Thank you @Netgalley for my free copy

Serial killers are bountiful in this stalker-ish mystery thriller. A female serial killer bent on righting wrongs and seeking justice on cheating, abusive men obsess over true crime podcaster and writer. She sets up the perfect trap to ensnare the famous writer and sparks a romance between the two. As they grow closer, the writer comes closer to the very unexpected truth that he's seeking. Will he discover her murderous secret or be her next victim?

Fans of Freida McFadden and Kirsten Modglin will LOVE this thrilling read!

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is a serial killer with a hobby of killing bad men. Saffy also happens to be madly in love with Jonathan Desrosiers - author and creator of a popular true crime podcast and someone who catches serial killers. What lengths will Saffy go to get her happily ever after?

Saffy is a joy. She's sharp, funny, and enterprising. She moves at a fast pace and the pacing of the novel also reflects that. Julie Mae Cohen does a great job writing formative moments of Saffy's life that inform the character's motivations - think Carey Mulligan’s Cassie Thomas in Emerald Fennell's 2020 Promising Young Woman.

This novel has some nongraphic mentions of different forms of abuse including childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence, domestic violence. I think this book could have benefited from a brief author's note contextualizing the book or a link to some content warnings. Just a growing trend that I’ve observed and that might suit a book like this.

I enjoyed reading from the different character perspectives a lot! There are shifts in the POV between first person (Saffy, narrator) and third person (Jonathan). Sometimes I felt a little thrown off with the switches between first person “I” to third person. But I really appreciated the chapters from Jonathan's perspective.

Overall, a fun and quick read that mixes romance and thriller.

This was so much fun!
In this title, we follow Saffy, a beautiful socialite who doubles as a serial killer (only killing bad and dangerous men, though) and has a small crush on a famous true crime podcaster, Jonathan. After a dead body shows up on Jonathan's front doorstep the day after his wife leaves him, causing him to drop his true crime life, Saffy takes it into her own hands to orchestrate a meet-cute with her crush. Their acquaintanceship soon grows as Jonathan is accused of being the murderer of the body and Saffy convinces him to work with her to find the real killer.

I really enjoyed this one! It was very easy to fly through, as it reads like a mystery mixed with a dark comedy with some romance thrown in. Saffy is a funny character and I loved watching the book go back and forth between her and Jonathan's points of views, especially when it came to the work she puts in to have them meet. The mystery portion was enjoyable as well, as it kept the book at a very good pace.

Overall, I had a very fun time reading this!

Pub Date: May 07, 2024

If you can overlook Saffy's tragic past, "Bad Men" is a darkly comedic thriller. I adore stories about serial killers, but Saffy isn't your typical murderer. For one thing, she has a code of ethics. She only targets men and only the truly evil ones. Additionally, she has a quirky sense of humor. She may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found her to be a breath of fresh air in the world of serial killers.

After losing the rest of her family, her sister is all she has left. Recently, she's been considering settling down with a good man, and she's even found someone who fits the bill. She's beautiful and wealthy. Yes, she's a bit self-centered, but that's not what's holding her back. Her side hobby as a serial killer makes dating a challenge.

Thank you to RB Media/Abrams Books for providing these ARCs through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

I didn't expect to like this contemporary mystery thriller as much as I did. I’m not a fan of vigilantism and I hate books that usually glorify those types of killings such as Dexter and others. But for some reason, this was fun and entertaining, and I enjoyed it. Rated 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is rich and beautiful, runs a couple of charities, and is a fashionista. She also has a secret hobby -- hunting down and killing bad men. The pedophiles, abusers, rapists, etc. This makes dating and finding a mate difficult when you can't find a good guy. But finally, Saffy is in with a chance after meeting true-crime podcaster Jonathan Desrosiers. When the police name him as a suspect in a murder he did not commit, Saffy is determined to help Jon seek out the real killer and give her the opportunity to have her own romance and fairy tale ever after.

This was darkly humorous and fast-paced making it a great one-sitting read. Saffy is meant to be a feminist but she's not a man-hater per se, she's just not been exposed to many good guys that aren't super boring. She does do something that I didn't like (trigger for animal mistreatment) and she is fairly intolerant of most people so she's not going to be anyone's BFF. She does love her younger sister and is very protective of her. Once you get past the fact that she loves her hobby and is a stone-cold serial killer, she's kind of likeable. Or at least you understand part of why she's who she is. The narrative is told from the points of view of both Saffy and Jonathan (Jon). Suspend any disbelief and go along for the crazy ride.

I listened to the audio while reading along in the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers) and I enjoyed the experience although I must say that I prefer the book to the audio. Quite a bit of vocabulary was changed using American expressions in the book compared to more typically English phrases or terms in the audio. The narrator had a British accent as well.

Saffy and Jon alternately tell this tale of romantic suspense (of sorts)- with Jon doing most of the talking, Saffy is a serial killer of "bad men" but now she's fallen for Jon, a podcaster (of course) who is looking for a killer. She becomes obsessed with him. This is a fast read, one which manages to be both light and not so light at the same time. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Why aren’t there more books about female serial killers? Bad Men is dark and creepy, but simultaneously a lot of fun. A strange mix but it totally works.

Main character Saffy is a socialite serial killer with no patience for bad men (relatable). She’s a true feminist and only kills men that, in her mind, deserve it.

Saffy becomes obsessed with Jon — an author, true crime podcaster and one of the good guys. Though a bit unhinged, Saffy’s intelligence, sassy attitude and dark sense of humor make her likable and worth rooting for.

Bad Men is a quick, easy read. The pacing is a bit off at times, and I could’ve used a little more Saffy/a little less Jon. Other than that, no complaints.

3.7 rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams for the arc.

I am giving this book 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.

I had a few qualms with this book...
1. It felt so long
2. The characters were all insufferable
3. It was extremely predictable
4. The female main character seemed like she should have been a boss bitch but she gave off big loser energy...

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but I could see how someone would enjoy it. Unfortunately, I did not.

Thank you NetGalley & Abrams Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC!

Here is my review for bad men! I absolutely loved this book and gave it 4.5 stars ⭐️. Thank you again NetGalley for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this book

TW: Child sexual abuse, gaslighting, grooming, death by suicide, death of parent, (almost) dog death, divorce, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, drinking, toxic family relationships, panic attacks, sex

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. For the past fifteen years, she's hunted down and dispatched rapists, murderers, domestic abusers—bad men all. But leading a double life has left her lonely—dating’s tough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim. Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster who’s amassed legions of die-hard fans for cracking cold cases and bringing justice to victims­­.

When a decapitated body shows up on Jon's doorstep the morning after his wife leaves him, he becomes the chief suspect for a murder he insists he didn’t commit. Saffy’s crush becomes an obsession as she orchestrates a meet-cute and volunteers to help Jon clear his name, using every trick up her sleeve to find the real killer and get her man—no matter the cost.
Release Date: May 7th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Cover is nice
2. I liked what the synopsis said this book was about
3. Writing isn't terrible

What I Didn't Like:
1. Saffy is terrible
2. Not a thriller it's a romance with elements of suspense
3. So boring - nothing happens
4. Characters horrible
5. So much pointless sex

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

I find it hard to believe that a skinny 12 year girl is able to drown a man in a pool.

Jonathan finds a bag of trash on his porch so he opens it and finds a foot. It's not his wife which I had thought it was possible, but he called and she was with her mom.

Love that Saffy is a vegetarian but she's more than willing to throw the dog into a hole where it was close to drown. I guess the take away from this is if you are horny then throw a dog in a hole they can drown in so you can fake a rescue to meet a man you have a crush on.


Why is Saffy trying to be friends with Jonathan? Did I miss this? Ohhh she's trying to be in a relationship with him!

I found Saffy absolutely completely annoying. She keeps pushing herself onto Jonathan no matter how many times he tells her no.


I thought this was going to be a book about a serial killer but almost right from the beginning it turns into Saffy chasing after Johnathan to date him. I don't like being fooled into thinking a book is described as one way and ending up hoodwinked.

Johnathan is never allowed to tell Saffy no because she strong holds him and forces him to say yes. He mentions wanting to go to the police station but Saffy tells him she's going even when he says no. He says he doesn't want a dog and Saffy forces the dog on him. He says he doesn't want to stay in her home but she practically throws her keys at him.


Why is Johnathan a suspect when they have a man in prison who is being charged for the exact same crime that happened on his doorstep? Yeah the real killer isn't admitting to this murder but he's a murderer so why would the police believe him over Johnathan? Zero sense here!

Oh they explain it's because the victim had been sexually abused and the killer they arrested wasn't in his motivative.

Maybe I am a prude but talking with your sister about how horny you are and all the ways you're going to screw some dude is gross. Who has sex talks with a sibling and why?

Skipped some chapters and Saffy is still talking about wanting sex with Jonathan. Holy crap seriously!


Simon (the super fan from the beginning) is the killer. Oh I'm so shocked - nope. Terrible. He did it because he wanted a podcast and book for him.

Final Thoughts:
If you started this book thinking you were getting an action packed thriller of a woman seeking revenge and justice for other women, then you are mistaken. The characters are dreadful. Author seems to just be fixated on Jonathan's broken marriage and Saffy trying to sleep with him. Then throw in Saffy's younger sister Susie who's chasing after her crappie boyfriend and it all feels like a different book than the one described to us in the synopsis.

I wasn't having a good time at all. Actually I dreaded returning back to this book. In the end I had to dnf it around page 250 because it all has no substance and just horny grown-ups pining for one another.

There is a basic I guess mystery thrown in here that someone put a bag with a foot in Jonathan's porch but it was such an after thought to all the romance and lust. Look I requested this book for the mystery not the hookups.

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Thanks to Netgalley and The Overlook Press for an advance copy of the ebook. Also thanks to Recorded Books for the advanced audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Thank you NetGalley. I was excited to read this, but the booked turned out to be different than the description. I was expected more of a fun female Dexter story, but ended up reading more about the other characters. I wouldn't recommend this book.

I have been waiting for someone to write a story about a feminist Dexter - and here it is. Her name is Saffy, and she's a friend to women everywhere who have been wronged by men. This is a fun and fantastical book that will give you satisfaction if you have feminist sensibilities and are just tired of all the crimes against women by men. This story is something different, and talks about a young serial killer who has been a bit of a feminist avenging angel since her teenage days.

The book is fast-paced and the main character narration is crisp and funny. I enjoyed spending time with Saffy. Would I want to know someone like this in real life? No. Did I enjoy hearing about her exploits as a feminist escape from the depressing ongoing news of male murderers and rapists every day? Heck yes.

Looking for a fun, quick read full of love, lies and cold-blooded murder? You found it!

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is mega-rich, beautiful, whip-smart and a serial killer. In her defense, so only kills very bad men. But, she also has a crush on true crime podcaster Jon. Jon, having recently found a decapitated body on his doorstep, is looking to get out of the true crime game, but when Saffy enters his life, he finds it easier said than done.

The plot turns were obvious, but Saffy is such a fun narrator, I didn’t mind.

4.5 stars, rounded up ⭐️

I really loved this book & couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the writing style and thought it was a fresh and funny read. There were a few times when I actually laughed out loud, which rarely happens when I read.

The dual POVs were perfect for this book- I enjoyed reading about their perspectives and thoughts, especially when I knew the other’s “secrets”. The romance subplot was well done and didn’t take away from the main story.

I do wish we heard a little more about Saffy’s past murders, I thought the “feminist Dexter” premise was interesting & would’ve loved to hear a little more about her victims. The final “twists” were a bit predictable, but still enjoyable.

This is a must-read for fans of feminist thrillers, Dexter, or You!

Thanks to NetGalley and ABRAMS | The Overlook Press for the ARC copy of this book.

Julie Mae Cohen's Bad Men focuses on Saffy Huntley-Oliver, a socialite serial-killer, as she tries to lock down her man. The book reads like a kind of flattened "Cool Girl" monologue from Gone Girl mixed with Dexter, but fails to evoke the same kind of sympathy.

Jon, the true crime podcaster love interest, is hopelessly oblivious, despite Saffy's endless praise for his intelligence. Saffy, meanwhile, lacks the moral clarity that makes Dexter, if not wholly sympathetic, at least understandable; her rationalizing is inconsistent and often feels pulled from Tumblr posts.

As a serial-killer novel with an anti-heroine protagonist, it's a fun romp. As a "feminist thriller," it's a bit stale, preceded by similar works with stronger pacing and richer characters like They Never Learn. The premise is a tried-and-true homerun, but ultimately, Bad Men falls flat because there is not character development.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting a completely different book. I thought I was going to be reading a book completely in a woman's point of view about how she kills bad men and the crush she has on a podcaster. This book is actually two points of view and is basically about a podcaster who is being framed for murder with a side character who kills people. I didn't hate this book, it was fine but I think the book that I was expecting would have been so much better.

Also the mystery aspect of this book was incredibly predictable. I figured it out almost immediately.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I was so excited to start this but it was a bit of a let down. I expected more serial killer story and less romance novel.

A good and fast read! I’m obsessed with books about unhinged women, so what better than one about a female serial killer?
This book gave me everything I wanted and I think people who share my fascination for unhinged Female MCs will find themselves enjoying this.

Thank you ABRAMS and NetGalley for access to this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This book sounded amazing. I expected it to be full of murder, secrets, twists, and turns. Unfortunately, it was more about a love story between two people who shouldn’t be together. When a book is supposed to be able a female serial killer, we should have much more insight into that side of her. There was more “I imagine…” style scenarios than actual killings. Anyone can imagine killing someone, we aren’t reading this book for that purpose - we want her to take action on those thoughts!

The book started out strong and I enjoyed reading about Saffy’s past, but it quickly turned into present day and went downhill from there. We learn more about her love interest and his ex-wife than her.

The characters feel undeveloped and forgettable. This isn’t a book I recommend.

Bad Men was a quick read that kept me waiting to see what would happen next. Saffy has taken it upon herself to kill bad men. The first time it wasn’t planned - but after that she realized she had an aptitude.

But now Saffy is interested in Jon, a podcaster who helped catch a serial killer. I’ve seen some reviews that felt it was too much about this relationship and not enough about Saffy - may be better to go in with those expectations. I didn’t have any expectations and was very much along for the ride.

I listened to this audiobook in just a couple sittings and thought it was the perfect way to read it - the narrator did a great job bringing Saffy to life for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free audiobook and ebook to review.