Wickedly entertaining, a black comedy of a feminist thriller, this book delivers on so many fronts.
Saffy is a serial killer, targeting men that she believes deserve to die because of their actions. She's frighteningly good at what she does. She's also a woman with a crush and a desire for a conventional relationship. The two sides of her character are both equally entertaining and compelling to read about.

This was a fun read but definitely not my usual thriller. I wish I could have read more about the main character’s tactics but it was a great page-turner regardless!

So, so good. Julie Cohen is always fantastic - and whilst there does seem to be a wave of 'female serial killer' books at the moment, this book is amongst the very best. Funny, savage, and concerningly relatable...

"Bad Men" by Julie Mae Cohen is a thrilling crime novel filled with suspense and unexpected turns. The plot is riveting, and the characters are enigmatic, making it a captivating read.

Saffy Huntley-Oliver uses her free time to be a serial killer. She’s not ashamed. She’s only killing bad men to make the world a better place.

Saffy has also set her sights on her new man. This time he’s not a victim but the person she want’s as her new love interest. To get his interest she must plot and use her knowledge to trap him. Will it work?

Despite the subject matter this is actually a great read. Saffy ends up as a character you actually begin to like.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARc

Female killers that give zero sh*ts is my new favourite genre, I can't get enough of them.

You will absolutely fall in love with Saffy, and as much as I don't want to compare with a man, I will in this case.

If you loved Dexter, then you will love this.

really enjoyed this, it was funny and loved that it was a fucked up female character and a good male character. her inner monologue was hilarious. the end was interesting <spoiler>because they kind of lived happily fucked up ever after, and we never know if he finds out what she does or what her plan is moving forward, whether she will keep on killing and if so, how she keeps it hidden from him</spoiler>. easy read and enjoyed the writing style.

this is not at all what I was expecting from the blurb! I loved both characters and thought Julie Mae Cohen really wrote well from the male POV. This book could have slipped into farce, but her skill as an author kept it perfectly on track. A really original.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen is an unlikely story about a feminist serial killer called Saffy. It is silly, daft and hugely entertaining.
It is an enjoyable read about Saffy and Jon who meet up and quite possibly fall in love. A romantic story about a serial killer. Who knew!
Recommended

At the point I picked this up to start reading, I just knew with my current frame of mind a book called Bad Men would suit me perfectly.

And I was right, I just wish I had my own Saffy, to track down and dispose of the men that had led to me being drawn to this title - although thankfully not for the same reasons as Saffy normally indulges her hobby.

For Saffy has a secret hobby of killing men who deserve it, and somehow she seems to get away with it every time. My heart broke for her a bit, as we learned just what motivated and happened with her first kill. These are men who utterly deserve to die!

And then there is a true crime podcaster who discovers a dead body on his doorstep and ends up doing more than just investigating and trying to get justice for people and discussing murder the whole time. He's a suspect! Oh and Saffy may just have a crush on the podcaster!

It is very rare for you to want to side with a serial killer, but Saffy is amazing, and so charismatic, and only kills for the best of reasons, it is really hard not to look up to her! I wouldn't quite say there need to be more Saffy's in this world as that could be rather dangerous.

I knew I loved Juile Cohen's books in the past, but wow her dark side is really something special. This is utterly amazing, I couldn't get enough of it, and it totally took my mind off real life too!

I can't wait to see if this is the start of something new with this dark side unleashed and look forward to seeing what will be written next.

Thank you to Zaffre and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. Knowing the main character, Saffy's "not as instagrammable as baking" hobby is murder, I was expecting (and would've liked) more of her own crimes. Especially as despite her being a serial-killer I absolutely loved Saffy. In her own words she's "a straight-up hottie. Brains, beauty, money, charm and skills." She's funny too as is the sharp, witty and fresh writing style of the author. So whilst the storyline may not have been quite what I was expecting, I really enjoyed this addictive, fun, darkly humorous tale.

Bad Men is a fun, highly entertaining page-turner about a feminist serial killer and her love interest, an author/podcaster and serial killer-catcher. I would describe this as a feel-good crime novel - it manages to be suspenseful and funny and throws in a love story for good measure. It was a great summer read, very enjoyable I would definitely re-read.

With similar vibes to How To Kill Your Family, this story of revenge and murder is a great read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I loved the twists and turns, and whilst a couple were a tad predictable I loved the ending and how it unfolded!

This book was a hoot! Very cleverly done. I loved the character of Saffy. Highly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more by this author.

This novel was okay. The characters I couldn't connect with in this genre. I think I need something with more meaning as this felt very materialistic.

One of the best books I've read all year, really funny and dark and thrilling. I loved the dark humour but also the serious themes it explores. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is a charming and privileged woman who has a secret. She is a serial killer, but that's not the secret she is ashamed of. After all, Saffy only kills the bad men therefore she is making the world a better place.

The secret Saffy is ashamed of is that she has a messy. inexplicable, uncontrollable crush on true crime podcaster Jon... So, while she's busy plotting her next murder, she also has the much harder task of figuring out how to get a boyfriend.

Bad Men is one of the best books I have read all year! It is dark but light at the same time and there are not many authors who can pull off the perfect balance of suspense and humour, but Julie Mae Cohen manages to get the equilibrium right. One minute I was terrified and the next I was laughing; this style was refreshing and unique.

The main character in the book is Saffy- I'm not sure if we are meant to love her or be afraid of her! As mentioned, she is a serial killer, but she is also incredibly witty, deeply cares for her sister, and ultimately her heart is in the right place, which really left me wrestling with my moral compass. Her character is very much complemented by Jon’s, who’s point of view we also hear in the book which adds another dimension to the book.

If you are looking for a read which is a crime thriller mixed with comedy and a sprinkle of female empowerment, then this is for you!

My favourite book of the year so far. Razor-sharp, funny, pacy, perfect. Welcome to the dark side, Julie!

What a deviily delicious read Bad Men is. Like Killing Eve meets Dexter.

Saffy is a badass righter of wrongs in a pretty extreme way. Beginning with her abusive stepfather getting his just desserts.

There is only one person left in the world that Saffy loves - her younger sister Susie. And she doesn't like men. So when she develops a crush on crime writer Jon, it's as annoying as it is compulsive. And Saffy will find a way to get what she wants at any cost.

Darkly funny, powerful and with some brilliant twists, I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Men.

While this felt very much in the same sort of vein as How to Kill Men and Get Away With It and How to Kill Your Family, in that all three have similarities in terms of genre and tone, this did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this clever, witty and pacy novel whatsoever. A really good read