This is the second in the series and having really enjoyed the first book I was looking forward to this. I really enjoyed this and find the main character intriguing. Looking forward to reading more.

Colter Shaw is on the hunt for two armed fugitives, but when one commits suicide he can’t let it go. It turns out the fugitives were a part of a cult called the Foundation. Lead by a charismatic leader going by the name of Master Eli. Shaw is revolted by the death of the young boy and takes it on himself to bring the cult to its knees by becoming a part of the Foundation. Can he succeed where others have failed or mysteriously died?
Jeffery Deaver has produced a book of the highest quality with twists and turns that leaves you desperate to find out the end.
No one in fiction today writes like Jeffery Deaver. He is the master at keeping the reader on the edge until the last word of his novels. A truly incredible book which I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the chance to read the e-Arc of this book. I absolutely loved it. I was hooked right from the start. I had read the previous book in this series and thoroughly enjoyed that too.

However you don't need to have any other books in the series to enjoy this one as no background knowledge of the character is necessary but it might improve your enjoyment a little. Its only the second book I have read by this author but will definitely be looking at his back catalogue.

Jeffrey Deaver has a way of pulling you right into the middle of his stories. It has a very different theme to the last book in the series, (about the gaming community) and this one involves a cult. Shaw is a reward seeker who specialises in finding missing people, During his current case he uncovers a link to a extreme cult. I don't want give anything away but hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

My only disappointment is that I probably have to wait at least a year to read the next book in the series about Colter Shaw.

I highly recommend this exciting and high intensity novel.

It's the first book I read by Mr Deaver and I loved this tense and well written story.
Mr Deaver is a talented storyteller and this story kept me on the edge till the end appreciating every twist and turn.
The MC is a likeable and well thought character and I liked him. The secondary characters are fleshed out and interesting.
I loved this story and look forward to reading others by this author.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

With the second instalment of Colter Shaw you learn a little more about the man who assesses every risk with clear calculation. You discover more about his family and the mystery surrounding him and a little more about how he grew up.
The main story of this book is that of a cult, it may not start that way but in true American hero style that is how Colter Shaw - the only man who could be the hero, solves the case (as it were).
I like this new character of Deavers' and think that it is refreshing to have someone a little different but not so far off that those who enjoy the lone wolf / hero type are put off.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new Jeffrey Deaver novel is always a not to be missed event. Deaver always hooks the reader from the get-go until the very last page of one of his enthralling stories. This one started out well with the reintroduction of main character, Colter Shaw, bounty hunter with a conscience. A defacing of a church with Nazi epithets and a non-fatal shooting lead to Shaw going undercover at the cultish Osiris Foundation. The Osiris foundation attracts the desperate, vulnerable and... the wealthy, or useful. Useful to the cult's leader that is, one Master Eli. The cult runs along the typical lines of a Jonestown or a Waco, with Master Eli a curious hybrid (or perhaps not!) of Donald Trump and Jim Jones. No surprise there. Which is the main problem with the book. There are no surprises in this, nevertheless, well written thriller. I was waiting for a twist, something unpredictable, but it didn't come. The skeleton of a great story is here, but it lacked nuance. The machinations of the cult and it acolytes were a bit too stereotypical, a bit too obvious, a bit too lacking in psychological insight. Moreover, everything felt rushed, particularly Colter's ascent to a trusted right-hand man in next to no time. So, in conclusion, I enjoyed the story, but it was not up to the usual standard of the master storyteller that is Jeffrey Deaver.

I always look forward to Jeffrey Deaver books and having read "The Never Game" I was looking forward to learning more about Colter Shaw. This book did develop his character and it was a really good storyline but there was something (and I can't quite put my finger on it) missing..I feel confused at my reaction to the book as I fluctuated between not being able to put it down and skipping through some of it- especially Eli's speeches. Shaw's escalation within the group seemed a little implausible and the ending was never ending! However, as Coulter would say I enjoyed 90% of it so would definitely recommend it.
Thank you Jeffrey Deaver, Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion. I look forward to the next in the series.

Deaver’s stock in trade is trickery and deceit. He regularly sets up a set of circumstances that lead you to an inevitable conclusion only to then confound you with an alternative outcome you hadn’t considered. It’s clever and this trick has kept me coming back to his books year after year.

In Colter Shaw the author has created a new character, a man who primarily makes his living tracking down missing people for the reward money on offer. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Never Game, which introduced Shaw as a man shaped by his survivalist father who, amongst other things, embedded a list of rules beginning with the word ‘never’ in Colter’s mind. In this episode the chase is on for a pair of men wanted for a non-fatal shooting and it leads to a connection with a charismatic, Trumpesque teacher who promises a ‘perfect tomorrow’. I’ll not delve deeper into the plot for fear of spoiling it for future readers.

It all starts up pretty well as in addition to the hunt for the two men we are tempted with the carry over mystery surrounding the death of of Shaw’s father. But I found that the whole thing then got bogged down in a mid-section that felt both laborious and strangely predictable. The last section of the book re-introduced an element of interest but by then the body of this story had been told and all that remained was what amounted to an advert for book three.

Will I come back for the next book? I just might. Disappointed as I was in this one, I do like Colter Shaw and I am intrigued by the ongoing mystery element. I can forgive Deaver an ‘off’ novel because I know he usually delivers. But this book warrants only three stars, I’m afraid.

The best way i can describe this book is that it's like coca-cola, enjoyable at the time of consumption but nothing to write home about.

The story itself its a solid, linear thriller that requires minimal brain cells to follow. There is nothing wrong with this and like I said above, I enjoyed it. It's just not what I have come to expect from Jeffrey Deaver. I expected / wanted something with a ton of details and twists and red herrings all of which were lacking in this story.

It definitely has a Jack Reacher vibe about it - I like that Shaw is a reward seeker but honestly, I would prefer it if the stories stuck to his adventures on the job not going off on personal crusades because of a misplaced sense of guilt. Like I said, very Jack Reacher.

Will I read the next Shaw book? probably. Will I have similar thoughts and feelings about it? probably.

Great story 2nd in the Colter Shaw series from Deaver, different from the Lincoln Rhyme, this chap is a reward seeker similar to a bounty hunter but he does not arrest them but just tells who is paying the reward where they can be found., this time he is on the hunt for a couple of young men probably armed as they are wanted for hate crimes as well as attempted murder. He finds them and they are waiting for a van to pick them up when Colter gets to them and about to contact the parents when one decides suicide is a better option. Colter is very upset at what just happened before his eyes and needs to find out why and that they were going to the Osiris Foundation and modern-day cult but the group says it's not a cult. Trying to piece together the life of this young lad that he preferred suicide to like he goes undercover to the Foundation, but when he gets there all is not what it seems, it's more brainwashing at a costly sum. Having joined he is given clothes with no pockets to wear no phones allowed so he has to use his eyes and wit. Apparently he hears it is not the first suicide, what and how does this cult make you do it? Deaver does have a way of twisting each thread to the limit, tense good piece of writing, as one would expect from this author, he throws no punches.it is well worth reading. I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy to review.

The Goodbye Man’ is the latest book by Jeffery Deaver in the Colter Shaw series.

In pursuit of two armed fugitives in the wilderness of Washington State, unique investigator Colter Shaw witnesses a shocking suicide. This leads him to the Foundation – a cult that promises to transform peoples lives. But is there more to it than meets the eye? Shaw goes undercover to expose the Foundation’s real purpose. Before long he meets the charismatic leader Master Eli, a man who commands terrifying loyalty from his followers. Something truly dark is going on beneath the surface of the idyllic community. And as Shaw peels back the layers of truth, he begins to see there is only one way to escape the Foundation… and the price for that freedom might well be your very life.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jeffery Deaver and ‘The Goodbye Man’ was a new series for me.

The story is seen from the narrative of Colter Shaw, who’s been hired by the parents of missing teenagers for a crime. When he successfully finds the boys only for one of them to commit suicide. Colter finds himself on a journey to a commune where people a promised way of life. It’s whilst there that he finds himself embroiled in a sordid world of mind control and greed.

It was great to settle back into a Jeffery Deaver book, granted it’s been a while since I read one of his books but immediately I settled into the fast paced drama gripped with the interesting mix characters, the controlling leader of the cult called Eli, who everyone is taken in his charisma and winning ways.

Colter is an intriguing lead, consumed by the need to find out why the young boy would take his one life, Colter finds himself admitting himself to Orisis with a false identity but finds himself also taken in by the leader and begins to reveal his real self.

The story is vividly written and Jeffery really sets the scene with the descriptions of the commune as well as the complex mix of personalities that really pulls the reader in.

A dramatic and thrilling story that is masterfully written with clever plot line, ‘The Goodbye Man’ is a riveting story that was a welcome return from Jeffery Deaver.

You can buy ‘The Goodbye Man’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Brilliant. A compelling read about cults. Colter Shaw seems so real as a character and the details of the cult were really well written. This is a real page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This story was really really enjoyable. The second book in the Colter Shaw series, set in the world of cults. The story was the ultimate page turner and I am really looking forward to the next episode to see how the character develops.
There is an underlying story which continued on from the first book. and I cant wait til the next one to find out.
Jeffery Deaver is a master at what he does.
5 stars all the way

7/10

An enjoyable but not quite great action/thriller and Jeffery Deaver's new(ish) character, Colter Shaw, who is growing on me. There is plenty to enjoy here and anyone who has read any previous books by Deaver should expect his usual style and fast writing with unexpected twists from everywhere.

This outing takes Colter Shaw on a journey to hunt down some young men which leads him eventually to a cult organisation with a messiah like leader. I don't know a great deal about cult's but this felt quite accurate in how easy people can be brainwashed and turned from the truth (look at today's politics as an example) with simple distractions and leaps of misguided faith. Shaw is the reasoning voice hidden among this setting and he's up against some "interesting" characters.

Whilst I enjoyed it, this book didn't quite live up to the first one in the series but it did have a lot of the hallmarks to keep it enjoyable. This sort of book is easy to pick up and read through which is pretty ideal at this time. I hope that there are more stories of Colter Shaw in the pipeline.

My first Jeffery Deaver book, but I know he is a popular writer as I see lots of his books in the Library. A good character in Colter Shaw, I would like to read more books about his adventures.

A highly enjoyable, quick and easy read by the master of thriller writing. I’m loving the new Colter Shaw series. This second book reveals more of Shaw’s back story alongside another riveting investigation which started off as reward work and ended up as a mission to save innocent lives. The manipulative, egotistical cult leader was highly reminiscent of a particular POTUS :)
Great stuff.

The Goodbye Man is another entertaining, absorbing and thrilling read from this talented author. It’s going to be hard to review this book as I don’t want to give anything away.

Firstly I absolutely loved the main character Colt who was a fascinating, brave man who seemed incredibly skilled at what he does. I liked that he seemed to have a conscience and seemed to care about others which is quite unusual in this type of character. I really enjoyed following him in his undercover work and seeing how he manages to investigate things.

I’ve got a bit of a fascination with cults so found that part of the book to be very interesting. I’m definitely glad I don’t belong to it as I felt trapped just reading about it. The fact that Colt was there undercover added an uncertain element to the story as I was never sure what would happen next whilst he was there and when he would be discovered. I found myself reading faster and faster as I was anxious to find out.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, thrilling read which I really enjoyed. I didn’t actually realise it was the second book in the series so it can easily be read as a standalone as everything is explained. I liked how the different storylines drew together and how the ending hinted at a sequel. I’m very excited to read more about Colt.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

Book two in the Colter Shaw series started with a bang and set off at a fast pace. I really like this character and the setting but the slow pace in the middle of the book failed to keep my interest. The cult aspect of the story just failed for me and I never finished the book. I usually like this author but not this read, sadly. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the second Colter Shaw thriller. If you haven't read the first, The Never Game, I'd advise you do that before reading The Goodby Man - it will make more sense, and also, spoilers.

I will say right away that Deaver really caught me off guard with this one. I thought I knew what to expect from this series Colter Shaw, who travels the USA in his camper van, investigating disappearances for reward, would roll into town, encounter a mystery, and solve it (while making a little progress, on the side, in the matter of his father's murder). There would be clues, also trails and heart pumping finale.

And so it seems to begin, as we discover the town of Gig Harbour, where two young men are wanted for a racist hate crime. A reward has been offered and Shaw - fresh from San Franciso and the events of The Never Game - is soon on the trail. However, things then take a strange twist. Unsettled when the pursuit goes dramatically wrong, and seeking answers, he heads in a different direction - infiltrating a reclusive self-help group, the Foundation, and encountering its charismatic leader, Master Eli.


Jeffery Deaver
That results in a very different book, both in tone and pacing, than The Never Game. Rather than acting like a detective, as in the previous book, Shaw's success (and survival) will depend on his ability to act a part, remain undercover, and ferret out what's really going on - without any standing to be asking questions or poking around, and with no access to outside resources either to aid the investigation or to back him up if things go wrong. That takes Shaw some way out of his comfort zone and I think possibly the same may be true for some readers if they were expecting a trail of clues and red herrings - as in The Never Game or for example the crimes investigated by Lincoln Rhyme. But stick around, this is rather good!

For me the really audacious thing about the story is I think that Shaw isn't as good at this as he thinks. We've previously seen him shrewdly calculating the odds and he still does that when it comes to a fight, to eluding pursuit in the woods or breaking into a locked office. But the approach is little use in a setting where others make the rules and Shaw is as clueless about what's going to happen (and as obliged to do as he's told) as any other "Novice". Watching him discover that and - Shaw being Shaw - try to apply his father's survivalist wisdom to it - is fascinating, if unexpected.

Also fascinating is what happens when the Foundation's touchy-feely counselling technique, "The Process (tm)", bumps up against Shaw's tortured life history. I enjoyed seeing him squirm as rather too much is revealed, and it would be fun to let this go further - I find Shaw an interesting character with a vividly realised, and completely weird, backstory (the death of his father and disappearance of his brother, the obsession of the latter with some plot or secret that apparently got him killed). The flashbacks in The Never Game suggested all this has left a deep wound and I wondered how far the Foundation might open it up. Maybe in future books Deaver will go further.

If that suggests The Goodbye Man is more of a people-y book, that's true, with the dynamics of what goes on at Snoqualmie very much driven by individuals, their character and their pyschology. At the centre is Master Eli, a narcissistic and deeply unpleasant Messiah whose rhetoric was eerily familiar ('...got a business degree form one of the best colleges in the country, graduated at the top of my class. Summa cum laude. I started companies, a dozen of them. They all did great. I made a ton of money, hired a ton of employees. Successful!All my companies. They were perfect, they were gorgeous!') The book is at one level a fascinating study of how such an individual may bend intelligent, successful people to his will (and as Deaver shows in his reading list at the end, he's done his research on this).

That's not to say that The Goodbye Man lacks action - there's plenty of that, and it certainly delivers the blood-pumping finale I'd expected, while driving Shaw forward on his personal quest.

I should warn that there is a theme here of suicide and Shaw - being Shaw - at one stage is rather judgemental about this. He does though come good in the end.

All in all I enjoyed this this book immensely and it left me very, very curious about where things will go next - both Shaw's own search for justice and answers and what sort of story Deaver will give us. One thing I'm certain of is that it won't be what we expect!

Jeffery Deaver yet again delivers with The Goodbye Man, his hero is the thinking man’s Jack Reacher and as such is more believable. An engrossing storyline that is so believable that you actual start the think that the is truth behind the cult, obviously not but it is so well written. Left on a knife edge waiting for the nest instalment of this series. Thanks for a great read