A deft mix of chilling psychological suspense and thought-provoking drama, Two Good Men had me reevaluating right versus wrong, justice versus revenge, and good versus evil. A trigger heavy premise, it nevertheless was far from graphic—even if the topic itself was hard to stomach at times. And within this slow burn game of cat-and-mouse, I was quickly absorbed by the moral debate that this heartrending tale shrewdly brought to light. When the law is incapable of protecting the innocent, what is to be done? And is the answer obvious, or is there a whole assortment of shades of gray?
The shining stars in this intoxicating read, however, were easily the characters. Well-developed, nuanced, and with clear cut identities, the two primary POVs were beyond true-to-life—they walked right off of the page. With seemingly strong ethical codes and brilliant character arcs, their individual journeys quickly pulled me deep. What Dick and Steve illustrated the best, though, were the opposing viewpoints for some troubling real-world concerns. And by the end of the book, they had me questioning my own thoughts and beliefs. Who was right? Who was wrong? Or could it ever truly be as black and white as I original thought?
All said and done, Ms. Redfearn managed to deliver an intense, compelling story with short addictive chapters, emotionally rich characters, and plenty of surprises. Was it as action-packed and propulsive as I was expecting? No, not really. At the same time, however, the pacing felt fitting as the well-plotted storyline unfurled smoothly before me. Poignant and gritty, it definitely made me think. This alone would make it perfect for any book club’s monthly selection. After all, from the ratcheting suspense to the questions it raised, there simply wasn’t much missing from these finely tuned pages. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Dick Raynes feared this day would come. Otis Parsons, a violent felon, has been released from prison, and Dick’s sister, Dee, is the one who helped put him there. Dick’s marriage is over, and his career is in shambles, so with nothing to lose, he sets out to do whatever it takes to keep Dee and her son safe. But Otis is just the beginning. Using his knowledge as a scientist to develop a formula able to predict those offenders most likely to strike again, he sets out to protect future victims the law is powerless to defend.
FBI agent Steve Patterson investigates crimes against those who have paid their dues for past mistakes, running a department he created after his son was killed by a vigilante mother who targeted the wrong person. Recognizing a disturbing pattern of untimely deaths in recently released felons, he sets out to discover who’s behind it. What he doesn’t expect is to find another chance at love—with the sister of the man he is chasing.
Dick’s sense of right and wrong is tested as he pursues and neutralizes the most dangerous threats, while Steve makes it his mission to stop this vigilante serial killer before he is labeled a hero. Both men pursue a noble cause, but only one can prevail.
Thank you to S.E. Redfearn and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 8, 2024
Trigger warning: suicidal ideation,
pedophilia, rape, mention of: gun violence