This is one that's going to keep me thinking for a while. The author does an amazing job dealing with this subject matter. It feels very relevant to the current social climate and will definitely leave you in a contemplative mood.

It was different than I was expecting, having gone into expecting a run of the mill thriller about a man who isn't what he seems. What I ended up getting was a deep look at the violence and gaslighting women often face.

The idea that women have so much expected of them with parenting and household obligations and that men can do the bare minimum while being lauded as a shining example is something that resonates with me.
One of the Good Guys skillfully weaves an intriguing story of suspense and human nature. I will definitely be trying more by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was phenomenal! I definitely thought I knew what I was going into, but this book completely threw me. There were so many reasons why I enjoyed it: a real, honest portrayal of infertility difficulties and IVF; it's not very often you see male POVs in thrillers that aren't based in some sort of procedural or action theme; and the mixed media and the exploration of violence against women and its intersection with male radicalism and the role pornography plays in that. I also really enjoyed the POV changes, which provided a healthy balance to the characterisation — POV is often used in the context of thrillers to reveal an unreliable narrator or ground the reader's perceptions of the wider cast in the opinion of the protagonist. Here, as there are various POV characters, it only helps in the reveal coming straight out of the woodwork later on.

If you're looking for a thriller that evokes so many familiar conversations but is deeply nuanced, this one is for you!

And at the end of the day a “good guy” is still going to believe he’s a good guy despite being exposed and there being multiple people with the same experience/truth. Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc, I absolutely enjoyed reading this story.

One Of The Good Guys follows Cole, newly separated and newly relocated to the countryside from busy London life after a split with his wife.
Lenny, or Leonora as Cole calls her, is in a similar situation.
It's not long before they form a bond, but soon find themselves wrapped up in the disappearance of Molly and Phoebe, two young girls marching for woman's rights.

The book kicks off from Cole's POV but it's not long before we hear from Mel, his ex wife and Leonora.

Not your usual thriller, but a very thought provoking one. You may see the ending coming, but it didn't stop me listening to get to the end.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness I did not see this one coming! Such a wonderful, dramatic, suspenseful novel! Absolutely loved how these characters were so intriguing. Must read!

One of the Good Guys is a book about how people are not always who they seem to be, especially when they can control what they want you to know. The characters in this story are not flawless and in fact are all quite unlikeable. But when the story unfolds, you hear perspectives from Cole (the “Good Guy”) and Lennie, his new friend, as well as his soon to be ex-wife Melanie.
While I wouldn’t say this is an outright mystery, it is definitely a unique perspective on the topic of “if most men claim to be good, why are most women still afraid to walk home alone at night?”. It is a read I will go back and think about for sure, which is what I have come to expect from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Gillian Flynn Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

“I guess I’ve learned over the years that if you just shout about something, people stop listening. You have to find inventive ways of getting your point across.” Melanie “Mel” Connelly

The first third of Araminta Hall’s thought-provoking One of the Good Guys gives us Cole Simmonds in his own voice trying to understand why his wife Mel is divorcing him. He’s confused and confounded as he thinks he’s done everything that most men don’t in a relationship. He wanted to be totally in tune with Mel, both physically and mentally. He not only desperately wanted a baby, but he helped her through the difficulty of IVF even though he felt the stress of her job was responsible for the failures of their pregnancies. Then Mel hits him with the devastating news she is divorcing him, selling their flat, and destroying the three remaining embryos. Cole begs her not to destroy the embryos. He’s convinced that he and Mel need each other and doesn’t think Mel can cope without him.

Distraught, he finds a job keeping people safe from a dangerous area along a coastal cliff and makes friends with Leonora, an artist, who lives in a cabin along the seaside cliff where he is also housed for his job. Some of Cole’s activities are questionable, such as his killing and butchering rabbits, and leaving their internal organs outside Leonora’s cabin so the foxes howl and eat them. He does this so Leonora will rely on him to make her feel safe. He’s trying to make a point.

During this time, two young activist women with Walk for Women and a large following camp along the coastal cliff. Cole finds them sitting on the edge of the cliff, a dangerous place to be. He tries to talk the women off the cliff, but the women get hostile and threaten to call the police. The next day, the women disappear, and their tent and gear are left nearby. He becomes a suspect in their disappearance.

Mel’s story takes up the second act of this thriller, starting with how she and Cole met, fell in love, and how and why she could not be with him anymore.

Twist after twist takes the plot to the final third where the author uses social media messages, Leonora’s voice, and newspaper articles to follow what happens with Cole, Leonora, Melanie, and the two activists. The big reveal at the end crushes anything that seemed possible, yet at the same time feels perfect for the situation.

One of the Good Guys is not only difficult to review, but challenging as no one is particularly sympathetic. However, the characters are so sharply realized that you know they aren’t meant to be sympathetic but are necessary for an understanding of where we currently are in the gender divide. This quote is used in the thriller’s promo: “If most men claim to be good, why are most women still afraid to walk alone?” That sums up where the “me-too” movement leaves us. As far as the future of the movement, this work of fiction seems to bring us to the next stage, which is quoted at the top of the review. This tightrope of a feminist thriller comes to us from Gone Girl’s Gillian Flynn’s imprint ZandoBooks. I hope she continues publishing books that push our societal and cultural norms.

I wish I would have enjoyed the book more. The cover is amazing but the plot was just not interesting to me.

Thanks NetGalley for providing a copy of this book. This was not a favourite for me. I didn’t enjoy the writing style and unfortunately the story line annoyed me. Not my cup of tea!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book for an unbiased review.

First thought upon finishing is "Wow!" One of the Good Guys is an extremely thought provoking book about gender biases in society. While I thought it went above and beyond, I read the book in a little over 1 sitting (a few chapters last night, then the rest straight through today). It kept my interest, it was an extremely real life depiction of society when gender is involved, and gave me a disgusted/sickened feeling while reading it.

Araminta Hall and 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?" And this book definitely answers that question. I'm torn on how many stars to give it - 5 stars for the social commentary and how it made me think & feel; story and writing itself is 3 stars with unlikeable characters and not enough depth for me. I split the difference and went with a 4. I understand that it is supposed to be a story that we have heard before and we are supposed have a gut reaction to it - it achieved that - I just wished there was less revenge plot. Overall the meaning behind this book will stick with me for a while. It does a good job depicting how society views women.

One of the first thrillers I ever fell in love with was Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I hung on her every word and swooned with her delicious dark spin on how children are just small spawns of satan.

I have stalked Flynn since that day and was emotionally wrecked when I found out she is no longer writing BUT and there is a big BUT. Gillian Flynn is now a publisher!!!!

Representing new talent, Araminta Hall, I know if Flynn is supporting this author that this book is a shoe in for 5 stars.

One of the Good Guys

Well, I wasn’t wrong! This book is oozing with all the thriller goodness we never knew we needed! Jam packed with pulse pounding suspense, you will be white knuckling your book as you read along!

I loved every last word of this book and I can not wait to see what Hall comes out with next!

Check out this teaser :

Newly separated from his wife and desperate to escape the ghosts of his failed marriage, Cole leaves London for a fresh start in the countryside. He accepts a job as a wildlife ranger and settles into his cozy seaside cottage, relishing the respite from the noise, drama, and relentless careerism that curdled his relationship along with his mental health. Then he meets Leonora, the reclusive artist living next door, and is instantly charmed by her warm and gentle spirit.

But as the two forge a connection on the cliff’s edge they call home, two young women activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear while passing through. Cole and Leonora find themselves in the middle of a police investigation and resulting media firestorm as the world learns of what happened, and as the tension escalates, they quickly realize that they don’t know each other that well after all.

I wanted to take my time to digest this story as it focuses on quite a heavy topic. While I loved every single part of the book, I found the format a bit daunting. Just when I thought the story ended, began the tweets and the reactions to the plot which I found distractive. Otherwise this was a good book with a deep & thought provoking message I appreciate. The plot was compelling & twisted, the characters were great too. However, almost half of the book was about driving a point home repeatedly. While I considered myself staunchly on Lenny's side of the story I found myself playing devils advocate which was scary. I guess this was the ultimate purpose of the book.
Thank you NetGalley, publishers & Araminta Hall for this arc!

ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨

Author: Araminta Hall

Genre: Suspense, psychological thriller, crime

Quote: "History is littered with bad men doing bad things to women. And, the truth is, they've ruined it for the rest of us, who just want to love and nurture. They've created a world in which sometimes the only options left for us are the desperate ones."


Review:
The plot centers on the Cole, a man looking to escape London and the echoes of his recently failed marriage. He winds up in a seaside cottage on a remote cliff working as a ranger, spending most his days warning people not to sit on the crumbling and precarious cliff edge.
Soon after moving in, Cole spots Leonora, an artist who has also recently moved to the area and who Cole is instantly drawn to.

As the book unfolds, Cole continually compares Leonora to his ex wife, telling us the long list of reasons why the marriage failed (and why it was definitely not his fault). Pretty soon we begin to see cracks in his version of events. On the same night Cole complains of a headache so bad he has no memory of how he got home, two girls raising awareness for domestic violence go missing...

This book was exactly what I expected and I read it so fast it felt like a blur! I really enjoyed the exploration into so-called 'good guys' and how dangerous they can be when they don't get their way. Cole's perspective was chilling and some of his quotes were things I've personally heard men say, which was disturbing to say the least.

I also liked how the book pointed out the hypocrisy of the media in it's treatment of female victims of violence. How they twist the narrative, going so far as to use personal pictures from the victim's social media to attempt to sway public opinion against them by portraying them as 'promiscuous'.

The main themes prevalent through the book reminded me a lot of the the Paris Paloma song 'Labour' (if you haven't heard it check it out), with a touch of Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl'. All in all this was a fast-paced, grimly enjoyable read.

Please check TWs before reading this as there are some pretty heavy themes which I did find difficult to read in places.

Thank you Zando Projects / Gillian Flynn Books / Netgalley, #partner for the advanced e-copy of One of the Good Guys in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book I’ve read by Araminta Hall and I am a fan! She is definitely going on my list of must-read authors!

This book totally snuck up on me. It was definitely not what I was expecting and I loved that. Told in three parts, from three different perspectives, I found myself falling for one character and then another…this one will have you switching loyalties like no one’s business. It’s quite amazing how the author is able to get you to do that…but she does and I am in awe!

I also loved that while I didn’t necessarily love all the characters here, I still couldn’t put this one down. I needed to see how it would all play out. And again, even when I didn’t like a particular character, I still managed to have feelings for them. I am purposely not saying too much here because you really need to go into this one blind – that’s the best way to experience this one for maximum effect.

This is the type of book that is going to get you thinking. It needs to be talked about, which makes it a good book club pick. There is a lot to unpack here and it’s unsettling and unnerving but one that once you start reading, you can’t help but find yourself completely addicted to what’s going on – at least I did. It’s a story that needs to be told, one that is uncomfortable, which to me is the point.

I am still not entirely sure how I feel about this book, there is no doubt that there were some conflicting emotions.

As it begins the reader may want to side with the man but there is a hard shift in the middle of the book that shows that to every story there are two sides.

Then you may side with the wife.

What a kooky book. I’m still shaking my head over it. It was shocking and crazy and silly and I didn’t even know who I should be rooting for at all, or if there even was anyone to root for cause I kind of didn’t like any of them at the end! And I still loved it.

This was definitely a book full of messages, but in the end I wasn’t sure if I was taking any of it seriously. I was mostly wondering what in the world did I just read and who in the world is this author and what is her brain like to come up with the premise for this book. I think I’d want to meet her.

I’m definitely glad I read it and I’d recommend it to lovers of suspense, and entertaining mysteries, and someone who doesn’t mind an interesting commentary on today’s insane world. This was definitely a good one

Found all of the random social media and news sections to be a little annoying, just not my cup of tea. Like the twist and the connection between characters. Loved Mel's section

Circumstances appear suspicious when a couple of young women go missing near the isolated home of Cole. He is either one of the good guys, or one of the sick bastards that we warn our daughters about. Sensitive introvert or manipulative pervert? Which one you choose to believe depends on who you decide to listen to. And naturally, Twitterverse has plenty of opinions on the matter.
This was an engaging and fun psychological thriller.
Thanks to #netgalley and #gillianflynnbooks for this #arc of #oneofthegoodguys in exchange for an honest review.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

*deep breath*

I knew this book was going to be a difficult ride and I wanted to hop on. It starts with a premise so many people are familiar with: "one of the good guys". I'm sure we've all met someone who sees themself that way. It's a hard topic to tackle because some of what self-declared "good guys" do is genuinely good and nice and kind. But too often, it is done with the expectation of getting something in return.

And we see that exact dichotomy beautifully illustrated in Cole. There is no denying that a lot of the things he did for Mel were kind. It was easy to see him as "better" than the men Mel typically met. But his kindness comes with strings, not from a place of love for the other person. He does what he does because he is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that he knows best. And that's not kindness, that's control.

Without going into too many spoilers, the main characters in this story (Cole, Mel, and Lennie) are extreme versions of people we all know. The lengths these characters each go to in this story have been exaggerated in order to make you think. None of them are perfect, none of them make all the "right" choices.

What I appreciated so much about Hall's work here is that the plot is entirely plausible. I completely believe this could be an event in our lifetime and I would fully expect it to end exactly as it did here. Hall does a fantastic job miring us in the muck that is social media, in the caustic, callous judgement that news platforms spit out with very little information.

It is so hard to change a system that was built to keep you as less than someone else. Especially if you try to change it from within. You'll be met with resistance every step of the way because those with power rarely want to share it. The events of the last third of the book will stay with me for a long time.

Some people may get bogged down in the mystery, in choosing sides and defending a character's innocence or their actions. And if that's you, then you probably won't like this book very much. But if you can accept that extreme actions exist here to make a point, if you can remain objective and look at the issues presented in this story -- violence towards women, gender roles, consent and feminism to name a few -- this is a bold and thought-provoking social commentary.

Please make sure you're in a good headspace before you start but absolutely read it.

Cole is newly separated and needs to escape his failed marriage and London. He takes a job as a ranger in the countryside. Soon after, he meets Leonora, an artist and forms a connection. Things seem to be looking up. But when two female activists pass through town, raising awareness about gendered violence, Cole and Leonora find themselves in the middle of a police investigation and media frenzy. They also begin to realise how little they know each other.

This one is described as a 'A propulsive page-turner with razor-sharp sociopolitical insight, 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?'
Indeed! This novel was just so unexpected! I flew through it, again, in less than a day and as so many other readers have noted, it was thought provoking. I really can't say more, as mine are no-spoiler reviews but I am so glad I read this cleverly plotted, memorable novel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Zando, Gillian Flynn Books for this gifted copy.