Cyra’s sister, Mira, was murdered. Cyra is determined to find out what happened and seek justice. A lead from the police station indicates that Mira may have been victim to a serial killer. Information comes to light on the dark web regarding a support group for serial killers somewhere in the area. Cyra will do whatever it takes to infiltrate and determine if one of the members killed her sister.

I enjoyed the premise of this story and found it to be unique. I have only seen one movie with a similar plot, but that was a comedy and this was definitely on the darker side. The first chapter didn’t grip me as much as I hoped, but the rest of the story made up for that. It took some twists that I didn’t expect. The big reveal I did predict at a certain point, but I think it would be unexpected to most. This was a great debut!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
I devoured this book!.
It was amazing, addictive, and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Totally implausible, this was an interesting book and I really enjoyed the turns it took! I loved that the serial killers in the group had a rule to not hunt and kill each other. That sure does one up the honor among thieves! I loved how Cyra's character reflected the fears every woman has faced at some point in time and pushes back. She could have made for an amazing heroine! The only thing that I did not like was the last chapter. Once again an author feels like they need to lay everything out and explain it to the reader, even though it was all things the reader should have easily picked up on during the course of reading the book. Authors, please trust your readers! So do yourself a favor and read this wild ride of a book and potentially skip the last chapter!

Infiltrating a serial killer support group to find your dead sister’s murderer (..?)

Now, the premise of this book really caught my attention when I decided to pick it up. I liked how fast pace the beginning is and how it jumps right in to the plot. However, it slowly starts to lose its momentum throughout. The twists and turns did hold my interest enough but by the time I made it to the end, I was so bored by everything. The murderer is shocking and the serial killers are serial killers but all characters felt a little flat to me. The fmc just wasn’t likable. By the end, I hated her and her sister.

Overall, wasn’t the worst read but read better.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, & Saratoga Schaefer for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! ◡̈

Her sister has been murdered. The police say the patterns fit a serial killer's MO. Cyra decides the law is not working fast enough. So she takes her grief and her need to see her sister's murder avenged and joins a support group whose members are serial killers. This my friend, is an original plot line that stirred up one young woman's idea of herself.
First, she must meet the killers. A short bio for each is provided. Then research, but it seems awfully easy for her to find the history and background of each. Now, action. But Cyra makes a few too many excuses for her group and suddenly recognizes herself as not so very different.
Great debut. What's next?

Mira is dead, and no one seems to know what happened to her. But her sister Cyra is not satisfied with the answers that the NYPD are giving her or lack thereof. Eli, a  friend of Mira, who works close to the police department lets Cyra know that it is possible that a serial killer killed Mira based on some highly confidential papers he got a hold of. Guilt and the need for justice will drive Cyra to find and infiltrate a serial killer group that is known to gather in New York. Once she passed their pre-requisites and proves she is also a serial killer, Cyra will meet some of New York's deadliest serial killers. They all gather once a week and use code names to talk about their feelings and their killings. But even within the group,  the killers,  all men, seem to always be hiding something and lying about everything. Lamprey, a killer within the group finds out Cyra's real identity and blackmails her into helping him find the group snitch. When the first serial killer is killed, Lamprey and Cyra will team up to find out who killed him, while she also searches for her sister's killer who is closer than she knows.

Serial Killer Support Group is a nail bitting, suspenseful,edge of your seat thriller which will keep you wondering who is the killer within the serial killer group.
💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this amazing thriller that I couldn't get enough of.

The premise for this was great - a group of serial killer meet to discuss their “craft” and a woman infiltrates the group in the hopes of finding who killed her sister. The pacing was strong and I wanted to know if Cyra would get answers but you will really have to suspend your disbelief for this to work. I think if it went darker it would have really worked but Schaefer didn’t fully commit enough for me.

Happy Publishing Day!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books & Saratoga Schaefer for this read.

This thriller is one twisty read! The author managed to grab me from the very start. Drawing from true crime and horror, this book packs a punch with twists, gore, and unpredictable characters. While some parts were over the top, I couldn't help but enjoy the thrill of finding out the truth and getting justice.

Told in mixed POVs, we are handfed snippets of the group and the dark things they have done. Some parts are extremely unsettling, showing true evil. The chapters are short and everything happens really fast - guaranteeing a bingeable read.

Overall an enjoyable, thrilling and shocking read!

This one had me hooked from the very beginning. It kept me guessing and I couldn’t put it down. It shows how desperate grief can make someone and just how far they’re willing to go for those they love

This book wastes no time getting straight to the point. From the very beginning, the story starts to unfold, and the reader is plunged into Cyra's tale of vengeance.

Cyra would do anything to protect her sister, Mira. So when Mira is murdered on a morning jog by a suspected serial killer, Cyra knows she needs to find the killer and seek revenge. With the help of an inside source, Cyra discovers the existence of a secret support group for the sort of people who may just have the answers.

The character development was good, and I liked that each of the serial killers had their own personality and traits. Though there were a few parts that I felt didn't quite fit the narrative - Whipworm/Pea crab?
I even found I quite liked some of them, with Whipworm and Python being especially favourable.

The only real issue I had was with Cyra herself, whose character just never really evolved for me and whose actions were pretty predictable.

I liked the various twists, and the chapters from the individual serial killers were a great addition.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.

I truly try and request books I think I will love, but this one really missed the mark. The premise is exactly what the title states and just executed poorly. It was just very hard to belive someone with no experience in hacking or hacking (see what i did there) would infiltrate the dark web, find this super secret serial killer support group and find the person who killed her sister before the cops did. It just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for the ARC. all opinions are my own.

Serial Killer Support Group is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A group of serial killers meets to talk about their feelings—about being serial killers. They have snacks, they sip coffee, and they clearly don’t like or trust each other. The characters are all pretty flat, and there’s little to distinguish one killer from another. It feels as though every serial killer in the group is essentially the same.

Then there’s Cyra. She’s burdened with guilt over her sister’s murder, and when the police suggest it might be the work of a serial killer, she decides they’re not doing enough. So, she takes matters into her own hands. Cyra’s sister’s friends somehow know about the support group, and despite the police and FBI being unable to find any proof it exists, let alone infiltrate it, Cyra gets in with ease. She just hops onto the dark web, chats with the gatekeeper, and gets herself an assignment to prove her worth. It’s all just a little too easy. How is it that the FBI is struggling to find this group, but Cyra has no issues? That’s never really explained.

There are flashbacks detailing the origins of the group—criminals who decided this would be a good idea. But honestly, I had to suspend all logic to get through this mess. It’s a nonsensical ride that didn’t really offer much of a payoff.

A suspenseful mystery with an interesting premise that has twists and turns that will want you knowing more.

I thought this wasn’t bad, but it didn’t knock my socks off. I’ll give credit that this is a very unique plot with the serial killers meeting in a support group, and the add-in of Eli and Izzie and figuring out who really killed Mira.

But overall the characters were bland, not much depth and just not very interesting. The mole in the group dynamic was anti-climatic. I guess I didn’t expect it to turn out good either.

For Cyra being such an emotionally detached character it was interesting to see her dedicate her whole entire life to being her sisters protector so hot tempered with Eli.

All in all, if you’re going for vibes and a quick popcorn thriller, this one will do the trick.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley and Saratoga Schaefer for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book is definitely different than anything I've ever read. While parts of it were a tad predictable, I still enjoyed the story and getting to know the different characters throughout. I found the twist at the end was well done, and I think helped to tie up any loose ends that could have remained.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The concept of this book felt very exciting and intense, it had good and bad points but as the plot unravelled I felt more invested,

I had to read this book because the title completely sucked me in . I judged a book by the cover 🙃
I'd give this a 3 1/2 ⭐ but I'm going to round up because I couldn't put it down even though I wasn't really in love with any of the characters . The main character just wasn't doing it for me .
Idk what to say without giving anything away but this book is definitely original in the plot & WILD .
I wasn't a huge fan of Cyra but this chick has balls & I love that !
I love the layout of the chapters also .

Something was missing for me with this book but then I still loved it so 🤷
&& The whole time I was reading I'm wondering if there really is a serial killer support group 😂

Thank u #NetGalley for the arc .
Love finding new authors 🤘

I enjoyed the idea behind this book, Cyra's bloodlust to exact revenge upon her sister's murderer, and her oddly emotionally neutral facade. The notion of a serial killer support group and Cyra having to assimilate herself into their warped culture was entertaining, as was the group of killers she meets. The title gives a lot away, but I was still entertained.

Sneaking into a group for killers is ballsy! Loved the idea of this one but it was missing something for me!

Some books hook you with a clever premise, but Serial Killer Support Group delivers far beyond that initial intrigue. Saratoga Schaefer’s debut is a fast-paced, darkly funny thriller that manages to be both a nail-biting suspense novel and a sharp character study.

The setup: Cyra Griffin, devastated by the unsolved murder of her sister, infiltrates a support group for serial killers, posing as one of them in a desperate bid to unmask the culprit. It’s a high-risk game of deception, and Schaefer wrings every drop of tension from it. The support group isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a whole ecosystem of dangerous individuals, forced into a setting that demands introspection, even as their very nature fights against it.

What makes this book stand out is its balance of tones. It’s dark—sometimes very dark—but Schaefer laces it with biting humor and a keen sense of the absurd. Think Dexter meets Fight Club, but with a queer feminist edge that brings fresh perspective to the genre. Cyra’s journey isn’t just about revenge; it’s about identity, trauma, and the weight of justice—both the kind society allows and the kind we take into our own hands.

Schaefer’s prose is sharp and efficient, keeping the pages turning at a relentless pace. The escalating tension, the claustrophobic setting, and the psychological cat-and-mouse game make for an addictive read. And while the premise is outlandish, the emotions feel raw and real.

This is a thriller with teeth—smart, unique, and unafraid to ask uncomfortable questions. If you want a book that keeps you on edge while making you laugh at the audacity of it all, Serial Killer Support Group is well worth your time.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reading copy!

Wow this book was wild! It took me a second to get in to and definitely had moments where suspension of disbelief was necessary — and those are the only things keeping me from 5 stars.

To start, the premise of this book was super unique and well executed. I mean, a serial killer support group?! What a wild idea. The support group scenes were some of my favs— so interesting to get into the minds of these men! I also especially enjoyed the chapters giving us background info on each member — so fascinating to read part of their origin stories!

The main mystery was well done, with lots of red herrings. I truly didn’t know what to expect for most of this book and even when I was confident I had figured it out, I was proven wrong. This was a twisty, suspenseful, dark and devious thriller and I’d highly recommend it if you want to be shocked!