Book review - One of the good guys by Araminta Hall

 

About the book (from Goodreads): 

If most men claim to be good, why are most women still afraid to walk home alone at night?

Desperate to escape the ghosts of his failed marriage, Cole upends his life. He leaves London behind for a remote stretch of coast, relishing the respite from the noise, drama, and relentless careerism that curdled his relationship and mental health. Leonora has made the same move for similar reasons. She’s living a short walk from Cole’s seaside cottage, preparing for her latest art exhibition. Although Cole still can’t figure out what went wrong with his marriage, and Leonora is having trouble acclimating to the hostile landscape, the pair forges a connection on the eroding bluff they call home.

Then two young female activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear while passing through. Cole and Leonora suddenly find themselves in the middle of a police investigation--and the resulting media firestorm when the world learns of what happened. And as the tension escalates alongside the search for the missing women, they quickly realize that they don’t know each other that well after all.

My take: 

I have been a fan of the author ever since I read Our kind of cruelty. I love how she weaves tales of desire and obsession with a slice of darkness. Her latest, One of the good guys didn't disappoint. I don't want to talk too much about the story and spoil the experience for you; yes, reading this book is an experience, a good one at that. It sure made me think and the feminist in me was happy that such stories are being told. It inspired me to actually sit and string together a few sentences here and that's saying something, considering that the last post of mine was more than 4 years ago! 

The book makes me want to start penning stories again. The twisty kind. So, so glad I picked this one up from my last library visit. Yes, I have started visiting libraries again. The only kind of commitment that I can spare right now. I digress. But pick up the book, you won't be disappointed. The last few pages gave me such a heady euphoria. I'm still riding that high. 

My rating: 4 stars