A really unique, clever read. Teddy is Teacher of the Year and proud of it. We find out early he has some very different teaching quirks. A death, possibly murder leads to a gripping drama. A really good story.

For Your Own Good is a really original thriller that sort of sneaks up on you… it seems relatively normal, following Teddy, a teacher at posh Belmont Academy who never quite feels that he fits in… and then you suddenly realise that he’s got some real issues! Teddy particularly hates student Zach, but does he have a good reason to? And will he go too far in his quest to punish Zach?

The characters in this book are just brilliant. There’s an array of people featured alongside Teddy and Zach but those two take centre stage a fair amount. Everyone has their own agendas and there’s plenty of sneakiness… and not just sneakiness but some serious crimes taking place here! It all descends into chaos at this expensive private school, and I loved every minute of it! Things may appear to be accidents but there’s certainly someone pulling the strings. I devoured this book and would happily read more about all those characters – including the devilish Teddy!

Don’t start this book having read too much about it, just set aside a few hours to lose yourself – and make sure you prepare yourself for some craziness! Great fun with just the right dose of darkness…

A fast paced, dark and very twisted crime drama. Set in an exclusive private school, the author allows us into the mind of mild mannered socio pathic English teacher Teddy. No thrills but an enjoyable read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I really enjoy Samantha Downing's writing, having read her previous two books. I was especially drawn to 'For Your Own Good' as it's set in a school - and boy, do I love a thriller set in an academic environment! Belmont Academy is an elite private school where dark things begin to occur. There are mysterious deaths and illnesses and we follow many different characters as they try to figure out what is happening. There's no big twist here - we know the perpetrator from the start - but will they get away with murder?

This is a really gripping and FUN book - Teddy is an especially intriguing character and I really enjoyed getting into his head, trying to understand his motives. His actions and excuses spiral out of control and it's exciting trying to guess what will happen.

A well written book as always by Samantha Downing, A somewhat unusual book that keeps you guessing as to how it will turn out, but well worth a read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it was full of twists and turns, some predictable, some not.
I didn't want to put it down.
I would recommend this book and this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through murders at an American private school. I found it to be a fun read, even though the murders certainly were not funny, but it did have a light hearted feel somehow,
It was well written with a very good insight into the daily life and celebrations of a top private school.
Having worked in a state secondary school in GB, some of it I could relate to very well. Somehow some of it raised my eyebrows in amazement.
A very good book. enjoyed it.

I've delayed writing my review for this one because I was struggling. I couldn't decide whether this was 2 star or a 3 star read. I decided on 2 stars because I don't think I enjoyed this one much, and my 3 star reviews are reserved for books that I did indeed enjoy, even if they didn't knock my socks off.

At first I was enjoying this read, but as I turned more and more pages, I started to have issues with it. I found the writing style very basic, and it lacked flair. In fact, the entire story felt very flat to me and there was nothing dynamic or impressive about it. The characters were dull and one-dimensional, and there was no character development, and nothing really intriguing about any of them. At times it felt like I was reading a YA novel, rather than an adult thriller. The story is set in and around an exclusive school and some of the main characters are high school children and so I suppose that's why it had a YA feel to it. That, coupled with the very basic writing style, the one-dimensional characters and the flat story, led me to wonder what type of book I was reading because it definitely wasn't much of a thriller.

It's no secret that I like my reads to be dark, and complex, for the writing style to be extremely adult, and for the story to be gripping. Unfortunately, this read was none of those things. It was too basic and innocent for me, and I wouldn't describe this one as a thriller at all, or not an adult thriller anyway.

In conclusion, I think that I was the wrong fit for this read. Like most people, I do sometimes enjoy picking up a really easy reading novel, but this one just didn't work for me. It was too, dare I say, amateurish? Also the ending, nope, that didn't work for me either and it made no sense. The author ended the story in such a strange way, by trying to get the reader to think, oh wow, could he be the next Mr. X. But that just came too out of left field and it didn't fit with the entire story or with that person's character throughout the story.

This one gets a pass for me, and if you're someone who enjoys your thrillers to be somewhat dark and somewhat adult, then probably skip this one.

Having read and enjoyed one of Samantha Downing’s previous books, I was excited to get the opportunity to read her latest book, For Your Own Good.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. Maybe it was the lack of mystery and twists, maybe it was the characters or even the multiple POV’s that personally, I don’t think really worked. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, and although I finished it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this - not as much as the previous two I read, but loved it all the same! There are some very unlikeable people in this book, but they were deliciously bad! Really good story line, and although didn’t have me hanging off my seat, I was certainly perched close to the edge. Will look forward to the next one.

Thanks to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for inviting me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

For Your Own Good is a story about Belmont Academy, a private school. A classroom thriller with Teacher of the Year, Teddy Crutcher, wanting to teach his students and colleagues to be better people, at any cost.

I enjoyed this book but I think I went into it with such high expectations after loving Downing's debut, My Lovely Wife. I guess I went into it expecting a twist that I never saw coming, but it never came and left me feeling a bit disappointed.

I have been wanting to read one of Samantha Downing's book as I had noticed quite a few glowing reviews of her two previous books on my goodreads feed. So, I jumped at the chance to read and review 'For Your Own Good' when it was offered to me. And I am glad that I did not let this opportunity go by me.

Set in a posh and prestigious private school, 'For Your Own Good' where the children of the elites of the society are sent to by their demanding parents, expecting it to be the stepping stone that will send the students on to Ivy League colleges. Of course, there is a LOT of drama their with the privileged students and even some ex-students who have returned as the faculty. And amongst it all is Teddy Crutcher, a nobody from a mediocre background who has had to earn every bit of privilege he has today for himself. Even winning 'The Teacher of the Year' doesn't bring him as much respect as he deserves - well, because of the whiny little… So, Teddy has to take things into his own hands because after all as a teacher it is his job to teach his students a lesson; and maybe to a couple of his fellow colleagues too while he is at it. But when bodies start to drop, and people come nosing about not only into the school but also into his personal life, he has very little choice. What would you do if you were in Teddy's shoes?

I love a well done whodunnit, but recently I am seeing more and more author experimenting with the genre. These days sometimes it is more about the how and the why and I must admit, if properly done, it can be just as awesome and exciting. And, Samantha Downing has indeed done a good job. She introduced us to our quirky and slightly crazy antagonist right at the beginning and then the story is all about how he does what he does, whether he will get caught, how far will he go and what might trip him up. Though I did not agree with our antagonist's reasoning, I have to admit that there were times when I didn't really blame him either. That is a sign of a well developed antagonist. We all love to hate our antagonists and when they are clearly the 'bad guy' we hate him with all the passion we can muster. But what happens when you start seeing the greys in the character of the antagonist. What do you do when there are moments you feel like if you were in his shoes, you'd want to do worse? And better question to answer yet, what do you do when the antagonist turns out to be the least horrible person around? (Well, not counting the murders or the little accidents).

I am glad that I am not part of the esteemed Belmont Academy. It is the home to a hell lot of mean and simply bad characters. I honestly did not feel bad about the murders that took place. Character-wise the book's hook is it's antagonist. I wish there were a couple of characters that I could like, if for nothing else, then contrast. They were all just rotten apples. The multiple PoVs also keep the reader appraised of what is going on not only in the story but also in the minds of some of the other cast and characters. Yet I was surprised! The fast-paced story coupled with some snarky comments and unexpected twists keeps the pages turning in the book. It has enough drama and mystery to keep any reader hooked and entertained.

Definitely recommend this to mystery lovers as I go hunting for the other books by this author.

What a gripping book, a true psychological thriller. The characters were so real, especially the nasty Mr Crutcher. School life, family life and the dilemmas faced by the pupils was so perfectly covered.
The ending was unexpected and tied everything up so well. A great read which I highly recommend.

A creepy kind of story with well described characters, not all of them pleasant ones ! I didnt think this was as good as Samantha's brilliant earlier book - My Lovely Wife -, but well worth a read

Dark academia is a sub-genre that I consider to be my personal all-time favourite. So, when auto buy author Samantha Downing announces her upcoming thriller is set in a prestigious private academy, I think I’ve hit the thriller jackpot for 2021!

“For Your Own Good” is undoubtedly up there with some of my best reads for this year so far, but personally, it didn’t pack the same punch as Downing’s debut thriller “My Lovely Wife”. Do not let me deter you from reading this latest instalment of work from Downing, your enjoyment will still be phenomenal! I however, needed to justify why my all time favourite sub-genre, by one of my favourite authors did not blow me away with all the stars.

“For Your Own Good” is a psychological thriller housed in an educational institute where murder is believed to be truly for the greater good of the students. Deliciously twisted and full of dark humour.

4 Star Read – Highly Recommend!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #MichaelJoseph, #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and #SamanthaDowning for an ARC of #ForYourOwnGood in exchange for an honest review.

It was great fun to read another Samantha Downing thriller, she of the very warped mind! For Your Own Good is set in a reputable private school where suddenly the bodies start piling up. There was the headmaster who killed himself some time ago, but now suddenly there’s another death, closely followed by another. Just what is going in this smart old school? We’re told quite soon who the culprit is. But he doesn’t seem to be the only baddy. Once again, this author plays with her readers’ minds as the story unfolds. I loved the setting, with its complex school politics, awful entitled parents and diverse pupils. A great read.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

Teddy Crutcher has been teaching English at Belmont Academy for a long time and, at last, he has won Teacher of the Year. At last. Nobody deserves it more, at least in Teddy’s eyes. He always wants the best for his students, especially those who treat him with respect and have influential parents on the School’s Board. He also likes to teach a different kind of lesson to those who deserve it, especially gifted student Zach and the popular teacher Sonia. To his chagrin, Sonia is about to be given a party to celebrate her tenth anniversary at the Academy. But when a member of the School’s Board, a pupil’s mother, is poisoned at the party, it’s not just Teddy who is shocked into action. This is a school where it seems everyone has a secret and nobody is safe.

Samantha Downing is an absolute genius at witty and wicked psychological thrillers. She did it with My Lovely Wife and she’s done it again with For Your Own Good. Usually, I need to like someone in a novel, at least a little bit, to engage with it but this novel shows that, as long as a book is written as well as this one, that’s really not the case. Pretty much everyone at Belmont Academy, including the over-reaching parents, is despicable! Sonia might be ‘nice’ but she’s living some sort of dream in her head that doesn’t seem to fit with reality. We might feel sorry for one or two of the students but not for long. And Teddy is utterly appalling.

The reader spends time in the heads of several people, although it’s Teddy who sets the mood. The more he reveals of himself the more you can hardly believe what you’re hearing. And then we move into the perspective of other students and teachers and you realise that you’re in some sort of nightmare territory and it’s all brilliantly wicked! As the story goes on, nothing seems impossible. There seems nothing these people won’t do. But do they actually do them? That’s the thing. We spend time in people’s minds – how much of what they think is true?

The plot is fabulous and it kept me reading compulsively. The more the novel went on, the more intrigued I became. By the end, it was absolutely compelling and engrossing, so much so that I read it in one day. I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one day. This delicious book demanded it.

Other review
My Lovely Wife

Fabulously dark and delicious this novel kept me up late reading.

Brilliant writing and twisty characters that kept me guessing and a plot that was riveting.

Teddy was a fascinating character so creepy yet there was something endearing qbout him. Although I didnt trust a word he said!

Great thriller

My first book by Samantha Downing and now I realize why there’s so much hullabaloo when she has a book release.

OH My GOD, just give me my breath back!

Well, all fans of thrillers have read books with their heart in the mouth. I have read hordes of them where the tension reaches a crescendo at the culmination of the story. Sorry, that’s not what happens in FOR YOUR OWN GOOD by Samantha Downing. The galloping heart with not a breath to waste begins right off from the first page and just keeps the reader in that perpetual state of anxiety throughout, in fact, in the ending, we get a respite from all the stiff fingers which a white-knuckled hold on the kindle will give you.

Samantha Downing very conveniently lets us into the diabolical mind of her main character Teddy Crutcher, and seeing the valid reasoning behind his acts, one tends to feel not abject terror but a kind of fascination with how he gets away with things, the ways he explains away all his craziness for the better good. And then like a sudden plunge to icy water, we realize this is no game and there are irrevocable consequences to his machinations, and that is exactly why Samantha Downing is considered to be the best out there as she ensures the reader feel all the chills up their spine as, for a time, I had no idea if I should laugh out loud or cry with the madness of it all!

Talk about parental pressure, phew, who in their right minds would want to study like this?

Multiple voices, multiple POV’s, most of them not inducing any warmth, is another factor that keeps the reader on their toes. Each character has been fleshed out well and with the different scenarios that the author presents, the reader has a tough time playing catch up. The story takes up crazy to a new level with all the twists and turns and that climax, oh BOY, so befitting!

For your Own Good is wickedly devilish and deserves all 10 stars if I could give it ⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️ and honestly, unlike any other book that I have read!

Thanks a tonne to Kallie Townsend at Penguin Michael Joseph for this BLOG TOUR opportunity.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Penguin Michael Joseph, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Book Bub, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

A deliciously irreverent, multi-viewpoint novel that focuses on a disturbing teacher and his questionable methods. Witty humour mitigates the menacing ethos. Easily visualised, vivid characters have unreliable viewpoints that mar the reader's omnipotent view. This is a story about control, power and wealth.

Gently paced and introspective but with humour, it delivers an addictive, page-turning read.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK Books Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.