Bad Men By Julie Mae Cohen

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Thanks to @zaffrebooks and @bonnierbooks_uk for the arc!

A five star thriller /rom-com (I’m unsure!), I have never read anything like this. It was so much fun, it was thrilling and at some points it just was absolutely jaw-dropping in how incredible the writing was. Saffy is our main character who is just so charming and is just doing her bit to rid the world of bad men… by killing them. Saffy has a crush on Jon and we get to see both POV’s which becomes hilarious as the Saffy that is projected to the world is entirely different to the Saffy we get to see as she goes about killing men and making plans to date Jon.

Jon and Saffy aren’t just love interests, their storylines are also interwoven as Saffy is a murderer and Jon a true crime podcaster. The story from Jon’s POV deals with some very real issues but they’re so carefully crafted into the story that it never feels too heavy or like they’ve just been skipped over. We also see a side of obsession that comes with podcasts which I found very interesting! I have never read a killer that I have enjoyed reading so much, and that’s something I never thought I’d say but please read this book and tell me otherwise!

I put this up there with How to kill your family but this one has much more of a comedic twist and also some incredible little plot lines that aren’t followed up until the last moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but I also didn’t like this book, the prologue was fantastic and I was gripped wanting to know more about her future kills but instead it veered towards a romance novel and not a thriller and it kind of lost me in that aspect because I didn’t care for being sappy about a crush.

I can see how people would really enjoy this book but for me I wanted more murder and showing that darker side to her character without it being so heavy on the romance.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen
is a hoot of a book and a gripping murder mystery too.
Saffy is gorgous, wealthy and has a useful hobby - eliminating the bad men of the title.
Unlike the spate of similarly themed books this does not make her a derranged monster but a practical, humane member of society.
She develops a crush on an investigative journalist and engineers a meeting. From tbere she is confronted by peoe of the male sex who would be better not ro exist. So Saffy does whst any serial killer would do.
Meanwhile her investigative skills sre needed to clear the name of the man she loves.
It's clever, funny and pacy. Really worth reading

"Bad men" is so much fun, with a fantastic element of darkness and grit. I love Saffy's depth and complexity: right from the start we know why she is who she is, and can get on board with her actions (to an extent) in the same ways that fans rooted for Dexter and cheered for the protagonist of Promising Young Woman. Julie Mae Cohen is an excellent writer with so much breadth to her work - I never know what to expect with a new book, and I am always delighted.

✒️ Favourite Quote:
"Killing changes you forever. Taking their life could be seen as the ultimate sacrifice on their part, but also the ultimate dedication on yours."

🐈‍⬛️ What is it about?
Imagine a rom-com... but with a sociopath. Awesome and super creepy at times.

Sapphys childhood trauma turned her in to a serial killer of bad Men. Until she falls in love with a true crime podcaster. You can be certain she will make this love story happen... in a unique way.

🐈 My thoughts:
This was a fun read with a dark twist. Points for being a different concept, and super easy to get through.

It didn't score higher because it lacked character development. Would like to have known more about Sapphy, more layers and more complexity to the story line.

When reading a book about a serial killer you feel you should dislike them but you felt that (although wrong) Saffy was doing with best intentions...it did feel slightly creepy and I'm not sure I'd want to be her friend but you did end up liking her in a weird way.

A good read and will read more by the author.

To coin a phrase from a well-known female comedian, "Such fun!".

What a fun book. Saffy is great, a slightly unhinged and yet perfectly sane young woman who doesn't have to work and uses her time to pursue her own pet interest - bad men.

I loved the way the style of the narrative changes between Saffy and Jonathan, one being first person present and the other standard third person past. Clever, well, maybe, maybe obvious, but certainly fun and gave clarity which is never a bad thing.

I've read other works from this author and I was delighted to read this. Loved it. Such fun.

Unfortunately a DNF.

This just failed to capture my attention and was hard to get through.

I really wanted to enjoy but unfortunately it was not for me

Does it reveal too much about me to admit that I loved this a LOT? Does it put me in someone's crosshairs if I admit that the latest spew of books about women killing bad men really makes my blood boil -- in a good way?

For at least the last century, men - and women - have been writing books about bloody murder. More often than not, those being bloodily murdered are women. And more often than not, before being murdered they are being stalked, hurt and even terrorised. And more often than not, if they are not being murdered, they're being abused - verbally, physically, sexually - mostly by men. Worse still, it's only a reflection of what happens in the real world, all the time.

In short, the patriarchy is not kind to women. So I think I can be forgiven for rejoicing just a little when a woman steps up and fights back. No, I don't recommend killing all the bad guys. Not in the real world. But allow me to fantasise, please.

Julie, you made my day. Please keep up the good work.

To get back to the book, Bad Men is a murder(s) mystery. It's sharp and fast and clever and very funny. You'll love it. (Maybe less so if you're a scumbag who hurts women.)

Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the ARC.

This isn't my go to style of thriller but Im always open for something a bit different and I absolutely loved it!! Despite my usual love of suspense and thriller moments, I also loved the humour thrown. Have read other books that have tried the same thing that often come across as too cheesy rom come but this was spot on. The two main characters Saffy and Jon were perfect and I adored Jon's connection with his adopted dog named Girl
I rarely give books 5 stars but this is an easy decision, right up to the final page, perfect!!
I really hope #JulieMaeCohen writes more thrillers with top characters especially strong leads like Saffy. Many thanks to #NetGalley for the copy of #BadMen

She’s a serial killer, specialising in dispatching bad men. He’s a true crime journalist, specialising in incarcerating killers. It’s a match made in… well, hell.

This was a delightfully easy read, and kept me turning pages to find out how much more messed up the characters situations could become. I enjoyed the dark comedy and the clever monologue of Saffy.

This was a really great read I hope that there is more to come and is just a start of a long series. I would love to have this book on audio just to see if it would give the same great feel as it did when I was reading it. This is for all the people that love fast paced reads that they cannot put down.

It’s unusual to find a funny book about serial killers but after Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer here’s another. As the title suggests, the central character, Saffy, only kills bad men having developed a taste for it after dealing with an unpleasant abuser.

She also has a crush on a writer who focuses on true crime and criminal investigations called Jonathan Desrosiers and so she sets about attracting his attention in a methodical, if slightly unusual, way. Jonathan has another serial fan called Simon Simons and a soon-to-be ex-wife called Amy. His obsessive preoccupation with crime is getting him into trouble!

As things develop, there are more crimes and more murders including human heads in fridges if you like that kind of territory, and then there’s an unexpected ending which is probably happy but you can never be quite sure.

It’s an easy, funny read unless you have ever been inclined to kill someone in which case you should maybe avoid it!

So funny and clever - some elements weren’t very subtle and I guessed some of the twists, but it was really satisfying all the same, and a GREAT holiday read!
Saffy is a brilliant character - completely unhinged but I couldn’t help siding with her. The dual POV in different tenses really helped - Jonathan tried his best. Saffy’s everything, and he’s Jon.

Read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down!

Don't ya just love a bad ass female character?? Thats what I got when I read Bad Men. Okay the lengths she went to, to become bad ass are a little extreme haha but it made a bloody good read!!

This was a superb addictive thriller, fast paced and full of plenty of suspects! It definitely had me changing my mind many times throughout the story.

The dual POV's alternate between our bad ass character Saffy and her love interest Jon which gives us great insight into their lives. We also get a peek behind the curtains at how tough it can be to be in the public eye. I absolutely loved the writing style and the wit and humour that came into play.

If you enjoyed How to Kill Men and get away with it then you'll absolutely love this too!!

Thanks to Netgalley & Zaffre Books for the ARC I received in exchange for a review.

I devoured this book in two days, I just couldn't put it down. I loved the main character and the storyline was excellent. A really great book and easy to read.

Hilarious and addictive, Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen is a feminist, fun-filled murderous romp that will have you cheering for the serial killer at its heart…

Saffy is strong, independent, smart and glamourous. She is also a serial killer. It’s okay though, as she only kills bad men… She is making the world a better place! However, she also has a crush, and trying to keep her murderous tendencies away from her potential beau is trickier than she imagined..

I loved this book, and say it is one of my favourites of the year. Funny, fresh and impossible to put down, Cohen has crafted a belter of a book. Sharp, witty and bursting with dark humour, this is the most enjoyable book I’ve read in a while. It feels like a mash up of thriller and rom-com! If you are after a page-turner with edge and humour, this is the book for you.

Saffy is charming and confident, and effortlessly juggles her personal life with her serial killer side-gig with aplomb, until she is dazzled by a new man in her life. The distraction he causes may lead to her undoing, but she simply can’t help herself!

In contrast, her crush Jon is floundering. A true crime writer and podcast host, he is battling with his conscious; does he glorify murder? The juxtaposition of the two characters works wonderfully and endears you to them both – but in very different ways! Is it wise of serial killer Saffy to get attached to a true crime writer who loves to solve cold cases? Perhaps not. Is it fun to read about? Absolutely!

Dexter with personality, Saffy is a character I will remember for a long time, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of her!

I devoured this book. I read this book cover to cover in under 24 hours. This book is a wonderful read, it is a thrilling and darkly humorous story.

I absolutely fell in love with Saffy. I loved her dark side and she was brought to life perfectly - I half expect her to be real. While Saffy’s dark side is the primary focus of the story, Cohen has created an unexpected element - the struggle Saffy is facing with her crush. I loved this element to the book, it’s a perfect combination of crime and romance (a crime-rom? Have we created a new genre here?!)

One of the biggest strengths in this book is Cohen’s writing. Her writing is a pure skill. Even though there is a dark subject matter, Cohen injects a witty undertone and adds humour while there is still suspense. Cohen’s writing kept me on the edge of my seat and there is definitely unpredictability running throughout. I loved the fact I didn’t know who was behind the acts until the moment Cohen revealed it - and even then I was still doubtful until I finished the book.

Cohen has skilfully created a story that is gripping. Cohen has blended suspense, romance, crime and dark humour perfectly and created a story that I will not forget. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an entertaining read, and considering the activities Saffy undertook she was easy to love. The writing was witty and could really make you laugh out loud at times. I found myself Binge reading this due to its fast pace and twists and turns. I did not see the ending coming.
A thoroughly entertaining read. I loved it!

Full of dark humour and wittiness, this short and fast paced suspense mystery had me laughing out loud at multiple moments.
I enjoyed the characters and their dual povs, although I felt like saffy had a lot less ‘screen time’ than Johnathan which is weird because the book is about her. But anyway.
It certainly had its moments, when the fast paced writing became too fast paced that it felt like it was skimming over or missing important detail.
However, overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read!