I enjoyed this book a lot and really liked Saffy, the main character.

She doesn't like many people but when she does, Saffy is loyal to a fault.

The story moves at a constant pace. There were none of the usual annoying descriptions, the pointless page-filling that so many other books seem to have at the moment.
I'm not saying that there isn't any descriptions in this - there are - but they are all so sweet and important. They are giving us glimpses and building up the tension.

There was a point toward the end where I actually gasped out loud and placed a hand over my mouth. That never happens in real life but it bloody did.

I really hope this is a massive success.

Found this an enjoyable light hearted read even though the subject is about people's fasenation with murder and serial killers.
Saffy is a serial killer on the side of good. She only kills men who do others harm.
She falls for Jon a podcaster and author on murder, who has already tracked down one serial killer.
Saffy decides to help Jon without his knowledge, track down the Bin Bag murderer who leaves body parts in bin bags with no head.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

Wow! Seriously.... wow!! This book has quickly become one of my favourites that I've read so far this year. I cannot recommend this enough.

The main character, Saffy, murders bad men for a hobby. She was an incredible character; smart, witty and charming with a hint of sociopathy. The author did a great job at getting inside the mind of a serial killer as well as making Saffy's motivations behind the murders seem real and almost justifiable. I absolutely adored reading parts of this book from her perspective and only wished we'd have gotten more of her POV. However, Jon was also a fantastic character so I have nothing to complain about there either. The two of them together made an absolutely incredible duo that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. The split POV is something I always enjoy in books and this one was no different.

The plot was great too. The book begins with almost two separate plot lines (Jon and the Bin Bag Killer, Saffy and her vengeance against bad men). Then, with the help of Saffy's engineering, the two characters and their individual struggles merge into one. I absolutely loved the irony that Jon, a hunter of serial killers, had found himself dating one and I spent the whole book on the edge of my seat wondering if he was going to discover her secret, or not. I read this entire book in a day because I just had to know what happened next. The writing style is so humorous and gripping, I can't wait to see what else this writer publishes.... although I am secretly very much hoping for a sequel to Bad Men!!!!!

I rated this book a very well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. Please do give this a read, I promise it'll be worth your time!

Thank you to Netgalley and Julie Mae Cohen for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Saffy is a beautiful twenty something heiress with plenty of time and resources to kill bad men. Between projects, she sets her sights – for lust rather than murder- on Jonathan, a recently retired true crime podcaster. This proves a tough nut to crack, as Jonathan wallows in self-pity after his wife leaves him and he gets far too close to the centre of his most recent true crime investigation.
Before long however, they join forces to deal with a mystery on their doorstep.
Bad Men is Julie Cohen’s foray into thrillers. It is also my foray into Julie Cohen books and I am not surprised to have discovered a well written and plotted narration.
Interestingly the strength of Bad Men lies in the core murder story, which, even if a tad predictable is pacy and entertaining. Neither Saffy nor Jonathan have decided what they are, but I’m guessing there might be plenty of scope for that in sequels.
A smashing book for holiday reads.

So, this book didn’t end up going the way that I thought it would based on the description I read; I thought it would be a lot more Dexter than it was, however despite this, I had an absolute blast with this one.

I couldn’t help but like Saffy, even when she had my emotions ranging for eye rolls to wanting to throw my phone through the window. I want her socialite life (though not her dark past) and I am here for her feminine rage.

I just found her so lovable (with one exception), and I was actively rooting for her success in everything she did!

Honestly, while I’m loving the shorter reads at the moment, this one comes in at around 350 pages, I actually wish that it had been longer. It was dual POV (which I love) but despite Saffy being billed as the protagonist, it felt like the story was weighted more towards Jon’s perspective.

An entertaining read despite some gory moments..
This is a great page turner. Julie Cohen makes use of an interesting literary mechanism here. alternate chapters are narrated in the third person or else are formless character Seraphina (Saffy) in the or at person, and it works really well telling as much about her and how she acts.
As the book description says she is a serial killer who hunts down 'bad men's and disposes of them, but she pauses this activity, (or does she?) to get close to Jonathan (Jon) who she want to be her lover and more. To do this she performs an act of outrageous distasteful cruelty. She gets close to her goal only to find podcaster and author Jon is pursued and caught by a murderous stalker.
By the end we find out the full extent of what Savvy has done to achieve her wish. Along The way there are several examples of dark humour.

Bit of a weird book this one - on one hand it looks like its the female (Saffy) doing the killing and the book is about her and her killing off bad men but it actually turns into something else. Still not quite sure if I enjoyed it or not - some bits was good but there did seem to be a lot of waffle too.

I almost gave up on this book in the first few pages as I didn't like the way it looked to be shaping up. But the paedophilia was implied rather than described and I am glad I carried on. This is a strange book which defies being allocated to one genre. It's a weak thriller, a weak rom-com and a supposedly funny book without much humour. I am not sure how it will be received but it does seem to have a lot of five star reviews.

This book is a very juicy read! I made myself late for work one morning as I couldn't put it down. The twist was somewhat signposted, and I was waiting for it to happen. But the way it all resolved was deliciously wicked. Note to readers: the beginning of the book is quite uncomfortable and could feel triggering. But that's only the very beginning, and the book gets a lot more fun afterwards. If you want to see horrible men get what's coming to them, you'll enjoy this. Lots of humour and outrageous behaviour from a heroine you'll hate to love.

I loved the description of the book and it definitely lived up to it. I started it on a flight home from holiday and had it finished by the time we landed.

The book is pretty fast paced, has lots of dark humour and a main character you're rooting for no matter what she does. I definitely want to find out more about her!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I loved this! Bit of a departure from Julie Cohen’s usual books but the same excellent writing.

Saffy is a brilliant character, she’s sharp and witty and the kind of woman you definitely want on your side. The scene with the MP was *chefs kiss*.

The book is fast paced and intriguing, dark and delicious and the ending very satisfying.

Highly recommend!

This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year!

It’s thrilling, darkly humorous & utterly binge-worthy! An interesting & gripping mash between a romcom & a thriller that I just adored.

My favourite thing about this book was the fact that by the end of the epilogue I just couldn't help but think "well played Saffy" because everything just unravelled so perfectly.

A wonderful 5 star read that should be on everyone’s TBR this summer!

Thank you NetGalley & Zaffree Books for the ARC.

Oh my goodness, this book, wow! I couldn't put it down, couldn't turn the pages fast enough, it was all absolutely amazing! The most fantastic thriller I've read in a long time, well done!

I loved this book.

A witty and warm, when you don't expect it, read.
Hard to put down. Characters you like when maybe, just maybe, you really shouldn't.
The first chapter sets the scene, then you are whipped along a somewhat gruesome rollercoaster.

Bad Men for me was the perfect combination of thriller & comedy.
This story didn’t necessarily go in the direction I thought it would but I still enjoyed every moment. Saffy was a relatable, funny, badass FMC who had no filter & no shame.

I would like to have seen more of Saffys backstory and character and it felt like the story was marketed to be about her but then mainly followed Jon in the aftermath of his divorce. I love a multiple point of view and seeing more from Saffy’s would have been ideal.

The ending for me was done really well as it, again, didn’t go in the direction I expected it to but wrapped everything up nicely and left no loose ends.

🔪 Opposites attract
🔪Grumpy x Sunshine
🔪Comedic thriller
🔪Murder mystery

Absolutely adored this book. Fabulous characters especially Saffy who had me laughing out loud with her dark humour. I especially loved the scene in the bathroom it gave me such Villenelle vibes.

Such an entertaining romcom with loads of chemistry and a dark twist that works beautifully.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book- brilliantly written with a fantastic combination of wicked, dark humour and unlikely romance.
Saffy is a feminist serial killer who enjoyed the ultimate justice- killing bad men.
The books strays quite seriously, detailing the background behind Saffys first killing- I loved this as it makes the reader understand Saffy and after this you cannot help but like her and root for her to have a happy ending. The character Saffy is wonderfully written, hilariously funny, twisted but also with a soft vulnerability.

I loved this book, although it wasn’t the thriller I was expecting. It’s more of a humorous and entertaining romance mystery, but it kept my interest the whole way through. I was really enjoying the story and was loving Saffy - until she got Patch. After that (you need to read it) I went off her in a big way and she lost a star. Shame, but we can’t help how we feel can we? Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

Is it wrong to kill bad people?
Saffy is a rich heiress who comes across the real crime writer and Podcaster Jon. She has a serious crush on him and devises a very clever plan to meet him. But then things get a bit complicated.
What a brilliant story and so well told. I could not put the book down, such a page turner. It is clever, devious and challenges you feelings of what is right and wrong. Or is it wrong.
I can’t wait to read another book by Julie Mae Cohen

A cross between a thriller and a rom-com as mega wealthy Saffy Huntley-Oliver goes to unbelievable lengths to make Jonathan 'Jon' Desrosiers, a true crime podcaster and crime writer fall in love with her. The prologue was brilliant. It grabbed my attention straightaway and kept it throughout. Twelve year old Saffy is playing with her younger sister Susie when their stepfather summons Susie. Saffy know what he wants and isn’t going to let him touch her sister. So Saffy goes to him. Again. But this time she kills him. Fast forward 17 years and Saffy is a serial killer. This is a really well written story with a satisfying plot that went pretty much where I expected it to but in a very entertaining way.

Briefly, following the object of her affections to Scotland Saffy engineers a meeting with him. How she did it was a bit upsetting but it all ended well. Jon is in Scotland hiding after his split from his wife and finding a dismembered body in a bin liner outside his home. Quickly wheedling her way into his life Saffy offers to help Jon find out why a body was left at his house.

There isn’t a lot of gore in the book although there is some animal cruelty but not gratuitous. It really is more about Saffy’s plan to make Jon her partner, than her murderous hobby, despite the numerous obstacles put in their way. I absolutely loved Girl and what a clever girl she is too (you’ll need to read the book) she knows what’s what. I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I whizzed through in one sitting.