Took me a while to get into it and somehow felt different than the many other books I have read by this author but an enjoyable read.

#TheGoodbyeMan #NetGalley After reading the short introductory story to this series, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it but boy was I wrong!! This is the second full novel in the series and it is turning into a cracking series. Seen from a different perspective to the normal crime novels - Colter Shaw is a reward seeker. The story neatly combines the 'reward' that he is currently working on and the side story of his search for something his father left. There are so many twists and turns in this story that you haven't got chance to draw breath before the next twist comes along. an interesting storyline too dealing with cults. Highly recommended, I cant wait to read the next in the series!

Oh I do wish I'd read this sooner. I am absolutely loving this series and love Colter Shaw as a character. Principled, disciplined and determined, even though there is no reward for the 'case' he decides to follow up on this time around, it is still something he feels compelled to and the further i read into the book, the more I knew that this was going to be as case that would be hard to forget.

For the uninitiated and those who haven't read either The Never Game or the two Colter Shaw short stories, Colter is a reward seeker. Slightly different to a bounty hunter, Colter simply takes on cases that have a financial reward attached to them, be it finding a missing person, or finding a felon, but only if he feels he can make a difference. Really, it's all the same to him, although sometimes the danger levels can be very very different. The danger in this story was off the chart, but in a measured and well hidden way, the real threat in the novel coming from a man who on the surface appears charismatic and charming but is truly loathsome, preying upon the vulnerabilities and, in some cases, naivete, of others to get what he wants. Master Eli, leader of a retreat called The Foundation. Promising enlightenment and peace, it doesn't take a genius to work out what the Osiris Foundation really is.

Jeffery Deaver has done a brilliant job of creating an underlying menace throughout the novel. Drawing readers back to the psychology of cults and the power of cult leaders such as Manson and groups such as the Aryan Nation, the way in which they manipulate others, feeding on fear, grief, the need for love and acceptance, or just plain hatred in order to get what they want from followers. And the Osiris Foundation, in this case, is a particularly nasty and insidious group, preying on those who have hit rock bottom through grief or personal tragedy and offering them a path to a better future ... Of course there is a financial incentive for the leader to help them on their way and the seedy Master Eli is a perfectly awful character, flanked by a wealth of equally evil characters, especially his right hand man Hugh. Whilst Eli uses charm and personality to almost woo his followers, Hugh uses threats, violence and worse to control any dissenters. Step my step Colter manages to expose to the reader, and the other followers, the much darker side of the seemingly positive environment they have turned too. It's a masterclass is smoke and mirrors, manipulation and grooming, and enough to make your skin crawl.

Although Colter is left somewhat exposed when he goes undercover to the Foundation, at least on an operational level, he is not entirely alone. He has his wits, skill and intelligence, formidable things in their own right, but also help from some surprising quarters, and it is nice to see the author balancing the gender boundaries so carefully and skilfully in this book. It may catch you unawares, but one thing it is safe to say about this book - do not take anything, or anyone, at face value. Everyone is hiding something. The one aspect of the book that I really liked, something that helped to raise my already considerable affinity for the character of Colter, was that during his 'therapy' sessions, we got to learn some more of the private side of his character, some unexpected raw truth that emerged from within that surprised Colter as much as anyone. It brings an extra layer of humanity to a character who already has an innate compassion, and made me just want to read more. And the ending - absolutely bloody perfect. It left me with real smile on my face.

Now there is another element to this novel, a kind of sub plot which trickles through the series and is linked to Colter's past and the death of his father. I won't say too much about that but it flanks the main story perfectly, bringing readers full circle to a point that really left me hungry for book three. Thankfully, as I delayed in reading book two, I shouldn't have too long to wait, but the promise of what is to come is almost too much.

The way the author captures the emotions, the tone and the setting as just perfect. I felt like I was right there in the heart of the mountains in Washington State, seeing every sight and sensing every smell that Colter experiences, every step that he took almost crunching under my own foot. And that sense of excitement that runs from the first page to the last made this scha. quick read, almost too quick. If you like a great psychology driven story, with real tension, brilliant characters and some emotional back stories that can break your heart as much as the action can draw you to the edge of your seat, then you definitely want to read this book. This would be so perfect for TV adaptation. It really would. I love it.

I liked this. Another solid book from Deaver. I'm a massive fan of his Lincoln Rhyme series and so anything I read by him, that isn't from that series, I unfortunately can't help comparing to it and it is usually unfavourably!

That being said, I still really really enjoyed this one. I love a good cult mystery and this book had cults, murder, hate crimes, suicide, deaths in the family, bereavement and a whole host of other things to sink our teeth into. Less gruesome than a lot of his previous stuff, but with so much intricate detail, you can tell Deaver has, as always, done extensive research.

We follow Colter Shaw as he tracks down the culprits of a hate crime committed in Washington State. This case leads him onto the case of a mysterious cult that claims to help people deal with a multitude of mental illnesses and ailments. All the while, he is trying to unravel the mystery surrounding his fathers death.

There is so much packed into this story that I was a bit overwhelmed by the end of it - it's one of those where you finish it and have to take a minute just to reflect on what you've read. I couldn't pick another book up for a couple of hours, so it definitely left an impact!

I would absolutely recommend this to thriller lovers and Deaver fans.

The Goodbye Man sees the return of Colter Shaw in the sequel to 'The Never Game' released back in 2019.
A gripping thriller which sees Colt infiltrate a cult like compound in the hopes of uncovering the truth behind it's secrecy and suspicious members and illusive leader Master Eli. Slow to start I felt but Deaver flicks a switch and grips us to the end with a nice conclusion with the hope for further Colter Shaw novels. Sign me up please.

I was delighted to reconnect with Colter Shaw, not least because we were left on a bit of a cliffhanger concerning Shaw's father. The Goodbye Man takes up soon after The Never Game and takes us into the heart of a cult. Shaw doesn't need to investigate this cult, but his natural suspicions and his moral code makes it his duty to get to the bottom of the cult. So with the 'intrigue' surrounding his father's death on a back burner, Shaw infiltrates The Cult and makes both friends and enemies.

I found this to be a chilling indictment of the horror and manipulation of cults and the leaders mind. Deaver handles the vulnerability of the followers sensitively, but doesn't shy away from exposing some of the lengths these fanatic leaders will go to. Really enjoyed this book.

I have always enjoyed Mr Dever’s books but this new series is a significant step up in my view. Colter Shaw is very well constructed character who I find particularly interesting. As you would expect Mr Denver has given us a very well written story, one that will keep you involved right to its end.

This second book fills out the back story of Colter Shaw and gives further insight to his values and motivations. Look forward to the next instalment with a great deal of anticipation. This book will not disappoint you, I highly recommended it.

Colter Shaw, who seeks rewards for recovering fugitives, is chasing two young men; however his investigations change his opinion of what has happened as he discovers one of the boys had attended the Osiris Foundation, a type of cult designed to transform troubled lives. Colter decides to join the cult to find out if the woman he saw was being co-erced to stay there and what their real agenda is.

The story follows him into this quasi-religious cult, and you are rooting for him to unmask the charismatic leader and expose their true purpose. However, this is no easy task to achieve, as his phone, wallet, even his clothes are taken when he arrives under cover as an initiate.

Exciting, pacy, and clearly lining up for a sequel, I enjoyed the book very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper CollinsUK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second novel in a series that follows the new type of justice fighter in the reward seeking Colter Shaw. And as far as I am concerned, the series is going from strength to strength.

After enjoying ‘The Never Game’ last year, I quickly engulfed the two related short stories as soon as I was aware that ‘The Goodbye Man’ was out. On hindsight this was a great approach to the novel, not only did it provide a succinct re-introduction to Colter Shaw, the short stories (which, to be 100% honest, weren’t awe inspiring as far as short stories go) left me hungry for more.

Jeffery Deaver and ‘The Goodbye Man’ certainly delivered. The plot was great (cult stories seem to be trending lately, but the chill they deliver never subsides. I am still battling to get the image of Smallvilles’ innocent Chloe out of mind when someone mentions ‘cult’) and the character development and Shaw’s continuation of his personal mission were both intriguing and enjoyable.

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Colter Shaw is a professional reward seeker who tracks down missing persons, escapees from law, and anyone else who needs tracking down, for money, though he doesn’t seem to need it much. Brought up by a survivalist father, he is extremely resourceful and is well versed in the arts of survival in the toughest of conditions. The Goodbye Man, the second novel in the series featuring Shaw, starts with him picking up the job of finding a couple of young men alleged of defacing a church and shooting at its employees. He tracks down his quarry within few hours and, when the job is almost over, witnesses an incident that makes him suspicious about an organization seemingly helping people overcome the psychological effects of bereavement, terminal illness and other life problems. He then takes up the voluntary job of investigating the organization and enters its campus under a false identity, and unearths some chilling facts about the organization which turns out to be an extremely dangerous cult. Apart from his professional and public-interest projects, Shaw also has a personal mission, of finding out the truth about his father’s death, which stays unfinished by the end of this book, waiting for another.

Jeffery Deaver is one of the best in the thriller game and The Goodbye Man is another testimony to his skill – intact after all these years. He has created, after Lincoln Rhyme, another unusual and intriguing character in Colter Shaw, and it is tremendous fun seeing him in action. I also found the character of Victoria quite interesting and would like to see more of her in the future novels. Deaver has succeeded in delivering yet another page-turner with crisp plotting, entertaining twists and a brisk narrative.

The only thing I didn’t like about this novel is the ending that holds a hook for the next one in the series – it’s unfair, in my opinion. Other than that, The Goodbye Man is a top-notch read for Deaver’s fans as well as thriller aficionados in general. Reading its predecessor, The Never Game, before getting to this one will make the experience better, I feel. I jumped into this directly and felt a bit disoriented with respect to Shaw’s backstory initially.

My heartfelt thanks to the author, the publisher (HarperCollins), and netgalley.com for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

The job description of Colter Shaw is rather absurd for non-Americans. Untrained random citizens that can make a living by getting big pay-offs from fulfilling jobs that the police can’t be bothered or don’t have the resources for searching for runaways or wanted criminals. Not that he seems to need those rewards for in this book he’s very generous in giving away, his earnings. So, he is a professional reward seeker and no detective or lawyer. It is, of course, an excellent premise for a series. As you can imagine that he encounters all sorts of situations.
Here he is chasing 2 men who allegedly vandalised a church and shot the preacher and janitor. Later it turns out to be a little different. But 1 of the men commits suicide by jumping off a cliff at the moment that Shaw apprehends him. So Shaw has a lot of questions and discovers that the dead man recently visited a retreat. He goes undercover to find out more and discovers a cult with some truly evil intentions and practices. On his first day, he witnesses a man being severely beaten and subsequently threatened and later another one murdered followed by the killer’s suicide.
Shaw’s real goal is to find a secret that his deceased father discovered and hid somewhere. But some evil corporation, led by an unscrupulous woman is after that same secret. Not much is said about this matter at the start of this story, but I think that the previous book in this series would have solved this ignorance. At the end of the book though, a lot more about this subject is revealed and you can get by without reading the first book.
Colter Shaw is a decent human being with a very unusual upbringing by a father who trained him and his siblings from an early age in survival techniques. He’s an experienced tracker and hunter. Now he uses his skills to reunite families with their lost loved ones or to get serious criminals behind bars. He’s not an invincible super-hero though and doesn’t like getting into close combat. Such a character with flaws is more realistic. His closest competitor is Dalton Crowe, who’s almost the antitheses of Shaw. Not that Shaw is very likeable at first, he’s the kind of person that has to grow on you, and in that aspect, he’s similar to Lincoln Rhyme.
I admit that I was a bit hesitant to start this book because I loved Deaver’s Rhyme series and I doubted if this new series could be as good. Well, I didn’t need to worry. Although they’re distinctively different in characters and style, this new series is just as good. The only thing I regret is that I missed the first book in the series.
The story grips you from the start and becomes ever more suspenseful with a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It is told in short crisp chapters that mirror the fast pace of the story. It definitely was an exciting read from a great storyteller.
The author seems to have done extensive research on cults and sects to be able to create such a chilling cult and the people in it. The motivations of both leaders and followers are clearly voiced as well as their practices and the techniques to lure them in and keep them docile. Maybe he did his homework a bit too good; if you’re an evil person, this can be a blueprint to start your own cult.
My biggest criticism is that all the women in the story end up needing to be saved, even an experienced soldier who saved Colter a couple of times prior to that.
I thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review.

This is the second book in the Colter Shaw series, and it certainly keeps the momentum from the first. It is full of the usual twists and turns in any Jeffery Deaver book and it keeps you guessing.

The book provides a large amount of detail which explains how Colter works and how he figures things out... this makes it so much more interesting for me. Almost like I want to head out and start trying to find missing people myself!

I love Colter as a character. He is meticulous and empathetic and really seems to care about his clients.

Looking forward to the next one.

Thank you so much Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Jeffery Deaver really is the author that keeps on giving. This is the second Colter Shaw book and I really hope it won't be the last. This time Colter finds himself in the world of a cult. This was a great store and enough twists and turns to keep me, if not others happy.

Highly recommended and when's the next one please?

No surprise to anyone that Jeffrey Deaver knows how to write a thriller he's written enough of them. He is one of the doyens of the genre.

With Colter Shaw he has created another hero that you care about. Rather cleverly, he plants a hook in you with a mysterious back story that is being exposed a little at a time behind the main story of the each stand alone book. I'm now waiting anxiously for the next release hoping that more will be told.

Great Stuff

This is the second outing for Colter Shaw who on this occasion finds himself pulled into the world of a cult and its enigmatic leader.
I very much enjoyed this novel, Deaver has a gift for ratcheting the tension up nicely and there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader happy. Highly recommend!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I hugely enjoyed the intro novel to Colter Shaw. The storyline was bang up to date and this one is especially pertinent in 2020. Shaw is an unusual protagonist in that he goes after fugitives/missing people for reward money. This should make you suspicious of him but it doesn't. He has learnt his survival skills thanks to his father and the backstory to mysterious elements of Shaw's family (which were introduced in the previous novel) pick up nicely in this one.
In The Goodbye Man, Shaw is on the trail of two young men who witnesses claim shot at two members of a church.
In pursuit of them Shaw witnesses a suicide in front of cult members. Further investigation into the cult sees Shaw go undercover and join the group - and this is when the narrative action really cranks up. This is a superbly crafted thriller with well thought out characters and the usual unexpected twists you'd expect from someone as skilled as Deaver. I cannot wait for Shaw's next outing.

Another gripping read from a master of the craft.

I have always been a fan of Jeffery Deaver's books. His unusual heroes are always multi layered and interesting. In this book, the protagonist is a bounty hunter with a moral sense. When he witnesses an apparent suicide with links to a mysterious organisation, he is compelled to investigate further. As is common with Mr Deaver's books, there is a great deal of thought, rather than furious action, and this leads to a more measured thriller, which is still a page turner of the first order. Start early or be prepared to lose sleep!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
When you read a book by Jeffery Deaver you know as a reader that you are going to have a fascinating and enjoyable read. When that is engrossing, informative and entertaining then you also know you are reading a book in the Colter Shaw series. The Goodbye Man is a story about a cult and the people involved, whether they are the unscrupulous men who are involved in the running of the cult, or the disadvantaged men and women who seek Something else from life.
A masterclass in storytelling by a master of telling stories.
Highly recommended.

Absolutely love this new series by Jeffery Deaver. This is the second book and you don't need to read the first one to follow along and understand what is going on. I love how well written this book is and how he keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The second Colter Shaw full story, The Goodbye Man follows The Never Game where a young woman went missing in Silicon Valley. Of the two books I preferred The Never Game as I found this title a little uncomortable to read when he was at The Foundation camp! That is entirely a personal opinion and other readers may enjoy that part of the read but I found it worrying that there are cults out there like this - it appeared far too realistic for me!!

A great start and solid foundation, the book did slow down in the middle and picked up towards the end of the story. Jeffery never disappoints though and although for me not his most enjoyable I look forward to his next adventure!!