More than a thriller, this book is a conversation starter about the gender divide, wrapped in a tale that sticks with you long after the final word. Definitely a must-listen if you want a story that’s as real as it is riveting.

Cole is looking for a new start. Something uncomplicated after the fallout with his wife, Mel. He'd always imagined a quiet life in the country, living off the land as much as he can, would be just the change they needed from the stress of Mel's job and their busy life in the city. But Mel stayed and Cole is living the country life on his own.

When he meets Lennie, an artist renting a weather-beaten cottage nearby, he thinks he may have met a likeminded friend who could potentially become more. But then Lennie finds an abandoned tent thought to belong to two women trying to raise awareness of violence against women.

As it happens, Cole had a run in with the women in question. And they filmed the encounter. And while he's not responsible for whatever their fate has become, he's afraid the run in alone will point the finger in his direction.

Wow. I did not really know what I was in for with this one! And I will do my absolute best not to give anything away!

So the book begins from Cole's perspective. And the reader really does get a glimpse inside the mind of an ordinary guy. He's mourning the breakup with his wife, but still hopes they can reconcile. Other than that, he wakes early for a cold swim, he walks a lot, and he takes his job as a wildlife ranger seriously.

The book then switches to Mel's and Lennie's POVs, interspersed with Twitter convos, Instagram posts, news pieces, and other commentary along the way.

Thought provoking doesn't begin to describe this one. In fact, I found it turned my head into a whirlwind of thoughts!

While this is published by Macmillan in the UK, US audiences will see that it's one of Gillian Flynn's imprint's titles, which should tell you something!

If you're a fan of twisted reads that will really make you think—and then reevaluate what you thought, and then do that again—One of the Good Guys is the read for you! I thought it was fabulous and would love to be a fly on the wall as other people read it as well!

What makes a good guy? How do you know for sure that the guy you're with is really good?

I wanted to love this one but I guess it was a little on the nose for me.

Cole is a reasonably attractive "nice guy" who lives a solitary life in the English Countryside. It's pretty much a given that he is escaping something in his past. But when meets a woman who seems to be in a similar situation, he thinks that maybe there is a road forward.

But, in these types of books, things are rarely as they seem. After two female activists who are traveling around England go missing, it's clear that maybe Cole isn't a nice guy. And if not, what is he escaping from his past?

One of the Good Guys is a thought provoking social commentary on the boundaries of feminism. What really makes a man a "good guy." Are men mostly good until a situation presents itself that's too tempting to pass up? Who is manipulating the story?

Special thanks to Netgalley and Gillian Flynn Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is out now!

Of The Good Guys is the sixth novel by British journalist, editor and author, Araminta Hall. The audio version is narrated by Elliott Fitzpatrick, Olivia Vinall and Helen Keeley. At forty-three, Cole Simmonds has quit London for a job as a wildlife ranger and a cottage on the Sussex coast. After two months, he meets Lennie at the Christmas drinks do, learning she has been living in the coastguard cottage nearby since September.

He confesses he is still feeling fragile about the break-down of his seven-year marriage, some six months earlier, still confused about his wife Mel’s nastiness, still lamenting having to leave their lovely flat. “But it’s always that way, isn’t it? Men are expected to be the ones to leave. As if men don’t have an inner life or as much of an emotional connection to spaces and things as women do. Which means, when it comes down to the messy process of splitting up, it’s the women who get to be coddled and cared for, even if they’re the one who’s f**ked it up.”

After further encounters, he sees a potential relationship forming with Lennie, whom he prefers to call Leonora. It’s also around this time that two young women are doing a walk, #walk4women, along the south coast, wild camping as they try to raise money for a domestic violence charity, Safe Space UK. Cole’s interaction with them when they ignore signs and barriers is an awkward, angry one that they capture on their phones. And then the girls go missing, and there’s lots of conflicting opinion on social media about what they are doing, and their likely fate.

Cole has always tried to be kind and gentle with everyone; he is very charming; he truly believes he’s one of the good guys. It’s fairly soon apparent from the way he describes their marriage, though, and from Mel’s perspective on that same relationship, that his charm hides a manipulative tendency, a deep-seated toxic masculinity within him of which he seems completely unaware:

“It’s strange how men are asked to be sensitive and understanding now, but when we really are, when we say how we’re truly feeling, women don’t actually like it. I think, subconsciously, they want us to hold their hands and understand their emotional contradictions, but they also still want us to be strong, to bang our chests with our fists and protect them from shit… it was all so … confusing because I want nothing more than to support and empower women, but surely that doesn’t mean I should lie on the floor and let them walk all over me.”

While Cole moans: “I know, historically, it’s been hard to be a woman but, my god, it’s hard to be a man right now”, Mel’s friends observe: “The bar is so low for men. All they have to do is a bit of bloody washing up, or ask how you’re feeling, and everyone thinks they’re the second … coming.” There aren’t really any likeable characters in this tale, but their opinions do bear serious consideration.

As well as three straight narratives (that are perhaps not entirely reliable), Hall uses email, text, tweets, press articles, transcripts of radio and TV interviews, WhatsApp chats, and blog posts to convey the mood and opinions of the online community and the general public. This is a story that examines the arguments on many sides of some very topical issues: gender and the dynamics of power, BDSM, consent, domestic violence, and ownership of embryos. Sound effects in the audio version add authenticity to this compelling and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Gillian Flynn Books/Zando audio

Without giving anything away, I have mixed feelings about this book. I thought the concept was interesting, but morally it had me questioning things, which may have been one of the points of the book.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This book would make a great book club read as it opens up to so many different discussion points. Pretty much all the characters are 'grey characters' which makes for great reading as you're constantly changing your mind about how you feel about them. Heavy topics but thought provoking and definitely worth reading.

I did the audiobook version of this, and felt the same about audio versus hardcopy. I enjoyed the narration. At times the main characters frustrated me and I could also see points from their perspective. The bigger concept of male perpetrated violence against women is throughout the entire book.

Thought provoking feminist rage read. It was interesting the way it was told. However, I think there were too many of the social media pieces that were included in the story in the third part of the book. Some of the points have also felt a bit too much in the face. However, it might have been the point to do that to be very blunt about it. I didn’t like any of the characters so it made it harder to feel sympathetic. But the points that were raised for women rights and so forth had a couple of new thoughts that I haven’t seen in other feministic stories. Since many of the points were raised in other novels about women rights, it wasn’t super unique to read about them in this book. Also, the sort of shocking reveal to me for the main story of disappearance of the two girls was predictable to me and I figured it out right when they went missing. However, the other side of that story was interesting. It would be a great one for a book club read as there is so so much to discuss in here. While reading it you can feel the bit of unsettled creepiness rising as well. I will be checking out other books by this author. Interesting read!

One of the Good Guys asks: if most men claim to be good, why are most women still afraid to walk home alone at night? Araminta Hall is an auto-read for me these, days so I could not wait to dive in. First of all, I loved the cover art and knew I had to read this one without even reading the blurb.

And then i got started... This one was so weird, but definitely interesting. I loved the alternating viewpoints and knowing that SOMETHING was up, but having no idea what it would be.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A nail-biting thriller that examines the complications of responding to misogyny and toxic masculinity with anything other than empathy and understanding for the poor sad men who have had bad lives that force them to treat women so poorly. Gillian Flynn gave us the opportunity to have women be bad in her novels, and in this one, the women are not necessarily bad but are certainly complicated. I love that her imprint is putting out books that give women the opportunity to be more than just kind-hearted foils for the men and children in their lives.

The complex nature of relationships and consent is examined; as well as our culture's relationship with technology, social media, and art. An uncomfortable yet propulsive read that will keep you thinking long after you put it down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Zando (shout-out to Gillian Flynn for launching her own imprint here) for providing me with an eARC of One of the Good Guys in exchange for my honest review!

This is definitely one of the more clever and suspenseful thrillers I've had the fortune of reading lately. When I started it, the narrative structure initially threw me off for spoilery reasons, though I did pick up on what the purpose was as I progressed through the novel. Once I entered the second act, that's when it was all truly clicking together for me, and then the third act provided a very satisfying payoff. Subverting my expectations all the way through and fleshing out the story with a small cast of complex characters, Araminta Hall has presented something smart and memorable here as it offers a feminist lens on the misogyny and toxic masculinity that casually exist in our world.

What I find particularly salient is the book's focus on the ability that men have to use veneers of kindness, patience, and generosity to exert power and control over women. Maybe they're doing it intentionally, but they could very well be doing it under complete ignorance, under an oblivious attitude that protects them from consciously realizing the harm that they're inflicting on women on both a macro scale and a micro scale despite acting like "good guys." There's such a nuance that Hall deploys here, and it's quite pertinent when you recognize that it's still easy to fall prey to the misconception that misogyny and toxic masculinity only materialize in their most brazen forms. No, no, there's plenty of these toxic forces infecting our society in subtle and superficially benevolent ways, too. I do think the book gets carried away with sending its message too bluntly, especially in the third act, but this doesn't majorly detract from the enthralling narrative as a whole. Its examination of social media's impact on our view of gender norms is compelling, too.

Overall, I'm officially rating One of the Good Guys 4.5 out of 5 stars, which I'll round down to 4 stars on Goodreads. I'm pumped to dive into more of Hall's work.

Cole is a man seeking refuge from the haunting shadows of a failed marriage. Choosing a fresh start in the serene countryside, he embraces a wildlife ranger position, hoping to escape the cacophony of urban life. His world collides with that of Leonora, a reclusive artist with an enchanting spirit, living next door. Yet, the tranquillity of their budding connection is shattered when two young women activists, crusading against gendered violence, go missing during their visit.

As Cole and Leonora find themselves thrust into a police investigation and the harsh glare of media scrutiny, the novel unravels not only the mystery of the disappearances but also the intricate layers of its characters. Against the backdrop of the cliff's edge they call home, the narrative explores the fragility of human connections and the profound impact of societal expectations.

One of the Good Guys is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that transcends the conventions of the genre. Hall delves into the depths of human relationships, presenting characters with nuanced complexities that evolve with every turn of the page. Cole and Leonora, the central figures, are portrayed with such depth that readers can't help but be entangled in the web of their emotions and choices.

The exploration of gender dynamics and societal pressures adds a poignant layer to the narrative. Hall skillfully navigates these themes, prompting readers to reflect on the pervasive issue of gendered violence and the facade of goodness that often masks deeper, more sinister truths. The coastal setting becomes more than just a backdrop; it's a metaphor for the fragile nature of the characters' lives.

The propulsive storytelling keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, while the sociopolitical insights woven into the plot elevate "One of the Good Guys" beyond a mere suspense novel. Hall's writing is razor-sharp, cutting through the noise of contemporary media and societal expectations. In a world where claiming to be "one of the good guys" is not enough, Hall challenges readers to question why women still walk home alone in fear. This is not just a thriller; it's a powerful examination of morality, power, and the collective responsibility to confront the shadows that persist in the dark corners of society. "One of the Good Guys" is a haunting, thought-provoking, and utterly compelling literary journey.

One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall is a mystery/thriller that has a few surprises up its sleeve. I knew that all must not be what it seemed as it starts out with Cole’s POV because this novel is a commentary on the #MeToo movement. Cole obviously thinks he’s “one of the good guys” and just seems too good to be true but he’s the only viewpoint for more than half of the book. So something felt off but I just didn’t know what exactly.

And then, as Leonora takes over telling the tale, the reader begins to be clued in to what is really happening. And that there is a clever, daring, carefully-laid trap for one unsuspecting person. It didn’t have the same feel as a typical murder mystery because of the point the book is trying to make is so loud and clear. It takes over any mysterious elements. It definitely held my interest and had some creepy/scary elements. I liked the switching POVs in the second half as it gave a clearer picture of what was going on. Trigger warnings include IVF treatment and violence toward women. Oh and I forgot to mention the book is set on the English coast with dangerous cliffs and mist and cozy cottages and the stormy sea. If any of these elements or the novel’s theme interest you, I think you’ll enjoy reading One of the Good Guys.

While I went into this expecting a thriller, which is this not exactly, One of the Good Guys far surpassed my expectations and provided really interesting viewpoints on incel/"good guy" culture - another absolute winner from Araminta Hall.

Cole leaves London for the coast, trying to put his failed marriage behind him. He meets Lenora, who has moved nearby after her daughter has grown and moved out. The two get together, trying to reconcile their pasts with this new present. When 2 female activists disappear in the area, Cole and Lenora are suddenly thrown into a police investigation, each realizing they don't know the other as well as they'd hoped.

Whoa, this was a ride. Yes, there's definitely something creepy about Cole and as his story is told by him, it's hard to put your finger on it. He just wanted his marriage to work out and he wanted children. It's not his fault his ex-wife couldn't see everything he was willing to do for her. The storyline with the missing girls and the public's reaction to their activism was very interesting. Online hate and keyboard warriors are such a real thing.

It's hard to talk about this story without giving things away so I think I'll just tell you again to go read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Available January 9, 2024.

Araminta Hall's riveting narrative in 'One of the Good Guys' delves deep into the complexities of morality and perception. With a multi-layered storyline, the reader is immersed in the aftermath of Cole's divorce, a man grappling with the dissolution of his marriage and questioning his own identity as a 'good guy.' Hall expertly crafts each character, presenting them as realistic reflections of contemporary attitudes towards violence against women.

Through three distinct perspectives—Cole's, his ex-wife's, and his current girlfriend's—the novel navigates through various genres, keeping the reader on the edge as they piece together the truth behind Cole's actions. As the narrative unfolds, the lines between right and wrong blur, compelling readers to confront their own biases and judgments.

'One of the Good Guys' is a gripping exploration of human nature and the intricate dynamics of relationships. Hall's skillful prose captivates from beginning to end, leaving readers questioning the true nature of goodness and the consequences of one's choices. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Powerful and visionary. Araminta Hall's One of the Good Guys is a profound piece of work. Dealing with a lot of tough subjects in an elegant and thought provoking way. I have never read anything quite like it. This will stick with me for quite some time. I absolutely loved the character dynamics and the story was intoxicating. I will definitely be looking into her back catalog.

Definitely a contender for book of the year.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a twisty thriller and I couldn’t get enough of it. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated the use of social media and communications into the novel. I think this added to the suspense. I definitely look forward to more from this author!