The Serial Killer Support Group by Darren O'Sullivan -> Starting April 7th, 2025

[Jamie]

The support group was supposed to be a chance to meet like-minded women and receive therapy in the wake of the terrible crimes committed against them, but when their therapist leaves, will they find other ways to support each other?

[Ellen-Arwen]

So, starting this today (ie a day late). Looking forward to it!

[Haley]

Sorry didn’t see this thread was up!! I should be starting this weekend (after love haters & legendborn) :)

[Ellen-Arwen]

Haley wrote: "Sorry didn’t see this thread was up!! I should be starting this weekend (after love haters & legendborn) :)"

No worries - I might read Legendborn first... in which case we could postpone this for a bit? Are you reading the whole trilogy now, or just the first one?

[Haley]

I’d love to read the whole trilogy but I’ll wait for everyone else to read the 1st to continue

[Ellen-Arwen]

Haley wrote: "I’d love to read the whole trilogy but I’ll wait for everyone else to read the 1st to continue"

Okay, awesome. I'll try get Legendborn done now and then I'll start on this asap! Looking forward to it :)

[Haley]

Amazing! Happy we’re on the same page

[Haley]

I know we keep delaying this one lol, when are you thinking you'd like to start this week?

[Ellen-Arwen]

We do indeed, lol! I have a super busy week actually (including a lot of reading my other ARCs that are late *cringe*), so could we start at the weekend? Saturday or Sunday work for you?

[Haley]

Sunday works best! I’ll update to my calendar :)

[Ellen-Arwen]

Up to end of chapter 20 (Sorry, I just kept going once I started lol)
(view spoiler)[
I forgot to read the blurb so I forgot what this was actually about, which is always fun ROFL.

Anyway, it was totally predictable that Geoff is the caretaker from when Becky introduced him, right? Or is that too obvious and there's something else going on... Because if we know his identity right from then, then what will happen with the rest of the book??

I like our MC; I feel very sorry for her - Lewis is obviously a d*ck. But The Caretaker taking revenge for other people? It makes women very passive... I think it was in chapter 17ish when Jess said something like 'I need someone else to save me' that I started thinking, hmm, I get the revenge but The Caretaker isn't necessarily giving these women back autonomy, is he? It's another man doing things on women's behalf...

I was glad he showed some remorse with Madison's Jake because that was pretty sick.

I'm not sure where this is going other than obvious yet - I hope we get some more twists and turns! (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Started last night too!! I’ll add my updates as I can during work

[Ellen-Arwen]

Up to end of chapter 40 (view spoiler)[

Well, now! That was a twist - I'm glad it wasn't as obvious as I thought it would be.
So... I don't think it is Geoff now, or at least not him acting alone - it's peaked too early in the book for one thing! But he has all the info, so is he feeding it to someone else? Who? What other characters have we come across who could fit the bill...?

What about Clarke? Maybe a long shot, but he's remarkably interested in what's going on - but then, who wouldn't be?? And he'd be covering his tracks very well by appearing so disinterested when he comes to Jess' house... No, wait, that was Jones who came to her house - can't keep track of the policemen! So maybe Clarke...? Jones was SUCH an A-hole acting as though it was Jess' fault for being tipsy!

Gah, those poor women! And Sophie Salem obviously has an abusive partner in her past, presumably Lottie's father. I wish her mum could be more supportive :(

Also, even I was kind of convinced by Lewis when he turned up at Jess' in the middle of the night, so it shows how gullible and trusting I am; I would be VERY easy to manipulate :( (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

OOH, I just reread the blurb at the top of the page lol (view spoiler)[ 'when their therapist leaves, will they find other ways to support each other?'

So Becky is going to leave then? She has an abusive partner too, will she leave because it's too much? Or some other reason... I shall keep reading! (hide spoiler)] It seems like a big thing to put in the blurb tbh. I hate it when blurbs give stuff away, which is why I often don't read them lol.

[Ellen-Arwen]

To end of Chapter 42 (view spoiler)[

LOVED this twist!! I'm such an idiot for not seeing it! Sorry - just had to stop for a minute, but I'm carrying on reading now. Wow, a lot for poor Jess. (hide spoiler)] Don't blame you if you inhale this one like 'The Thrashers'!

[Haley]

haha I want to read the updates!! but no time yet, I think I'm about 50% into this book so far (it seemed like an easy read)

[Ellen-Arwen]

To end of Chap 60 (view spoiler)[

Wow, Jess got on board quickly! I get that it's awful, and that statistic is true for the UK - about the number of women killed by partners/ex-partners (is it the same for the US?), but I could not do what they're doing. Although I haven't been in that specific situation, I just can't imagine being okay with it, and I have some experiences with that sort of thing - NOTHING like this, but yeah.

But I guess that's the thing: we do desperate things and behave in ways we wouldn't expect/want of ourselves when bad things happen.

ANYWAY. Not supposed to be about whether I'd turn into a murderer lol.

It's all going far too well atm; she's found Jones (so, I was right about him earlier in a kind of way lol - I knew he was suspicious at least) and where they're staying with no hitch at all.

And we haven't had a chapter from Sophie's PoV since they met at the cafe; she was obviously trying to check out what Jess knew at the same time as thanking her for the help with Lottie. I wonder if they'll let her in on it... Nah, she's too law-bound. And they don't have any idea she has an abusive partner in the past (I'm assuming I'm right about that, which I may be wrong of course!)

Something's gonna go wrong.... (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Haley wrote: "haha I want to read the updates!! but no time yet, I think I'm about 50% into this book so far (it seemed like an easy read)"

Definitely an easy read, I'm flying through it lol. Wish we could talk in real time, that'd be so much fun! Damn being in different countries and all that :(

[Ellen-Arwen]

Finished (my mum wanted to talk to me for about 40 minutes and there was no polite way to say, "NO, I wanna finish my book!" :P)
(view spoiler)[
Well, they got away with it! And they're going to teach other women now? Gah, my morals are all over the place with this, but it was a great pacy read! Some unrealistic coincidences, (and Jess was way too strong without the training the other women had) but a good book!

It says it's the first in a series - intriguing... can't see what would happen after this...

I do feel sorry for Sophie; maybe the next book could be about her, her backstory with the undercover stuff? Dunno!

Also, I realised in reading the bit after the book that the author is Darren O'Sullivan who's written loads!

Hmm, just thinking - not TOTALLY satisfied with the ending... I guess being a pacifist makes it harder for me to be happy with it. They didn't ask Faye if she wanted Clarke warned, whereas they all had permission from each other - that was unfair.

I'm waffling - hope you enjoy it! (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Up to end of chapter 20 (Sorry, I just kept going once I started lol)

I forgot to read the blurb so I forgot what this was actually about, which is always fun ROFL.

Anyway, it was totally predict..."

(view spoiler)[ MOST definitely so predictable with Geoff being the caretaker, it felt like a dead giveaway with the limp and everything pointing to it. but I wonder how it'll all play out? (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Up to end of chapter 40

Well, now! That was a twist - I'm glad it wasn't as obvious as I ..."

(view spoiler)[ honesty I wasn't sure who it could be, someone in the group for sure because how else would they know all the information? or someone eavesdropping.

reading about what these women are going through, ugh my heart and the statistics about how they make it... ugh definitely a hard time reading that part (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "To end of Chapter 42

LOVED this twist!!f..."

(view spoiler)[ honestly I didn't read the blurb and especially after I saw you post that because AHHH I mean it makes sense with the title but I truly wasn't expecting it.. the four of them and all working together! almost suspicious with all out of town when their exs go missing though (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Finished (my mum wanted to talk to me for about 40 minutes and there was no polite way to say, "NO, I wanna finish my book!" :P)

Well, they got away with it! And they're going to teach other women..."

(view spoiler)[ I found myself getting a bit bored with the ending and felt it dragged out for the last few chapters (at least after they killed Lewis). I felt that could have been a bit more condensed but my personal opinion. overall liked this book though and enjoyed those they were killing what they deserved!! felt it was a bit repeative at times even though the twists kept me on the edge (hide spoiler)]