This book was a little difficult to parse through at the beginning with what it wanted to be. I was really intrigued by the premise, and that along with the cover made me think that it was going to be a book similar to Butcher and Blackbird vibes. And it kept me guessing which genre it wanted to sit in for a while, but I really enjoyed the writing, wit, and set-up. I found the characters very interesting and engaging. I thought the plot was really well developed. However, there was a a big plot thread related to euthanasia and MAID in Canada, as well as terminal illness “trope” (as the author calls it in the book discussion questions, which felt callous for those of us in that very real scenario. Disability isn’t a trope) that was sprung on the reader without warning, and there was also a lot of unchecked/unchallenged ableism throughout. As a disabled person myself, I found a lot of these aspects to be problematic without a warning ahead of time, and though the characters were well developed and the story interesting, it felt harmful coming as a surprise. Therefore I can’t recommend this book as is. I think if trigger warnings were given then people could make the decision about whether it would be safe for them to read. I also think that making the blurb a little bit more appropriate to some of the disability themes in the book would help readers have the right expectation going into this. There isn’t anything about it currently that would lead you to believe that such heavy and triggering content is within those pages..

This was such a fascinating concept, it worked with the genre and was everything that I was expecting in the description. It had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the mystery to this, it worked with the characters and was invested in what was going on. Kate Posey has a great writing style and was glad I read this.

This was a trip! Just when I thought I knew what was going on, I found out I was completely wrong. I never would have thought the book ended the way it did but I’m so happy that was the case. Jake and Dolores were sarcastic and witty, with banter that was all over the place. This book had some of the most insane situations that somehow always managed to be the opposite of what you were thinking. There were definitely a lot games played in this book and I enjoyed every one.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a delight to read! These two office workers, that both fit an idea of a serial killer, having these games (I especially loved the Ken gift) was just a delight to read! This book was unexpected, and just so much fun to read!

This book was really clever. That it set up these characters with these roles, he's a temp office worker that is meticulous, and she's a dark lady vampire kind of situation, and they quickly become obsessed with each other? I loved it! They both had secrets lurking, but they were presented to make us think one one, and I loved discovering what they were!

There's a few running plots in this book, like this maybe serial killer that has people "jumping" off office buildings, and Jake's roommate's deal. Which was just absolutely hilarious, especially with what ends up happening. That one scene when they're pulled over, I howled, because oh, it was so good!

One of the reader guide discussion questions asks, what genre is this book. Which is difficult, because I don't want to spoil, but this book is really unexpected. Like the body that she asks for help with-and how that all worked out.

I loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Kate Posey!

✔️Dark humor
✔️Workplace romance
✔️Marriage of convenience
✔️Serial Killer vibes

This was one whirlwind of a read, but it kept me interested the whole time.

Loved all the inside jokes, twisted humor and the romance portion as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley publishing for my ARC!

This was so fun! I loved the dark humour and the characters were so interesting and fun in the first half. For some reason I just didn’t vibe with the second half, but I still think this was an amazing debut and I’d urge you all to check it out if this seems interesting to you! It’s more comedic and light hearted than you’d expect ☺️. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I kept thinking I knew where this story was going, and every time I absolutely did NOT. This book was funny, unpredictable, romantic, and utterly unique.

I’ve been in this phase where I want a mix of murder, comedy and romance and I’ve only found a meager FEW books that fit that bill. This book is now one of them. What this book also offered was a lot of fun mystery. It was light but also incredibly touching. I don’t fully know how to describe it, but i absolutely loved it!

This book had a phenomenal cast of interesting characters, some of which were total surprises. Again, I just so enjoyed the twists and turns this book had to offer. I don’t want to say too much because I think going in blind is the way to go.

The first half of this book was definitely the strongest! It started out so funny and unserious, with a ton of hilarious banter meant to mislead. From the blurb you’d think that would make this book a dark one but it’s actually more comedic in tone and the whole first half is so lighthearted and hilarious. There is so much humor and banter, plus surprise after surprise dropped at random points of the book. I will say, this book’s blurb plays out like it is going to be more along the lines of a mystery thriller, which is what I was expecting. It is not, and is actually a romance. Didn’t see that coming either.

These are the most untrustworthy characters ever who purposely hide huge details of their lives from the reader. This book has plot twist after plot twist, surprises and secrets revealed at random places, and you think you know what’s going on only for things to get flipped. I thought I had Dolores pegged early on but she wasn’t who I thought she was. Neither is Jake. This book keeps taking turns in unexpected ways and the plot isn’t what you’d think from the blurb! Things are kept secret on purpose and a lot of this book purposely misleads you. So much of the story changes with plot twists dropped that by the time I was halfway through, I had no clue where this story was even going.

This book takes a turn halfway through, completely switching genres, becoming something totally different from advertised. You go into this expecting a thriller about two psychopaths but it becomes something totally different, one I wouldn’t personally chosen to have read if I had known. Part of me was kind of salty from the false advertising…only because the genre it becomes is one I don’t enjoy reading. It goes from a thriller to a moving, heartfelt book and I don’t enjoy those kinds of books. It’s not even blending two genres, it just switches gears entirely. Personal taste is what kept me from giving this 4 stars, as I do not generally like moving emotional rom com-y type books and that was not the way this book was advertised to be like, but I liked the ending enough to almost give this a 4 star rating. I went back and forth but decided it really was more of a 3 star read for me. I may not have enjoyed the second half per se due to personal taste, but it was so cleverly written that I can understand the other high ratings on this. Really well written for a debut author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkely for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Kate Posey’s Serial Killer Games is a brilliantly twisted and darkly hilarious novel that will keep you on your toes from start to finish. The story centers around Dolores dela Cruz, a quirky, sharp-witted office worker with a strange fascination for spotting serial killers in the wild. Enter Jake, the mysterious new temp with an aura of danger, smooth charm, and those unmistakable "strangler gloves." Dolores is convinced she’s finally found the real deal—someone who could easily be hiding a stack of bodies somewhere beneath his polished exterior. But what starts as an amusing (albeit morbid) obsession soon evolves into an unexpectedly intense and flirtatious connection between these two characters.

Posey masterfully weaves dark humor into this tense and off-kilter romance, creating a story that is as funny as it is suspenseful. Dolores and Jake's strange dynamic—a blend of mutual curiosity, playful banter, and an underlying sense of danger—keeps readers hooked. Their chemistry is undeniable, pulling you deeper into the narrative with each turn of the page. What makes the novel truly stand out is its ability to blend this unusual romance with laugh-out-loud moments while maintaining a thread of suspense that has you questioning everything.

The supporting characters add another layer of richness to the story, and the office setting provides a perfect backdrop for this darkly humorous cat-and-mouse game. As the novel unfolds, you’re left wondering: is Jake truly the serial killer Dolores imagines him to be, or is their budding relationship just a dangerously fun game with no real consequences?

What’s most surprising about Serial Killer Games is the emotional resonance beneath all the dark humor. Posey doesn’t just give us a macabre rom-com; she taps into the vulnerabilities of her characters, showing the complexity of human connection, trust, and how people reveal their true selves over time. Dolores and Jake’s evolving relationship is both twisted and tender, challenging expectations and delivering an oddly wholesome love story hidden beneath all the intrigue.

This is a fast-paced, witty, and refreshing read for anyone who loves their rom-coms with a darker, more suspenseful edge. If you enjoy stories with eccentric characters, morbid humor, and unexpected twists, Serial Killer Games will keep you laughing, gasping, and guessing until the very last page.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this witty entertaining romance/ suspense' s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book started out great, interesting people, great concept and it just went downhill fast. I didn't like either character by the time they went to Vegas and it was a no when they got back. This could have been really fun but it wasn't. I didn't finish it.

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot was so interesting and full of adventure that I was never bored. The author did a great job with character development because I was full invested in there stories. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

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!