Review: The Serial Killer's Support Group - DB Stephens

Review: The Serial Killer's Support Group - DB Stephens - November 2024

You know how us book nerds scroll through Libby at 2am looking for our next literary obsession? Well, that's exactly how I stumbled upon this gem. The title alone had me hooked – serial killers AND a support group? As someone who devours thrillers faster than Tim Tams at a morning tea, I was immediately intrigued.

Initially, I expected something along the lines of Grady Hendrix's The Final Girl Support Group – you know, that perfect blend of horror and dark humor we love. Instead, this read more like Darby Kane's The Last Invitation, with its intricate web of secrets and moral ambiguity.

The story opens on New Year's Eve with Jess trapped in an abusive relationship with Lewis. Having watched her mother endure similar trauma, she'd sworn never to become that woman. When a hospital worker offers her an escape route, Jess finds herself in a church support group surrounded by other survivors – some bearing scars that make your stomach clench.

Here's where things get personal, dear readers. This book stirred up memories I'd tucked away. Growing up with domestic violence in our household left invisible marks I didn't recognize until my partner pointed them out. Those little habits – asking permission for chocolate biscuits he'd bought, walking on eggshells when I made mistakes, expecting anger that never came. It's funny how trauma shapes us in ways we don't realize.

Enter The Caretaker – our vigilante serial killer systematically eliminating abusive exes. Now, I'm not advocating murder (obviously), but there's something darkly satisfying about seeing justice served when the system fails these women. The author doesn't shy away from the moral complexity here, which I appreciated.

The real treat was the Strangers on a Train twist that had me mentally high-fiving Agatha Christie. Classic misdirection done brilliantly – exactly the kind of plotting that makes us thriller addicts keep turning pages until 3am.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HxN0Ab