This book started off so strong & I was highly invested into where it was going! Every chapter ending had me wanting to read more. But towards the end is where it lost me a little. I wanted Claire’s POV to be more connected to the story than what it was. I felt her part was a bit random? (Explain the bagel throwing please). I wanted more from Seaver’s story too since he’s the one the book revolved around. Matthew got on my damn nerves with his narcissism & self serving attitude. I just wanted more from this than a soft “mystery”.

This book was so intense and suspensful especially as it stems from making a quick decision and spirals from there.

The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen

What I thought was going to be a psychological thriller turned out to be a slow burn drama.

Matthew loses his son by unfortunate events. He will later, make a decision that will change everything. While I did enjoy the story, the pacing was just too slow for my liking. However, if you enjoy slow burns with thought-provoking themes, definitely give this one a try.

Publication 3/4/2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This book follows Matthew, a college professor desperately trying to get tenure. When he drives by a passed out boy one night, he decides to pick up the boy and try to get him to a hospital. But those plans are quickly derailed.

This book started with an interesting premise, but devolved into what I felt was a very slow-moving read. The book followed several different characters and the problems they confronted, but all the scenarios felt very stereotypical and surface-level, and the resolutions at the end too pat. Overall, I was disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing and characterization were great. I had a hard time putting it down. I'll be reading more books by this author.

Many thanks for gifted copy.
My full will be posted to @coffee.break.book.reviews

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. The story is ok and some parts are interesting but it definitely isn’t a thriller. Because I was expecting a thriller, it felt like a let down but if I look at it from the expectation of a domestic drama then it cn take the rating up some

There are a lot of subsidiary plots that stem off the main plot to keep readers interested.
Matt made some questionable decisions early in the story. I didn’t know one of the narrators would be his daughter Claire which made things more interesting.
I thought Kira was a devoted social worker and passionate about her job.
I really liked that the setting was in the Midwest and also it was in the early 1990s so it was nostalgic to read about pay phone and cordless phones instead of the tangle of technology we love with today.
The ending was good with the characters all moving forward in positive directions.

The story and characters were enjoyable. Matthew who happens to find Seaver and try to help him, spirals his life around from everything he tried to do. But in the end it helped him see what was going on with his life and get back what he was loosing.

The story was a fast read and enjoyable that you wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I enjoyed reading this so much. It was very thrilling and entertaining. This book had me at the edge of my seat & I could not put this down.

This could have been a very good book. It started off strong and was written in multiple POV's of a family that had been broken by the death of their young son. Their way of dealing with the death was by avoidance which caused problems six years down the road among the father, mother and daughter. When a foster child and his case worker become part of the story, their POV's are included. The POV's were easy to maneuver between. Everyone was distinctly different. While reading it I thought to myself, "how could any reader fail to enjoy this book?" Unfortunately, the author set a very good scene for the first 75% of the book and then found the quickest route to wrapping it up and making all the characters happy again in their lives. The ending was covered in rose colored glasses and read as ridiculous. So, my 5 stars dropped to 1 . It isn't quite a 3 but I am going to leave it at that. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion and not coerced in any way.

A typical feel-good story isn't what Toni Halleen's The Good Samaritan is. Instead, it is an engrossing psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of grief, redemption, and the ethical quandaries that emerge when a person's past and present collide.

A sociology professor named Matthew Larkin is at the heart of the narrative; his life has been upended by personal tragedy. Following his young son's death, Matthew's marriage broke down, and his daughter turned away from him. At a small college in southern Minnesota, he is currently clinging to a new tenure track job as a means of atonement.

When Matthew stops to relieve himself while driving after drinking too much one stormy evening, he finds a small boy, soaked and unconscious, underneath. This is when Matthew's life takes an unexpected turn.

Great story 👏 Had me guessing what was gonna happen next!! I will be reading more books from this author. Love there writing style!

Reading 'The Good Samaritan' by Toni Halleen was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I started, I was captivated by the intense and thought-provoking storyline. The first-person perspective brought me closer to the protagonist, making me feel every emotion and dilemma they faced. Halleen's writing is sharp and engaging, and she masterfully explores themes of morality, justice, and the complexities of human nature. The plot twists and ethical questions kept me hooked, and I found myself reflecting on the story long after I finished it. It’s a compelling read that I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this book.

I really enjoyed the first 25% or so of this book, but after that I kind of feel like nothing happened. I am dissapointed because I was expecting this to be an unputdownable thriller. I am thinking I may try the audiobook when it is released and see if I like it any better.

So many layers to this phenomenal story. One of heartbreak, loss, struggle, love, and perseverance. A thrilling story that tugs on your heart strings more than once and leaves questioning what you would do if you were in their shoes. A must read!!

What do you get when you put a college professor, the professor’s daughter, a social worker, and a runaway together and shake up all the pieces? The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen brings together these figures in their own unique way. Matthew is driving back to his college job after spending the weekend with his daughter when he sees a figure under a tarp on the porch of a gas station. It’s a young boy who upon waking begs not to involve the police or hospital. Meanwhile, his social worker hears of his disappearance and tries to help him right whatever wrong made him run.

Positives: Intricate storylines show flawed characters who have their reasons for the choices they make throughout the story. It isn’t difficult to follow the plots of each character because while not identical, they are each a part of the next person’s story and connect to each other in different ways. I went into this thinking it would be a thriller, but it’s really more fiction that focuses on overcoming grief and challenges in life.

Struggles: I’m used to storylines with two characters, but this one focused on four which kept the pace up, but didn’t give as deep of a dive into each character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on March 4, 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #HarperPerennialandPaperbacks #TheGoodSamaritan #ToniHalleen

I tried to give this book a chance but i was not feeling it. While it may not be a book for me. It will be for someone else. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give this book a try.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Toni Halleen's The Good Samaritan isn't your typical feel-good story. Rather, it is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of redemption, grief, and the moral dilemmas that arise when one's past collides with the present.

The story centers around Matthew Larkin, a sociology professor whose life has been shattered by personal tragedy. After the death of his young son, Matthew's marriage crumbled and his daughter distanced herself from him. Now, he's grasping at a chance for redemption with a new tenure track position in a small college in southern Minnesota.

One stormy evening, Matthew's life takes an unexpected turn when (while driving after consuming too much alcohol) he pulls over to relieve himself and discovers a young boy, soaked and unconscious, beneath a plastic tarp on a deserted highway. The boy, who appears to be around the same age as Matthew's deceased son, pleads with Matthew not to take him to the hospital or call the police.

Overwhelmed by grief and a desperate need to make sense of his own life, Matthew makes a risky decision that sets off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences.

Halleen's writing is evocative and unflinching, capturing the raw emotions and moral ambiguities that drive the narrative. Matthew is a deeply flawed yet relatable character, whose internal struggles and quest for redemption are portrayed with a poignant authenticity. The supporting characters, including Matthew's estranged daughter and the mysterious boy, add layers of complexity to the story, making it a compelling read.

The novel's pacing is taut, with each twist and turn keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Halleen skillfully explores themes of loss, forgiveness, and the search for meaning in the face of unimaginable pain. "The Good Samaritan" is ultimately a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of compassion.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy engaging psychological thrillers with rich character development and thought-provoking themes.

Toni Halleen's "The Good Samaritan" is an enjoyable, powerful and moving story that I couldn't put down. I loved this book, and I will be watching for future great novels from this talented author.

What starts out as an engaging thriller quickly bogs down until it reads like a combination young adult novel and after school special. There's a lot going on and some of the events are truly horrific, but in the end most of it winds up as fodder for a college admissions essay. I didn't enjoy this one.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this early access book. My only regret about this book is not reading it sooner. It’s been on my NetGalley shelf for awhile. I wouldn’t classify this book as a thriller. It was a really well written story that I couldn’t get enough of. It was insanely good and I especially loved the happy ending. Highly recommend getting your hands on this one when it releases to the public!