If you like Dexter, you’ll like this book. Instead of going after any and all bad guys, in this book, the Caretaker focuses on abusive boyfriends and husbands. The support group includes women that have been abused. This gives women a chance to be with like-minded people. They can see what each other is going through. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for an honest opinion.

Not the easiest book to read, the description of DV will be a trigger, and some of the statistics quoted are beyond shocking, that aside, I really enjoyed the book.

Jess is in A&E after being attacked by her boyfriend on New Year's Eve, he has coached her in what to say and tries to stay with her throughout the whole time she is being checked, Jess finally admits to a doctor who is stitching her up that she has been assaulted, police arrive, Lewis, the boyfriend, is taken away (but not held in custody) and Jess is told she can go home and is given the contact details of a support group for DV victims.

Just a very good read, which will also anger in parts!

Recommended

Spending New Year’s Eve sat in A and E wasn’t what Jess has envisaged but having been at the hand of Lewis many times she couldn’t be too surprised. Having grown up witnessing her mum going through the same paternal of DV Jess knew she had to break this cycle so when the opportunity was given for Jess to be alone with the Dr and a way shown out of the cycle Jess took it.
A new life opened up to Jess one which left her lonely and scared with Lewis making his presence ever felt. Taking the giant step towards a support group Jess became involved in the group for men and women but found support in ways she never expected!
The caretaker for the building where the support group was held had his own ways of supporting these abused women one which some may class as unconventional karma! Or is all what it seems?
Can detective Sophie Salam crack the case of the increasing number of bodies that are appearing all whom which share an interesting link of being dv abusers? The “Pendle” comment I’m not so sure non northern uk readers will maybe understand but I liked it !!!
I guess there may be triggers for a reader having experience DV but I don’t feel it went too deeply into it so don’t let that put you off. The characters were well written and intruiging and the plot line was very exciting and enjoyable for me this was a 5 star read so thank you NetGalley for the Arc I would have missed out on a truly great read otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an advanced copy of The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a solid 4-star read for me! One of the standout aspects of this book was its morally grey cast of characters. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains here—just people operating in shades of gray, making decisions that teeter on the edge of right and wrong. The protagonist herself is far from a traditional heroine, and the lines between justice and revenge blur in fascinating ways. Even the so-called villain had layers that made them compelling, and I found myself constantly shifting my perspective on who I should be rooting for.

While this wasn’t a traditional thriller in the sense that the “who” and “why” were revealed early on, that didn’t take away from the suspense. Instead, the tension came from watching everything unravel—seeing how these morally ambiguous characters would navigate the chaos and what the final fallout would be. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see where it would all lead.

This was my first book by D.B. Stephens, but I’m now very interested in going back to read the previous book referenced in this story. It sounds fantastic, and if this novel is any indication, I have high hopes that it will deliver just as well.

As the mother of a little boy on the spectrum, I especially appreciated the unglamorized and unsensationalized representation of an autistic child. It was refreshing to see a portrayal that felt real and honest rather than exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Overall, this was a gripping read with complex, flawed characters and a premise that kept me engaged until the very end. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

NetGalley eArc
Loved the JessxSophie dynamic
Perfect beach read if you don't mind a aide of (justified) murder
Thought it had been written by woman, if I had known I wouldn't have picked it up but DB Stephens did a marvellous job with a woman's perspective.
My major gripe is that there weren't enough of it.
I also proper enjoyed The Caretakers perspective particularly its use towards the 3rd act of the book.

"The serial killer support group" by D. B. Stephens is a thriller set out to be released on the 8th of May this year.

Triggerwarning; Domestic Violence.

First of all, thanks for letting me read this Advanced copy! Let's begin.

On new year's eve Jess and boyfriend Lewis are outside the A&E, rehearsing the story Jess has to say to doctors about how the obtained her injuries. Answers to questions they might ask. It all goes smoothly, until Lewis has been asked to step outside so the doctor can properly examine Jess. She gets a chance, an out if you will. Was the story she told really true? Or did her boyfriend hurt her? Jess is struggling, what does she want for the new year? Does she want a new start? Away from Lewis? Or does she believe he can change?

After receiving a flyer about a support group for women who've suffered from DV, Jess starts joining every week. She meets new friends within this group and also meets a nice old man that has been the caretaker for the old building they're using.

I thought, after the first couple of attacks, that "the caretaker" killer was in fact the caretaker of the building. How wrong I was. While the exes of the women in the support group either get attacked or murdered.. The police are still chasing their tails. The detective has a hunch in the end, but no proof whatsoever.

The ending is open, since it's a first book in a new series. Don't worry, you'll get to know who the caretaker really is!

It's a 4 stars read for me. I enjoyed reading it, the DV bits can be a bit hard, but still, the karma scale in this book is very good.

4.5 stars 🌟

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The pacing of the story is excellent, keeping readers on the edge of their seat with numerous twists and turns. There are trigger warnings, with underlying themes of abuse, survival, and redemption, which are explored with sensitivity.

The Serial Killer Support Group is a fresh and innovative take on the thriller genre. It combines elements of suspense, mystery, and psychological drama, offering a story that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. I’m usually not a massive fan of more ‘open ended’ books, but I’m hopeful that this could lead to a sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. (Trigger Warnings: Domestic Violence)

(4.5 Star) The premise of the story is that Jess Pendle joins a women's DV support group after her boyfriend abuses her. She meets a group of women who have been through similar things. They each start to share their stories at the weekly meetup, but strange things start happening. 'The Caretaker' starts to hurt/kill the men who abused these women, usually in the same way that they inflicted damage. I found myself really rooting for the women in this book. Some parts of the killings were quite detailed, bordering on gory which I wasn't necessarily expecting, but didn't mind.

I thought I had it all figured out early on and I was convinced I knew who The Caretaker was, but of course, I was wrong - it probably would have been too easy to guess if I got it right. This book was an enjoyable, easy and quick read that had good pacing for me. I would certainly be interested to read more of D B Stephens books.

This is a dark, yet thought-provoking thriller story, exploring violence against women, vigilante justice, and therapeutic support groups.

My attention was held from beginning to end, with this unique storyline, fast-paced writing, plenty of twists to keep me guessing and a cast of characters that I will not forget anytime soon.

With many thanks to DB Stephens, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The ending has me hoping for another book! I would certainly be interested to read what DB Stephens writes next!

This was amazing! I am so glad that there will be more because I devoured this! I could not put it down the second I picked it up!

While I loved the premise of this book I got kind of distracted by the writing style. I really liked the therapy aspect and really want to keep going with the authors books

WOW, this book is crazy,

Jess finally reports her abuser, and the hospital gives her leaflets for a support group that meets on Fridays. She's introduced to a few women who become excellent friends, and she finally has the strength to trust men again. Thanks to a sinister gentleman dressed in wellies.

I'm going to say this it's absolutely a thriller maybe a slight brush with horror and an excellent read. But I'm not giving much more than that away because the twists and turns in this book are great, I will put out TW because even though written by a man I absolutely appreciate his research so he could give these women real voices that allowed me to connect with them as a female. But because they have real voices, it can also be triggering for some women who are survivors, but if you can get past it, it's such a good book, and I highly recommend if you love thrillers.

Tw-
Mentions DV and SA

Thank you, netgalley for giving me the opportunity!

The title alone promises something wild, and I was in the mood for a thriller that’d keep me up past my bedtime. It’s got this premise that hooks you right away—imagine a therapy group gone rogue, filled with women who’ve been wronged, turning their pain into something dark and vengeful.

But while it had its moments, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me the way I’d hoped. While the concept initially intrigued me—the “you kill for me, I kill for you” dynamic teased in the blurb, reminiscent of the film Kill For Me (2013) and probably a couple of Lifetime movies, the execution left me with mixed feelings.

Jess Pendle joins a Domestic Violence support group after her boyfriend lands her in the hospital needing stitches. She’s expecting to connect with other women who’ve been through hell.

I love the idea of these women flipping the script—there’s something satisfying about seeing the underdog bite back. I enjoy a good read or movie in where a woman gets her lick.

Til about the fifty percent mark, it was starting to read a little Frieda McFadden: here, look this shiny gimmick, so you won’t look at the purse snatcher making off with your wallet. The limp thing with Geoff and The Caretakers POV being he/him had me had me second guessing the blurb.

Where it stumbled for me was pacing and depth. The buildup was tense, but then it felt like Stephens hit the gas too hard toward the end—everything wrapped up faster than my attempt to assemble a desk (which, trust me, was a disaster). I wanted more time with the characters, especially the group members. They’re a fierce bunch, and you root for them, but I didn’t know them as well as I’d have liked…. At all. Just that they hate abusers because they’re survivors of abuse. Which, yeah. But that’s pretty much a golem of a character in a DV support group.

The writing’s easy, though, and there’s a dark humor that sneaks in, which I appreciated. It’s gory at times, but not gratuitous; it fits the tone. Fans of fast-paced thrillers will probably eat this up, especially if you’re into that “justice served cold” vibe. Definitely worth a read if you’re curious, just don’t expect it to linger with you too long after the last page.

D B Stephens' The Serial Killer Support Group offers a unique and innovative take on the typical portrayal of serial killers, presenting a concept that feels both original and invigorating.

In this gripping narrative, Jess becomes part of a support group for survivors of domestic violence, where she connects deeply with a circle of women who resonate with her on a fundamental level. As they share their stories and uplift one another, their camaraderie intensifies, especially as their abusive partners start to meet the fate of a serial killer driven by a thirst for revenge.

A heartfelt thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

3.5 stars. I thought this book did a really good job of portraying partner abuse and autism. It showed how complicate partner abuse is and how difficult it is for the abused to get out of such a relationship. It also exemplified the inadequacies of the justice system when it comes to dealing with this issue.

My favorite chapters were the Caretaker’s, but be warned there are graphic murder scenes. About half way through, we find out who the Caretaker really is. While, it wasn’t a huge surprise, it made you rethink all the previous Caretaker chapters.

I am not familiar with UK laws, but I thought Becky, who I believe we never learn whether she is a therapist or just a community member, gave away the group members’ names too easily. There certainly might not be any legal confidentiality when it comes to support groups, but you would still think she would have fought a little harder to keep the group members confidential, especially the male members as they weren’t there when the police came.

Jess was a fine example of an abused person, but I felt like that was her whole personality. I didn’t feel like we really got to know her, or any of the other women in the support group. I just felt all the characters were fairly one dimensional.

I was wondering, especially since there was still 50% of the book left after finding out who the Caretaker was, how this book was going to end. I thought the story had a good ending on the plot of the Caretaker, but we were left with some unanswered questions on other plot points. I guess it was set as the beginning of a series, but I prefer books to be self-contained. Overall, this was a quick and easy read that I would recommend to anyone who likes vigilante justice stories.

***Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. All opinions within are my own****

3.5!

From the title alone I was instantly hooked.

Key thoughts:

- I really enjoyed the writing style! This was so easy to read, it didn’t feel heavy even though the subject matter at times, was and I appreciated that the author handled this in a sensitive but honest and realistic manner.

- The actual subject matter! not only was this well written and researched but the conversations within the book were current and widely addressed the issues that many people in DV situations are facing and the lack of support for those individuals. The fact this book is set in this year and we’re still having these conversations just shows how it’s still so misunderstood and how little has changed. I also appreciated that the author included a perpetrator within authority as well - a small detail but I think it’s again a great representation that these types of offenders are sometimes those we trust the most.

- The premise for this book was really intriguing, I loved following the support group. I related to the anger these women felt, the fear, the small glimpses of hope and happiness and the crushing feeling of nothing changing. As a woman I totally understood these women idolising “the caretaker” and it raised great moral questions about vigilantism and the issues within the current criminal justice system. The idea that this individual can be a bigger deterrent than the current “punishments” deemed by the law, is something that we can see within our current world landscape.

- I loved the other representations within this as well: autism and disability representations, working mums, financial restrains and responsibilities and of course victim hood.

- For me it was the later half of this book that lost the potential 4th star. Although I was enjoying it, I hadn’t warmed to Jess as much as I’d hoped and I also felt like it was rushing to find a conclusion. At times it felt like some of the supporting characters lacked depth. The 4 main female characters for example, I don’t feel like we had enough background for them all. I wish we’d seen more so that I really understood each of their individual motivations for attending the group.

- I will say whilst we had somewhat of an ending to this story we also entered a new start that I wasn’t expecting. I really hope that we can see more of “the caretaker” because this story can’t just be the end, it has so much more to give and I want to know what else happens for these women!

Overall, a fantastic read and I’ll definitely watching out for this author in the future! Thank you again to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review!

This twisting tale with various characters was fantastic, I would have read this all in one sitting had life not got in the way, just loved everything about the story from the very begining to the end

The Serial Killer Support Group is about a group of women coming out of abusive relationships. They attend weekly support group sessions and begin to form supportive friendships, but then a serial killer called The Caretaker begins to target their exes. Are they in danger, too? Do they know the serial killer?

I liked the premise of this book, and it has a truly hooky title. The novel itself didn't live up to my hopes but I did keep reading to find out what was really going on and who the serial killer was. A lot of the action in the book is inside the characters' heads, which made for a slow read. It was also difficult to tell the characters apart. The women in the group aren't distinguished by much beyond what their crappy ex-partners did to them. The main character, Jess, is as generic as her name. She lives alone, she works with kids, her ex was terrible. That's about it.

I won't say much about the identity of The Caretaker to avoid spoilers, but when I got to the reveal I groaned. Not a fan.

It felt like the ending was setting things up for a sequel, so I'll be curious to see if this turns into a series. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.50 stars

I picked this book based on the name alone. Jess is a victim of dv and joins a group. After her joining the group we see similar violence against the groups perpetrators. The idea if vigilante justice is a cool concept. I did guess the ending early on and at times the book did drag but I still enjoyed the concept.

Jess is one of the millions of people that suffer at the hand of an abusive partner. At the beginning you see he fragile and scared but you see the growth and her sense of self blossom.

The support group is a source of comfort and support and connection with others that takes away the stigma

Then there is the caretaker who is confronting the attackers. Who is this mystery figure and will public opinion be for or against this figure.

I was holding my breath at the end just to find out how this story concluded

Brilliantly written book where you really begin to see into the lives of the key people including the detective investigating

Left me wanting more and to see how lives continued