im really happy i decided to randomly request this one as it was a lot of fun!!!

it immediately sucked me in and i just didnt want to put it down for anything. when i was a little over halfway in the book kind of hit a plateau for me, i found myself finally realizing this book is not at all what i had thought it was going to be for the first 50% but thankfully it was able to suck me back in a bit later on.

i think this is a phenomenal debut and i really look forward to checking out what kate releases in the future, the writing is super strong, very funny and engaging. jake & dodi matched each others freak so well and i loved them so much, the rest of the supporting characters were also *chefs kiss*

there are some things i wouldve liked a bit more closure on (they are spoils so im not mentioning specifics atm) however i like to think that maybe its just because those things will get their time to shine in a future novel.

A huge thank you to Berkley and Kate Posey for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I am not sure I've ever picked up a book from Berkley that I didn't enjoy, which, apart from the blurb I read, is a big part of why I was so excited to check Serial Killer Games out. They just tend to put really good material on the market! This book didn't quite work for me, but between the unique voice this author has, and the quality of storytelling, I still, 100% stand by that.

"A serial killer would never get the chance to hunt me because I'd be hunting him."

Dolores/Dotty/etc. was amusing, but because I was expecting a more rom-com vibe from the back of the book, it took me a bit to figure her out. I also found that this author's voice is very unique, and her prose took me a bit to "settle into," if you will.

The Jake/Grant relationship was another interesting element. Grant appeared fully unhinged and it was a very rare angle to provide us with, as they had almost a boss/servant (this probably isn't QUITE hitting the mark, but for lack of better term...) relationship.

"A man with a wealthy, beautiful girlfriend doesn't get bored. She could be anyone. She could be no one. I'm the one he's playing serial killer games with."

I think this authors voice will be very well received by the general public. I think fans of dark humor will FLOCK to this. Truly. It was a well developed piece, and just because it was a slight miss for me, doesn't mean it was a bad book, not by a long shot! My main critique is that the blurb doesn't accurately reflect the interior material. While there were times I was thrown out of the story, I also continued to be pulled back in! Had I known fully what this was, I'm not sure I'd have read it. I'm glad I did and looking forward to seeing what this author does next.
3.5/5.0

This was an interesting read - and a fresh take on dark humor. But I didn't like any of the characters and couldn't really connect with the story. I guess this style of Dark Humor isn't my thing - I could see where it was trying to be clever and punchy but I just didn't find it humorous. Not in a judgy way but more just a "I guess that's one way to say it" kind of conclusion.

Most of the chapters are in Jake's POV so that might be why I didn't connect with the characters since he really had no emotions. His chapters were more just a blow by blow account of events happening and wry commentary about people. Again - I could totally see this being appealing to someone who loves dark humor.

The book description was totally wrong - it made it sound like Dolores is a cute everyday girl who thinks someone might be a serial killer. But Dolores is a emo tattoo covered goth girl in real life + a single mom. Being sleeved in cross and skull tattoos I guess was supposed to make her more interesting or appealing but they never go into the story behind each of the tattoos or why she prefers working in corporate america when she is sleeved up with tats that she covers up. She tells Andrew he's a judgmental jerk for not liking her tattoos but then she covers them up like a nun at work so clearly she's judging herself too. It's like she wanted to be a unique rebel but she didn't...

Why does the main female character need 3 names: Dolores, Dolly and Dodi. Just pick a name - none of the 3 names had any significance so I don't know why we had to keep switching.

If you go into this thinking it will be a fun, flirty rom-com with some off-shade humor, you will be sorely disappointed - which is what happened to me. But that's not to say it's a bad book - it just did't have any romance or serial killer action, both of which would've been fine.

If you go into this for wry humor, people pretending for no reason and a super dramatic weird ending then this is the book for you. i.e. Why Andrew's death at the end got zero emotional reaction or recap felt off to me but I think that's the style of the book which didn't really click with me but might with you.

📖 Book Review 📖 I never thought twice about the true crime obsession of women my age until I looked through the library of books we all read growing up (hello The Dollhouse Murders the Betty Ren Wright!) and it all clicked. Dolores is no exception to this fascination and when a new temp worker named Jake the Ripper arrives at the office, she is sure he is an actual serial killer, after all the average person crosses paths with 36 murders over the span of their lifetime. Serial Killer Games is a hilariously dark, over the top absurdly comedic novel that is pure gold; underneath it all is a moving story about the fragility of love, life, and everything in between.

This is pure fucking perfection. Utterly hilarious and just a nonstop good time despite it being an absolute rollercoaster. Jake is my FAVORITE of all time and I love Dolores, they are ✨perfect✨

This story was darkly fun, funny, and unexpectedly emotional. I cried a couple times, once from grief and once from happiness/vicious jealousy. I loved this love story and the twisty nature of Dodi and Jake's flirtation--especially in the first 45% or so when I genuinely still thought one of them (at least) was an actual serial killer. When their true selves were revealed and it became obvious that neither of them was a murderer my interest fell off for a chapter or two, but but the interpersonal drama and the fact that they are both just genuinely interesting characters kept me reading--and I'm glad that I did! I wasn't expecting such a wholesome story in the end, and the evolution of their relationship was completely satisfying.

This book is a brilliantly dark and funny exploration of unlikely connections in the most bizarre of circumstances. With its razor-sharp wit and quirky characters, the story draws you into a twisted office romance where suspicion and attraction collide. It’s a perfect blend of morbid humor and emotional depth, keeping you on edge with its deliciously unpredictable twists. I loved every moment of this wild, unconventional ride!