I'm very meh on this book. The first part, told by unreliable narrator Cole, was excellent. I couldn't stop reading, because I wanted to know what happened next. The second part, told by somewhat unreliable narrator Mel, was also excellent. But the third part lost me. The ending and the way everything tied together was very drawn-out and extremely preachy. Instead of a narrator, the author chose to tell the story via social media posts. Don't do this, please. It's annoying.
I don't know that I would recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando, Gillian Flynn Books for the ARC!

I appreciated the nuanced feminist elements, exploring the impact of rape culture. The POV switches and mixed media added fun and depth, drawing me in. However, the lack of truly shocking twists disappointed me. The heavy-handed message got old as the novel wore on. Despite these drawbacks, it was a good read overall.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Thiller📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A quick and interesting read, I just didnt love how it all came together

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Thought provoking reads
Unique formats
Exploration of sensitive topics
Suspenseful and dark thrillers
Lots of twists
Love to hate characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
A quick read

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I found it a little over the top and not in the good way
There were almost too many excerpts

Is there anything worse than a self-declared good guy?
Sadly, the plot feels borderline dystopian while also feeling totally believable. The first third of the book is told from "good guy", and unreliable narrator, Cole's perspective, which is equal parts nauseating and enraging. What follows is an exploration of seething female rage as the story shifts to being told by Cole's ex-wife and new neighbour. Overall a clever and thought-provoking thriller.

A bold, brilliant, thought-provoking feminist thriller that everyone (especially men) needs to read. It's at once a riveting thriller and a piece of literature with an important message but it never feels preachy.

The book is about Cole, who thinks he is "one of the good guys." But is no spoiler to say that any astute reader will notice right away that Cole is a less than reliable narrator. Red flags EVERYWHERE, even as he says all the right things --- his actions do NOT match. We hear about his marriage first from his point of view and then from his wife's. And then, from his most recent girlfriend.

I don't want to give too much away but it's important that you know that at its core this book is an examination of violence against women. Why does it happen? What are the men who do it thinking (or not thinking?) These are obviously age old and difficult questions but they are approached here in an innovative and thoughtful way, coming to a conclusion that will leave you both shocked and enlightened. This book says a lot with what it doesn't say and what it lets you observe in Cole's actions.... in what other people say about Cole. And it questions why we as a society always believe men more than women, particularly when it comes to rape. In so doing, it cleverly sets up a narrative in the book where it gives you the opportunity whether to believe Cole ... or NUMEROUS women who have interacted with Cole.

And now a somewhat spoilery response to some other reviews I have seen about the ending -- so stop reading now if you don't like spoilers. . . . .


I've seen people (including some feminists) saying they didn't like the ending because it turned out that Cole is "innocent" because he not kill the two missing women.

To this I say.... think about this a little further. Think about what we know about Cole from the more reliable narrator of the book. Think about the incident in the park.... the incident with Laura, his previous girlfriend. And what we heard from his own mother! Is Cole REALLY "innocent?" Or did he maybe just not rape these two *particular* women?

With that, I leave you to hopefully go and read this compelling and awesome book (or read it again if you've already read it once). To Araminta Hall, thank you for this great piece of art, and I wish I could see the installation you dreamed up in the story, too.

A twisted look at owning one’s action through the gender difference lens. I found the book annoying at many points. Is being a woman in society easy? Nope. Does someone else bad choices/deeds justify my ability to make good choices? Nope. This one almost angered me by the lack of accountability by every character. If this is where we are or where we are heading I’m opting out. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was very much a book of two halves for me. The first section, told in the first person by Cole as he mulled over his failed marriage to Mel, was engaging. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that you realize pretty quickly that he's an unreliable narrator. There is a later section from Mel's point of view, which again was a thought-provoking read,. However the second half of the book, which deals more with the disappearance and presumed deaths of two women walking to protest against male violence, was entirely lacking in forward momentum. It went round and round in circles with tabloid newspaper articles, blog and podcast transcripts, and endless social media posts. I found these muddied the water even more than the actual revealed actions of the characters. This would be interesting as a starting point for a discussion on male violence, but as a novel it ultimately failed.

Cole is recently divorced and we hear his story first in this book. We then hear from his ex-wife Mel who gives a different point of view of their marriage and why they broke up. There are always two sides to a break up. Cole leaves London and moves to a seaside cottage and meets Leonora at a pub. They become friends and lovers. At this point in the book is when it became interesting waiting to see what happens given Cole is the "good guy" and there are women fighting for other women to not feel in fear of men. And who is Leonora? When I finished, I know what the author was thinking but I was left wondering who really was the "good guy" - the obvious one or.....well you have to read the book.

This book is described as a psychological thriller which isn't how I would describe it. Although the story line was interesting enough, it didn't feel like a thriller at all and definitely felt like the author had a certainly "slant" to this story.

My thanks to Net Galley, Gillian Flynn Books, and Xander Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

3.5* One Of The Good Guys begins by following Cole, a forty something man who recently moved to a quiet countryside town following the dissolution of his marriage. Grieving the loss of his relationship and his old life, he befriends the only other person in the area, a woman who lives in a cozy cottage near his. But things take a turn for the terrifying when two young female activists go missing while passing through the town. The two are quickly thrust into a missing persons case, but as things unfold you start to realize that nothing is quite as it seems on the surface.

Overall, I had a good time with this one! I devoured the audiobook in just over 24 hours, which is always a great sign. But in the end, I landed pretty in the middle of the road.

A few things I liked:
-Based on the blurb, I knew this book would be feminist to some extent, but for a commercial thriller I was pleasantly surprised by how nuanced it is! I love how every woman in the story plays such a crucial role and showcases a different angle of how rape culture and male violence is continually perpetuated as the norm. The smaller scenes with Laura and Cole’s mother ended up being a few of the most interesting parts to think about and untangle, in my opinion.
-The pov switches and mixed media elements are really fun! And they help break up the story. I always love the device of seeing the same event perceived completely different through the eyes of multiple characters. Around the first pov switch is when I really started to feel invested.

A few things I wasn’t so fond of:
-Thrillers with no *truly* shocking twists always leave me a little disappointed. I want to leave a thriller gooped and gagged and gasping at what I didn’t see coming. Why do most thrillers these days have just like, meandering turns in the plot rather than true, completely out of left field twists? Once you know what’s up, you know what’s up. If you know what I mean.
-The message that you’re supposed to take away from the story is VERY heavy handed and basically spoon fed to you. Sometimes that just comes with the territory of writing for the masses but at the same time I wish authors trusted readers enough to grasp the message without literally spelling it out. Idk.
-On that same note, the story is VERY repetitive in the second half. The mixed media elements are fun, but at some point they just start recapping everything we already know, and I just found it unnecessary.

*mild spoilers*

-And yet, for how repetitive the story is toward the end, all the best nuance is jam packed into the last 5% or so. Specifically, I’m thinking about a certain take on male violence + pornography- the book repeatedly takes a big swing by getting behind the stance of ALL PORN BAD, END ALL PORNOGRAPHY but doesn’t really explore how that’s…kind of damaging and also not true? until the final pages. And I’m glad a true feminist take ended up getting put in at all, but it’s something that made me feel icky as I was reading, so seeing it addressed a bit sooner would’ve been nice for my peace of mind lol.

So I don’t know! If you’re looking for something in between a popcorn thriller and a literary meditation on rape culture and male violence, this is the book for you! It’s super readable and easy to fall right into, but there’s still some depth there and very important topics that will force you to consider where you stand. I liked it!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher (Zando <3) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! I also purchased this book on audio in addition to reading it digitally. One Of The Good Guys is out now!

Book: One Of The Good Guys
Author: Arminta Hall
Publisher: Zando, Gillian Flynn Books
Pub Date: January 9, 2024

Ummm wowser. This is quite the page turner. This is a book that made me want to take a sick day to stay home and read. I’m mad at myself for waiting so long to read this. I’m not sure I’ve read a story that the characters have been so well developed. I love the way the author told the story and portrayed the characters. It’s told in dual POV’s so you get to hear both sides of the story. I was creeped out by Cole from the very beginning. You might not be? Should you be? His story evokes a lot of emotions mostly the throat punch kind. It’s definitely a thought provoking read and would be perfect for book club discussion. Make this a must read for 2024!

Thank you Zando, Gillian Flynn Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is January 9, 2024.

Wow, this is a rather disturbing book that left me questioning exactly what I just read!

ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS starts off fairly innocuously, with the story of Cole, who moves to the countryside after a difficult split from his wife, Melissa. Their marriage crumbled as they struggled through IVF and Melissa's focus on her work. Cole seeks the peace and quiet of his small cabin in the country, where he meets Leonora, an artist living nearby. The two forge a friendship based in shared solitude. Things become more dramatic when two young women, who are raising awareness of violence against females, come through the area and then disappear.

Cole's story begins quietly as he tells his side but then abruptly changes format, giving us snippets of various media formats covering the disappearance of the two female activists, Molly and Phoebe, along with more narrative. I found the change rather unexpected and jarring. GUYS focuses on the idea of what makes a good guy--and how society treats women. At times it's a brutal read, capturing the thoughts and ideas from all sides on how women deserve to be treated. Sometimes it's violently dark, emotional, and disturbing. As it also includes flashbacks to Cole and Mel's (failed) IVF treatments, there are lots of triggers. I appreciated the insights the author tried to share on women, consent, and male privilege. But at times, they felt overwhelming to the actual mystery. As a thriller, GUYS fell a little short, with Molly and Phoebe's disappearance and the other plot pieces seeming to be overly constructed and dramatic, but not all that thrilling (I also figured out a lot early on).

There was a lot happening here, but it didn't come together too smoothly for me.

Cole is starting over after his marriage ended. Leonora has also moved recently and is living close to Cole. The story is told from many different points of view and we get to really know the characters. When two women passing through go missing, it really makes everyone question how well they know people. Some very deep issues are discussed and it was easy to get drawn into the story.

This is an entertaining read, with thriller elements twinned with social commentary on how society is so accustomed to violence against women.

When are you safe, as a woman? When you've isolated yourself away from society in the countryside? In the comfort of your own home? When your every step is broadcast on social media, providing loads of witnesses? Perhaps the answer is never. The women in Hall's One of the Good Guys confront these questions and the role fear plays in all their lives in a novel that will certainly start a conversation. Thanks to Zando, Gillian Flynn Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The question this book asks, why most women have fear when most men claim to be good, is an incredibly important one and one I have often discussed with friends. If we all know women who have experienced sexual assault and violence, or have even experienced it ourselves, then how come we don't really know the men who do this? Not many men go around saying yes, I have intimidated women, yes I have abused women, which kind of makes sense. But it creates a pervasive sense of fear which clouds the lives of many women. Even if it is not an hourly or daily thing, I think the lives of many women, myself included, are often coloured by a knowledge we may be in danger. This is a debate which needs to be had and one in which men need to, first and foremost, take a listening role, before being the ones to jump into action. So often I have sat in a pub, train, or bus and heard a group of boys or men say absolutely disgusting things about women, with the full knowledge it would not be safe or pleasant for me to interrupt and stop them. Men should be doing this themselves. I know plenty of men who are uncomfortable with misogynistic talk and action, who would not want to engage in that behaviour themselves, but the group pressure means they do engage with it or, at the very least, do nothing to stop their male friends from behaving that way. That needs to change to create a safer environment, not just for women, but also for men themselves. This issue of fear and intimidation needs to be widely discussed, but I also think it needs to be handled with a certain amount of nuance to make sure as many people, men, women and everyone else, can be included in the conversation. While One of the Good Guys brings up many interesting points, it does lack a bit of nuance in this area, which means it runs the danger of turning some people away from an important conversation.

At the start of One of the Good Guys, Cole has left his life in London behind after everything exploded alongside his marriage. Mel, his (still) wife, hounds him about signing the papers while he tries to reconnect with himself in the isolation of the countryside. There he meets Leonora, seemingly also on the run from the stress and fakeness of busy city life. But tragedy strikes in the silent countryside when two young women, on a journey to raise awareness about violence against women, go missing and pretty quickly it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. The novel is split into three parts. The first is from Cole's perspective and gives us a glance inside his mind as he finds his footing in the country and meets Leonora. The second is from the perspective of Mel and depicts their marriage and its downfall through her eyes. The third part is technically Leonora's, except that it is largely told through other media as well, such as podcast transcripts, social media posts, press releases, and the booklet accompanying her art show. This structure does work quite well as it gives you different point of views on the central issue of fear and violence.

The main issue, however, is that these parts do not feel well-balanced in my eyes. The central part, depicting Mel's experiences, was the most gripping for me as it really seemed Hall had found a sharp but careful nuance in depicting how Mel looses herself in the marriage and all that comes with it. Parts of it were heart-rending. The first part, focusing on Cole, was an interesting start but I think every reader will immediately pick up on the fact this man is off. While that may be the point, there is a certain lack of self-awareness in the character of Cole that means I found it hard to take his perspective seriously. (Compare to Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant, where the main male character is an ass, but kinda knows it, and is therefore conflicted to a certain extent.) The third part is also not exactly subtle or nuanced. And this is where my own conflictedness comes in. I recognise a lot of the elements Hall plays with, the fear that can grab you as you walk past a dark alley, the sudden awareness of your own physicality when men act a certain way, the struggle of finding out what you want separate from what you're told to want. All of these elements are at play in One of the Good Guys, but there is not really any space for you to sit with it, if that makes sense. The end of the book is very crowded with opinions, statements, etc. and while this is incredibly effective in showing the noise and divisiveness of discourse today, it also doesn't help you as the reader. The ending of the novel, however, in which Leonora's art show is depicted, is incredibly effective because it allows for nuance, personal experience, and meditation on the themes. I would have loved more of that. Now, One of the Good Guys runs the risk of drowning its own messages in the noise. And again, I feel kind of bad about that because the criticism seems to so closely align with what the book is arguing against.

As a thriller, One of the Good Guys is very effective, providing the reader with characters who are all darker shades of grey and plenty of twists and turns. As a book about important social issues, however, it loses potency at various points throughout the story. Araminta Hall is undoubtedly a good thriller writer and I would love to read more by her. I also think Hall undoubtedly believes strongly in the cause she is describing in the novel. Whether this format is the best way to raise awareness, I don't know. And yet, I have just spent a few hundred words talking about it and One of the Good Guys has raised important questions. So, to an extent, it does work as a conversation started.

I appreciated a lot of the things One of the Good Guys was trying to do. While some elements are very successful, others felt a little too unnuanced considering the potency and importance of the debate the novel is trying to have.

2.5 stars
I was hoping I’d enjoy this more because it starts off so strong but pretty quickly the author starts hitting you over the head with what could’ve been great social commentary, but just ends up being obvious and heavyhanded. the addition of mixed media in the third act (mostly twitter threads and reddit comments) was fun in theory, but again in execution it was eyeroll inducing (without trying to spoil, it’s basically exploring two sides of an issue where one is very obviously the ‘correct’ one)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gillian Flynn Books, and Dreamscape Select for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book and even better audiobook by Araminta Hall and perfectly narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick;, Olivia Vinall, and Helen Keeley - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Cole leaves London and his failed marriage behind, and finds quiet refuge in a remote coastal town. His neighbor, Lennie, an artist, has rented the cottage next door for much of the same reasons. The two meet and form a friendship. But they soon find themselves in the middle of an investigation when two young women activists against male violence disappear from the area.

This is such a thought-provoking read on many levels - women's rights, misogyny, social media, I can go on and on. Told from the POV of Cole, his estranged wife, Mel, and Lennie, we also get mixed social media posts interjected, which are so relevant to the themes. This is also a difficult book to review without giving anything away - and the subtle twists and turns are part of the reading experience so no spoilers from me. I will say that the audiobook was just fantastic - at first I did a double take when there were sounds of keyboard typing, emails sent, etc., but the narration and effects really made this book come alive. This would be a great book club selection as there is much to dissect.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of One of the Good Guys.

VERY LIGHT SPOILERS

Oh my gosh, this book is at the least, incredibly interesting, and would no doubt bring a robust discussion to your bookclub.

Cole has started a new a solitude life by the coast. Heartbroken at the end of his marriage as well as his dream to become a father, he chooses to find respite as a ranger in this quiet town. But it doesn't take long before he meets Leonora, an artist who is also looking for quiet, but grateful for Cole's friendship.

But when two young women go missing, Cole finds himself in the middle of an investigation. He would never hurt these girls, but he has had an encounter with them, and it might not be good for him if it came out. But he really has no idea what waits for him on the other side of the investigation.

I can't say that I 100% agree with everything that went down in this book, some of it came off as a bit heavy handed and even wreck less. However, I definitely got the message that was being sent about how easy you could cloak abuse, selfishness, even narcissism under the cloak of "just trying to be a good guy." I thought that this was clever, fresh, and at the very least, entertaining as hell.

As soon as finishing: I have no idea how to feel. I'm going to need to sit with this one.

A few days later: Ok I settled on 3 stars. I'm still not sure how I feel. There are two sides in this book and you basically have to pick a side. Or be like me and don't. lol. Because there's a lot of information and a lot of WTF is happening?! in this book and I need to be as cryptic as I am being because you need to go in blind. The first 30-40% were pretty slow and boring. Cole seems like a good guy. Mel seems like a bitch. Lennie seems like a nice woman. Then we get the other side of the story and that's when everything gets ramped up. To an EXTREME. I don't think what was done was the right way. I also don't think the other side was right either. This is a men vs women novel and it felt kind of icky. Look, I have no experience with sexual harassment. I grew up and have lived in small towns my whole life. I've never been put in situations to be catcalled or harassed or assaulted. I've lived in a pretty small, safe bubble. So someone who HAS experienced any of this unwanted attention may have a completely different view of this book.

This was really good - I hadn't read anything by this author before but the description and concept had me intrigued.

The book started really well and it held up throughout. I loved all the different parts to the book and the changes in narrative.

It's a complex book and quite relevant to society today.

Really enjoyable, well paced book with interesting characters and a lovely writing style. I will read more by this author.

This was an interesting read and my first Araminta Hall. I enjoyed it and thought that hearing the perspective of various characters added to the story development and rounded it out. I started out feeling a bit strange about the characters and having no idea where the plot was going to go but the narration eventually made it quite clear. There were some thought-provoking opinions on the topics of feminism and gender roles. I was a bit disappointed in how it ended, as I perhaps was expecting something different when I read the synopsis. It's difficult to write a review for this one without giving any spoilers, so I will stop there :) If you're looking for a quick, enjoyable read, I would recommend this book.