I chose to read a free eARC of The Serial Killer Support Group but that has in no way influenced my review.

When Jess Pendle arrives at A&E with her boyfriend, Lewis, by her side she realises that they, as a couple, have reached a new low. Lewis has gradually become aggressive, domineering and violent over the course of their relationship, finally hurting her so badly that she needs have her face stitched back together. The well trained hospital staff read between the lines and offer Jess help. She's unsure at first, fearing the repercussions, terrified she'll never be able to escape Lewis's clutches. But she soon comes to realise that if she doesn't report Lewis to the police, the next time he could kill her. Returning to her flat, Jess makes the decision to not let Lewis and his intimidating ways win so she reaches out to a local support group for survivors of domestic violence. Unsure what to expect, she arrives late and flustered but the group members are warm and welcoming. Jess comes to rely on the other women in the group, and looks forward to seeing them every Friday, and in return they take her into their confidence. Because this support group is like no other. This support group take matters in their own hands. Dishing out their own deadly version of revenge...

The Serial Killer Support Group is an engaging, revenge-filled thriller that really makes you think. It made for uncomfortable reading at times and rightly so. Not enough is done for the survivors of domestic abuse and here, the author shines a light on the limited resources put into a DV investigation, with victim blaming rife and very few legal restrictions put on the perpetrators. There was also a strong lack of empathy from some of the investigating officers which made my blood boil. I really felt for Jess. The opening chapters are harrowing and upsetting. My heart broke for her as she was led into the hospital whilst being forced to repeat to her bully of a boyfriend the story HE had come up with for her injuries. I willed the medical staff to see through the lie and act, which thankfully they do. However, the system that should be supporting Jess almost immediately lets her down. Days later Lewis is outside her house, threatening her, intimidating her and making empty promises to change. She doesn't feel safe, she can't bring herself to leave the house, which is where the support group comes in.

Alongside Jess's point of view we also hear from DS Sophie Salam. Before long a concerning pattern is noticed. The abusers of the support group women, their husbands, boyfriends and ex's, are meeting horrible maimings and even death. Horrible, grisly, violent deaths. Sophie is part of the team who initially make the link back to the support group but the police are blinkered. There is a lot of time spent focussing on Sophie's home life. How she is torn between being the best mother she can be to her young autistic daughter, whilst also doing her demanding job to the best of her ability. My heart again broke for the character. It's impossible to get the balance right when your child isn't on the spectrum, so this look into life with an autistic child and their complex needs really highlighted how tough life is for Salam. Particularly with Salam's own mother, Daya, struggling to cope with Lottie's sudden changes in mood.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Serial Killer Support Group is a compelling tale. I enjoyed watching Jess change over the course of the book and go from fearful to fearless (well, not quite fearless but she does change and gain a confidence that isn't there at the start of the book). Lewis's character was written so well. He gave me the creeps with his multiple ways of intimidating Jess. The things he does are just abhorrent. Chills all over. The other members of the Support Group are interesting but I would have liked to get to know them a little more. Again, I'm hoping this is something the author will build upon in the next book. As a serial killer thriller fan, I thought the ways the Caretaker dispatched of his victims was imaginative, really quite ingenious! Some scenes within the book are quite gory but not excessively so. There is a lot of rage, anger and fury. Revenge is a dish best served... Full stop. Hot or cold, it doesn't really matter. All in all, I enjoyed the first outing of the Secret Vigilante series and look forward to reading more in the future. An emotional thriller that's full of rage and violent, unflinching revenge. The perfect book club read as it raises so many interesting questions. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Serial Killer Support Group. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Review will be published on 8th May 2025]

I really got into this book and read it in a couple of days, very easy to get lost in the story. It’s a tough read in parts, and a bit too simplistic in its portrayal of dv. But I was rooting for these women and wanted to see where their story went.

Such an exciting and fast paced read! I loved the short chapters and fast paced writing style. This book has such strong powerful female characters. I just love it when women fight back. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to everyone.

The Serial Killers Support Group
By D B Stephens

Jess has recently turned her abusive boyfriend now ex in but he is stalking and threatening her and the police can’t help. She finds a group of ladies that meet to cope with their abusive exs. There’s a Caretaker that has been exacting revenge on their behalf. They have a group text they don’t include the group leader but soon include Jess.

The plot thickens, the Caretaker becomes more vigilant and vigilante, and the police including DC Sophie Salam ore on the case. Meanwhile the public has opinions and abusers are being revealed and more. The plots and flow are set up well. We know enough about the characters for logical twists and turns. I don’t think any are too shocking.

It fascinating seeing through the eyes of the Caretaker and to see views and trust exposed. How brave are you? How afraid are brutalist bullies? Who’s friend or foe? Who’s safe from the prying eyes and court of public opinion? This book is satisfying except for a few details left unrevealed but in life we wouldn’t be all knowing and maybe the reader shouldn’t be either.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and Harper Collins Publishers UK for an advanced readers digital copy.

This is a story of Domestic Abuse survivors and detailed descriptions of murder. It follows Jess and her support group, plus the Caretaker who is out for revenge on abusive partners. It was a thrilling read with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed being lead to believe I knew what would happen and then a complete curve ball coming from nowhere. Weirdly the book felt very real and the descriptions were written superbly with great sensitivity of difficult topics of discussion. Can't wait to read the rest of the series when it is written. Great for readers of Katy Brent

A dark thriller, an interesting concept.
A good read overall.
I liked the characters, good depth to them. Good storyline’s for each.

I couldn’t get into this one. It had some thought provoking moments but a lot of the story felt flat. It seemed as though the story line was second to the ideas the author wanted to espouse and it became boring to read at points. It was interesting but I think it could have been executed much better.

I picked this up thinking I'd just read a couple of chapters and ended up reading the whole book in one go.

The police have failed women who have suffered at the hands of their abusers. The perpetrators walk around free whilst the survivors live in fear. They’re not taken seriously and are made to feel like it's their fault. Enough is enough! Lurking in the shadows is a serial killer who calls himself 'The Caretaker'. He targets those men who have wronged women, taking the law into his own hands. Righting the wrongs of a broken justice system. Hero or villain, that's for you to decide.

A difficult subject to write about and a difficult one to read for some. It needs to be written about in the right way and I think the author does that well. It's not an overly detailed account of DV but it gives an insight to the reader and helps to draw attention to the subject. Unfortunately in today's society, there is a lot of victim blaming and shame attached to it. You will never fully understand unless you've lived through it.

This story highlights the aftermath of being in a DV relationship. It follows the pov of Jess Pendle who managed to get 'free' of her abuser, DS Sophie Salam who is investigating the Murders and The Caretaker.

All the characters are well-written and feel like real people. I felt a strong connection to these women and their stories. To live in fear every day is debilitating, and the toll it takes on you mentally, emotionally and physically. The abusers are written spot on. It felt like a true account of what they do. Both sides have been written with a good knowledge and understanding of a difficult subject matter.

The story is a slow burn but with its short chapters, it makes it easy to read and hard to put down. I couldn't stop reading and wanted these men to get their comeuppance. It certainly questions your moral compass. There isn't a big finale and it's set up for a follow on book. I was ok with that.

What I took from this story is how we as women cope in situations where we feel like there is no hope and support. When we feel let down by the systems that have been put in place to protect us. one of friendship, courage, strength and hope. A book that makes you question our justice system, our police force and the support survivors receive.

Thank you One More Chapter for my advanced copy.
My opinions are my own.

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

A really dark thriller! I was drawn in by the title, and wasn’t disappointed.

The Caretaker is on a killing spree, his victims have been targeted to get their comeuppance for heinous crimes against women.

The chapters are datemarked and written from the perspective of the different characters. The murders are quite graphic and were written in a similar style to the serial killer in The One by John Marrs.

There were a couple of loose ends but I expect these will be followed up in subsequent books in the series.

I love a thriller and I absolutely loved how this one was different to the usual "he killed....". If you love a thriller, but fed up of the usual storylines, then I recommend this.

There is another book of a similar name I have read previously, and I was worried this would be too much the same, but it really wasn't and does stand out on its own.

This book was everything I wanted from the title. It is a thoughtful story, not only about murder but the Quest for justice making you think how poor our country's justice system really is in domestic violence cases.

My thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and Net Galley for allowing me to review this arc.

Wow! What a good book! Jess Pendle is in an abusive relationship, gets out of it and finds herself in a support group with women in similar situations that do much more then lend support .
I found the abusive topic a bit heavy but it called attention to domestic violence and women empowerment. I really like the Strangers on a Train element. Very good read .

Short chapters and an incredible story draw you in, despite the heavy themes: abuse and revenge. It's hard to put down once you start. Just be aware that it’s written with dark humor.

Thank you, Netgalley and One More Chapter, for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jess Pendle has been the victim of domestic abuse for some time. New Year's Even is the final straw. He lands her in the ER after his latest round of violence, and she's approached by caring people who offer her a way out.

But as is the fear of victims, they have trouble trusting. And oftentimes, that feeling is well warranted. But she puts on a brave face and accepts help. And she joins up a support group for others in the same boat, though at various stages. One of the best parts for Jess is that her ex managed to coerce her into alienating her friends and family, and this group helps her to rebuild that part of her life.

It's always heartwarming to root for the underdog, and see stories portray strong women characters. This fits the bill with a sinister twist.


Thanks to NetGalley, HaperCollins UK, One More Chapter and D B Stephens for the eARC.
Pub Date May 08 2025

Not what I was expecting by the title. I definitely thought it was gonna be like AA but for killers….which I kind of read one like that already so wanted to see if it was similar….definitely not this was more of a dv survivors all end up in the same support group and slowly the ones that hurt them begin to die. It was definitely hard to keep up at times with the POvs and characters but once you got used to it you were good to go. Overall this book was pretty good and made you think “yasssssqueen” and “go girl”

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Jess Pendle is a victim of domestic violence, and after finding the courage to leave her boyfriend Lewis, she decides to join a support group for women who have lived through similar experiences. With the help of her new friends, Jess is able to go back to a mostly normal life, until a serial killer known as "The Caretaker" begins to take revenge on behalf of the group's members.

I went into this story expecting a horror slasher, but instead got an emotional book about grief and perseverance mixed with an old fashioned mystery novel. It's something I truly found unique compared to the horror novels that I typically reach for. There is so much I want to say about The Caretaker and his character, but half of the fun of this book is in the mystery of who The Caretaker is, and if you like a dark twist on mystery, this is the book for you.

My only real issue with this book is the point of view switching. I think it was the right call to make for the style of story it is, but it can be a bit confusing keeping up with The Caretaker's POV after switching from Jess. There is a 3rd POV as well, Sophie Salam who is a detective looking into the serial killer case, but her sections tend to be fairly straight forward.

I wish I could say more, but I fear the best parts of this story are meant to be unraveled as you read. This book is also the first in a new series, and I'm looking forward to book 2!

What a great book with a brilliant and unusual storyline. The characters were totally believable and relatable and the plot is full of twists and turns. Well worth a read,

Okay from the title I actually thought it was going to be a kinda dark comedy or a support group for serial killers. Like serial killers anonymous… it’s been 6 weeks since I last committed murder. I actually think that would be a fabulous idea for a book 😂. However this wasn’t it. It’s still an addictive thriller, the support group is for domestic abuse survivors and then their attackers slowly start dying. I thought I’d had it figured out and that the serial killer committing the crimes was obviously, but things weren’t how they seemed…

The title promises a wild ride, and the premise—a therapy group of abuse survivors turning vigilante—is instantly gripping. Jess Pendle joins after a violent encounter with her boyfriend, expecting healing but finding something much darker.

While the concept is strong, the execution felt uneven. The story starts intriguing, with a “you kill for me, I kill for you” setup, but pacing issues and underdeveloped characters left me wanting more. The second half rushes to the finish, glossing over the group members' individual depth.

Still, the writing is accessible with flashes of dark humor, and the gore fits the tone. It’s a fast-paced, revenge-fueled thriller that fans of twisted justice will enjoy—just don’t expect it to stick with you long after the final page.

A big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book really made me pause.
What happens when seeking help isn’t enough? When reaching out is met with silence?
"The Serial Killer Support Group" is not just a gripping thriller, it’s a reminder that many women facing domestic violence are left with impossible choices.

At some point, you’ll find yourself questioning your own moral compass.

This is book one in a series, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. There’s so much more to uncover.