Suspend all reasonable beliefs and imagine a support group for serial killers. You know, a group where they can talk about their crimes....without worry that the police will bust in and arrest all of these troubled men.

Look, I can suspend reality in many ways, but this was....not it.

This was dumber than dumb. I kept hoping they would all kill each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

My thanks to Net Galley and Crooked House for allowing me this arc.

I'm a bit on the fence with this one. The title and premise sounded very promising and kind of fun. Cyra joins a serial killer support group to find out who killed her sister Mira. I liked how each member got their own chapter and back story , but it was a bit far fetched that a person would put themselves in that danger

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up.

I really wanted to love this. When I read the premise, I was excited about this one, thinking it'd be a bit more focused on the serial killers. While each one did have their own chapter, the base of this book was a woman avenging her sister's murder by cosplaying a serial killer.

It felt a bit too corny if I'm being honest. Some of the dialogue and Cyra putting herself into the mind of a serial killer felt like something more out of a comedy than thriller.

I also expected a book with queer characters, by a queer author wouldn't utilize the same women vs. women trope as other thrillers. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

The concept here was pretty good, but the execution didn't work for me. Also, Cyra (sigh-ra) and Mira (meer-ah) were a choice and I kept reading it as Cyra (seer-ah) because of the similarity in names.

As a fan of thrillers and true crime, I was disappointed to find that this book about serial killers lacked thorough research.

The portrayal of the killers was unimpressive, and the use of anonymous names felt juvenile, I was constantly thinking of
Christmas (weird).

I considered abandoning the book halfway through, but my curiosity kept me skimming through to the end.

Does the main character successfully confront a group of seasoned serial killers, or does she fall victim to them? The outcome may be surprising.

This was a fun book! It was fast paced novel that I could not put down. Full of feminine rage and revenge.

Cyra’s sister was murder and now she is going undercover into a serial support group to find her killer.

I loved the main character in this book! She was so determined and witty through out the entire book. I loved the side characters especially the serial killers in the group.

Did I hope for a romance between two of them?? Maybe…. I think I’ve read too many dark romances.

The ending was not what I except but it was a perfect ending for Cyra.

Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone.


Thank you Crooked Lane Publishing for a free copy of The Serial Killer Support Group for a honest review.

Read with caution!

Saratoga Schaefer’s Serial Killer Support Group is a debut novel with a dark, unsettling and unsettling premise. I originally asked for this copy because of the cover thinking it would have a lot of humor in it. That did not occur! The story follows Sira, a woman consumed by the brutal murder of her sister. Desperate for answers, she constantly hounds the police, unwilling to let the case go cold. When a friend at the station hints at a possible serial killer operating within a so-called "support group," Sira embarks on a dangerous mission to infiltrate their ranks.

This is not a book for the faint of heart—it's gruesome, disturbing, and filled with shocking moments. Schaefer doesn't hold back on the blood and guts, making it an intense read for horror fans who appreciate the genre's darker elements. The structure, flipping between Sira’s perspective and the support group members, adds to the tension and keeps the reader engaged. The twist at the end was unexpected but a perfect way to end the story!

If there’s one downside, it’s that the book felt a bit too short. I would have loved more development around the characters to deepen the emotional impact of their stories. A decent debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this author!

Overall, Serial Killer Support Group is a twisted, gripping read that horror lovers will appreciate—just be sure to go in prepared for a brutal ride.

I had a lot of fun with this book. Cyra's evolution from 'sister of a murder victim' to 'human with a purpose' is entertaining, and as believable as it can be when the main character is infiltrating a serial killer support group. I loved that the chapters switched between the current story of the SKSG and the origin/important moments of the various killers. It's dark, creepy, and utterly entertaining. I hated all of the characters, but I get the feeling I'm supposed to. It's an enjoyable read that I would recommend if you're a fan of the genre.

I wanted to fall in love with this book. The plot was promising and right up my alley. I’m not saying it was bad but I just found it difficult to want to pick it up. Thanks for the chance to read it!

This book was a bit like the movie 'Vicious Fun" but without the unhinged humor. It starts tragic and with a leading lady looking for a revenge for the murder of her sister. (Meanwhile we go learning a few dark sides of our leading lady more the killer kind)
I like it but somehow I expected to fly through those pages and I didn't. It's short but it reads longer.

This queer, feminist, debut thriller was absolutely a fun and chilling read for me! The title is self-explanatory, but I will say, despite ‘cutesy’ serial killer fiction being very popular in the last few years, this book is the nitty gritty darker exploration of serial killer mindsets; so adjust your expectations!

Cyra’s sister is murdered, and when the cop’s stall on solving the murder, she decides to take matters into her own hands. With an insider tip, Cyra infiltrates a local secret support group of serial killers. Cloaked in secrecy and requiring ‘proof’ of her own work, Cyra embraces her own darkness in the name of love for her family.

The author does a great job with each serial killer’s unique backstory/first kill/trauma (explained in chapter breaks) with hair-raising detail. They also created palatable tension between Cyra and the members, while also leaning into the human side of these killers. Twists, turns, sharp wit, and a unique premise captivated my attention! I look forward to Schaefer’s next novel.

Cyra's little sister, the one she's been protecting all their lives, has been murdered. Cyra doesn't grieve like she's expected to - instead of crying, she locks away her feelings, and focuses on facts and solutions. How can she find the one who killed her sister? Well, by infiltrating a support group for serial killers, of course.

I'd say this was a good one-time read. Cyra was an interesting character, and there were some twists at the end that I definitely didn't expect. I also liked that her relationship with Mira wasn't perfect - in fact, the little sister is a bit exploitative. Still I felt like something was lacking to make me really invested. The male serial killers didn't have anything new to offer.

The plot of this was unique and intriguing. A support group for serial killers and highly unlikeable people at that. I can't say I was exactly rooting for anyone, but this was a story I couldn't look away from. While the writing was solid, I had to suspend disbelief throughout. Which, for me, at least was fine. It is a story, after all. I enjoyed this one for what it was, and anyone who is looking for a fun, campy, doesn't take itself too seriously read will, too. Three stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC.

This book was really very good! I loved the overall premise and plot of the book, but I feel that for all of the build up, the ending came together well, but very quickly.

I LOVED this book. Read this in about 6 hrs and couldn’t put it down !!!! This is a new author for me and will be a repeat author moving forward. I was never bored reading this . I felt it was also very easy to read

The title caught my attention immediately, and the synopsis only hooked it further. I managed to keep my expectations neutral so I wouldn't get disappointed, but I genuinely couldn't have predicted how addicting this book was.

The concept of the story was wild, but it delivered exactly what I needed it to. The suspense and tension kept me interested, and the dark wit had me entertained throughout.
All the characters were so well written that I found it hard to dislike characters that I definitely shouldn't be liking, which just got me even more sucked into the plot. The additions of backstory chapters to certain killers added understanding to the character beyond what you could see from the main characters POV, and it gave the story more layers.
I did occasionally feel like Cyra's reflections and flashbacks felt repetitive or drawn out, but aside from that I ate the book up and wished more more when I ran out of pages.

I don't think I've ever described a book as a light and dark, but if you want a light read with a dark plot then this is perfect.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC of Serial Killer Support Group in exchange for my honest review!

I definitely have to keep an eye out for more of Saratoga Schaefer's work in the future, because they did a splendid job on executing Serial Killer Support Group as a suspenseful, atmospheric, and tragic journey. It pulls me deep into Cyra's psychological landscape as she commits herself to her quest of vengeance, as she slips her way into the eponymous support group, as she explores a bloodthirsty darkness within her soul, as she contends with sorrow and resentment over the conflicts she'd had with her murdered sister Mira. There's a ton of meat for me to chew on while she wrestles with her own humanity and how that initially restrains her from fully navigating her desires. But then she veers down an increasingly grim path that shows just how sad it is for her to go as far as she does.

It's intriguing to check out other reviews for this novel and see the criticisms they've offered up for it, because those weren't really major issues for me. Sure, I can understand why, for example, the whole setup that leads Cyra to the support group in the first place could land as implausible. I can additionally understand some readers wanting these serial killers to have a more fleshed-out depiction, since a few of them do fall a bit too easily into formulaic stereotyping. That being said, they don't stop me from fully enjoying this book as it grips me all the way up to a suitable conclusion.

Overall, I'm officially rating Serial Killer Support Group 4.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 5 stars. I can't wait to see what else Schaefer pens down the line.

Cyra’s younger sister was murdered by a serial killer. In her pursuit to find the killer she gets insider info that there is a support group for serial killers.

Can Cyra infiltrate the group to determine if one of the members killed her sister?

This debut novel was dark and fabulous! It was fascinating reading about the members of the group as they got together for their meetings. I was absolutely thrilled to get approved for this read after I came across the premise. It was 💯 up my alley and I knew I would love it. To take a group of villains, infiltrate then with someone you aren’t so sure about and wait for the conclusion had me constantly on edge!

Thank you to author, Saratoga Schaefer, publisher Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this epub. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book will be published March 18, 2025.

Interesting premise. The characters were a little predictable, as was the "twist" but it was a fun and quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Tension filled and original debut!

Cyra Griffin is looking for answers after her sister is murdered. The police suspect a serial killer but they have no leads. Cyra takes things into her own hands when she stumbles upon a support group for serial killers. Could her sister’s murderer be in that group? Of course she decides to infiltrate that group. But as Cyra dives deep into the serial killers’ world, she may discover that revenge comes at too high of a cost.

This story is written well, it is dark and darkly funny at times. It is also twisty, thought provoking and a little bit campy. If you can suspend belief and just enjoy the ride, then put this one on your TBR. This is definitely an author to watch!

Thank you Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 18, 2025

This book is so unique with the content!

Cyra wants to know who murdered her sister, Mira. It’s been 2 months since Mira was found murdered and the police are saying Mira may have been murdered by a serial killer. Cyra’s friend, Eli, works at a job where he can possible access files related to past murders. Eli informs Cyra about a Serial Killer Support group that allegedly meets in New York to discuss their murders and techniques. What better way to possibly crack the code police can’t seem to crack? Cyra decides she’s going to infiltrate this Serial Killer Support group to hopefully solve her sisters murder.

After Cyras “initiation process”, she disguises herself and attends her first meeting. All of the members are named after parasites, Whipworm, Lamprey, Cockoo, Sandra Fly, Pea Crab, Mockingbird and she is now known as Mistletoe. Python is the mediator of the group, just to watch over things and ensure the safety of the meeting. Lamprey discuss’ with Cyra that he thinks there’s a rat in the group. He also ensures he knows a lot of information about the members, but he wants Cyras help to discover the rat. But can she REALLY trust Lamprey? How far will she risk her own life to help a serial killer, and will he actually give her any information?!

This is definitely a unique twist on a thriller/mystery. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a different approach! The story is told mostly revolving around Cyra, but there are 7 additional chapters throughout the book for each serial killer. It’s a wild concept and an even wilder ride with some twists. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!