LoveReading Says
Sinister, suspenseful and stirring, Araminta Hall’s One of the Good Guys sees a set of women take the patriarchy by the scruff of the neck and squeeze the living daylights out of it. In an era of women uniting under the #MeToo movement, while #notallmen gathers momentum and misogynist Reddit groups are on the rise, this gripping novel of feminist revenge couldn’t be timelier. With an unreliable narrator initially at the helm – Hall has a deft knack for misdirection — and multi-layered twists and shocks, this is an absolute belter of a book.
On first meeting Cole through his first-person narrative, his situation is likely to spark sympathy. Having been left by his wife, Mel, he’s moved to the countryside to start a new life, perplexed as to why Mel can’t see he’s one of the good guys and why she treated him so badly: “She was so mean to me in the end, so spiteful and hurtful… Sometimes I almost feel scared of her, like she would do me harm if she could.”
In his new village, he strikes up a bond with Lennie, a reclusive artist who lives on the edge of a cliff. It’s on the cliff that Cole encounters two young women protesting gendered violence on a high-profile walk. The aftermath that comes as a result of the women going missing is entirely unexpected, with jaw-dropping revelations also coming courtesy of episodes from the past.
Electric and suspenseful as it explores “enough is enough” rage, One of the Good Guys is a conversation-sparking page-turner for our times.
Reviewed by Joanne OwenJoanne Owen’s lifelong love of reading and writing began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, and very much wished that witches (and Mrs Pepperpot) were real.
More reviews by Joanne Owen About One of the Good Guys
If most men say they’re one of the good guys, then why are so many women afraid to walk alone at night?
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Araminta Hall Press Reviews
I've been a fan of Araminta’s from the start; she is one of the most daring and intriguing writers working today. Her writing is so addictive, her characters so sharply realized. ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS is a resonant, razor-laced, and dangerously glittering novel. - Gillian Flynn
Scorching, smart and soaked in feminist rage, this is a suspense that stays with you long after the last page, - Ellery Lloyd
It got me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. It’s creepy, thought-provoking, compelling and so very relevant. - Julie Cohen
A scintillating thriller and a scorching condemnation of how differently society treats men versus women, especially in the social media age. Cole and Lennie are flawed, complex characters who will stick with you longer after you reach its shocking conclusion. Their relationship will make you reexamine your idea of fear, perception, and public opinion. - Kellye Garrett
One of the Good Guys is a mind-bending tour de force. Araminta Hall has always been one of my favorite writers, but what she has done here is groundbreaking. This thriller is shocking, twisted, dark, and absolutely on point. - Samantha Downing
One of the Good Guys is a riveting and kaleidoscopic look at women swept up in the current of toxic masculinity and the blowback when they pull themselves to safety. From art to media, Hall leaves no corner of the attack on women's safety and sanity unexplored in her adept and sharp multifaceted novel. Powerful and inspired—empowering and inspirational. - Ivy Pochoda
Mind. Blown. The brilliant Araminta Hall has created an absolute tour de force of suspense. Provocative, surprising, and entirely original, this tale of power and gender will not only have you looking at the world a different way, but will have you looking at yourself a different way. Hall's brilliance with exquisite foreboding, with multi-layered but mysterious characters, and with her deep understanding of readers' expectations make this one of the most thought-provoking and imaginative books I have ever read. If you have a book club—wow--this one's for you. Drop everything, call Hollywood, and do not miss ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS - Hank Phillippi Ryan
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS has it all: pitch-perfect writing, superb characterisation, innovative narration and deeply sophisticated storytelling. This book delves into the painful and messy complexities of misogyny, consent and gendered power dynamics with an unflinching narrative scalpel. I have long been a fan of Araminta Hall’s writing, and her latest book absolutely spearheads the razor-sharp new trend in feminist thrillers. - Phillippa East
A dark, original and thought-provoking read. This book will hook you from the first page and keep you thinking long after the last. - Alice Feeney
Wow, I loved this topical, clever and tricksy novel. A book for the #metoo generation that taps into all kinds of fears/hopes/difficulties that come with the movement. You'll think one thing ... and then another ... and then another. With clever use of social media and newspaper pieces, the conclsuion is a masterpiece. Highly recommend. - Louise Swanson
I am not easily shocked, but ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS went places even my twisted mind had never imagined. Araminta Hall is a master of suspense, and her latest novel is a timely, thrilling tale that offers no easy villains or heroes, but loads of surprises. Beautifully written, deliciously tense, and entirely surprising—I tore through it. - Julia Dahl
A bold an on point feminist thriller about gendered violence with Gone Girl twistiness and narrator unreliability. - Victoria Selman
A dark, dazzling shock to the system. One of the Good Guys is clever, composed, exciting and frightening. - Chris Whitaker
One of the Good Guys has everything I love in a novel: pitch-perfect storytelling and a twisty plot that plays out in a haunting, atmospheric setting. Araminta Hall has crafted an incisive feminist suspense novel about delusion, deception, and the poisonous nature of toxic masculinity. A daring, breathless read. - Caitlin Mullen
It's so clever it blew my mind a bit. It's about men and women and trust and art and violence and safety. And it's just excellent - Laura Pearson
An absolutely thrilling tale, full of breathless cliffside terror and fresh feminist theory masked in tight, propulsive mystery. I devoured this book. - Lisa Taddeo
One Of The Good Guys is clever, crafty and thought-provoking. I felt like I was reading about events that were actually taking place in real time. We live in febrile times and this novel perfectly captures this zeitgeist. I can’t express this enough when I say, trust no one. Brilliant, timely and necessary. Really enjoyed it. - Dorothy Koomson
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS doesn't just tell a story. It makes you think, it makes you angry, and it makes you want to read it again. So clever and subtly drawn, and yet the impact it leaves is extraordinary. Shocking and timely - dark fiction at its very best. - Caz Frear
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