After reading other reviews, it looks like I'm not the only one who thought this would be one thing, and it ended up being a completely different other thing. But no complaints from me! This was really fun. It's more of a romcom with a hint of true crime-- my perfect combo.

OMG! I had to steel myself to get through the first quarter of the book because it startled me with the serial killer references and tightly held tension. I was afraid it was going to be a disturbing book, the kind I avoid because of bad dreams! I did Not know who was prey and who was predator and was constantly feeling off balance, not knowing where to put my loyalties. I put it away for the holidays and was almost afraid to get back to it after a week. Knowing I was on a bit of a deadline I picked it up again and forced myself into the discomfort of reading outside my comfort zone. I am so glad I did!. The remaining chapters of the book are where the humor steps up and the fear and anxiety settled down for me. I chose the book because of the description of dark/funny. It is a rom-com and a delightfully funny one at that. I am a sensitive person and avoid graphically violent books and I was so afraid that this was where the story was going but instead it set me up and made me laugh at myself and who doesn’t enjoy that? I highly recommend this takedown of corporate culture and consumerism and sexism and harassment in the workplace. The writing is fresh and witty and the characters are well developed and perfectly imperfect. The chapters alternate voice and flip flop the point of view in each chapter. I found it a warm and refreshing story with a lively sense of humor.

This book was rather unusual. It started as almost a satire, comedy with two strange individuals coming together, Jacob (Jake) Ripper and Dolores (Dolly or Dodi, depending on her mood) Dela Cruz.

They were both what you might consider, rather unremarkable individuals, that seemed like magnets to each other. And in the beginning, you think that they are both nuts, and one or the other is a serial killer.

But the book's problem is that it suddenly becomes almost another story. One that is quite sad, and filled with strife for both of these individuals. One dealing with a potentially shortened life and the other dealing with the loss of someone they loved.

At the 40% mark, I finally got the gist of where the author was going with the story. And while I liked the first part, and their constant sparing with each other, I loved the gentle way this all came together.

And the ending was epic and went back to the beginning in its snarkiness.

Overall, it was a really fun read. Not a 5-star, but quite frankly it doesn't have to be to be a good book and one that entertains. This one certainly did that perfectly.

This book is brilliantly twisted and darkly hilarious and keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Dolores dela Cruz, the quirky and sharp-witted protagonist, is a breath of fresh air in the mystery genre. Her strange fascination with spotting serial unalivers in the wild adds a unique twist to the story. The dynamic between Dolores and Jake Ripper is both intriguing and entertaining, creating a perfect blend of suspense and romance. The writing is crisp, engaging, and full of unexpected humor, making the narrative captivating and enjoyable. I loved how the author wove humor into a dark and suspenseful plot, and the chemistry between Dolores and Jake adds depth to their characters, making the story even more compelling. The plot twists and turns were unexpected, and the pacing keeps you hooked throughout.

This is a must-read for fans of dark humor, romance, and thrilling mysteries.

It was an interesting premise, but the writing style fell short for me. It wasn't as engaging as I had hoped, and the MMC wasn't for me. I ended up DNFing at 30%. The world-building wasn't as in-depth as I wanted.

The beginning of the book started off strong. I was very intrigued by the concept of the book and had very high expectations, but after the second half I felt as though the book dried out. It moved very slow and honestly was so tempted to DNF. There were some LOL moments but overall it was okay

Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Jake Ripper enjoys being invisible at his corporate temp job. He enjoys people watching and tracking their behavioral patterns from the camouflage of his bland clothing and nondescript hairstyle. Until he spots her: the black-widow-clad mystery woman who captivates his attention. Could she be the serial killer who is pushing execs off the building? Unfortunately, mystery woman also wants to be unnoticed. And when she turns her attention back on Jake, the hunter becomes the hunted.

But lovers of serial killer lore and mystery, beware. This is not a book about serial killers. It is a romance with twists, surprises, and plenty of serial killer innuendo. If you like cat and mouse tropes or Spy Versus Spy, you will probably enjoy the first third of this book. After that, you may wonder what just happened to the dark. There is a lot going on in this book, maybe too much at times. Nevertheless, it is a fast-paced, unpredictable romance with plenty to keep you interested.

This book wasn’t the mystery thriller I was expecting, instead, it’s a quirky romcom full of morbid humor and true crime vibes, and honestly, I enjoyed it. At its heart, it’s a sweet love story about two flawed people finding connection, complete with sharp-witted serial killer jokes. It’s a fun, lighthearted read that’s perfect if you usually lean toward darker stories but want to try something with a bit more heart while still keeping that deliciously twisted touch.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. While I did not get "thriller vibes" from this book, I did still enjoy the wittiness and back and forth between the main characters. I enjoyed the book overall and it is a good "dark humor" type book. I will say, the beginning didn't completely grab me, but once it started picking up, I did get hooked into the story. Would definitely recommend to others looking for this type of book!

This book was not what I expected at all. I didn’t get the mystery thriller suspense vibes that it was described. A more accurate description would be: a romcom filled with morbid banter and a true crime fascination. Which I still enjoyed, hence the star rating!

This book is a cute love story between two people convinced that they’re damaged. I enjoyed the snippy back and forth serial killer quips between our main characters; and the iSpy murder game our MMC plays with his aunt.

Overall this book is a fun, light read, and in my opinion is a good pick if you’re generally more of a fan of darker reads but want to dabble in some more warm & fuzzy romance (which still keeping a murdery tinge).

Jake and Dolores are co-workers and she suspects he may be a serial killer. He's handsome, charming and wears the same outfit everyday, perfect for a serial killer hiding in the corporate world. Delores is obsessed with a murder podcast, wears black everyday and is full of dark humor quips. They both find each other intriguing and begin provoking each other at work. When one needs help getting rid of a body, their relationship changes to something more and they share their deepest secrets. This book is an unconventional mix of romance, mystery, and suspense. It's horrifying, heartbreaking, and funny at times. I can't find the words to express how great this book is, it keeps you guessing through the whole story.

📄🩸Serial Killer Games🩸📄
By Kate Posey

🩸 Outcasts
📄 Corporate office
🩸 Found family
📄 Dual POV

✨ Something about this writing felt a smidgeon like TJ Klune [interesting/ofd way of describing things?]
🩸 Would also be a great read for fans of Butcher & Blackbird - this has a similar sense of witty banter and gorey visuals but also has a uniqueness that I found endearing.
✨ I’m impressed by the way the author was able to portray such light hearted moments but also some truly devastating truths and themes. [to avoid spoilers mention exactly what those are.]
📄 During the first half of this I liked these characters but it felt like there was a plexiglass barrier between me and them, I could see them and watch them, but I could reach out and touch them.
🩸 The second half really takes off and you begin learning the intricate details of these characters. THIS is where the magic of this book lives.
✨ The last portion of this book was stunning, beautiful and I was NOT expecting it at all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️: No

Not exactly what I was expecting but this was ultimately a lovely and sweet book. I didn't expect a lot of what happened in the book and that took me out of the story a little bit but I still enjoyed the read.

Not my cup of tea. Though I did enjoy the lampoons at corporate life (I've been an office drone for a decade now), the overall humor and snark wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy for review.

This book took a good amount of time getting into due to the slow pace of it, but it the end I realized, this book wasn't for me. I think the writing style was solid, but I don't think this book achieved the expectation I was hoping it would. It does a great job on the dark/ morbid humor aspect and exploring the serial killer/ mystery aspect. The romance was present, but I didn't feel that much of a connecton betweeen our two main characters.

To sum it up, good idea but not as great excution. I would love to read more by this author since I did enjoy certain aspects of her writing!

I liked this book a lot I think that the pacing was good and then the characters bounced off of one another so well that I had a blast follow them on their adventures. I highly recommend this book

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my copy of this book!

Well, this book was absolutely nothing like what I expected! 😂 If I HAD to name a genre it fits into…I literally don’t know that I could. 😅 It’s all over the place. I laughed, felt emotional, felt angry, etc. It brings out all of the feelings for sure.

Two outcasts meet at work who both have an affinity for dark humor and, um, serial killer-esque things, and their interactions becomes a game. There’s a little bit of workplace romance/enemies to lovers here, but it doesn’t overshadow larger themes in the story.

As the story progresses, it becomes evident that things are not always as they seem. Posey writes masterfully in this way—with a constant sense of suspense throughout, and never knowing where she was going to take the story.

Honestly, this book was WILD. So many strange things happen, and the end starts to become quite the emotional conclusion that you never see coming in the beginning. From the MMC being named Jake Ripper to an absolutely hilarious scene of being pulled over by cops, I truly never knew what was going to happen here, and the ride was fantastic.

I would highly encourage going into this one blind and keeping an open mind! The banter is top notch, the writing is super clever, and the characters are all lovably quirky. You will absolutely laugh out loud (probably multiple times) and you very likely may cry. Also, shoutout to Aunt Laura, the absolute MVP of this story. 🥹

For a debut novel, I think Kate Posey knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

OMG, you guys, this book was like, so wild and weirdly adorable? Like, imagine sitting at your desk thinking the new temp is defs a serial killer. Dolores is a total queen of making you laugh at the darkest stuff. And Jake is all broody and sus but, like, in a way where you're like, “Is it bad if I’m kind of into this?”

The vibe was dark humor meets awkward office flirtation, but with, you know, potential murder. Their back-and-forth was soooo entertaining, and just when I thought I knew where it was going—bam!—a twist. Like, I had to reread a part because I legit didn’t see it coming. And the whole “help me dispose of a body” thing? Iconic.

Okay, maybe I wanted a bit more from the ending, but still, the story was a total ride. If you like quirky characters and romance with a super twisted edge, this is for you. Like, chef’s kiss.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! Four stars! ✨

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up Kate Posey’s debut, but wow—this book hooked me right away! It’s a darkly funny, unexpected mix of romance, suspense, and pitch-black humor, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

Dolores dela Cruz is such a sharp, edgy character with her gothy vibe and no-nonsense attitude—think Jessica Jones but more into true crime. And Jake Ripper? Well, he’s the kind of guy you know you should stay away from, but you can’t help being drawn in. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their banter had me laughing and cringing in equal measure.

The dual perspectives really worked for me. Both Jake and Dolores are flawed and damaged in ways that feel real, and their slow-burning connection was strangely sweet, despite all the dark, twisted stuff happening around them. The humor is spot-on, and the story is packed with twists that kept me guessing the whole way through.

I will say, the plot gets pretty over-the-top at times, but honestly, I didn’t mind—it just added to the fun. This was such an easy book to get lost in, and I kept wanting to read just one more chapter to see how everything unraveled.

If you’re into dark humor and romance with a macabre twist, you’ll probably love this one. It’s definitely a strong debut, and I can’t wait to see what Posey writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was so genuinely fun and funny and also dark and tragic. There were so many plot twists I absolutely did not see coming and so many moments that I bark laughed at because WHAT is going on with literally everyone in this book??? I had a wonderful time.

I cackled at the first major misunderstanding between Dodi and Jake, when they go on their impromptu date night. Jake was being so straightforward and serious and Dodi was playing along and the domino effect was so hilarious that I couldn’t get over it. Both of them are so determined to hold their cards close to their chest that they’re even suspicious of their own selves. And they’re both so, so weird. I love them.