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A Good Man
A Good Man
Dec 5, 2025 9:24 AM

Author:Ani Katz

A Good Man

'Gripping' Observer

'Spellbinding ... I loved this book.' Caroline Kepnes, author of You

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Thomas knew from the moment he saw Miriam that she was going to change his life forever. They are the couple everyone envies. So when Thomas wants his 'Miri' to be his wife, he doesn't hesitate in popping the question. And when they start a family, Thomas finally has the life he always dreamed of.

But what happens when dreams shatter and the unspeakable happens? And who is to blame when there's one man left standing?

Reviews

Ani Katz is a brilliant writer. I sat down to read A Good Man and didn’t move until I’d finished it. This is a spellbinding work of psychologically potent art. I can’t wait to read what she does next. I loved this book.

—— Caroline Kepnes, author of You

Profoundly disturbing and deeply unsettlingRichly drawn and laced through with dread, this bold novel is an unflinching examination of what it means to be a man, and how easily a man can become a monster.

—— Kathleen Barber, author of Are You Sleeping

Gripping, sly, and ferociously intelligent. I couldn't put it down.

—— Jennifer duBois, author of The Spectators

Ani Katz’s debut is a gorgeously written, profound examination of contemporary masculinity and its potentially lethal side effects.

—— Laura Sims, author of Looker

[A] powerful and unsettling debut ... Producesin the reader a sense of foreboding that builds with ever-increasing intensity to the inevitable and brutal climax … Katz is in full control of mood and pacing. [A] masterly first novel.

—— Publisher's Weekly

As she expertly builds a growing sense of dread, Katz creates an unsettling atmosphere of paranoia, fear, and rageThis is the sort of relentless novel you can't put down even when you're afraid to read what happens next. An unnerving and absorbing exploration of modern masculinity and how the seeds of violence are sown.

—— Kirkus

Katz draws a life in its most delicate lines, then destroys it. And this is a story you won't forget.

—— Nico Walker, author of Cherry

Surprising, daring, and thrilling to read.

—— Flynn Berry, author of A Double Life

A Good Man slinks into the dark heart of a ripped-from-the-headlines crime fueled by toxic masculinity. As in Leila Slimani’s Lullaby, the slow unpeeling – layer by layer – of the conventions of sanity left me breathless, saddened, and spooked.

—— Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, author of Bittersweet

Think The Shining meets Grey Gardens ... One of the striking things about the book is Thomas’s icky tone, as he constantly romanticises, almost Disneyfies women ... The story slickly slides down its twisting descent. Katz has taken us inside the mind of the sort of man you hear about on the news and wonder about ... Sordidly gripping.

—— Observer

A striking modern tale of violence, sexual abuse and vindictiveness. Katz’s edgy novel examines a dysfunctional family, a failed relationship and a modern culture in which a violent man can see more to worry about in “invading” phone privacy than in violating a woman’s body.

—— Independent

Truly gripping … Ani Katz has created an edgy debut with a disturbingly unforgettable ending.

—— The Skinny

[A]n absorbing tale of shaky domestic balance

—— SHOTS Magazine

Riveting... An American Psycho for the 21st century... Superior psychological noir.

—— Daily Mail

[A] dark study of toxic masculinity ... Deeply atmospheric and morbidly compelling, with a near-total commitment to character that suggests a powerful talent … Accomplished.

—— Guardian

Katz's debut is one that will have readers gripped from the very first words until the last - and a book that will stay with you for a long while afterwards.

—— Her.ie

[A] smart debut, both compelling and disturbing, delivered with the kind of confidence that makes me keen to see what Katz will come up with next.

—— A Life in Books Blog

[G]ripping debut … Here’s a page-turner you’ll devour before the week is out

—— Stylist Daily Newsletter

A razor sharp psychological deconstruction of the motivations, regrets and secrets behind a picture-perfect façade.

—— The Week

White-knuckle ride

—— RTE Guide

I really wanted to just press the book into anyone’s hands and say ‘please read this’! [...] An important read

—— Bookish Chat

Readers hungry for an in-depth study of a man searching for control, power and ownership will find satisfaction in A Good Man. But caveat emptor - this story inevitably hurtles at the end towards a chilling finale

—— Crime Review

This stellar debut from Ani Katz had us gripped from the beginning.

—— That’s Life!

[In A Town Called Solace] doubts, difficulties and uncertainties of the human condition are examined carefully in a way that is both heartbreaking and joyful

—— Bridie Pritchard , UK Press Syndication

Subtle and darkly funny, this tender novel unspools the interconnected lives of her beautifully drawn characters, as they grapple with grief and loss, while steadfastly hoping for a change of happiness in the face of life's uncertainties

—— Eithne Farry , UK Press Syndication

[Lawson] writes an unpretentious prose that zings with metaphorical vim and humour

—— Tablet, *Summer Reads of 2021*

Exquisitely poignant

—— Liane Moriarty , Good Housekeeping

[An] absorbing novel

—— Sunday Express, *Summer Reads of 2022*

An assured and engaging look at one of my favourite subjects: what we owe to other people. How long must we keep their secrets, and how long do we wait for those we love? Darkened by pain, A Town Called Solace is nonetheless a kindly book; Clara's lost sister flashes through it like a red-winged blackbird. Warm, clear, and beautifully grounded in the bedrock of the Canadian Shield

—— Marina Endicott, author of Good to a Fault and The Difference

'One of the best books I've read in a long time. Original, engaging and unforgettable'

—— Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Morgan

Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It was a joy to read

—— Mike Gayle
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