One Of The Good Guys By Araminta Hall Source Received from the publisher
Published by Gillian Flynn Books on January 9, 2024
Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rating:
A propulsive and twisty page-turner with razor-sharp sociopolitical insight, One of the Good Guys asks: if most men claim to be good, why are most women still afraid to walk home alone at night?
Newly separated from his wife and desperate to escape the ghosts of his failed marriage, Cole leaves London for a fresh start in the countryside. He accepts a job as a wildlife ranger and settles into his cozy seaside cottage, relishing the respite from the noise, drama, and relentless careerism that curdled his relationship along with his mental health. Then he meets Leonora, the reclusive artist living next door, and is instantly charmed by her warm and gentle spirit.
But as the two forge a connection on the cliff’s edge they call home, two young women activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear while passing through. Cole and Leonora find themselves in the middle of a police investigation and resulting media firestorm as the world learns of what happened, and as the tension escalates, they quickly realize that they don’t know each other that well after all.
From the critically acclaimed author of Our Kind of Cruelty and Imperfect Women comes an urgent psychological thriller about gender, power, and how both are captured in contemporary media.
I was so eager to read this book! The synopsis was so intriguing, and when I saw it was coming from Gillian Flynn’s imprint only increased my excitement.
This started out really well and grabbed my attention, and I kept reading, eager to find out what happened next. There was a sense of unease which kept gradually building. However, the ending didn’t land for me and all the intrigue that had been building fell flat. I think I can see what the author was going for, but it didn’t work for me.
I can see why this is getting Gone Girl comparisons and there is a lot to discuss in terms of the social commentary – it could make for a good book club read. But as a thriller, I thought it was an uneven read.
