The Goodbye Man

The depth and depravity of money hungry egotistical people is truly brought to light in this latest addition of the Colter Shaw series. Fantastically researched wonderfully written and delivered with the finesse of Jeffery Deavers other works. Cannot wait for the 3rd installment

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.

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 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.