I don’t know how I feel about this book. Like, I didn’t hate it. I definitely had a fun time reading it when I wasn’t confused at times. Seriously, half of the time I was perplexed about what was going on. It took me a while to read this book. I needed to know that I was understanding what I was reading. It just took me a bit to get what’s going on.

Allow me to explain the premise so you won’t be as confused as I was. These two characters, Dolores and Jack, somehow meet each other at work, where they are both suspicious of each other. It’s more Dolores who is very suspicious of Jack being a serial killer. In reality, they aren’t serial killers. Dolores and Jack are just realists when it comes to everything and everyone. They don’t take shit from anyone at all. And Dolores and Jack are going to discover more of each other as they keep hanging out.

"What would you do if you thought your coworker was getting away with murder - literally?

Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold perfectly: strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field...including fields of unmarked graves.

The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.

Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn't come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can't help but wonder if, finally, he's found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.

Until Dolores asks Jake's help to dispose of a body...

A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life - and love - can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry)."

The main mystery I want solved is why anyone would name their kid Jake if their last name was Ripper. I mean, it's not Jack, but it's damn close.

This book was not at all what I expected from the blurb. The blurb is not incorrect or inaccurate, it's that the story is so much more than the blurb. Even to categorize it within a genre (romance, thriller, general fic) is difficult and seems limiting. Very dry wit and snark throughout, along with some very dark humor. Things are not exactly as they seem. Every time I thought I had a grasp on what was really happening, it changed. A whirlwind of shifting feelings and emotions, continuously evolving. I wasn't sure how it would end, right down to the end. The ending was solid, the journey to get there was excellent. I really enjoyed this book.

ARC received from Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This book was so different than I was expecting. Go in blind and with no preconceived expectations, so you can be delighted and surprised! I was sucked in right away, and it was a ride from start to finish.

This book flows with a dual POV from Dolores and Jake, who are both very seemingly unreliable narrators. You have this quirky and dark tension between the two of them, and it very much is a cat and mouse game where they both take turns being the cat, as they get to know each other through trial and error. Dolores and Jake are both hilarious without even trying, and morbid, with banter that was snappy and never tiresome.

I thought that the suspense was well drawn, and I could not figure out where this story would be going and what would happen next. Posey keeps you guessing all throughout.

My one critique would be that I did feel that around the half way point of this story, things slowed down a bit and I did not know where we could go further from where we were at. But just stick with it- it will jolt into action again.

I liked the side characters and all of their quirks, and the office setting was a great backdrop to really drive home the monotonousness that Jake and Dolores play within. The found family-esque feelings were very resonant and added a softness that juxtaposed greatly with the dark and humor we have been fed throughout.

This story has a secret tenderness to it that underlies. It is a love story in lots of different forms, I found myself almost tearing up at points towards the end.

Overall, I cannot emphasize enough how funny this book is. If you like sharp, dry, and macabre humor, you will LOVE this. I was genuinely chortling right out of the gate with this one, and I was pleasantly surprised by how far Posey would take the jokes and was glad for it. The mystery will take you places you cannot imagine, and you will be flipping pages faster than the speed of light to see where our characters end up and how everything is resolved. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

I thought this was going to be a silly fun time about two serial killers falling in love.
So why was I sobbing 80% in to the story?


This is, at its core, a deeply emotional story about death and life and taking care of people (both in a nurturing way and an ending their life sort of way). As Jake says, "I love taking care of things - and people. It's my MO"

At the beginning, I didn't really know where this was going - what are the secrets these two people hold close to their chests? Which one of them is a murderer (and there are a couple - though they're not really who I expected them to be!)?
But around halfway through, this story showed itself to be about grief. And loss. Grief for lives cut too short, the loss of a future. The loss of all those roads not taken because there just wasn't enough time. And though it was ostensibly about death from the beginning, it became even more so. at this point About how to die, when to die, and even who gets to cause our death.
And it's also about love. Because those two often go hand-in-hand so nicely. The love we accept when we don't think we deserve it. When we know that allowing the love will hurt all involved. It's about two people scared to allow themselves to be noticed, and the growing circle of family they choose to keep around them (and the ones they push away). I enjoyed it so much.

Kate Posey's writing is top notch, and this is such an impressive debut. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

It's weird to read something that feels like a budding romance against the backdrop of serial killing, is it not? It propelled me to finish despite spending a good portion of the first half wondering what type of book this was. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Wellp, this book started out kinda how I was expecting it to be. Then all of a sudden, it went completely sideways changing course all together! I was a little confused about the facts for a minute but, I eventually understood! This book was a lot of fun, a little funny, and a lot endearing! I really enjoyed this entire story!!! However, Circus Circus… of all the hotels to choose from in Vegas (as a resident of Vegas) I think there could have been a much better name drop lol the Vegas scene was fun though!!! Definitely a recommend!!!!

3.5 rounded up

Serial Killer Games is what happens when you mix office romance with true crime obsession—and somehow, it works. Dolores is convinced the new temp, Jake Ripper (yes, really), is a serial killer. Instead of running for the hills, she decides to investigate… and maybe fall for him? The result is a sharp, darkly funny, and oddly swoony read that kept me hooked.

The banter is top-notch, the tension is just right, and while it leans more into romance than thriller, the serial killer intrigue adds a fun, twisted edge. If you love a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers a wild ride, this one’s for you. Definitely keeping an eye on what Kate Posey writes next!

thank u berkley and netgalley for the arc !!!

i really enjoyed this book ! it was honestly such an engaging read and felt like the book sped by

dolores and jake work in this office and while it’s classified as enemies it’s more like a teasing banter kind of relationship where they play these sort of cat and mouse games around the office

which it escalates when they leave to go on a work trip together

overall i think i can’t classify at enemies bc there was always like some interest or attraction within both povs but it was still a moderate burn

and i feel like as the chapters went by it was not only dolores and jake’s love story but also seeing their lives outside of it and creating a more whole narrative of them both individually

and yes there’s the aspect of the serial killer fascination, while some stuff does happen i do think this book falls more into romance than it would suspense or thriller or anything of that sort

3.5 for the quick fun read

This might be one of the most unique and refreshing debuts I’ve read in a while! The first 50% of the book follows Dolores and Jake as they strike up an office ‘stalker-ish’ cat and mouse flirtation including pranks, one-liners, and some serious tension in corporate cubicle land. They each have their own dark humor, and throw more taunts than swoony compliments, making me LOL. Posey does a great job of using satire and cloaked meanings to hide both Jake and Dodi’s true character until later in the book growing suspense. There is a great level or ‘will they or won’t they’ in addition to ‘are they really serial killers?!’ A wonky work trip to Vegas allows these two a more deeper connection, and as they unravel one another’s insecurities and vulnerabilities, the book changes direction and tone. The back half includes a surprising amount of found family, holiday joy (maybe the green and red cover was a hint?), and a fun conclusion to this unique and dark rom-com.

Thank you to Berkley publishing for my ARC in exchange for my thoughts. I can’t wait to see what Posey writes next, as her irreverent characters and humor connected perfectly to my tastes!

'He's an agent of chaos. An opportunist and a manipulator of Machiavellian proportions. A magician who pulls coins from my ears and rabbits from hats, makes my problems vanish behind a false wall, cuts me in half and puts me back together again.'

It's not often that a book surprises me THIS MUCH, but here we are. I went into this one mostly blind without any expectations, and let me tell you I was hooked, and then spun around as the wild twists went one way and then another.

Jake Ripper is a mysterious temp worker, methodical in his ways, quietly gathering information about his coworkers and adding some of their names to a list. When gorgeous new coworker Delores de la Cruz appears, her dark humor and combative comebacks intrigue him, and they begin playing a flirtatious game of cat and mouse, trying to discover each other's secrets while remaining aloof. They each seem a little too interested in a possible local serial killer, and it becomes a basis of alternatively hinting that one or the other might be guilty.

I spent the first part of this book thinking I knew where it was going, and no...no I did not. Yes, this is a dark and twisted rom com but it goes in directions that are utterly surprising. I loved the wicked banter woven into darker themes of dealing with illness and death, the acceptance and embrace of eccentricity, the found family. This is one I'll be recommending to everyone!

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey!

This just wasn't for me. More a collection of tropes and a dark romance masquerading as a rom-com. The first part seems alright, but then it just goes off the railes (Las Vegas) and stays off the rails. There were so many sudden reveals (expected and otherwise) that it just came across as a mess. The marketing plays it as more of a light romp, but there are some serious issues explored and a real darkness behind some of it. I think some people who are into this sort of dark romance will enjoy it, but as someone who prefers lighter stories...it just wasn't for me. 3 stars (for the writing - which really is good).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own and are uncompensated. Serial Killer Games is out April 29th and you can preorder it now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my free copy of this book.

Dolores dela Cruz knows that the new temp Jake Ripper is a serial killer. His strangler gloves, good looks, and charm make him the perfect one. Jake Ripper is happy to have a distraction with this new woman. She is combative, fun, and can follow his flirting. He wonders if he has found his perfect match. Until one day she asks him to dispose of a body.

This book had such great potential. I loved the premise so much, but it honestly didn’t live up to it. The description is deceptive and didn’t lead to where I thought, but not in a fun twisty way. It was kind of like oh ok. Not much really happens in the book. If you want details DM me and I can spoil it for you. The flirting was fun and different. Overall it was ok but don’t go into it thinking you are getting like a cute version of a darker book.

4.25 stars - I've thought about this book so much since finishing it. Based on the initial description I had a vague idea of what I was getting into, but it ended up being delightfully different than I expected. While I was a bit confused at first, I loved the way the book was written, the distinct voices between the two main characters, the mystery, the banter and dark humor. This felt so different than any other book I've recently read and it was like a breath of fresh air. Overall, I really enjoyed this and would absolutely recommend it to anyone else.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

Oh, my. The deeper I got into this story the more bonkers it became. Wackadoodle crazy! I loved it. That's all I'm going to say.

Dolores de la Cruz has a lower-mid-level job in an office. Jake Ripper is the new office temp. Dolores has a hobby of looking for serial killers 'in the wild.' Jake, with his smooth good looks, sense of danger, and 'serial killer gloves' might just be Dolores' find.

The pair begin some intense cat-and-mouse flirting and things begin to get more and more serious. Until one of them asks the other for help disposing of a body. Like an iceberg, what a person hides about themselves might be much more interesting than what we see.

As someone who loves to read and who enjoys listening to a few true crime podcasts, I was really excited to read this first book by new author Kate Posey.

I really got into this book early on. The unreliable narrator, the back-and-forth actions of both Dolores and Jake, and the anticipation of where this will all lead - really builds a tense excitement. But for me, this tension and excitement drops quickly. I can almost pinpoint the moment that the book changes and becomes far less interesting. Las Vegas.

Early on we get that strong sense that there's probably going to be some romance here. Dolores and Jake act like middle-schoolers at times - remember the idea that if a boy was pulling on a girl's pigtails it probably meant he liked her? That's often the feeling here. But for the most part, it's the weird almost-romance that is most enjoyable.

But once things get more serious (or do they?) the romance is no longer interesting and the whole serial killer aspect gets muddled.

Looking for a good book? Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey has a great concept, an exciting set-up, but neither the romance nor the thrill is sustained through to the end.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I honestly thought this book was going to take me a completely different route than it did, but I wasn't too upset about where we ended up. Dolores and Jake make a cute couple and I enjoyed their dark sense of humor. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the secrets these two have and slowly open themselves up to each other. I also love that in the background there IS in fact a serial killer that could literally be anyone. I would recommend it for that aspect alone!

unique well written humorous love hate affair between two coworkers who could both be serial killers or are they, there was a surprising depth to the story as well as the chemistry came across better than many others of this type I enjoyed it and would recommend if you would like a different take on will they or won't they

Murder, Romance, and Office Politics: A Deliciously Dark Debut

Kate Posey's Serial Killer Games is the office romance we never knew we needed – where the meet-cute involves pepper spray and the water cooler chat centers on unsolved murders.

Our heroine, Dolores de la Cruz, spends her days binging true-crime podcasts and side-eyeing her new coworker, Jake Ripper (yes, really). She's convinced he might be the Paper Pusher – a local killer with a thing for tossing victims off downtown rooftops. The problem? Jake's also annoyingly charming, and their shared obsession with true crime keeps pulling them together.

Posey nails the sweet spot between dark comedy and genuine suspense. She turns mundane office life into a playground of paranoia, where every coffee break could be a clue and every team-building exercise feels like a twisted game of cat and mouse. The chemistry between Dolores and Jake crackles with tension – both the "Is he going to kill me?" and "Why is he so hot?" varieties.

The story occasionally meanders through office drama, but even these detours serve a purpose, building tension for a finale that manages to surprise even the most genre-savvy readers. Posey plays with our expectations like a cat with a mouse, using our own assumptions to lead us down false trails.

This is a story about finding connections in the weirdest places – even if that place happens to be mutual suspicion and shared theories about rooftop murders. It's fresh, funny, and just disturbing enough to keep you guessing.

3.5/5 stars. Recommended for anyone who's ever wondered if their cute coworker might be hiding bodies in the supply closet. Maybe save this one until after you've settled into your new job.

Every time I thought I had this book figured out, I was wrong. And I loved it.

Kate Posey keeps the reader in the dark about just exactly who and what our main characters are through the whole book, slowly revealing the details as Dolores and Jake learn them about each other. It's surprisingly emotional and soft at times only to catch me off guard with its irreverence at others. Overall, this book was not what I was expecting at all, but in a way that I really loved.

Don't go into it expecting Butcher and Blackbird, but do give it a try if you like character-driven stories with some found family, healing of generational trauma, and dark humor.