Saffy is a gorgeous, intelligent, thrice-over heiress who spends her free time murdering terrible men, taking care of her little sister, and crushing hard on the host of a true crime podcast.

I’m a total sucker for books about charming sociopathic women doing the dirty work of vengeance, and this was such a great addition to the genre. Fast-paced and funny, you’ll 100% be rooting for Saffy to take care of business and get her man.

Perfect for fans of They Never Learn (Layne Fargo), The Change (Kirsten Miller), The Female of the Species (Mindy McGinnis), and Jane Doe (Victoria Helen Stone) - or anyone looking for some feminist escapist fantasy where the bad men are handled and the bad woman is the good guy.

Fantastic read!

It was a little slow starting for me, but it picked up in the second chapter and I was full steam ahead. Despite it being about murder & some heavy sub-topics, it is a breezy read with humor and well developed characters.

4.5 stars! The cover and title alone caught my eye originally.

What a fun, quick read! So many twists and turns, I was dying to see how it all tied together. I had my suspicions and most came true, but I have zero complaints about that. Normally I am wholeheartedly against a “romance” subplot, but this was done in a way that was still very enjoyable.

If you’re in the mood for a twisted, feminist thriller that’s equal parts darkly comic and suspenseful, then Julie Mae Cohen’s “Bad Men” is a must-read. This award-winning author takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the mind of an irresistible serial killer in a story that’s as wickedly fun as it is lethal.

Meet Saffy Huntley-Oliver, a glamorous socialite with a deadly secret. For the past fifteen years, she’s been on a mission to rid the world of rapists, murderers, and domestic abusers—bad men who deserve to meet their gruesome end. But her double life has left her feeling isolated and lonely, unable to trust anyone, especially in the dating department where even her boyfriend could be her next target.

Enter Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster with a legion of devoted fans. When a decapitated body shows up on his doorstep, he becomes the prime suspect in a murder he swears he didn’t commit. Saffy, infatuated with Jon and seeing him as a truly good man, decides to take matters into her own hands. She orchestrates a meet-cute and volunteers to help Jon clear his name, using her unique skills to uncover the real killer, all while navigating the complexities of their budding romance.

The strength of “Bad Men” lies in its dark humor and addictive storytelling. Julie Mae Cohen masterfully weaves together a tale that keeps you guessing and chuckling at the same time. Saffy’s unconventional quest for love and justice adds a refreshing twist to the traditional serial killer narrative, challenging our perceptions of right and wrong.

The characters are well-developed, and you’ll find yourself simultaneously rooting for and questioning the morality of Saffy and Jon. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their relationship a central driving force in the story.

While “Bad Men” is a thrilling and entertaining read, it’s not without its flaws. At times, the narrative can feel a bit too fast-paced, and some plot twists may come across as predictable to seasoned thriller enthusiasts. Nevertheless, Cohen’s storytelling prowess and unique perspective on the genre make this book stand out.

In conclusion, “Bad Men” is a darkly comic and addictively readable feminist thriller that challenges conventional notions of justice and happily ever afters. If you’re in the mood for a suspenseful page-turner with a dose of humor and a feminist twist, Julie Mae Cohen’s latest offering should be on your reading list. It’s a wickedly good read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Saffy has been in a mission since she rescued her sister from a depraved step father. He began his depravity with her and she determined he was not moving on with her sister. She’s seven for goodness sake. It’s astonishing to watch her work. Fast forward to adulthood and Saffy has refined her unique talent. She and her sister are not only well off but Saffy has a huge secret. She smitten and it irritates and intrigues her. Saffy- Huntley-Oliver loves a true crime podcaster who’s been forced into hiding. As she grapples with her feeling her podcaster has a true crime of his own to solve before he becomes the next victim. She’s a no prisoner type of gal but she may have just more than she can handle here. Happy reading

Dexter meets The Devil Wears Prada in a hilarious dark comedy with some real LOL moments. You have to just love Saffy and her approach to life, outside of the dismemberment that is. A fun read, not for the squeamish.

This book was such an unexpected hit for me!! From the moment I finished the prologue I knew this was going to be a new favorite. It just kept getting better from there. This book follows Saffy a feminist serial killer that kills, you guessed it, BAD MEN!! She orchestrates a meet cute with a murder mystery author and podcaster who she believes to be a good man. Thing get very little interesting after a body is left at his front door. This book had me reading at record speed to find out what was going to happen next!!

I LOVED THIS!!! I can't believe I have to wait until May of next year to give my patrons! This was so well written, tongue in cheek with just the right amount of pop culture references. I can't wait to read more by this author.

This book started off really strong with stories about how Saffy became a "serial" killer, but it quickly because a two-part story that didn't really mesh together. Her secret life + the idea of this man who solves crimes for a living is a great storyline in theory, but maybe not executed the best way. Saffy around Jon is fake, whiny, and a little too much of a pick-me-girl—while Saffy on her own is a badass killer who's taking down bad dudes. I wanted more of a cohesion between the two, but instead we got this "feminist" story that's really just all about a guy and with a lackluster ending that really doesn't make much sense. It's a decent read, but I wanted more—3.5 stars.

Oh my gosh, this book is legitimately impossible to put down. I read it in under 24 hours, and I truly did not expect HOW many twists and turns there were going to be in this book (but I will say I did expect what some of those twists were!!). Saffy is a confident, headstrong sociopath who kills men who commit evil acts, and Jon is simply a man living his life. Even though Saffy is an actual murderer, she is somehow written well in a way where readers feel empathy towards her and her killer tendencies? Which was a happy surprise for me. Saffy essentially entraps Jon and sets them on a path to be together, and you watch her plan unfold throughout Bad Men. I felt like this story was a romance with a sub plot of murder and manipulation honestly, because we hear more about Saffy’s obsessive infatuation with Jon more than her male-killer motives. And sometimes, Saffy rubbed me the wrong way when she spoke about food/other people’s habits of eating unhealthy foods.. like part of her personality is being “beautiful and brilliant” but she doesn’t give any grace to other females for eating junk food. BUT it could be argued that those thoughts just play into Saffy’s sociopathic tendencies. Overall, it was an entertaining read that I sped through.

Please note that there are brief mentions of pedophelia and sexual assault (no graphic scenes but they’re mentioned a few times).

I thought this was a very clever book - thank you to NetGalley and Overlook Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is a serial killer. She does have standards, though, and only kills "bad men" -- men who are abusive in one way or another. She's also fabulously wealthy and so doesn't have to worry about pesky things like jobs and rent. Her mother died when she was young, leaving her and her sister (briefly) under the care of their odious step-father. He soon was out of the picture and so Saffy has devoted her life to making sure her sister is taken care of and is shielded from the harsher truths of the world (as much as she can). Saffy is currently obsessed with a man who she very much believes is the complete opposite of the bad men she eliminates. Jonathan Desroisers is an author and true crime podcaster. One day a bag of dismembered body parts is deposited on Jonathan's front steps. It looks as if it's another victim of the Bin Bag Killer, but suddenly the police are looking at Jonathan as a possible suspect. In order to clear his name, he finds his investigations might put him in more danger than he'd bargained for. At the same time his marriage breaks down. In an attempt to get away from it all, he retreats to a cabin in the Scottish highlands. Saffy decides this would be the perfect time to instigate a "meet cute" (involving a dog she adopts for this purpose). Although Jonathan is upset by all the recent events in his life, he is drawn to Saffy and they begin an affair, much to her delight. But there's still that matter of the murder victim at Jonathan's front door . . .

I had read some information about this book and the overall impression I had was that it would be a comedy, or at least a black comedy, but there was nothing at all funny about the book. Saffy is a cheerful and remorseless killer, but she isn't at all amusing. She's rich and beautiful, which is how she was able to get the initially reluctant Jonathan into a relationship. The story is fine as a mystery/thriller, I was just disappointed that the promised humor was absent.

I found the execution quite confusing despite a fun idea. Would've loved to have an excerpt here before requesting.

This one reads like a hybrid between a romance novel and a thriller, and was a fun read. I read it in two sessions, and it was fast-paced and easy to get through. We see the story from two POVs, which can be hit or miss in stories where it feels like the characters are hiding things from each other, and in this one, it felt a little unbalanced at times; I wanted to hear more from Jonathan's point-of-view, and it also felt a little like we never got much beneath the surface of Saffy's character, underneath what she presents to the world. That may be by design, because she's obviously very good at what she does and is polished, and sort of a "type," but it would have been nice to see some more cracks beneath the veneer.

Saffy got tired of having her stepfather molest her and now that he was calling for her sister, she drowns him in their swimming pool. That was her first killing but won’t be her last. She has a distaste for bad men and believes the world is better off without them. Jonathan is a podcaster and true crime author. She has her heart set on him now that his wife left him because of the time he spends on murders. There is a lot going on in this book. Saffy’s relationship with her sister is very involved and yet got in the way of Saffy and Jonathan for me. Not all those she wished dead deserved it. Jonathan was an interesting character yet weak. The strongest character was Saffy. but we did not get to really know her. This story was not predictable.

Yi-ka-rumba

It’s been one of those weeks but guess what? It’s Fri-yay! And I’m living for the 5 o’ clock whistle!!!

Now, let’s all take a minute to admire this perfectly chilled martini… doesn’t it look delicious?

I’ve already alerted Craig “I need to be met at the door with a cocktail, my book and chicken nuggets”.

What a sweet little smunchkin he is.

Bad Men

Thrillers with a side cart of humor will always warm my heart. Cohen, does a fabulous job incorporating both without making the book corny.

Bad Men, is sure to be a hit within our thriller book loving community and I am here for it!

Big thank you to, Julie Mae Cohen, Abrams, The Overlook Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review prior to the big release in exchange for an honest review.

Check out this teaser :

Meet the most irresistible serial killer of the year in this twisty feminist thriller that's as wickedly fun as it is lethal

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. For the past fifteen years, she's hunted down and dispatched rapists, murderers, domestic abusers—bad men all. But leading a double life has left her lonely—dating’s tough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim. Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster who’s amassed legions of die-hard fans for cracking cold cases and bringing justice to victims­­.

When a decapitated body shows up on Jon's doorstep the morning after his wife leaves him, he becomes the chief suspect for a murder he insists he didn’t commit. Saffy’s crush becomes an obsession as she orchestrates a meet-cute and volunteers to help Jon clear his name, using every trick up her sleeve to find the real killer and get her man—no matter the cost.

Darkly comic and addictively readable, Bad Men is a wild romp of a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after.

I stopped after chapter 1 (5%) but this seems like it will go over really well with our readers. Solid three stars, 4 to 5 for the right readers. It has good pacing, a good voice, and a catchy intro.

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams for the ARC.

I could not get enough of this book! A female Dexter taking out the bad guys— I will say though that there was a little less killing on her side than I expected, but I think this could work as a series of books following her relationships which were a big focus of the entire story.

Great read though, and I am hoping for some more

Thank you to Netgalley and the Overlook Press. Very reminiscent of Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne. Ladies…say hello to your new favorite character…Saffy.

This book is about a serial killer, Saffy, who follows around a true crime podcaster, Jon. They develop a relationship while trying to solve a murder case where Jon has been falsely accused of murder. This story does not go the way that I thought it would. It's very suspenseful and kept me hooked on reading it. Saffy is such a strange character and you can never really tell what she's going to do next. Jon and Saffy are both morally gray characters but Saffy is way more unhinged than Jon. If you're looking for a book that has "I support women's right and women's wrongs," then you should read this.