Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 stars. Schaefer does a great job of blending humor, suspense and grief in this gripping story. Normally, I’m not a fan of too many plot twists but they worked exceptionally well here to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. By the end, I was in full support of our protagonist’s rights AND wrongs. Really great to get a little bit of insight on the fellow members of the support group, even if I wish we had spent a bit more time expanding some of their connections to the main story. Overall, a great read for anyone interested in the true crime/suspense genre.

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer is a darkly comedic exploration of trauma and survival. Schaefer cleverly mixes humor with chilling themes, creating a unique narrative that examines the lives of those affected by violent crime. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, making their struggles both poignant and entertaining. This book offers a fresh perspective on the true crime genre, blending absurdity with genuine insight. A compelling read for those who appreciate a mix of humor and horror!

This book is an absolute rollercoaster! After Cyra Griffin’s sister is murdered, she decides she’s not waiting around for the police to solve it. Instead, she takes matters into her own hands by infiltrating a support group for serial killers—yep, you read that right. It’s a bold, dangerous plan, but Cyra is all in, even if it means pretending to be a killer herself to get closer to the truth.

The story is dark and thrilling, with just the right amount of humor to keep things from getting too heavy. Cyra is a great main character—tough, smart, and not afraid to cross some serious lines to get the answers she needs. As she gets deeper into this creepy, messed-up world, you can really feel her struggle between wanting revenge and not losing herself in the process.

Fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer are going to love this. The book mixes sharp, witty writing with a feminist edge, taking a hard look at society’s double standards while keeping you hooked on every twist and turn. It’s got some slower parts that drag a bit, but once it picks up, it’s a wild ride to the end.

Overall, this is a fresh, edgy debut that’s perfect for anyone who loves their thrillers dark, smart, and just a little bit wicked. Definitely worth a read!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and Crooked Lane Books for providing the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own*

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

The premise of the book was quite interesting, especially as I never heard of a serial killer support group before in any other books. Since I only knew support groups for victims/survivors I thought that the title was quite funny.

But did the premise promise what it said?
Somewhat.

I did like the beginning and how it didn't take long at all to get rolling. As well, as the first plot twist was shocking. I did predict it, before it happened, but it was very smart done and I read lots of books with smart plot twists before, so it isn't hard for me to find them out. Nevertheless, this plot twist wasn't right in front of your eyes, which made it well-done. Cyra was an interesting character to get to know and her backstory as well. I was surprised when I got to know Mira more and seemed to dislike her even though I liked her at first. It changes a lot when a different person, with different perspective, tells the story.

Even though I liked the first plot twist, I disliked the second and in general felt like the ending was not good enough.
Except the protagonist, everyone else was flat. I surprisingly could distinguish their names, but they felt just like the others. Yes, we good backstory of them which was actually cool, as they had their own chapter for this, but they all were one-dimensional. What many don't get is that when you describe a character every time you meet them, like the first time you met them, they won't get any depth. The reader actually needs to get to know them, by seeing more of them and not just reading some backstory.
Lastly, the depiction of serial killers, but also sociopaths wasn't done correctly, at all. It depends on what kind of sociopath you have, but they can show emotions and borderline sociopaths have even outbursts. So when I saw once again the wrong myth in this book that sociopaths don't have emotions or don't have empathy (which both isn't true, they just lack empathy, but they can still feel it), I felt a bit betrayed. The book is supposed to be about serial killers, but no research was done for it. Every serial killer in this group seemed dangerous and they acted like a typical film serial killer, nothing special or in general different.

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Thank you Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced reader copy of Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Started the book: 17. October 2024
Finished the book: 17. October 2024
Wrote the review: 18. October 2024

Serial killer support group. Who would have thought it. Cyrus looking for the killer of her sister. This was an exciting book to read. The writer even had me really liking some of the characters. Many twists I didn’t see. If you are looking for a good thriller I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc for this book!

after her sister's murder our main character infiltrates a serial killer support group to try and find out who killed her sister. if the premise sounds interesting, it's because it is, the rest of the book sadly wasn't.

i feel like this is yet again one of these books that toes the line between serious commentary and campyness and if it had leant further either way it would've been fine, but now it's just a weird mix that doesn't really work tone-wise.

every character besides the main character is very one-dimensional. we get brief flashbacks from each of the killer's in the support group, but we never really get to know them. i even had a hard time keeping them all apart in my head when reading this.

the absolute personality change the main character goes through every two seconds isn't really it either though. i really do wish getting out of a panic attack or anxiety was as easy as it's described in this book, would make my life a lot easier!

I really appreciated how the pronunciation of the main character’s name, Cyra, was seamlessly worked into the very beginning of Chapter 1. I had been pronouncing it wrong while reading, so that little detail was both helpful and fit perfectly into the introduction! The plot kicks off with Cyra’s sister being murdered, and from there, the FMC does the unthinkable—she joins a support group for serial killers. I found it fascinating to learn about the different killers and their crimes. This book definitely kept me on my toes, and I was constantly guessing what would happen next. While I enjoyed most of the story, I felt the ending was just okay—it could have been stronger.

Serial Killer Support Group" by Saratoga Schaefer is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking novel that flips the script on the typical thriller. Centered around a support group for serial killers.

Schaefer masterfully balances humor with serious themes, creating a narrative that's both engaging and unsettling. The protagonist, who initially feels out of her depth, undergoes significant character growth as she navigates the eccentric dynamics of the group. Her journey from vulnerability to empowerment is both relatable and inspiring.

The writing is sharp and witty, with memorable dialogue that adds depth to the characters. Schaefer's exploration of grief, survival, and the human condition is both poignant and refreshing. Overall, "Serial Killer Support Group" is a unique and entertaining read that challenges conventions while keeping readers on their toes. If you're looking for something different that combines darkness with emotional depth, this book is a must-read.

This was a fun ride. Suspend a bit of disbelief for this one but I enjoyed it and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Crya’s sisters is murdered and the police suspect that it’s the work of a serial killer. She hears rumors of a serial killer support group, so Cyra decides to infiltrate the group to discover the truth about what happened to her sister. She discovers far more than she ever imagines. Will she survive the group?

This was fun and fast-paced. I thought Cyra’s character was interesting and quirky. I wish the chapters had been a bit shorter but all in all I enjoyed this and it had a nice little twist at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had a such a fantastic time reading this tale of vengeance, murder, and mayhem. I was all aboard the Cyra train. I was rooting for even when the ending shed new light on the characters past. That was probably my favorite part. Kudos to Saratoga Schaefer for writing one hell of story. Can't wait to read what she does next. Overwhlmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Started this book on a chilly fall day and it was exactly what I wanted. I loved this book. Thank you Netgalley.

Publishing on 18th of March 2025 and you’re gonna wanna mark your calendars for this one!

A big thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books (who are very quickly becoming one of my favourite publishing houses) for this really interesting read. This book follows Cyra (sigh-ra) in the aftermath of her sister’s murder as she goes to some pretty crazy depths to get answers… A serial killer support group. She goes to a serial killer support group.

This was such a fun read and, although I had clocked the ending preeeetty quickly (I have to stop watching crime shows) is definitely something I’m gonna be recommending for others and picking up for myself again when it publishes.

A low pick for me, but overall, it was still a fast, entertaining read. I had some issues with a few plot holes involving characters in the group that we didn't learn as much about. I thought the idea behind this story was a great way to take the reader inside the minds of a serial killer while also still offering a little campy fun.

The ending felt a little rushed, and things do get more intense in the last few chapters, which felt out of place to the rest of the pacing of the book. Still, it's a good read that thriller fans will enjoy.

So, this book might not be for everyone. But it is fairly obvious from the get-go what it’s about, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s full of shades of dubious morality, characters you aren’t supposed to like, a protagonist you can’t quite... get, and, well, death.

I really liked the premise of this book, and I think, all things considered, it was something just different enough that it kept me reading. For the most part, it was well written. I didn’t resonate with any of the characters, but I’m okay with that (I should probably be concerned if I did).

I called the murderer early on, but I wouldn’t say it was predictable—just that I’m really good at *Clue*....

I will say that parts of the narrative style were hard to follow, especially when it dips in and out of the past without any clear delineation. There are parts too that feel disjointed, different in writing style from the rest of it, like the author hasn’t quite found their voice, or the editor edited too hard? Also... so many fruit analogies.

That said, there are some editing issues that I think should be looked into before the publishing date.

- **Sand Fly**: His mother died when he was 4. A couple of pages later, at 16 years old, he’s wearing the dress pants he wore to her funeral to a school dance. Um. That must look ridiculous... Is he hulking out in his size 4 pants??? A glaring issue there.
- **Stock-still** should be hyphenated.
- **Chapter 13**: “When Cyra collapsed... three hours later, it was dark,” then in the same general scene (no time lapse), she goes to the grocery store and it’s “late afternoon.” Maybe time works differently in NYC, but surely late afternoon isn’t “dark” (the quick math of the day doesn’t equal late afternoon either).
- Uses the word **"corned"** instead of "cornered."
- **"Printed himself against the wall"**... Maybe this is a saying I’m unfamiliar with, because huh?
- **"She needed to attend to her feet"**: Should this be "tend to" (i.e. look after)? I suppose you could use "attend" in its secondary meaning (it would be "attend her feet," dropping the "to"), but it sounds wrong.
- **"Toppled backwards on the bed"**: Unless he’s rolling on the bed, it should be "onto" not "on."

There are some more, but these are the ones that lifted me right out of the story.

All in all, I do think the originality of the story and the way it challenges your morality (albeit lightly and not with any lasting impact) is reason enough to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

PS: THANK YOU for telling me how to say her name early on, I appreciate that!

A women decided to infiltrate a group of serial killers after her sister is murdered. Such a good plot and I have never read any other book quite like this. I would recommend!

Almost everything I needed it to be. The concept of humanising and dehumanising certain characters is fascinating, and definitely done to the best of the ability to someone who (i assume) isn't a serial killer. I love the concept and writing style and will definitely be picking more up from this offer if given the chance!!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback and I can honestly say I don’t know how I feel about this book.

The concept was one I immediately found intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read this. I knew from the get go that I would need to suspend disbelief but even with that in mind it didn’t take long for this book to go off the rails. A serial killer support group is an interesting concept but if you’re going to tell a story that it so completely illogical I personally think you should focus heavily on realistic characters.

Every single character felt very stereotypical and one dimensional. I found myself rooting against the main character early on and that never changed. I also said “Oh COME ON” out loud multiple times prompting my partner to come check on me.

Ultimately I didn’t HATE this book and I never considered DNFing it but I also don’t know that I would ever recommend it to anyone.

I’ve never heard of a serial killer support group. The idea was kind of wild, and a huge part of me really wanted to like it. That might have been possible if the characters weren’t so one-dimensional. Even the serial killers weren’t that interesting or scary; I just felt disconnected from them. And Cyra? I hated her from the first few pages. Nope, I didn’t feel anything for her. One thing I did like, though, was the revelation of who really killed Cyra’s sister. I knew I shouldn’t focus on one culprit, and I was right—the twist was surprising enough.

Very unique premise about a girl who joins a serial killer support group to avenge her sister’s death. I loved this book and didn’t see a few of the twists coming!

Thank you so much to Saratoga Shafer, Crooked Land Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of Serial Killer Support Group!

After reading the premise of this book I was SO excited! I’ve read a few books with the tropes of “final girl” support groups, groups who have survived serial killers. I have never read one from the serial killer’s perspective. The multiple POVs were very entertaining and made the book read very quickly.

My primary hangup was the narrator, Cyra, the main character. I usually don’t enjoy books with unreliable narrators or unfavorable characters and Cyra was a tough pill to swallow. This may be the one time I will make an exception because I feel like Cyra grew so much as a person. Go into this book without knowing too much and without too many preconceived notions and I think this would be enjoyable for a lot of readers.
3.5 out of 5 stars, rounding up to 4!