Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

In her razor-sharp debut thriller, Saratoga Schaefer delivers a haunting tale that skillfully blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator. Serial Killer Support Group follows Cyra Griffin as she infiltrates a clandestine gathering of killers after her sister Mira’s murder. What begins as a quest for justice quickly descends into a dark exploration of how grief and rage can transform even the most principled person into something unrecognizable.

The novel’s premise is as intriguing as it is disturbing: a support group where serial killers gather to discuss their “hobbies” without judgment. It’s through this wickedly original concept that Schaefer forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about morality, revenge, and what we’re capable of when pushed to our limits.

A Protagonist Walking the Edge

Cyra Griffin stands out as a complex, morally ambiguous protagonist whose evolution forms the emotional core of the novel. She begins as a woman consumed by grief and determination, creating an alter ego named “Mistletoe” to infiltrate the support group. What makes her journey so compelling is the gradual realization that this persona isn’t entirely fabricated—it’s a part of herself she’s long suppressed.

Schaefer writes with unflinching precision about Cyra’s internal transformation:

“The version of herself she presented the world was there still, within reach inside her, but she had no desire to wear it anymore. Mistletoe’s darkness filled the broken cavity in her chest.”

This blurring of identities creates a fascinating tension as we watch Cyra become increasingly comfortable with violence. The author excels at making us complicit in Cyra’s choices, leaving us to question if we’re rooting for justice or something far more troubling.

A Gallery of Monsters

The supporting cast is equally memorable, particularly the members of the support group. Each killer has a distinctive “signature” and backstory:

• Python, the group’s moderator and former hitman
• Lamprey, the charismatic and manipulative software engineer
• Sand Fly, the misogynistic predator
• Mockingbird, the enigmatic trucker with decades of kills
• Whipworm, the fastidious killer who makes unwanted food for the group

What makes these characters effective is how unnervingly normal most of them appear. As Cyra observes: “The most unnerving thing was how normal most of them looked.” This reflection on the banality of evil adds an additional layer of dread to the proceedings.

Strengths: Sharp Prose and Unflinching Darkness

Schaefer’s prose is economical yet evocative, with a gritty edge that suits the material perfectly. Her background in various creative fields is evident in the cinematic quality of certain scenes—particularly the confrontations between Cyra and the killers. The novel moves at a brisk pace without sacrificing character development, a delicate balance that many debut authors struggle to achieve.

The author deserves particular praise for:

1. Psychological depth: Cyra’s descent into darkness feels organic rather than forced
2. Tension: The support group meetings crackle with unspoken danger
3. Moral complexity: There are no easy answers or clear heroes
4. The exploration of grief: Cyra’s emotional numbness serves as both protection and pathway to violence

Where the Novel Falters

Despite its considerable strengths, Serial Killer Support Group isn’t without flaws:

• Some coincidences strain credibility, particularly how easily Cyra manages to infiltrate the group
• The backstories provided for certain killers feel more developed than others
• A few plot twists in the final act feel somewhat telegraphed
• The novel occasionally leans too heavily on serial killer tropes and psychology that might feel familiar to genre enthusiasts

These issues, while noticeable, don’t significantly detract from the book’s overall impact. They represent small cracks in an otherwise solid foundation.

Thematic Resonance: More Than Just Murder

What elevates Serial Killer Support Group above standard thriller fare is its willingness to engage with complex themes. The novel functions as a meditation on grief and how it can warp our perception and morality. It explores the nature of sisterhood through Cyra’s complicated relationship with Mira, which continues to define her even after Mira’s death.

Perhaps most interestingly, the book examines how we compartmentalize our identities and the thin line between pretending to be someone and becoming them. Cyra’s creation of Mistletoe serves as a chilling metaphor for how we can lose ourselves in roles we adopt.

A Feminist Twist on a Male-Dominated Genre

Schaefer subverts expectations by placing a woman at the center of a genre typically dominated by male killers and investigators. The novel explicitly addresses this gender disparity through dialogue between Cyra and the male members:

“You say you’re like us, but it’s different for women,” Mockingbird said, his voice soft now. “You don’t have the bodies we do. You don’t have the animal drive to hunt.”

This commentary adds a meta layer to the narrative, challenging genre conventions while acknowledging the real-world statistics about violent crime and gender.

Comparisons and Context

Fans of Grady Hendrix’s The Final Girl Support Group will find similar elements of community among dangerous individuals, though Schaefer’s approach is considerably darker. There are also echoes of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer in its exploration of how far one might go to protect a sibling, though with a very different trajectory.

The novel also joins recent works like Catriona Ward’s The Last House on Needless Street and Tana French’s psychological thrillers in blurring boundaries between victims and perpetrators, creating morally complex narratives that resist easy categorization.

Final Verdict: A Gripping, Disturbing Debut

Serial Killer Support Group announces Saratoga Schaefer as a formidable new voice in the thriller genre. Despite some first-novel imperfections, the book’s psychological acuity, memorable characters, and willingness to venture into truly dark territory make it a standout debut.

What lingers longest after finishing is not the violence (though there’s plenty) but the uncomfortable questions the novel raises about justice, revenge, and the malleability of human nature. As Cyra discovers, the line between hunting monsters and becoming one is frighteningly thin—and perhaps nonexistent.

For readers who appreciate psychological depth with their thrills and aren’t afraid to venture into the darker corners of human behavior, this book offers a disturbing but rewarding journey. Just don’t expect to emerge from it unscathed.

Perfect for fans of:

• The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
• Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
• You by Caroline Kepnes

Content warning:

This novel contains graphic violence, murder, discussions of abuse, and mental health issues. Approach with caution if these themes are triggering.