Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen #thirtyfirstbookof2024 #arc

CW: gore, death, murder, animal abuse, serial killers, dismemberment

Saffy is a socialite and secret serial killer, murdering men who are a scourge to society. She meets Jon, a podcaster and true crime investigator who’s just solved another cold case when someone dumps a body on his doorstep. How will Saffy negotiate her double life while trying to win over Jon?

This sounds like a rom com, but it’s not. The author calls it a feminist thriller and I can get on board with that description. To me, it’s more horroresque comedy than anything else, and the developing relationship between Saffy and Jon is just a bonus. This book is a super fun read.

I enjoyed the underlying mystery quite a bit, and Saffy is an entertaining character to get to know. The reveal in the epilogue was fantastic, and I would happily read another novel from this author.

Thank you to @abramsbooks #overlookpress and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date was 5/7/24)

#badmen

After a murder, two people's lives intertwine - a serial killer (Dexter style - only kills bad people) - and a man who runs a true crime podcast. There were some new elements I haven't seen before, but the ending was one of the guesses I suspected. It was good, but you don't need to go out of your way to seek it out.

DNF @ 25%

I ended up putting this one down, and then got swept up in other reads. It's hard to say how much this DNF was because of mood reading, or the book itself, or a combination.

I think you'll like it if you're looking for a fun thriller about a feminist serial killer and the true crime podcaster she's obsessed with. I say that because I went into this one expecting just Saffy's POV, but we actually spend an equal page time with Jon, as well. And I just never got interested enough in Jon to justify the 50% of the book he's the main character for.

Jon's chapters just had this quality of the cliché (an oblivious man consumed by his work comes home to find his wife standing with her luggage), and being oddly paced for me. When a crazy thing happens to Jon, I sort of thought the mystery of it was going to actually be the plot of the story, but that doesn't end up being the case. Which led to me being about a quarter of the way into the book and still asking myself what it's actually going to be about.

Saffy's POV chapters were interesting and compelling because being in the mind of a serial killer who only kills "bad men" is intriguing. You want to root for her, but can't, and it's a fun mix.

Unfortunately, the pacing just wasn't working for me and I lost interest. But I do think most people will like it, and I recommend giving it a shot.

Saffy is a beautiful, smart, and glamorous socialite. She happens to also be a serial killer so it makes it hard to date. Until she lets true crime podcaster, Jonathan.

I love books with a strong female protagonist that you want to root for, except for her one frowned upon habit of murder. At least the men she murders are evil. I loved her character so much. There were a few humorous laugh out loud moments in this story; I would have loved even more of those moments. It was a great read and I was happy with every chapter I read.

“I don’t know what it’s like for anyone else but for me the third murder was when it stopped being expedience or self-defense, and started being a lifestyle option.”

Bad Men comes out 5/7.

I DNFd at around 50%. I had high hopes for this and it seemed promising at first but began to get disappointed as the story morphed into a story of a wealthy woman who sometimes kills men but becomes obsessed with a recently divorced podcaster with psychological baggage who really isn't that interested in her. I had to stop due to boredom and not liking the plot.

Glamorous, rich, and affluent Saffy Huntley-Oliver is a philanthopist. Anyone who knows her finds her to be kind, generous, and good. And what is more philanthropic and good than finding bad men and making them disappear?

Prior to reading this book I saw it descibed as "wickedly funny" and before I completed this book I had to agree. Darkly humorous and twisted, but with a mystery and suspense that will make you read faster than your fingers can flip pages. That was me. Furiously pressing the screen to flip to the next page because I could not pull myself away from this book.

Do you ever read a book and find yourself grinning or smirking like a fool? I always try to imagine someone seeing me and wonder what is going through my head that is making me smile that way. Perhaps it is something sweet, charming, or comical that is making me smile that way, something wholesome perhaps. No. What was making me grin like that was murderer falling in love with a true crime murder podcaster and thinking "what could possibly go wrong?"

Bad Men is a murder mystery romantic comedy with nail biting suspense and situational comedy to leave you questioning your sanity and your reading choices. At one point I was simultaneously rooting for the murderer to find love, wanting to see that same murderer get away with murder, wanting that same murderer to commit another murder (what's one more), and wanting a different murderer to get caught for murdering.

I quite liked this book and while it is a four star book right now, I might change my mind and make it a five start book if it continues to stick with me.

Interesting premise and set up with the dual POV between vigilante female serial killer and the target of her affection rather than her kills: who happens to be a serial crime podcaster! A fun read with a few predictable twists but fast paced and enjoyable!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Abrams for allowing me to read this early!

This has so much promise but isn’t fully executed well. For a book that is supposed to be about a woman serial killer that goes after men who harm women (a la Promising Young Women) this book’s point of view is mainly from the other leading character, a man…I enjoyed the overall story and think this could potentially be great if the POV was mainly from our FMC.

I DNF'd. It wasn't bad by any means. I was interested in see the dynamic of a true-crime podcaster and a serial killer. I saw some saying they were hoping that the killer would have more focus on her, but it's more so through the perspective of the podcaster. It was a quick read to the portion that I stopped at, but I then made the mistake of putting it down for a while and I just haven't been able to convince myself to pick it back up. I feel like that wouldn't have happened if I was enjoying it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication! My review will appear on my blog on 5/2/24. I will also feature the review on Instagram that same day and post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Fable, and retail sites.

Review:

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. For some reason, it gave me "Maeve Fly" vibes, and that was one of my top books of 2023. While this one was much different from "Maeve Fly," it was still wickedly entertaining.

At the top of the book, we meet a young Seraphina "Saffy" Huntley-Oliver. Her mother died, and she and her younger sister Susie live with their a-hole of a stepfather in his mansion. Within the first few pages, we learn that stepdad has sexually abused Saffy and has recently set his sights on Susie. Saffy isn't about to let that happen, so she does what any overprotective big sister would do - she kills him. Years later, Saffy is a charming and charismatic socialite living in London. Oh, and she is a serial killer by night. But don't worry, she only targets the bad guys - rapists, murderers, domestic abusers. You know, the real scum of the earth. However, her double life has left her feeling a bit lonely in the dating department. I mean, it's hard to find love when you're hyper-aware of a man's behavior - especially if you decide you need to off him when he shows signs of being a bad egg.

Enter Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster with a heart of gold and an ex-wife who left him because she didn't understand his obsession with solving crimes. When a headless body inexplicably shows up on Jon's doorstep, he naturally becomes the prime suspect in a murder he swears he knows nothing about. And who better to help clear his name than Saffy, Jon's number-one fan? The only problem is that Jon has no idea who Saffy is, but when Saffy wants something, she gets it. All it takes is a perfectly orchestrated meet-cute, and it's not long before she convinces him that he needs her help.

As Saffy dives headfirst into the investigation to find who left the body on Jon's doorstep, chaos, hilarity, and a few dead bodies ensue - some at the hands of Saffy, but hey - she refuses to change who she is simply because she's in love. But as Saffy and Jon close in on the culprit, and Saffy falls harder for Jon, we can't help but wonder how safe her secret is. With a mix of dark comedy and heart-pounding suspense, this book kept me turning pages well past my bedtime while rooting for a serial killer.

The characters in "Bad Men" are quirky, eccentric, and downright lovable in their own twisted ways. I loved how easily Saffy moved through the world. She was clever, loyal to those she loves, always one step ahead, always dressed to the nines - and to balance it all out, she's just a little psycho (hey - nobody's perfect!) Jon, on the other hand, was a genuinely good guy with good intentions who just couldn't seem to catch a break. I thought it was funny how he finally let his guard down and accepted his feelings for Saffy because she convinced him he was safe with her (yeah, right!). I honestly rooted for this ragtag couple to end up together, hoping they could somehow find their happily ever after in a situation that seemed less and less likely as the book progressed.

While I loved the characters and the concept, and I thought the story was fun, I really wished it had focused more on Saffy and her murders, but as it was, the book focuses more on Jon trying to clear his name and catch a different serial killer. When I started the book, I was under the impression that Jon would be looking into the murders that Saffy had committed, but that wasn't the case. My other gripe was that the epilogue seemed rushed. A few surprises are revealed in the final pages, but they were casually thrown at us and didn't hold the impact they could have. I was honestly left with more questions than answers and would have liked a little more explanation. My only hope is that this book is the first in a series. I would love to see Jon and Saffy eventually have to go head to head.

While this didn't end up being the book I'd imagined it would be, it was still a lot of fun, and I would recommend it to those who like a dark comedy thriller. Who said murder and mayhem couldn't be this much fun? Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Saffy is tired of putting up with crap from men and she refuses to let them get away with it. Bad men must pay and she is the one who will make them. This was a delightful, darkly comic, thriller that had me hungering for more. I love Saffy and her unlikely friends as they try to uncover and vanquish the evil that has upturned their cushy lives, striking up surprising friendships along the way. LOVED this book and this author! Thank you to The Overlook Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. What a delight!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I enjoyed this fast-paced serial killer story.
Was it perfect? No.
Were the two main characters kind of annoying/insufferable? Yes.
Were there moments where I needed to suspend disbelief a little more than I would like (i.e. discovering a serial killer because of his body spray on another body?) Absolutely yes.
Despite all of this, this novel was a fast, fun read. I can definitely see this as a limited series or something on Netflix.

Saffy Huntley-Oliver and Jonathan Desrosiers are the two main characters in this book, and they are both complex, damaged, well-intentioned and people needing someone new in their lives. Despite that, they are complete opposites…

Saffy is a serial killer, but the Dexter kind; as a feminist, she only kills men, and she only kills men who have done very bad things to women. The only person she truly loves is her little sister, Susie, having practically raised the girl after their parents died. They have a lot of family money, and Saffy is a socialite/philanthropist with a penchant for murder.

Jon is a true-crime podcaster who has helped the police solve several cold cases. He’s kind, thoughtful, sincere…and his wife has just left him for another man. He’s in a bad place when Saffy comes into his life, but this beautiful and sophisticated woman throws him off guard - what would she want with him, a man who profits from murder?

There is a serial killer in London who leaves body parts in garbage bags, and one morning, Jon finds himself the recipient of a foot. This lands him right in the middle of the investigation, and Saffy is there for him when the police start to question him. The only problem? Saffy is constantly worried that Jon will do something to make her have to kill him. Could it be, she’s falling in love?

I don’t like romance books, but this was more of a sarcastic thriller that just happened to have a twisted romance, so I didn’t mind that angle at all. This was darkly funny and suspenseful, and the ending came out of left field - I did NOT see that one coming! This book is a really fun read and I’d love for it to become a series. 4.5 stars.

(Thank you to The Overlook Press, Julie Mae Cohen and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released in North America on May 7, 2024.)

This one just didn't work for me, even though I very badly wanted to love it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Overlook Press for the advanced copy of this novel.

This novel started out as a solid read for me. However, once the focus started switching to one particular case I lost interest. I am not a true crime fan. So once it started following a path about a true crime podcaster, I lost interest. I think though fans of true crime will love this novel. It just fell a little flat for me. I wasn't invested in the characters.

Bad Men.... What can I say besides the fact that its fun and a thrill.

Mature audience is definitely the vibe.
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, murder, crime, & R*pe to name a few.

My thoughts: I found this story to be something you would hear on a true crime podcast. Saffy definitely gives the vibe you would hear on Murder Mystery Mondays. IYKYK. She's a serial killer who lures men

This book took me a minute to get into. ( I am a mood reader, so iykyk). That being said, this was a fun thriller and definitely in my top thrillers for the year of 2024.

Thank You to Netgalley and Overlook Press for this arc. I enjoyed it very much.

I enjoyed the premise of this book!! It took me a while to get into it from the beginning but I absolutely fell in love with Saffy. She seemed so real and what a girl-power legend! The book does take place in the UK and as an American, there are some slang words I had to search up but the more of these books I read , the more I'm learning. The book was humorous but also kept me on my toes which is why I'm giving it 4 stars! Well done Julie Mae! :)

The only reason, this is not 5 stars is because of the love interest Jon. He seemed like a dead weight compared to Saffy, who is this total bad ass woman, who hunts and kills down bad men. I love Saffy, she gave depth to the book that was just amazing and I was rooting for her the entire time.

Cohen's ability to write a story is amazing, and the love she puts into her characters makes them feel like real life people, not just words on the page. I am excited for this book to be published and others to read it. I am also excited for what Cohen will put out in the future.

Thank you Julie, NetGalley, and The Overlook Press for this arc.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at The Overlook Press for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bad Men follows Saffy Huntley-Oliver, a rich socialite with a small habit of killing bad men. These bad men include rapist, murderers, domestic abusers. In short, all men who society wouldn't disagree should be dead. Saffy just goes the extra step to get them that way. We also follow Jon, a true crime podcaster who has sent a serial killer to jail in the past and who Saffy just happens to have a crush on. This feminist thriller asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after. Bad Men comes out on May 7th and is available for preorder now.

I feel like I need to explain my rating before getting into all the things I really liked about this one. The way I feel about it may not make sense if I rated it below a 4 star. I had such a wonderful time reading this one and I was so there for Saffy doing the most unhinged shit, but there was a moment when I had a thought about where the story could have been heading. And I wish it had gone that direction. I sincerely believe it would have been a better story for it. But probably less palatable to the masses. And should I hold it against the author for not going in a weird little direction that my brain came up with? No, probably not. I think it just lessened my enjoyment for the rest of the novel. Which sucks because I was having such a good time with it. SPOILERS: (For those who want to know, here it is: I think the author should have taken the story THERE. I sincerely believed for a moment that she was going to get this Good Man to commit murder. I would have eaten that up.) SPOILERS END. There were some things that felt obvious from the start of the novel. Maybe they were meant to be. And I was going to say that I needed more world building, but this is supposed to be happening in our world. I think I just needed more descriptions of the settings. At times, it was hard to picture the action taking place and I had to fill in the blanks for myself.

But, overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It has feminine rage, a strong female character who also got to be seen as beautiful and graceful, and moments where you have absolutely no idea what unhinged thing is about to happen but you are so completely there for it. I should say that I support women's rights AND women's wrongs and this book has really proven that to me. Saffy is a character that is harder to root for but impossible to root against so you're just sitting there and going along for the ride. Jon is a bit of an idiot if we take Saffy's chapters into account but seeing everything from his perspective in his chapters makes his actions make sense. I think this is really well written and this book definitely has an audience. This book also made the genre feel fresh and new to me. I've been reading over 100 books a year since 2019 so there are times when you just think "I've read this before" because a book is so similar to all the usual tropes or plot devices or settings or whatever. But this book made me jump from theory to theory, made me excited about the genre, and is there anything more we could ask of a novel when we're a pretty well seasoned reader?

Overall, such a fun time. I would love to read something else from this author in the future. AND I just read the synopsis for her next book and am DYING. Actively dying. Posting this review will be my last act.

The idea of a feminist vigilante-style serial killer is interesting, and Saffy's backstory made sense and her inner monologue was entertaining -- very Dexter-esque. But the love interest, Jon, with whom we spend at least half the book, is a sad sack. I never really understood what Saffy saw in him, and even then, I wouldn't have cared if I felt like they had any real chemistry or if he had found out about her or even inched closer to it. As is, their "relationship" just felt boring and gross to me. Also, the event Saffy creates to bring them together was upsetting to me; I never really recovered.

This felt a little like the start of a series. If a second book materializes, I might pick it up to see if, given more time, Cohen can flesh out the solid premise.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.