While I was worried quite early on in this book, that I had guessed the twist, I was pleased to find out that while I had it was still very interesting and in a sense, good fun.

There is something all too satisfying about a group of horrifically abused women receiving justice from a vigilante and I loved the work the caretaker put in on every kill.

This is a quick read but very good, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a vigilante you can root for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC which was given in exchange for an honest review.

The Serial Killer Support Group follows Jess Pendle, who becomes a member of a support group after being a victim of DV. The former partners of some members of this group become a victim of a vigilante. It is the first book in what I understand will become a series.

The premise is original and the storyline is medium to fast paced. I had some trouble connecting to the characters and therefore also to the story, but overall I was rooting for the vigilante and it was a good read: 3,5 stars.

The Serial Killer Support Group has a fantastic premise that immediately grabbed my attention. The book is fast-paced and engaging, with an unexpected plot twist in the middle that completely caught me off guard. D.B. Stephens keeps the tension high, making it a real page-turner—I constantly wanted to know more.

Beyond its thriller elements, the book also explores difficult topics such as physical abuse, domestic violence and moral ambiguity. It raises thought-provoking questions about justice and whether taking the law into one’s own hands can ever be justified. What I appreciated most is that the story doesn’t impose a single viewpoint—it allows room for different perspectives, making it all the more compelling. While the protagonists make their choices, the narrative acknowledges alternative perspectives, which adds depth to the discussion.

However, my biggest issue with the book is that it doesn’t fully work as a standalone novel. Rather than reaching a point of resolution, it feels like the first part of a larger story, leaving numerous plotlines open and unfinished. While I understand this is part of a series, the ending left me feeling like I had read an introduction rather than a complete book. The surface has been scratched, but the deeper layers of the story seem to be reserved for future installments.

That being said, I truly enjoyed the concept and the execution and I’ll definitely be reading the next book to see how the story unfolds.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, unique thriller that makes you think and challenges perspectives on love, abuse, victims and abusers, this one is worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is so clever!
It tackles really difficult subject (domestic violence) while making the characters spring off the page. It really felt like modern girl power.
I am so pleased to read there will be future books with the main characters!

This was a very cleverly written book. I enjoyed the flow and liked the character build up. It was a bit hard to keep track of the characters but you get the flow eventually. Overall I enjoyed it and liked the story. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this

A powerful book, full of twists. A difficult subject dealt with panache. It was quite horrifying though at times, so read with caution as some of the scenes are quite graphic.

After a trip to the ER on New Year’s Eve, Jess finally decides it’s time to make a change and accepts help from the nurse on staff to leave her abusive boyfriend. Shortly after, she joins a support group recommended by the nurse for people in her situation & the longer she attends, the more she starts to think there’s more than meets the eye going on as the partners of other women in the group start getting hurt or killed. Did she make the right choice joining the group? Or will the consequences be deadly?

I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced & the premise of the story was pretty realistic. I was able to shine a light on domesticate abuse in a way that doesn’t always work and also portray the victims as more than just cowering shells. It also addressed how the system set up to help is quite frequently the one that fails the most.

While Jess definitely had her annoying moments, I felt like for the most part her character development was amazing and the strength she found because of the other women was truly phenomenal. My only gripe about the story is that there’s no true ending which makes me believe that maybe it will be part of a series. All in all would recommend.

**Thank you #NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for providing me an ARC for my honest review**

Jess Pendle did not expect to spend New Year’s Eve in the emergency room, but her boyfriend Lewis’s temper has landed her in the hospital waiting room. This isn’t the first time that Lewis has used his fists out of anger, and he has warned Jess to stick to the story he crafted when talking to doctors. When Lewis is asked to stay in the hall while Jess gets stitched up, Jess admits to the doctor that Lewis has been abusing her. After speaking to the police she is given a card for a support group that may help.

Jess is initially skeptical but after meeting the women of the support group especially when she finds out that being arrested doesn’t seem to deter Lewis from seeking her out. She soon looks forward to the Friday support group as the highlight of her week, finding in the women a group of individuals that understand what she is going through and are there for her no matter what. But something strange begins to happen. Someone calling themselves the Caretaker is seeking out abusers and making them pay for their crimes. The connecting characteristic of all of the men attacked is that their partners are members of the support group. Who is targeting the support group partners and why?

Told in multiple perpectives between Jess, investigator assigned to her case DS Sophie Salam and, the Caretaker (*shudders* even his name is creepy), the book paints a realistic picture of abuse survivors and details how the systems fails who have been attacked. While I enjoyed the characters, especially the journey that Jess goes through, I felt that parts of the book was repetitive and dragged on. Three stars for this thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

This book follows 3 ‘characters’, Jess Pendle, Sophie Salam and The Caretaker. Jess is a woman who suffered from domestic abuse and starts to attend a support group with women who have lived similarly. Then the killings start performed by The Caretaker, who is in turn investigated by police officer Sophie Salam.

I first wanted to state that I liked Jess and the other women from the group, Kelly Maddison and Hannah. However, I did not like Sophie. Her character fell flat to me and her persoective just wasn’t interesting to me as it didn’t necessarily contribute much to the story. The book has just one twist which is revealed pretty early on in the book, which was fine since it fits the story. I did think however, that once you know the twist The Caretaker isn’t that well written prior to the twist as his perspective then does not fit quite right with what is revealed later. I also think that Sophie getting her suspicions through ‘gut feeling’ was kinda boring since no evidence is supporting this feeling of hers.

The writing style was nice though and the book reads auickly but I do think it could have been more innovative in it’s plot and some of the character work.


Thank ONE MORE CHAPTER and NetGalley for the Arc.

When i requested this, it was really because the title made me so curious. I really enjoyed this book! It’s one of those stories where you’re so sure you know whats going on, but you really don’t! Kept me wondering until the very last sentence! It’s easy to get attached to the characters, and i found myself rooting for “the bad guy” more than once. 100% worth reading!

I love a book when I think I have it all figured out and then i don’t at all. Really short choppy chapters that I absolutely flew through. Really important messages laced throughout as well!!

Serial Killer Support Group by DB Stephens is a darkly entertaining and fast-paced thriller with a unique premise. Blending horror and dark humor, it delivers suspense, sharp dialogue, and a cast of intriguing characters. While the concept is engaging, the execution can feel a bit rushed at times. A fun, gruesome read for fans of unconventional horror.

4/5

I went in to this book blind because I was so intrigued by the title alone. And it did not disappoint! I was afraid that the story of domestic violence against women would be sensationalised and would not be told with the respect it deserved since the author is male. But I was wrong! The author showed again and again that he understands the complexity of violence against women and how the abusers manipulate and keep violating women even after they leave the relationship. The most dangerous time for a woman is when she leaves a violent relationship and I feel like this is somewhat represented in this book.

But, for the story itself I found myself holding my breath from time to time because I was afraid for what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the female rage and female power represented in the story and even though I’m not for the notion “an eye for an eye” I really liked the way the author used revenge as a way to question society and the legal system and the way it treats women subjected to male violence. The story makes you think, question and want to make a difference for violence against women.

It was well written, fast paced and I had a hard time putting the book down when it was time for sleep or you know, get back to my everyday life. I loved the short chapters and how they switched point of views between characters.

The reason for the 4/5 stars is that the ending felt a bit rushed and I wasn’t satisfied with leaving the characters and story so abruptly. In the acknowledgement it’s described as the first book in a series so I understand it better now. But. For such a well written story I wished for a more satisfying ending.

Very interesting and thrilling read

jess is a great character who finds a support group, that gives her more than she was expecting!

pretty great book with some interesting vibes. definitely an interesting read playing with morality. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Serial Killer Support Group is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller that captivated me from beginning to end. What begins as a safe haven for survivors quickly spirals into a darker, more dangerous situation when their therapist suddenly disappears. Left to navigate the chaos on their own, these women are forced to confront not only their pasts but also the lengths they’re willing to go to in order to protect one another.

D.B. Stephens crafts a suspenseful and twisted tale, full of tension and unexpected twists, with morally ambiguous characters that keep you guessing. For fans of thrillers that explore the murky boundaries between justice and vengeance, this book is an absolute must-read!

This book is okay. I wanted to love it, based on the blurb. Instead I liked it a little. The idea is good. Some of the execution of it wasn't always seen through. I'd liked to have seen some of the other women fleshed out a bit more too.

★★★★★ A Dark and Gripping Read!

The Serial Killer Support Group is a chilling, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. What starts as a safe space for survivors quickly turns into something much darker when their therapist leaves. Left to their own devices, these women must decide how to cope—and how far they’re willing to go to protect each other.

D.B. Stephens delivers a suspenseful, twisted story filled with tension, unexpected turns, and morally complex characters. If you love thrillers that blur the lines between justice and revenge, this book is a must-read!

I went into the Serial Killer Support Group believing I was reading Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga
Schaefer. I was 15% into the book when I realized this, clearing up my confusion about when we were finally going to get to the support group. This book tells the stories of several women that belong to a support group for female domestic violence survivors. The story alternates POV between Jess, one of the DV survivors, and The Caretaker who is running around killing the perpetrators of the female support group members, as well as the lead detective Sophie who is trying to solve the murders. I’m really glad I stuck with this book after realizing it wasn’t the book I hoped to read, because it turned out to be quite good. I had my suspicions about who The Caretaker was, but found myself anxiously anticipating learning their true identity. The stories of the women while devastating gave a realistic portrayal into the concerns that survivors of domestic violence face. I highly recommend giving this book a read if you’re a fan of mystery/thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an arc copy of The Serial Killer Support Group in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins/One More Chapter for the ARC of this book. The premise of this is great but it leaves a lot to be desired. I found some inconsistencies in the story and a ton of unanswered questions. It was mostly a fun read but just not for me.