A girl finds herself in a Serial Killer Support Group, trying to find her sister’s murderer. The character’s dialogue kept me chuckling, while simultaneously appreciating the characters ongoing development.

The only criticism I have is that the “Mistletoe” crimes at the end would have been more effective if they were woven into the story.

I would read an entire book about Lamprey

*3.5 stars*

Cyra’s sister, Mira, is killed by a serial killer. But it seems that the police don’t have any idea who it was. After Cyra gets insider info of a serial killer support group and decides to infiltrate it to hopefully find her sister’s killer and seek revenge.

The premise of this book was so interesting and unique. And while I enjoyed that I thought it would be a little deeper than it was, including the characters. I didn’t enjoy the main character at all or her evolution and that made it hard to root for her. Her description of her relationship with her sister made it hard to believe she would go such great lengths to avenge her death. I really liked the chapters that showed a glimpse into the serial killers in the group.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of this book.

Disturbing and flawed. I couldn't put this one down, even though we're asked to accept some pretty darn unbelievable premises right of the get-go. Rolling-my-eyes level flaws. But this isn't your average thriller. Our lead Cyra is on a quest to discover who murdered her beloved sister. This leads her into a rather unsettling "support" group. Every few chapters we get the backstory on a member. Cyra is convinced that one of them is her target. Things don't turn out as expected, to put it mildly. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. The sociopathy and fear at the heart of the narrative was riveting. I had no idea how our lead was going to maintain control of the situation at any point. On that front, most of the narrative felt genuine. If you can suspend disbelief about the rest, you're in for a wild ride.