𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 8, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💛 Domestic Violence Survivor
💙 Secret Vigilante
💙 Twisty Thriller
💙 Moral Support Group

Review: While I have never personally suffered DV, I watched my mother fight for love in all the wrong places for what feels like most of my formative years, so the FMC and her moral support group friends all immediately had an impact on me. The author did an incredible job of highlighting the struggles of DV victims, especially showing how, even after leaving, their abusers still found ways to torment and harass them. I loved watching Jess grow throughout the book. This read was very satisfying for me, and while it might be difficult for some, I highly recommend!

Thank you so much, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

Hooked… from page one! I absolutely devoured this revenge thriller, reading late into the night, desperate to find out who was seeking retribution. Darren handled difficult topics with the utmost respect, delving deep into the world of domestic abuse, covering not only physical abuse but emotional and financial too in parts, and not just of women, the abuse of men too which is a topic rarely covered. It was also nice to see discussion of neurodivergent children throughout and how tough that is on parents. Short snappy chapters leaving you hanging onto every word, a multiple POV and phenomenal character development, the relationships between the women were exactly what every woman needs! My half star deduction only comes from the ending, and although it was excellent, I didn’t want it to end! This is the first part in the series and I CANNOT WAIT!!

I recently read another book by this author and was truly deeply impressed by his craftsmanship. That’s why I went looking for other stories and then I came across this one. I was immediately fascinated by the title. On the one hand, I found it a bit funny and a bit contradictory because I couldn’t imagine serial killers organizing a meeting and sharing experiences. But you never know, of course.

The book begins with Jess, who has gone through traumatic experiences and has now reached her breaking point. She finally dares to escape, but that doesn’t mean she’s free…

Then she finds a group where she gradually learns to open up, and she not only begins to reclaim her life, but also forms a few close friendships—the women become each other’s support and refuge.

At this point, I still didn’t know what the title referred to, until an explanation was given that I totally didn’t see coming and found brilliant.

The author has a sparkling writing style that draws you in from beginning to end. Every time I had to put the book down to do something else, it felt terrible because all I wanted was to shut out the world and immerse myself in this fantastic story.

Toward the end, I had an uneasy feeling that something was going to happen, and I truly felt anxious. I feared a trap and sensed the doubt in Jess and her friends as well. Was the anxiety justified?

I’m so glad this is the first part of a series because I love books with vigilantes as the main characters. The final sentence made me eagerly look forward to the sequel, which I hope won’t take too long to appear. On the other hand, I’d rather be patient to give the author the time needed to create another masterpiece.

I thought it was top-notch. The 5 stars are more than deserved.

Thank you.

Trigger warnings: domestic violence, murder, violence, children with disabilities

Jess used to be a vibrant young woman, that is until her partner tore her down and isolated her from those important to her. After one of Louis’s rage’s lands Jess in the ER on NYE, she terrifyingly makes the choice to speak up and alert law enforcement. Unfortunately only 1/3 DV cases internationally see any legal justice (this is an actual fact!). Once Jess starts attending a support group for other women like her, she realizes she’s not alone. Too many women are harmed by their partners without repercussions but that’s about to change thanks to the mysterious Caretaker. As the Caretaker undertakes vigilante justice the country debates whether the attacked men deserved what they got- for the women of the support group, the answer is a resounding YES.


Thanks NetGalley and One More Chapter publishing for this early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are a little mixed on this one.. the first half had me reeled in and it flew by, the second half was just slower and felt a little more predictable. It’s hard to say too much without spoilers but I do want to say that even though this is a work of fiction, it’s got a powerful message. Highlighting the insane amount of women who experience intimate partner violence is extremely important and I’m sure many survivors wish they had someone like the caretaker to bring about their cosmic karma. There were a few characters who were a little underdeveloped with story lines that didn’t get flushed out and the ending was sadly a little anticlimactic. Given those points and the slow down for the second half I’m giving this 3.5 stars. Rounding up to 4 because this is the first book in a while that captured my attention from the start.

Edgy and modern and a great concept and I enjoyed racing through the text to see how it’d pan out. A group of women come together as a support group for domestic abuse and slowly their ex partners start being attacked and murdered by The Caretaker who seems to have lots of inside knowledge of the backstories and the lives of the offenders.
There were a few surprises which I honesty wasn’t expecting and enjoyed being caught out with and as such I’d recommend it as a great read. There did, however, feel like a few stretches too many of plausibility and a few storylines within the story felt a little incomplete which is why I’m not giving it a higher rating.
Definitely has lots of promise though and was a great premise for a story.

This was a fast paced book and I enjoyed it! The ending was my favorite as I love a group of strong, determined women. Would reccomend!

DAMN! This book kept me reading until the last second. I finished it in 24 hours, and I've not done that in years with a book. I pulled it out as websites loaded, waiting for a train, on the train, failed to notice my dinner was (only slightly) burning... all because it was so goddamn addictive! I was gobsmacked by the twist and felt so conflicted by the plot. Wonderful complex female characters, and a genuine exploration of domestic violence and fear which left me feeling shaken and angry. 4* because I'm not totally sure the second half of the book made sense/crossed off all the plotlines in a way I understood, but still a very good read!

This was executed perfectly! The ‘Dexter’ book I’ve always wanted! The characters were phenomenal- so relatable. A fantastic thriller/crime that had me hooked!

The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens is a darkly clever, addictive thriller with a unique twist. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and full of surprises that keep you turning pages. A wildly original read that totally delivers!

This was a brilliant book!
As soon as I saw it listed I was hoping I would be accepted! Thank you for the ARC copy of this I really appreciate it!

Rating - 3.75

75% of domestic violence victims, never receive justice. So the care taker has decided to take the law into his own hands. Jess has finally left her abusive partner and stumbles upon a support group, to help her find herself again. But suddenly abusers are being found dead..no one is safe.

I am pleasantly surprised by this one. I was draw in by the title and was not disappointed. Fast paced, short chapters and I was hooked by the first chapter. I didn’t see either of the twists coming and enjoyed the multiple POVs. Only reason the rating isn’t higher is because the ending was very lacking and a bit boring.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

When Jess is abused by her partner and ends up in emergency again, she finally cracks and tells the nurses. Her boyfriend is removed and she is stitched up and sent home. But she quickly learns that the police are useless in cases of DV, and lives in fear of him. She joins a support group and makes fast friends with some of the women. But then a man is hurt, another is attacked, and finally one is murdered. All of these men, are exes of the group. Is her ex next? And who is this “caretaker” taking care of all of these abusive men?

Easy and quick read with a popcorn thriller feel with some gore and some tough themes. Overall a good story.

I absolutely devoured The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens—it was gripping, darkly clever, and impossible to put down. Jess Pendle is a fierce, complex heroine, and the twisty, vigilante-justice plot had me hooked from the first chapter. The writing is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the emotional stakes feel raw and real. It’s a bold, unflinching story about survival, sisterhood, and taking justice into your own hands—and I loved every second of it.​
Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and D.B. Stephens for the ARC!

This is my first read by D B Stephens and I really enjoyed it. The main characters Hannah, Kelly, Madison and Jess were all likeable, especially Jess and I found myself sympathising with their difficult life situations. It was easy to see how the Caretaker had become a reality in the situations they lived in and how he had helped them move on in their lives.

The Caretaker a was very creative, smart and well thought out character and played an important role in the storyline. I also really enjoyed the character Sophie Salam, the two aspects of her life as a mother and a detective and the difficulties of playing both roles, especially with a special needs child.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and very entertaining. I was able to predict fairly early on who the Caretaker was, that was the only let down, hence rating it 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling tale about power.

A common response to domestic violence victims is, "Why don't you just leave?" It's never that simple. As we learn Jessica Pendle's story, we see how her abuser isolates her, denigrates her, takes away her agency, any sense of personal power.

And then we get more: a look at the stories not everyone has the nerve to tell. Jessica has to struggle to regain any semblance of a normal life and the support group she joins is essential to keeping her going.

Someone starts to take revenge. There's an obvious suspect, too obvious to be the killer, which had to be a deliberate choice. I've never seen a red herring come into the story so soon, but Stephens made it work.

Jessica's characterization was developed well, as was Sophie's. The other women in the support group were less so, and I would have liked more from the support group's leader.

There were some points that were handwaved away--some story elements seemed to happen too easily or with only vague explanation. Jessica is able to keep her job despite some of her behavior, one of the characters is quite wealthy, which is one of the excuses for the handwaves I mention above.

I found the pacing solid. Because of the intense emotional content of some chapters, it would be easy for an author to get bogged down, but Stephens moves things along nicely.

An engaging story with some serious emotional content. Fewer surpises than I would have liked, but I enjoyed it enough to want to read the sequel.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Great empowering read

In this dark and twisty psychological thriller set for release on May 8, 2025, DB Stevens delivers a compelling narrative that explores the aftermath of violence and the complex psychology of both victims and perpetrators. The novel marks the first installment in the promising Secret Vigilante series, establishing Stevens (writing under a pseudonym) as a fresh voice in the psychological thriller genre.

The premise is deceptively simple yet psychologically rich: a support group for women affected by terrible crimes becomes something far more sinister. The story follows protagonist Jess, whose character development throughout the narrative proves to be one of the book's strongest elements. As the plot unfolds, what begins as a seemingly straightforward support group setting evolves into a complex web of secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances.

Stevens demonstrates remarkable skill in maintaining tension while delving deep into the psychological aspects of trauma and revenge. The book joins a growing body of work exploring the concept of "righteous murder," but brings its own unique perspective to this moral quandary. The author's background in crime fiction shines through in the meticulous plotting and authentic psychological insights.

The novel's structure is particularly effective, with interludes providing glimpses into different killers' motivations while never falling into the trap of glorifying violence. These sections add depth to the narrative while raising thought-provoking questions about justice, revenge, and the nature of evil.

The author's writing style is crisp and atmospheric, creating a sense of mounting dread that keeps readers engaged throughout. The narrative is described as "compelling" and "pacy", with each chapter drawing readers deeper into its dark psychological landscape.

Strengths:

Masterful handling of psychological tension
Well-developed character arcs, particularly the protagonist's evolution
Innovative take on the psychological thriller genre
Strong pacing that maintains suspense throughout
Weaknesses:

Some plot points may strain credibility for certain readers
The dark subject matter might not appeal to all thriller fans

"The Serial Killer Support Group" is more than just another psychological thriller; it's a nuanced exploration of trauma, justice, and the gray areas between victim and perpetrator. While it may not be for the faint of heart, readers who appreciate sophisticated psychological suspense will find much to admire in Stevens' work.

I liked this book so much. It was well-written, the pace was excellent, the characters were great. At times I had to remind myself that this was actually fiction. Very thought-provoking and I was sucked into this book from the beginning.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for my eARC. All opinions are my own. Right from the beginning I was hooked, and the short chapters had me reading non-stop to find out what would happen next. I was shocked by the twists. This book touches on some very difficult topics for women, how they are treated when they happen and how to finally fight back. It showed the power of good friends and solid relationships and how strong you can really be when you have someone who listens. The Caretaker's identity was a huge shock but made the story that much more powerful once you knew. Emotional, uncomfortable and inspiring read that you really must pick up!

The Serial Killer Support Group is a read that although covers a sensitive subject I still enjoyed.
Jess Pendle has seen her Mother subjected to domestic abuse and vowed never to be in the same position as her but one New Year’s Eve she finds herself in casualty getting stitches to her face after falling over the washing basket and straight down the stairs but reality is Lewis has abused her again. She bravely opens up to a nurse and she makes tracks to sort her life out without Lewis. The police offer no support so she joins a support group for women and here things change very quickly for Jess and the close friends she makes.
This was a good read, I enjoyed the characters and the way the women formed a bond and stuck to it. The storyline was something I haven’t read before and the ending was decent. The book was the right length and had a good pace to it all the way through.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.