The concept of a support group for serial killers seems goofy on the surface, but what debut novelist Saratoga Schaefer was able to accomplish with Serial Killer Support Group was twisted and unexpected.
After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer. When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.
Using insider information (don’t ask), Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life. Proving herself to them comes at a cost, but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge. But the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacle in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity.
I didn’t expect much when opening the first page of Serial Killer Support Group. That is not because of it being a debut novel for Saratoga Schaefer, but more so because it seemed like a similar (yet different) trope I have read before. However, Schaefer crafts a novel that set itself apart from others in the genre with an intricate plot, shocking twists and an ending that I didn’t see coming.
The characters, from our main protagonist Cyra to each and every serial killer from the support group, are well development and artfully crafted. While the main story is a murder mystery with Cyra trying to hunt down her sister’s killer we get a deeper understanding of each serial killer attending their meetings along the way. The breakup of the main storyline to dive deeper into the serial killer background was a nice change of pace and allowed for more in-depth knowledge of each character.
Schaefer does a wonderful job of using humor as both a coping mechanism for Cyra and a satirical lens through which societal issues are examined. The juxtaposition of such grim subject matter with playful dialogue creates a unique narrative tension. This provided moments of levity amid a suspenseful plot while keeping me on edge from cover to cover. It’s this balance between horror and humor that makes Schaefer’s voice standout in the vast genre.
The fun, suspense and mystery within the pages of Serial Killer Support Group was a fun and exhilarating journey all wrapped up in a nice bow with a culmination that fit perfectly. A good book is only as good as its ending and the author was able to finish strong in this debut novel. Each twist, turn and story within the pages was all made worth it by a stellar ending.
Serial Killer Support Group is a gripping tale that lures you in with its bizarre premise and keeps you hooked with its unexpected twists. While the concept might sound whimsical at first—a therapeutic circle for those who live outside society’s moral code—but Saratoga Schaefer deftly turns it into an intense journey. Serial Killer Support Group gives me reason to read more from Schaefer in the future and that is all you can hope for in the end.
Serial Killer Support Group hits bookstores everywhere on March 18, 2025 from Crooked Lane Books.
