Member Reviews

This book was a little odd - I liked it in parts but didn't feel that it came together. I was very readable - more of a beach read!

Was this review helpful?

This was a darkly funny tale. I’m always down for women doing crimes. I’d ate this up and finished in one sitting. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Cohen did an excellent job of mixing suspense, comedy and Romance in Bad Men. She had me coming back for more each day to see who Jons stalker was. Saffy was such a well written character I was loving her one second and hating her the next, being that women serial killers are not a stigma she was able to write her perfectly. Though not as gripping as some books I have read in the past I really did enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

This was a perfect slumpbuster—a quick, compelling read with a dynamic cast of characters and enough twists and open questions to keep you guessing. The mystery element itself felt a little similar to the Magpie Murders and other bastions of contemporary British murder mystery, but the main character, in some ways, reminded me of Finlay Donovan, were she a lot more calculating with her actions.

I think readers of the "good for her" genre will enjoy this story, but I think it has broader appeal in the thriller space.

Thank you to Abrams/The Overlook Press for the opportunity to read and review!

Was this review helpful?

trigger warning for CSA, but this is a survivor revenge story that had me giggling!! such a deeply healing and comical thriller

Was this review helpful?

The premise was good but it didn’t really deliver. A little predictable and I wanted the fmc to be more badass!

Was this review helpful?

I gave this book a solid three stars. While it was an ok book, I think it missed the mark on feminist style which is what the book was mainly based on. .
The lead is touted as almost a vigilante. Killing only the bad men, but all the while looking for love.
There were some humorous parts but again, the story to me was just ok.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen!

Was this review helpful?

Refreshing, but not what I expected. Or wanted.

I'm a sucker for femrage revenge thrillers with unapologetically badass protagonists, but there was more romance than murdering here, which was a letdown. The book started with so much promise but felt like it never reached its full potential.

The whodunit was obvious due to the small cast, but the characters and their POVs were compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. Saffy was such a delight! Her voice and personality really shone through, though I have mixed feelings about her being so sappy about a man.

An enjoyable read, but there are much better books in the same subgenre.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first time reading Julie Mae Cohen, and I received Bad Men as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing premise with a morally complex protagonist who challenges traditional notions of justice. Saffy's character is well-developed, showcasing her intelligence, charm, and the dark motivations behind her actions. Her interactions with Jonathan add an interesting dynamic to the story, blending romance with suspense. However, I found the pacing to be uneven, with some parts of the story dragging while others felt rushed. The ending, while surprising, felt somewhat abrupt and left a few loose ends that could have been better resolved. The twists and turns throughout the book kept me engaged, but some of the plot developments felt a bit forced. Overall, Bad Men is a decent read with a unique take on the serial killer genre. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Julie Mae Cohen as a writer. I'm curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #badmen

Was this review helpful?

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧? 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

This one started off so strong, and if only it had kept that same momentum, this would have been a five star read. Saffy Huntley-Oliver was a child whose innocence was taken by someone close to her. When that same predator came after her sister, Saffy stopped him--permanently. She was twelve years old at the time. Fast forward to present day, and Saffy is fiercely intelligent, a wealthy socialite, and an experienced serial killer. Since ridding the world of that first Bad Man, she's made it her mission to do away with the worst of the worst, those who prey upon women.

She still keeps a close eye on her sister and is worried about her current choice of partners, but something else has caught her eye--a true crime podcaster, Jonathan Desrosiers, who made a name for himself by cracking old cases and bringing much-needed closure to the victims' families. The intense loneliness of living a double life such as Saffy's has her mesmerized by thought of being in Jonathan's life, as her intuition tells her he's one of the Good Guys.

But her plans are derailed when a decapitated body shows up on her crush's doorstep the morning after his wife leaves him. Is someone trying to frame him for murder or show that he's really a monster in disguise?

This is where the plot started to unravel for me. What was described as 'darkly comedic' came across as borderline slapstick. The first half was brilliant, and I did like the writing well enough to read the author's next book. Thank you to The Overlook Press for the early copy. This book is available now.

Was this review helpful?

This book? Whew — buckle up, besties. “Bad Men” is a dark, twisty, jaw-dropping ride that had me clutching my coffee tighter with every chapter. Julia Mae Cohen serves up the perfect blend of suspense, secrets, and that deliciously unsettling vibe we all secretly crave.

Was this review helpful?

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

The concept of this book was really fun and interesting but the execution lacked some of the sparkle I was looking for. An FMC who kills “bad men” is obsessed with making a true crime podcaster fall in love with her (I thought that would sound more interesting than it actually does…maybe this book was set up to fail?). The first chapter had me so excited—showing the first man that Saffy ever killed at the age of 10, I thought we were set up to go on a bit of a wild ride of her killing escapades. Some spoilers ahead: there were just absolutely no stakes. Saffy was never once in danger of being suspected and she (in my opinion) wasted her intelligence on a scheme to get this loser (that’s a little harsh but also true sorry) to fall in love with her. The book definitely did keep me entertained until the end but stepping back now I realize that I’m kind of disappointed that this book took the turns it did, focusing almost entirely on a man when I was promised a “feminist thriller.” I feel like I’m being harsh but I really did expect something really cool from this book so I’m feeling a bit let down.

3 stars

Was this review helpful?

I mean, you had me at female serial killer who only kills bad men. The sarcastic and clever writing was compelling but I wanted a bit more Saffy and more mystery. A small quibble - I would be all in on another book with Saffy at the center!

Thanks to Abrams and the Overlook Press for a copy to review.

Was this review helpful?

I really didn't love this one. A bit much and just not for me. I'm sure many will love it and I was so hopeful based on the stunning cover but I didn't didn't like it.

Was this review helpful?

So. Good.
Saffy is in love with a true crime podcaster and will stop at nothing to get him. Her warped moral compass takes us to Scotland to stalk Jon, back to London where she daydreams of offing her sister's bum boyfriend, and to her perfect flat where she plans to make Jon fall in love with her. Hopefully, he doesn't find the skeletons in her closet...
Bad Men is part romp, part reflection of the consequences of our obsession with true crime. But mostly a vigilante serial killer romp.

Was this review helpful?

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Was this review helpful?

A serial killer dates a podcaster who becomes a suspect in a murder. Said serial killer decides to help her new crush clear his name. This was a fast fun read. I'm a sucker for the "women killing bad men" stores such as They Never Learn and My Sister is a Serial killer. While this one is in the same vein it didn't have the substance that I loved in They Never Learn. This is more of a fluffy fun beach read.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved this one. I am a big fan of books that center on women putting bad men in their place (grave?) and this one fit the bill. I have both the print and audio version ( the audiobook the narrator was fantastic) and it's a fun book either way you consumer it.

Was this review helpful?

Great idea for a feminist thriller, but it was executed poorly. I had to DNF at 20%. I couldn’t get into this book.

Was this review helpful?