I enjoyed this book though I found myself waiting for some major twist that didn’t see to come. I was left with questions which was frustrating.
The characters all had their secrets which was very believable, the plot flowed and had you thinking with some dread what was going to happen next.
I would of liked to know more about some of the characters.
It was a nice, easy read so overall I would recommend this book.

Inside the halls of Belmont Academy we meet teacher of the year, Teddy Crutcher, a man who takes his role very seriously indeed. Belmont Academy is home to students of some of the wealthiest, privileged and influential families and achieving the highest grades is crucial to gaining entry into the top Ivy League establishments. So everyone from teachers, parents and students alike are continually striving to be the best, to aim for the top even if that means not always conforming to the usual set of rules.

Teddy, inordinately proud of his teacher of the year plaque is in many ways the antithesis of a good teacher. He has a novel approach to teaching lessons and woe betide any student who ends up on his “shit list”. Zach Ward and Fallon Knight are all too aware of what can happen when you fall foul of this English teacher but Crutcher has every faith his lessons are designed “for their own good”. Sonia Benjamin, a former Belmont student herself, is approaching her ten year anniversary at the school and is very much looking forward to the celebration to mark this special occasion. She’s popular amongst both the student population and the parent collaborative in a way that Teddy isn’t but that’s probably more to do with their differences in their backgrounds as it is their teaching abilities. Maths teacher Frank Maxwell whose wife knows Teddy’s wife Allison is one of the youngest, most enthusiastic and religious members of the faculty and the teachers lounge is where they all congregate, drinking coffee and swapping news, with the current headmaster making a rare appearance. Everyone knows they have to get past gatekeeper Ms Marsha before he will grant them an audience. With some of the pushiest,most arrogant and entitled parents you are likely to meet the Belmont Academy environment is extremely competitive and highly toxic!

Samantha Downing entertains and delights with a cast of morally reprehensible characters in a plot that is awash with manipulative, devious, cunning and calculating behaviour. There are more than one or two of the seven deadly sins committed between these pages and not just by one character! Envy, bitterness and resentment bubble away under the carefully curated veneer of this upper class establishment but few who walk these corridors are guided by an internal moral compass; it’s not a case of being broken but not existing in the first place! I love a morally corrupt character and you are literally spoilt for choice as to exactly who can stoop the lowest in this twisted game of revenge, determined to have the last laugh. Your eyes swivel backwards and forwards in a frenzy between faculty members, parents and students past and present as the plot thickens and becomes more twisty with each new development. As yet one more character meets with a sticky end you wonder when will the chaos and carnage stop? Deeply dark and funny from beginning to end, this is a psychological thriller to whip through at hurricane speed, a novel to devour in one sitting (if opportunity allows). Thanks to some mind blowingly brilliant characterisation Samantha Downing makes it incredibly easy for her readers to fall under the spell of these individuals, some of whom are masterminds when it comes to crafty plotting and scheming. I spent the whole time rubbing my hands with glee anticipating and awaiting their next moves, surprised and shocked by the dirty, deceitful methods they employ, not necessarily caring when others get accidentally caught in the firing line! It would seem few are wholly innocent bystanders but do they deserve to meet with such an unfortunate demise? Who has the winning game plan or can remain one step ahead is anybody’s guess. You may decide early on who the frontrunner is but this author manages to persuade you to consider all viable options in what is a laughably bizarre (in a good way) intricate dance between multiple players desperate to gain the upper hand.

The reason for 4.5⭐️ instead of 5 is because the ending isn’t quite the showstopper I hoped for. Even after a couple of days reflection I’m torn between what I feel about it so I’ve gone with my initial gut reaction. The fact my mind is still whirring with indecision and I can’t quite put these characters to bed is kind of a back handed compliment to the author. The twist is comically dark in keeping with the preceding events and in all fairness I’m not sure how Samantha Downing could have written a more fitting final scene than this one. I think opinion will be divided but it definitely makes you think “Mmmm….that’s karma for you!” Highly recommend.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Set in a wealthy American prep school, and focusing on those who study and teach there, For Your Own Good is dark, compelling and crazy!

English teacher Teddy Crutcher is extremely proud to be awarded 'Teacher of the Year' at the Belmond Academy, especially as he is not part of the privileged Belmont family of teachers who used to be students. As he is the best teacher, Teddy wants his students to achieve their best, even if it comes at a high cost...after all, it is for their own good.

This book really gets under your skin - just like the poison killing everyone off! Told from many POV, it was an addictive, impulsive read, and a bit bonkers, with many twists. Just as it seemed the school was over one scenario, another was dropped in like a bombshell.

The characters were complex, and while many were just about likeable, most I just loved to hate and did not trust. I loved Zac from the start, even when he came across as a bit of a brat, but Teddy...well, Teddy is someone I just hope I will never meet one day!

A pacy thriller with lots I did not see coming!

Third Samantha Downing's book and I am falling deeper and deeper for her. With an amazing writing style that can easily fool you, entangled and twisty plot that keeps you on the edge of your chair For Your Own Good is her best book so far. And if you check my review about her debut novel My Lovely Wife and how much I loved it, can you imagine what an astonishing book this one should be!

For the fans of How to Get Away With Murder and One Of Us Is Lying comes a great thriller situated in a high-class fancy private high school - Belmont Academy. Let me introduce teachers first.

Teddy is a Literature teacher. He is devoted to his job and one of the best teachers in the school. This can be confirmed by the Teacher of the Year plaque handed on the wall in his cabinet. But if you get on his bad side, he can be your fervent enemy. You may be asking why is he a teacher, he has to be fair to all of the kids. All he wants is to teach them a life-long lesson. It may be out of jealousy because he didn't have all these privileges his students have. He was a poor boy who had to work hard if he wants to succeed in life. So he wants to show them what real life looks like and to ground them a bit.

Sonia is another Literature teacher. Her main difference with Teddy is that she is a former Belmont Academy student, return to teach in the school. She is one of the privileged ones, Belmont is a family to her, and she is no stranger to the way of living of the kids.

And lastly Frank - an ex-football player, returned to the school to teach Math.

Now the students.

Zach always has been a straight-A student. He is in the school newspaper team. Teachers' favourite. Not all, of course. He is in Teddy's 'to ruin' list. His parents do him no good by speaking with Teddy and trying to convince him that Zach deserves another chance to prove himself and get an A. Neither does Sonia by speaking with Teddy to move the deadline for Zach's extra project because he has to write an article for the newspaper.

There are also Fallon and Courtney one an ex-student and one who accidentally put herself under the spotlight.

Belmont Academy is such a prestigious school. Bad things can't happen there. Until they happened. It's Sonia tenth anniversary since she started teaching at Belmont Academy and the faculty hosted a soiree in her honour. Nobody was supposed to die but yet, Courtney's mom Ingrid did die. Can it be murder? Is Courtney capable of killing her own mother, a mother that is pushing her too hard to be her best self? Maybe Ingrid death has to do with her own health and it's just bad timing to die during a school gathering? Then another person dies.

Downing managed (once again) to create such unlovable characters that you are dying to read more about. Although there is a lot of stuff given away to the readers, she surprises you with every twist she throws at your face. You've just started to think that you figured out the story and there is a new character introduced who take you back to a starting position. There are different points of view. Some of them stay through the whole book. Some of them pop up at some point. Some of them disappear at some point. It may sound complicated, but it is not. The cast of characters is so diverse they are easy to distinguish. Plus, the multiple POVs give you a clear view of the whole situation revealing the thoughts of each person involved.

It is hard to talk about the book without giving away things. It is so entangled, mysterious, diabolical, but fun to read at the same time. There are places where I chuckled so hard my boyfriend asked me what I'm reading. After I kindly informed him that I'm reading a thriller, he said that he is officially scared of me and that there is something absolutely wrong with me laughing at thrillers.

This book is an addictive pageturner, a rollercoaster. It will keep you involved and entertained from the first page, through the author notes and acknowledgement, to the back of its cover. Honestly, you don't need to know much about the book. Go dive into it without second thoughts. As less you know, the more fun you will have!

I mostly liked this book and thought it had a plausible, interesting storyline but there were a few things that dampened my enjoyment of it. While there was a good build up of tension throughout, it seemed like there were no twists! Every potential mystery was revealed immediately so nothing was kept from the reader which was a shame. I also felt confused at times with the multiple POV’s - the setup wasn’t very consistent so I got a bit lost with whose perspective I was reading from.

However, I did enjoy how the plot unravelled and appreciated the finer detail that was included with the characters’ backstories and their connections. Overall, a decent, well-written story but it would have been better if there were more elements of intrigue.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book full of unlikeable characters, the story worked well with them all. It started off well, lots of twists and turns throughout and I didn’t know who to trust or what to believe. About a third from the end though, I found myself bored and skim read until the end. I think for me, the story just dragged on a bit too long.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Teddy Crucher has been awarded ‘Teacher of the Year’ at the prestigious Belmont Academy. He is very proud of this achievement and enjoys his job even if most of his students are rich kids and some act as though they are entitled and should be able to buy there way to what they want. Some of the teachers annoy him too, pandering to the students and their rich parents. He would rather teach teach them a lesson ‘for their own good’.

Zach is a straight A student in most classes but Teddy has awarded him a B Plus on his most recent paper and his parents are horrified. They both meet with Teddy to see what can be done to improve his grade. This just makes Teddy hate him all the more. He isn’t the first, Teddy once hated one of his students so much he ruined her chances of getting into any of the prestigious colleges and she hasn’t let him forget it.

Sonia and Frank are also teachers at the school.

Sonia is celebrating her tenth year in the school and they are putting on a big celebration for her - there has been a planning committee and everything. Teddy celebrated his not so long ago but it wasn’t marked with any occasion other than getting a pin badge.

To everyone around him Frank looks his normal self but underneath he is freaking out. Happily married he has managed to get himself into a situation and doesn’t know how to rectify it.

The book is told from various points of view and while there are many characters to the story they all play an important part.

I enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and the brightest. He says his wife couldn't be more proud - though no one has seen her in a while. Teddy really can't be bothered with the death of school parent that's looking more and more like a murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy's personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids too their full academic potential.

I could not put this book down and stayed up late to get it finished. There's a mixed bunch of characters, some likeable, others not so much. This is a well thought out story with some good twists. I do think it's best to go into this story blind. There's some black humour throughout. The story is primarily told through Teddy's perspective. There's several storylines that intertwine and they're all tied up by the end. I was pulled into the story from the first page. The pace is fast and my attention was held throughout.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and the author #SamanthaDowning for my ARC of #ForYourOwnGood in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘For Your Own Good’ by Samantha Downing in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Teddy Crutcher teaches at Belmont Academy where the students come from wealthy backgrounds. Teddy is proud to receive the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award and is determined that his pupils’ parents shouldn’t involve themselves with how he teaches their offspring so when there are unexplained deaths at Belmont we know who’s responsible but unfortunately the police don’t.

After reading both ‘My Lovely Wife’ and now ‘For Your Own Good’ the author has to my mind an ability for writing strange and unusual stories. We learn from the beginning that Teddy Crutcher likes to do things his own way and that includes silencing those people he doesn’t agree with. I’ve found it hard to bond with Teddy or indeed any of the characters who I didn’t find likeable, but the plot has been well-written by an author who has a fairly vivid imagination. Although I found the story creepy and it made for uncomfortable reading, it was an enjoyable story that made me keep reading as I was desperate to find out how it would end.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Teddy Crutcher is Teacher of the Year at his prestigious prep school, Belmont Academy. Teddy believes it is his job to mould his students into better pupils. The problems start to arise when people start to mysteriously die. Immediately we know who is responsible for the deaths, teacher of the year, Teddy. When will the rest of the school realise.

I enjoyed this book, although it did become a little unbelievable. Teddy is an awful character, so self absorbed, a complete narcissist.
I enjoyed the plot, especially as you never knew who was going to drop dead next. We also read from multiple perspectives, but my favourite was Teddy’s perspective, it’s always good to see how the mind of a sociopath works. Overall, a good, solid read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Michael Joseph and Samantha Downing for my arc of For Your Own Good in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing: 19th August 2021

Teddy Crucher works at the prestigious private school Belmont and he really cares about his students. So much so that he’s just been awarded teacher of the year. Everything Teddy does for his students are for their own good. All Teddy wants is for everyone else, pushy parents and meddling colleagues to just stay out of his way and let him mould the students exactly how he wants them.

This was a slightly disappointing thriller for me. it was an easy read and I did finish it but it missed the elements of suspense and mystery that I have come to expect from a well written thriller. The plot was very well planned out, so much so that you knew everything that was happening all the time so there was no room for twists or variations in the plots, no red herrings or mystery. This was my first book by this author and I don’t think I would probably read another based off my opinion of this one.

Third book by Samantha Downing and she’s got another bestseller.
The book set in a private school with teacher of the year Teddy Crutcher as the main focus. Does the teacher of the year have a dark side? This book kept me guessing right to the last page and I never would of guessed the ending.
The story is written from multiple POV including current students and Teddy himself. I loved learning each characters history and motivations as the story unfolded.
A fantastic read and I can’t wait for book four.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ForYourOwnGood #NetGalley

This was Downing back in business!
I loved this book- gripping, twisty, and literally no idea which characters I trusted! This was set to be a huge 5 stars from me, except for my confusion surrounding what happened to one particular character, which I won't say in case of spoilers. I just felt that this wasn't tied up adequately enough during the ending, and I would have liked more of a 'WTH' moment.
'My Lovely Wife' is one of my go-to recommendations for thriller fans, and while I loved this one and it kept me guessing, the WTH moment didn't arrive.
Still, a fantastic read and one thriller fans will love!

Thank you to Penguin & @netgalley for approving me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this when I got approved as I loved one of her other books ‘my lovely wife’. I was really torn on what to rate this book if I’m honest because I had such high expectations and I think that’s where I went wrong. There was parts I enjoyed but others just made me dislike the story.

It had quite a few good twists, some that I guessed and were quite predictable and others I didn’t.

Samantha has such a brilliant way of making you hate the character. I noticed it in the other book and this, and she does brilliant because I absolutely hated Teddy.

There was one part that made me dislike the book as a whole - but I’m not going to say which as always as I don’t give spoilers but I’m interested to see other reviews when this book is out.

It definitely is going to be a book I’d like to re-read because I’m still torn between 3/4 star. But I’m going to say 4 for now.

Teddy Crutcher is a well loved teacher - loved by all except his students. His is married - but no-one has seen his wife for a while.
A school parent dies - is it murder - and still Teddy carries on.
But when more people die and are taken ill two students begin to have suspicions.
Who will believe them!

Set in am American private school, this is a highly compelling psychological thriller with many twists. It begins with a familiar scenario: a parent from a privileged background attempting to influence his son’s grade with his teacher. The reader’s instinct is to side with the teacher, only nothing is quite as it seems. Teddy Crutcher, the school’s teacher of the year, has a grudge against privilege and against Zach, his talented pupil, deserving of a high grade, but marked down for being too smug. It soon becomes apparent that Teddy is generally not a very nice person and not somebody to cross. He harbours grudges against his pupils, his fellow teachers, particularly those who were former pupils of the school and spends a lot of mental energy plotting petty and not-so-petty revenges. And then people start to die. The scenarios are familiar, relatable and very engaging, making it a difficult book to put down.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great psychological thriller.
Teddy is a teacher at a private school and clearly wants to progress his career. There’s a few things he needs to take care of in order to make this happen.
It’s clear from the chapters from his perspective that he’s clearly not a good person and then he starts to kill those that get in his way.
Zach is one of his students and Teddy really doesn’t like him. Little does he know that Zach suspects him of being the killer and is in contact with Fallon, a previous student who Teddy treated badly.
There’s lots of strands to the investigation and the FBI haven’t got a clue who the real killer is.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for a copy of “ For Your Own Good “ for an honest review.

This was my first book by Samantha Downing , although she has been recommended to me in the past. I’ve previously been a little put off by the fact they were based in the US ..
After reading this I’ll definitely be reading some of her past work..
The characters was really well written , even if if they weren’t very likeable,,and I found the storyline well paced and suspenseful.
This kept me guessing right to the end.
Full marks from me.

From the very beginning there is an underlying tension to this narrative. It made me feel uncomfortable in that I knew something was coming. This is maintained almost to the end but in later stages it felt a little more contrived.

People are too privileged at the Belmont Academy. Teddy Crutcher (teacher of the year) feels they need to learn a lesson, a lesson in humility. Unfortunately this leads to something much more pernicious as people start to die and the wrong people are accused. The murder rate escalates as Teddy Crutcher's mind tries to sort out the mess. But Teddy is not the only one with an Agenda - whose Agenda will finish uppermost?

The characterisation is fabulous and the narrative generally pacy a really good read

This is a really tightly written psychological thriller about what happens behind closed doors in a exclusive private school. Belmont Academy is for the rich kids, those who plan to attend the Ivy League colleges and who have the parents who can afford the tuition. The teachers there are regular teachers, some with student pets and others with the goal of just bringing some kind of kudos into their own lives. The entire book is character driven, so it is important to get to know the people in the story right away. Teddy Crutcher is an English teacher there who is exultant when he can give a student a lower grade than they deserve and an assignment that is crushing in its demands. Sonia Benjamin is also an English teacher, a former graduate of Belmont herself, and rather proud of her accomplishments and her own hard work. Frank Maxwell is an odd duck teacher, a math teacher who just observes everything closely and takes everything to heart. Fallon is a former student, bitter against Teddy because he wrote her a recommendation letter that kept her from getting into an Ivy. Two current students, Zach and Courtney, become a central part of the story as they are suspected of foul play on campus that results in more than one death. The plot is fast-paced and entertaining, told in an omniscient point of view and including all of the main characters. I enjoyed reading how the rich and famous live and what they expect for their children, but none of these wealthy parents and their kids would be up for citizen of the year, in my opinion. In fact, there were few redeeming qualities in any of the characters, except possibly Fallon who was seeking revenge for all the right reasons. All in all, the characters were privileged and demanding and not so nice to the little guys, like Joe the custodian. Many of the events in the book were predictable but in a highly entertaining way. The one surprise was the ending that wasn’t shocking, just a surprise. Lots of twists along the way as the plot unravels on a narrow path to murder and justice.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”