n the delightful realm between a lighthearted rom-com and a darkly humorous mystery, "Bad Men" unfolds as a sharp and sly narrative that ensnared my attention from its outset and held me captivated until the final pages. At the heart of this engaging tale is Saffy, an alluring anti-hero with motives for her crimes that resonate on a relatable level, coupled with an earnest desire to find companionship—making her character accessible even to those not accustomed to the habits of serial killer protagonists.

Jon, the protagonist with a knack for solving mysteries, adds a layer of cleverness to the narrative, yet his bewilderment in navigating the complexities of women, including his ex-wife and an almost-out-of-his-league new romantic interest, adds a touch of endearing vulnerability. The central mystery they grapple with involves a lifeless body left on Jon's doorstep—a victim potentially linked to a serial killer he previously uncovered. The question looms: is this the final victim or someone orchestrating an elaborate ploy to seize Jon's attention? While I discerned an inkling of the answer early on, the confirmation awaited me until the story's climax. Nevertheless, the crux of the narrative, for me, transcended the mystery itself, focusing on the peculiar courtship evolving between Saffy and Jon.

"Bad Men" proves to be a highly entertaining and wickedly funny read, brimming with creepy characters vying for inclusion on Saffy's list and unexpected twists along the way. The unusual dynamics between the characters, coupled with the suspenseful undertones, contribute to a narrative that defies expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel, especially to readers who revel in the works of Claire Mackintosh, L. M. Chilton, and enthusiasts of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series.

My sincere appreciation extends to NetGalley and Abrams/The Overlook Press for granting me access to an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. This intricately woven story navigates the intricate relationship between a serial killer, Saffy, and a true crime podcaster, Jon, as they join forces to unravel a murder case that falsely implicates Jon. "Bad Men" is a suspenseful journey that deviates from anticipated paths, showcasing the enigmatic nature of its characters and keeping readers hooked until the final revelation. Saffy's unpredictable actions and the morally gray personas of both protagonists add depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read that challenges expectations and explores the shades of right and wrong.

I actually really enjoyed this. It was a great read. I found this to be really funny and living up to the hype I have seen. Only thing taking it down to 4 stars for me is the plot twists were predictable.

Who knew serial killers could be so likable? From the characters to the dialogue to the murder mystery, this book is so much fun. Julie Mae Cohen knows how to make you sympathize with not just one but two serial killers. The scenes where we finally get to see Saffy “In action” had me biting my nails. Can’t wait to see what else the author has coming up.

<i>"Killing bad men is my private hobby, my passion project, the thing that makes me tick. It's my own humble attempt at smashing the patriarchy... As a hobby it's not as Instagrammable as baking, but at least it's better for your thighs."</i>

That prologue got me instantly. A serial killer that takes out bad men with a crush on a true crime podcaster dedicated to catching killers? Also got me. Bad Men is a quirky page turner that gives off romcom vibes, however, I would have liked to see more of Saffy's backstory and her POV instead of Jon being the main focus. The ending was very predictable and there were no surprises or twists for the plot. Overall, a fun and fast read!

Thank you NetGalley and Abrams Books for the arc.

It’s hard to have a love life when your hobby is killing men who do bad things.

Meet Saffy Huntley Oliver….a beautiful ex-model with plenty of inherited money who in many ways leads a glamorous life. Only two small glitches….first, she is unattached and somewhat lonely, and second….well, she’s a serial killer. Think a cross of Dexter and one of the Hadid girls or Paris Hilton. She’s hardly indiscriminate in her killing; she selects men who chronically behave badly. It started accidentally when she was a young girl and had a stepfather who preyed on her and was about to turn his attentions to the little sister she adored. She didn’t set out to kill him, but when it happened (and she got away with it), her unusual “hobby” began. She’s gotten more skilled over the years, but seeking out men who do the worst things to women make it hard to believe any good men even exist. When she starts listening to the podcasts of Jonathan Desrosiers, who looks into cold cases looking to find justice for victims and their families, she thinks she just might have find one. The more she learns about him (listening to the podcasts, reading his books, even showing up at some of his appearances), the more of a crush on him she develops. He’s married, unfortunately….until his wife dumps him. On the heels of that, he finds a dead body on his doorstep which serves as the clue he needed to identify a serial killer. Said killer happens to be someone Jon knows, and he (unwisely) goes to snoop about at the fellow’s flat…and gets caught by the killer in the act of snooping. It’s a pretty traumatic day, all in all; he survives but is injured, and his wife doesn’t change her mind about leaving him. He takes off to a subpar cottage in Scotland, to heal from his wounds and distance himself from his old life. It is the opening for which Saffy has been waiting…..she engineers a meeting, and then another, and they just might be on their way to a romance. Except for Jon’s lingering feelings for his wife, the person trying to drag Jon back into investigating murders, and Saffy’s inconvenient hobby. Can Saffy fool someone who looks into murders for a living and find true love? Can Jon move on from the wife who no longer wants him, make peace with the career that ruined his marriage, and convince the police that he has nothing to do with the dead body found on his doorstep?
A cross between a lighthearted rom-com and a dark humored mystery, Bad Men is a sharp and sly story that hooked me at the very beginning and kept me intrigued till the end. Saffy is an appealing anti-hero, with a relatable motive for her crimes and a yearning to meet a nice guy that even non-serial killer single women can understand. Jon is clever at what he does, but more than a bit bewildered by women in general and by his ex-wife and new out-of-his-league almost-girlfriend in particular. The mystery they try to solve together involves the aforementioned dead body left on Jon’s doorstep….is is in fact the last victim of the serial killer Jon uncovered, or is someone else going to great lengths to get Jon’s attention? I guessed the answer to that pretty early on, though it wasn’t confirmed to the end….but for me at least this book was more about the highly unusual courtship between Saffy and Jon than it was about the mystery itself. With some creepy characters just begging to be added to Saffy’s list and some unexpected curves along the way, Bad Men is a highly entertaining and wickedly funny read that I highly recommend. Readers of Claire Mackintosh, L. M. Chilton, and of course Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter series. Many thanks to NetGalley and Abrams/The Overlook Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I've been trying to read more genres. I loved how this almost combined the rom com genre and revenge thriller genre. I'm a big fan of strong female leads and Saffy definitely delivered. However, I felt like her POV wasn't heard as much as it could've been. Maybe this was intentional, but I wasn't able to get into her head as well as I typically can with this type of character. I would be interested in reading more from this author though. Great read!

oh this was quick and darkly hilarious and GOOD. i haven't gotten through a book this fast in a long while. but i do wish the romance aspect had been totally axed.

WHAT. A. BLAST.

A hilariously biting dark comedy, featuring a vigilante feminist serial killer? Count me in. Also, I realized a chapter in that the author was British, and that made the humor element just that much better.

I read this book in 24hrs and two sittings, and oh my gosh, it was everything I wanted it to be!

Think Promising Young Woman, but with way more comedy.

Julie Mae Cohen is an absolute ICON, and I will not recover from this book any time soon.

It doesn't come out for another six months, but it's available for pre-order now!

3.75 ⭐️

This was quick and witty with an enjoyably unique plot that blends thriller and romance together fairly seamlessly. I enjoyed the main character - an uppity high class woman with a taste for fashion who rods the world of terrible men by murdering them. Her love interest is a little dull, but what girl hasn’t fallen in love with men undeserving of their shine? The dialogue was funny, the plot was well thought out and the ending was satisfying. While slightly predictable, I enjoyed the outcome all the same. My main gripe with this story was the the MC was sometimes depicted as a feminist bad bitch and in the next scene would be a sappy lovesick puppy playing pushover for a mediocre man. I suppose it may be slightly realistic, but I like my MC women unforgivingly strong.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a solid 2.75 stars for me. The writing did turn me off a little bit, the middle felt a little fluffy, and the ending felt rushed that still had me asking questions. This plot was still unique to me, and it did kept me enaged! Also the cover with the martini glass had me obssesed! I would read another book by this author.

I posted a review on good reads, and on my instagram story (@irelandmalone and it is saved in my 'books 3' highlight.

2.5 stars rounded up to a 3. This book was super addictive. I wasn’t expecting it to have a romcom aspect, but it generally worked.

My biggest gripe is that the main character is an intelligent, charming, feminist sociopath and serial killer, yet that felt like an unnecessary detail that was mostly glossed over. I would’ve loved to learn more about the backstory of our anti-hero or had her be more than an accessory to this story (irony?).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of "You" and "Dexter" will definitely enjoy this book. Saffy is a very likeable protagonist despite being a serial killer. You can't help but root for her since she follows a code of ethics and only kills "Bad Men". I thought this was a fun read and would recommend. Thank you to Julie Mae Cohen and ABRAMS for allowing me to read this ARC.

Thank you Abrams: Overlook Press and Netgalley for my copy of BAD MEN by Julie Mae Cohen, out 5/7/24!

Not gonna lie, the cover got me to read. But the writing got me to stay and finish. What a FUN thriller! Every second was a ball. Saffy Huntley-Oliver is a glamorous and smart socialite, and she also kills men for fun! For 15 years, starting with her pedophile stepfather, she has tracked down rapists, domestic abusers and murderers and killed them as her lil side hobby. Leading this double life has left her a lil lonely. She thinks she’s finally found a good man - Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster who cracks cold cases and brings justice to forgotten victims.

But wait. A decapitated body shows up on his doorstep the day after his wife leaves him, making him the chief suspect. Saffy does whatever she can to find the real killer and get her man! This book is FUNNY. It is so hard to put down because Sally is a hoot from start to finish. If you liked the book/show YOU or DEXTER, you’ll love this one!

It’s refreshing as a thriller because yes, people get murdered, but it’s not so dark and depressing as it usually is. It’s also nice to follow a protagonist (antagonist?) who isn’t drunk and stupid all the time. It’s weird, but you really root for the sociopath in this one. Well, at least one of them. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller you can read in one sitting.

Saffy is a strong independent woman who also happens to be a serial killer who kills bad men....
In full disclosure I did dnf this book at 50%. Not because of the usual reasons like poor writing or plot issues. Overall the book was very well written and the plot itself was super interesting. My reason is although the plot and the beginning caught my attention early on and it seemed so promising it slowly dwindled into a slow burn which are hard for me and this made it hard for me to connect with the characters and the story.
If you like twisty dark slow burns and well developed storylines this book is definitely for you.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this arc.

This book reminded me of the show You. And this book gave me the same vibes as the novel "They Never Learn". This is about a female serial killer who kills "Bad Men '' It reminds me of "You" in the sense that the author does an amazing job at making you root for her sociopath tendencies. Which stems from her childhood. I think people who are fans of thrillers will enjoy this. I will say that the ending was a bit predictable but nonetheless this was enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-arc. This book was a fast paced and I enjoyed my time reading.

Relatively predictable plot line but overall fun & fast-paced read. The humor was refreshing and a nice break from dark psychological thrillers. Overall entertaining, but pretty basic plot.

First off thank you to Abrams Books, The Overlook Press, and Julie Mae Cohen for this advanced copy of Bad Men!
Actual Rating: 3.75 🌟
When I read the synopsis of this I was instantly intrigued, I mean who doesn’t love a bada*s female serial k*ller who takes out scummy men?
I did thoroughly enjoy this and I was rooting for the FMC, Saffy, the entire time. She’s quick witted, hilariously self aware, and extremely confident.
While this was a nice refreshing mix up from my usual romance novels I did have a couple of issues with the plot and pacing.
I really wish this had focused more on Saffy and how she’s able to maintain her life as a socialite but also a k*ller. To me this felt like the entire book focused more on the MMC, Jon, and the issues he was dealing with.
The ending also felt a bit meh too. It felt like the whole conclusion was rushed in the last 2 chapters and I think the author could have definitely drawn it out a bit more.
I did like the bit of the twist ending in the Epilogue. I do hope that the author has plans for a sequel because the everything feels like it was left open ended and, that there’s so much more Jon and Saffy have to learn about each other!

This book had interesting character development and had a number of twists to it. I enjoyed this book overall - it was an easy read!

Fans of Dexter (TV series) and You (book and TV series) will enjoy this book about a female serial killer who kills bad men. Cheeky and witty, you can’t help but cheer on this psychopath sometimes and also want to stay as far away as possible from her other times.

Saffy is a woman who has been killing ever since she protected herself and her younger sister from an abusive stepfather. Ever since she has been killing men who are rapists, murderers, and domestic abusers. But then she meets Jonathan and the possibility that she might have found a good man is too hopeful to pass up. What unfolds is a twisty and messed up plot to win his affection. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly!