Contemplating ending your life? Call "The End of the Line" hotline. They are there to listen, to be supportive, to be understanding, to be nonjudgmental. They have sympathetic volunteers whose jobs are not to talk you out of suicide, but to listen, to let you know you have options. But what happens when the kind, sympathetic, caring person on the other end has ulterior motives?

Laura loves the work she does at "The end of the line". This is where she shines. She is made for this. Oh, how she loves what she does! She doesn't feel fulfilled at home but at work she has found her purpose, her calling if you will.

Ryan is devastated. His pregnant wife has committed suicide with a stranger. Who was this man? Did his wife know him? Was she having an affair? He will do anything to get the answers he so desperately wants. He wants to know the truth but at what cost?

We get both Laura and Ryan's narratives in this book. Both have their own agendas, and both are little devious. This book had a couple of twists and turns along the way which kept things interesting. This is a dark book which deals with heavy subject matter. Suicide is not an easy subject and may be a trigger for some. What I enjoyed the most was one revelation which lets the reader know that not everything is as it seems. This provided for a nice "aha" moment for me.

I enjoyed this dark twisted book from the beginning but felt it really picked up steam around the halfway mark when one character realized the truth. From there is just got better. This is seriously one messed up book! Again, this book will not be for everyone. Those readers who enjoy twisted dark books with twist and turns, this book may be for you!

**This has been re-released with a new epilogue. Original narrative has not been changed

“The Good Samaritan” is a psychological thriller by John Marrs. This book is a reprint with a new chapter added at the end, so if you enjoyed the previous version of this book, you may want to read the new chapter. I have really mixed feelings about this book. The idea was fantastic - what happens when a sociopath answers a suicide prevention line but she encourages them to actually do themselves in? This reminded me of when Ann Rule, true crime writer, became friends with Ted Bundy, fellow suicide prevention hotline volunteer. But I digress. The problems I had with this book was that Laura, the sociopath, was just a horrible person. Forget her sad upbringing and the mental issues she had, she was just a horrible person and I couldn’t find any sympathy for her (found some for her husband and daughters, but none for her). The other issue I had was that this book felt like it needed an editor - in some places it’s too long (sometimes necessary as information is repeated from another person’s perspective) and rambling. As for the new chapter - it was fine, but it didn’t really wow me. If you like Mr. Marrs’s mystery/thriller books, and you haven’t read this one, you might want to pick it up and try it. While I’m glad I read it - it was a difficult book to both read and like. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I hadn't ever read a book by John Marrs but he is a well-known author. When I saw the opportunity to read his book with the addition of a new chapter, I thought it was a good time to finally (and hopefully) get a wish granted by receiving a copy of this book.
I found the premise rather interesting-someone who believes she is doing good for the those she crosses paths with. I really wanted to love this book or even enjoy it more than I did. The main character was honestly a bit too annoying and very unrealistic and I found it very hard to connect. I also wasn't sure about the timeline of the chapters and ultimately I felt rather confused at points. I don't feel I was the right audience for this book, though I did find parts of it I enjoyed and aimed to finish the book so I can provide this voluntary opinion and review of my reading experience.

Wow this story blew me away!
Some people are rotten to the core and will do anything and i mean anything to get what they need/want.
When you think the horror is coming to the end it really isn't.
Just loved everything about this book it is the thriller of all thrillers.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Huge five stars from me.

John marrs is always an auto buy author for me. I will always read and own anything he writes! Including the new covers of the books releasing soon! Thanks so much!

This book completely wrecked me in the best way.

From the very first page, The Good Samaritan pulls you into a haunting, morally complex world where nothing is as it seems. Laura works at a suicide helpline, a place where people go to find hope — but she has a secret, and it’s far more sinister than you could ever imagine.

This isn’t your typical thriller. It’s a slow burn at first, but once it clicks, it explodes. The perspective shifts are done masterfully, letting you into both Laura’s mind and those she manipulates. Marrs takes huge risks with character and plot — and they pay off. He creates an atmosphere of dread that lingers even when you’re not reading. At times, I found myself questioning my own morals, sympathizing with people I shouldn’t, and feeling unsettled by how easy it is for someone to hide behind a smile.

Laura is one of the most chilling characters I’ve ever read. She’s methodical, patient, and terrifyingly calm — and yet there are moments you almost understand her. That’s what makes this book so compelling: it forces you to sit in the discomfort of human darkness, of grief, loneliness, and twisted logic.

If you like your thrillers dark, daring, and full of psychological tension, The Good Samaritan is absolutely worth the read. But be warned — it’s not for the faint of heart.