Friends Helping Friends

by Patrick Hoffman

Bunny Simpson is at his usual post behind the counter at a Denver cigarette store when his volatile friend Jerry presents an opportunity: 500 dollars to beat a guy up. Jerry has been dealing steroids to Helen, a lawyer, who is getting rapidly stronger just as she gets more erratic, vengeful towards her cheating ex-husband who she asks Jerry to attack. Bunny’s relatively solid conscience isn’t enough to stop him from biting -- Ray, his beloved quasi-uncle, is behind on rent for the apartment they share, and Bunny will do anything to bail him out. And it’s a small favor; just friends helping friends. Right?

Not quite. When Bunny and Jerry arrested, Bunny finds himself faced with a choice: Go to jail for years, or take a plea deal to go undercover in a white nationalist group under federal investigation. Bunny obliges, and soon he finds himself witness to a new world of startling violence, toxic masculinity, and warped conceptions of discipline, religion, and patriotism. If these men discover that he’s a snitch, they’ll kill him without blinking. His life is at stake, but so is his freedom. Soon Bunny is embroiled in a criminal enterprise far darker than he could’ve imagined -- a wasp’s nest with eyes on him from all sides -- and he needs to penetrate it at its center.

Patrick Hoffman, critically acclaimed author of Every Man a Menace and Clean Hands, is at his brilliant best in these pages. A wholly unique portrait of friendship, extremism, and the dual power of technology and money, Friends Helping Friends is an electrifying thriller from a veritable talent.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery, Friendship, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Patrick Hoffman is a novelist and private investigator based in Brooklyn, NY.

Reviews

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. Fast paced. Engaging characters. And a satisfying end. What more do you want?

Bunny Simpson and Jerry St Clair are two ordinary guys doing a favour for a friend. Helen wants a bit of payback for the way her ex-husband dumped her for a younger model. But Helen's ex is a vindictive judge and when Jerry and Bunny throw a few punches he retaliates with the law. So now Bunny ends up doing a favour for the FBI.

And so the story continues. One favour leads to another, bigger one and Bunny and Jerry get drawn deeper and deeper into a conspiracy that could end all their dreams of a better life. And just because they'd tried to help a friend.

This is a really entertaining read. I was rooting for Bunny and Jerry all the way through. They're not entirely angels but they're very likeable. The story feels quite organic and anyone you meet along the way (which includes gun-toting old ladies, drug dealing music afficionados, evil relatives and even a few white supremacists) can influence what happens next. I really had no idea what the outcome would be - good or bad. There is a definite conclusion to the novel but not the one I expected at all.

Definitely recommended. I'd look out for more by this author.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.

[ᴍᴀ́ʀᴄɪᴀ ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story.
With twists and lots of action.
The ending was satisfying and well-developed.
I wanted to read more. More about these characters, more about this topic.
A good easy read and therefore quick and Page Turner.
The only thing I didn't like was the beginning and the way the book was organized (it took me some time to get used to the writing style).

(4.8/5)
Netgalley book, thanks for the advance copy.

[Jason Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoffman is one of my favorite working writers. In spare, unsentimental prose he paints vivid plots filled with unique characters. His gift is making them all pop. His novels are grounded; Hoffman’s straightforward style elevates them.

The pitch copy on FHF doesn’t speak to the story’s sprawl, the way every character is given a chance to win your empathy. This is a tremendous crime novel. I hope many people read it.

[Andrea Batista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and the author of Friends Helping Friends for this eARC.

Friends Helping Friends follows our main character (Bunny) and his friend (Jerry) as they help someone out (Helen) for some cash. What follows is a series of events landing Bunny in an undercover investigation to take down a racist organization.

The most enjoyable element of this story was the characters and how they spoke to each other. You'll get to experience non-perfect humans, having non-perfect internal dialogues (this was fun) and then making non-perfect decisions. At the core the book really is about friends helping friends (weather its legal or not!). How far would you go to help a co-worker? A gym buddy? Your druggie friend? Your abusive uncle?

Also Helen was a highlight - once you learn her story and her circumstance you get to understand why she does what she does.

I give this 3 stars - there are some lose ends here and there, plot points brought up seemingly for no reason...but the book is easy reading with a satisfying finale.

[Alee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this overall (with the exception of the slight mention of animal abuse - that's always a difficult one for me). The characters were believable enough to be hateful, especially from a mental health standpoint.
At times it felt like the story line was going in too many directions at one time. This plus the lack of chapters made it difficult to focus on the story or find a good pausing point. It all came together in the end with a satisfying conclusion which I very much enjoyed.
Thank you Atlantic Monthly Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Janet Mabrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t finish this book. I read 33% of it and it wasn’t worth continuing (in my opinion). It was not at all as described: fast paced and suspenseful - and funny? I found it to be none of these and I read a third of the book. Sorry - I just didn’t get it.

[Michael Markowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Hoffman does it again. I've loved every novel he's written and waited 5 years for this new one to come out and it definitely didn't disappoint.

His novels have some similar elements but are also all very different. First there's location: The White Van took place almost entirely in San Francisco, while Every Man a Menace starts out there but then goes all over the world. For Clean Hands the story goes back to the author's familiar New York setting. And this new one is squarely in between the coasts, set in rundown areas of Colorado. Wherever the author takes us, the descriptions, observations and vibe seem very real. Unlike the urban locations of his other novels, this book truly conveys the vast openness and starkness of the state.

And there's always a petty crime that sets the story in motion. The crime is different every time, but the character (or in this case, 2 characters) committing the act are never the mastermind. They're not completely innocent -- they get into it on their own free will if not better judgment -- but they're usually pawns in someone else's scheme. And they're not prepared to face the consequences of their actions, which often sends them into hellish situations. How they come out of it in the end varies from one novel to next, sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic, often somewhere in between. And in Friends Helping Friends it's two 20-something guys named Bunny and Jerry. They're nice guys, but poor uneducated slackers with no real direction, so they fall into trouble easily.

The one who gets them there is another staple of Hoffman's -- the strong woman. Sometimes the characters start off weak and find their strength, but often they're pretty tough from the start. And here, Helen is figuratively and literally strong -- a lawyer and bodybuilder who starts taking steroids. This may be what causes her to make a bad choice to hire the guys to assault her ex-husband, but it's not clear.

I could carp on tiny things like the ambiguity of her motivation, but they're pretty small complaints. Other than Bunny and Jerry, the only other characters whose mindset we get into are Helen's -- whose POV isn't explored enough IMO -- and briefly, her ex-husband Tad's, which was interesting for its brief moment too.

But otherwise the story follows the two guys as they go from their lowly jobs to even lowlier places -- prison, criminal court, a shady car dealership and an even shadier compound run by a band of scary white supremacists. We observe all this through the eyes of these characters and feel, hear, see and smell every sordid detail as they do. I found the writing captivating even though I wanted to get the hell away from these places.

Bunny and Jerry seem somewhat interchangeable; there are some minor differences, but they react to every problem in very similar ways. But it's a small issue and perhaps testament to the fact that they're ultimately the only true friends helping friends.

[Desiree · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded down.

I dunno, it was just ok. A shallow-ish crime drama, I guess? Characters were very flat, writing was extremely "tell not show." The ending felt like the author was rushing to add in some random interesting bits (Hey! Let's make those crypto breadcrumbs pay off in a very obvious way!), and tie up the story in a generic, feel-good way.

I think I've burnt myself out on crime/mystery for the year. It's my own fault.

[Matt Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sketchy premise and odd narrative, could’ve been so much better.

[mulv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really know what to expect with this one as white nationalism isn't really my preferred reading material BUT i was so engrossed with the story in this one, I couldn't put it down. I loved the flawed characters and the story of what I imagine is quite a common occurrence for young men of a certain economic background, having to enter the world of crime just to get by and getting themselves into situations they struggle to get out of without some sort of comeuppance. I liked Bunny, he seemed like a nice kid who got caught up with the wrong crowd from the beginning. This is more than a story of a crime gone wrong and a young man being taken advantage of, it's also a story of finding family in others, the lengths we'll go to to survive, identity, the things we do for love and respect AND what defines us as human beings. Is it nature? nurture? experiences? why do we dislike great swathes of people? and for what? also, Helen! LOVED HER. I'd have read a full novel just about what she was up to! The only downside I'd say was the structuring of the book, it takes a while to get used to but perhaps that may chance with the final print.

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the ARC! <3

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book really reminded me of "Since the Layoffs" and "The Anthology" both in tone and in content.

A vaguely racist MMC takes no responsibility for the consequences of his actions and makes a lot of presumptions about the people he encounters, similar to Holden Caufield. It then makes perfect sense when he gets tangled up in infiltrating a white supremacist group.

A good read but doesn't add anything super new to the narrative. The author plays in to archaic stereotypes that he's clearly never encountered. This is a book for men and nothing like I would have expected from the cover. But I enjoyed it as much as I would an action movie.


The author imbeds each character with deep seated hate, so as to make the MMC seem better. The book does not pass the bechdel test and the women in the book disrespect themselves, thus the minus 1 star.

[Jan Rhein · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pointless book. I don’t understand why it was written or why my library purchased it.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

not a good book. the premise sounded interesting. the writing is not good, all the sentences are short and choppy and there is an abundance of telling and little to no showing. despite being an interesting story in theory it couldn’t keep my attention and all the male characters imagine having sex with or assaulting the women near them every five seconds and all the women think about is men. dare i say misogynistic?

I would like to add that perhaps it just wasn’t for me but I didn’t find any of the characters like able enough to really continue, everyone just made me feel icky.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother recently asked me what “noir” means in the context in which I often use it: reading and watching. I tried to explain to her that noir isn’t the same as classic mystery or hardboiled in that there’s an event that happens that permanently changes the behaviors of all persons, drawing them into difficult circumstances. But that felt like a weak definition to me. So I’ll roll with Megan Abbott’s classic definition in this interview with LitHub…

In noir, everyone is fallen, and right and wrong are not clearly defined and maybe not even attainable. In that sense, noir speaks to us powerfully right now, when certain structures of authority don’t make sense any longer, and we wonder: Why should we abide by them?

I lift this up because Patrick Hoffman is a great example of a modern day noir writer.

Hoffman’s from the ground-floor-to-the-penthouse crime tales are imbued with a sense of verisimilitude into how crime actually works in America. They’re not sensationalist but they capture all the gory details in fiction form. It helps that Hoffman is a true-to-life private investigator who actually knows his stuff. Everything about his books feels real.

Every Man a Menace is one of the best looks at the drug trade ever; examining all the moving (and disposable parts) of a massive heroin shipment. Clean Hands didn’t impress me as much as it should but I think that’s because my standards were too high; it’s a very good look at corporate espionage in New York City.

Friends Helping Friends, a little ditty on class in America, falls in the middle. Eschewing views of the big players this time, Hoffman focuses mostly on the little guys sucked into the federal war on white supremacists. While fighting white supremacists in America is an ennobling thing to do, Hoffman examines in detail the dirty tactics used on Bunny to force him into a dangerous undercover role for which he is ill suited. Another example of how someone gets lost in the system.

Each of Hoffman’s books has had a different end and they’re never predictable, nor is this one. Hoffman isn’t trying to shock you; he’s simply telling a story. Either way, I appreciated this ending, though I didn’t expect it at all. One has to appreciate a writer who can keep us guessing. It’s increasingly rare in the crime genre.

The plot meanders a bit and I wish Hoffman had spent more time developing the machinations of the ranch but this is still a great crime novel from someone who only gifts us with new work every 4-6 years. It’s worth the wait.

[Robert Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Hoffman walks a fine line between social comment, gritty urban realism, satire and caper in his latest novel Friends Helping Friends. But by walking this line he manages to be informative, insightful and entertaining. Even the title is a sly dig at the various real and predatory and accidental relationships that power this novel.
When Friends Helping Friends opens Bunny Simpson is being arrested. It turns out that the crime Bunny committed was helping his friend Jerry beat up the ex-husband of lawyer Helen, who commissioned the deed while tweaked on the steroids that Jerry sells her. What the pair don’t know is that Helen’s ex-husband is a judge and soon they are facing serious jail time. But Bunny is thrown a lifeline by a pair of cops – they can get him out if he agrees to go undercover with a white supremist organisation that is run by his uncle. As that undercover operation goes on though, Bunny, and readers may start to suspect that nothing about this deal is what it seems.
Friends Helping Friends can be fairly dark. It takes readers into the prison system and later into a training camp for white supremacists. And there is no such thing as a truly good person in Bunny’s world, just shifting shades of grey. But there are webs of co-dependence and people doing favours for each other. So that when Jerry tries to lean on Helen to post bail for him, Helen enlists the help of gym buddy and casual hook-up Sam. But the darkness is leavened by the almost comical interactions of the characters and Hoffman’s side-eyed view of society. It helps also that the narrative will occasionally skew in directions that readers do not expect but in ways that all build on that web of connections.
Overall, Hoffman has actually delivered a kind of heist caper novel in a kind of Coen Brothers vein. And while the full shape of this does not come clear until very late in the piece, the set up and progress of it keep the novel from descending into some potentially very dark places. And while there are plenty of bizarre characters the plot itself anchors around Bunny who despite occasionally doing bad things, and possibly has a bit of a violent streak, is a character that readers can cheer for.

[Howard Cincotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends Helping Friends, while packed with plenty of entertaining low-lifes, never quite achieves the level of crime comedy that it aspires to.

The problem is the language, which is just adequate. Plenty of gritty, even vivid detail, but the writing never attains the snap and rhythm that an Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen would bring to these scenes. Too often, author Patrick Hoffman reaches for dark comedy but just comes up with dark snapshots of the American underbelly. The people are sad when they should be both sadder and funnier.

The problem isn’t the plot: there’s plenty of action for our hapless duo, Bunny Simpson and Jerry LeClair — from a mugging-gone-wrong to drug dealing, white nationalists, undercover ops, and incels with guns.

And we certainly have the requisite rogue’s gallery of characters: weightlifting female lawyer with a grudge, white nationalist uncle with a penchant for violence, and a couple of amoral ATF agents. Plus a sad collection of minor figures who are barely hanging on the wrong end of the American dream.

The women are invariably depicted as worn out by too many cigarettes or years in the sun. The men are worse: squinty-eyed, overweight, and thuggish. They have just enough energy to deal drugs or build a compound from which to launch an attack of racist violence.

The Bunny-Jerry relationship is the novel’s redeeming core. Their friendship is what gets them into serious trouble by agreeing to beat up lawyer Helen’s ex-husband. But the friendship will, in the end, save themselves from a series of otherwise disastrous choices.

Still, neither Bunny nor Jerry can quite figure out Helen, especially when a possible pot of crypto money surfaces. As a reader, I had a hard time figuring out Helen, too. Sure, she experiences steroid-induced anger associated with her obsessive weightlifting. But what induces her to maintain a relationship with sad-sack Jerry, especially after she achieves a sullen peace with her ex-husband and his pregnant younger wife?

In the end, I just wished that all the bubbling ingredients had been seasoned and simmered into a better tasting stew.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler alert**** (kind of? if you want to read this book and mind key details then I wouldn't read this)

Solid book. Took me much longer than expected, but only because life and school got in the way. Anyhow, I liked how the title "Friends Helping Friends" is an underlying remark as to how nasty some people are. Tod, Ted, or whatever your name is, you are an absolute menace to society.
I didn't like Jerry or Bunny in the beginning. I thought they would snitch on each other once they spoke to the DA, but their loyal friendship surprised me, and in the end I found myself rooting for them and their escape/survival/getaway life. I like the "will they, won't they" dynamic between Helen and Jerry. I genuinely believe that the plot of this book either has happened or will happen – the fact that the characters go through enough shit makes it believable.
Hoffman might also be awarded the hat for literary genius because what do you mean this book is one chapter? 200 something pages and there was good flow? Consistent with switching the POV between three different characters and still making it clear who's boss (main character)? I'm impressed.
However I do have one remark- and it isn't specifically towards Patrick Hoffman but rather all current authors attempting to play the role of a parent trying to relate to their teenage child. I hate, hate, hate, any mention of real social media in books. When Jerry was "scrolling on TikTok" I considered putting the book down and dnf-ing it. But fear not- I pushed through. My point is (and I hope others will agree with this as well), no one wants to be reminded of the real world when they are reading fiction! It's awkward and makes us physically cringe.
I do however love the idea that Jerry wants to escape to California, San Diego in particular. Me too, bud. Me too.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunny Simpson, the protagonist of Patrick Hoffman’s oddly affecting crime novel, grew up poor in Grand Junction, Colorado. Now in his 20s and working at a convenience store in Denver, his needs are few --- help his uncle pay rent, save a little money, maybe start a business one day. His best friend, Jerry LeClair, fantasizes about moving to California.

So when Helen McCalla, an attorney who buys drugs from Jerry, asks him to scare her ex-husband who happens to be a local judge, he agrees...for a fee. When he begs his pal to help out, Bunny is at first reluctant, but he needs the money and figures it’s just friends helping friends. Right?

When the cops discover that it was Bunny and Jerry roughing up the judge and send both to prison, they make a deal with Bunny that will clear his record. He must infiltrate a group of white supremacists and steal a notebook from a safe in their command center. Though the cops keep telling Bunny that they’re his friends, they don’t act like it. So after he carries out the theft, he decides that maybe he should keep it to himself. What he and Jerry do with it takes the story from a plot focused on small-time criminals to an exhilarating caper.

The characters, each carrying baggage from his or her past that constrains future prospects, are well drawn and sympathetic. And while the depiction of various lowlifes in and out of the band of white supremacist misogynists is dispiriting, there are plenty of funny or affecting scenes to offset the gloom.

Each time it seems that the direction of the novel’s trajectory is obvious, the narrative takes a sharp turn --- and readers of FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS are rewarded with yet another startling perspective.

Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Patrick Hoffman’s "Friends Helping Friends" is a gripping and unflinching dive into loyalty, deception, and the blurred lines between survival and betrayal. True to Hoffman’s style, the novel delivers a high-stakes thriller that moves with relentless energy, keeping readers on edge as they navigate a world where trust is a currency—and often a dangerous gamble.

"Friends Helping Friends" explores the dynamics of power and manipulation through sharply drawn characters whose motivations remain elusive. The novel thrives on its unpredictability; every decision carries weight, every alliance holds the potential for disaster. Hoffman’s prose is lean and electrifying, mirroring the urgency of the narrative while allowing space for introspection. His ability to craft morally complex characters ensures that readers are constantly reevaluating allegiances and questioning outcomes.

Hoffman doesn’t rush his reveals; instead, he builds tension organically, layering small moments of suspicion until they boil over into explosive confrontations. There’s a distinct cinematic quality to his storytelling—raw, atmospheric, and almost tactile in its intensity.

The novel’s themes—loyalty, survival, and the cost of friendship—linger long after the final page. Hoffman once again proves his ability to construct gripping narratives that challenge perceptions and redefine the boundaries of trust in high-risk environments. For readers who crave a thriller that is intellectually engaging and emotionally charged, "Friends Helping Friends" is a standout.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Patrick Hoffman, the author of Friends Helping Friends for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

This is my first time reading Patrick Hoffman's work, and I truly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. The story's premise is very simple: Bunny will get $500 to beat someone up; however, he doesn't know this will later spiral into a disastrous chaos that makes him choose to either get involved in his uncle's white nationalist group or go to prison for 10 years. The story is very engaging, just when I think it cannot get worse, things get worse and Bunny has a lot more mess to deal with. The language is simple but effective. There are only brief mentions about Bunny's childhood trauma, but they give me chills every time.

I also can't help but notice the satirical message this book delivers. The title is Friends Helping Friends, and in the book Bunny gets involved with two cops who keep telling Bunny that they are friends, but whenever Bunny refuses to do something they ask him to do, they will lash out on Bunny and become aggressive and threaten him. Is that what friends do?

Overall I really like this book and can't wait to read more work of Hoffman's.

[Kate Czyzewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS is a fantastic, gritty, thrill of a novel!
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I had the pleasure of meeting Patrick last year at a party hosted by Mysterious Bookshop and he is a wonderful author!
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The story of FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS starts with Bunny, a cigarette store clerk and Jerry, his drug-dealing pal. When Jerry gets caught up with Helen, one of his clients- the story begins. Helen has asked Jerry to beat up her ex-husband for money. Jerry pulls Bunny in on the act, as Jerry is desperate for money to support his "uncle" who he helps to take care of.
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When the two end up arrested for their actions, Bunny is offered a plea deal he can't refuse- going undercover in a white nationalist group.
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All the characters in this novel, both major and minor may not be the best of folks, but they aren't the worst either. What I loved about Patrick's book was how much he developed Bunny, Jerry and Helen. The reader can judge their decisions, yet sympathize when the characters feel they have no other way out of certain situations.
.
My reading goal this year was to continue to read genres that I am not always initially drawn to and I'm so glad I did!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends Helping Friends is a gripping story about Bunny and Jerry, two friends who appear to mean well but find themselves in trouble after needing money. Jerry offers Bunny $500 to beat up the cheating ex-husband of a woman he knows and is interested in. Helen is a body-builder and, since taking steroids, becomes increasingly more vengeful. Bunny and Jerry are arrested for the attack but Bunny is given an opportunity - avoid prison by taking a plea deal and going under cover in a white nationalist group under federal investigation. Quickly, he becomes involved in this hostile and toxic environment, knowing full well he would be killed if the men found out he was a snitch.

This is a gripping and captivating book, making the reader question morally ambiguous scenarios. It is written simply to reflect the life of Bunny, and delves into complex topics such as toxic masculinity, religion and the darker aspects of human nature.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunny is such a captivating character to follow! It almost felt like the other characters were playing a game of catch-up, never quite reaching the same depth of development as Bunny.

Don’t be fooled by the cover. The peachy background and rounded letters had me expecting something entirely different, but the premise quickly set my expectations straight.

The plot moves at a fast pace, and while there are a few moments where minor plot points appear without really going anywhere, Friends Helping Friends still delivered exactly what I was hoping for: raw, unfiltered conversations, a gripping storyline, and a well-developed main character.

The title is a fitting snapshot of the story – friends helping friends. It explores toxic masculinity and the consequences of poor decision-making, all of which round up to a satisfying read. I’d recommend it to fans of the genre!

Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and the author of Friends Helping Friendss for this ARC.

[Jamie Cheval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I rate this 3 stars. It’s an easy read with a satisfying ending. I liked how the characters spoke to each other in a realistic way. I’m not sure if this was meant to be a crime parody, but I didn’t think it was funny at all. The book is full of morally ambiguous low-lifes who make bad decision after bad decision.

I feel like this book should have been more entertaining and thrilling than it was. There was plenty of action, I just didn’t feel particularly interested in finding out what happened to any of the characters. I don’t think I’m a fan of this writer’s style, as the writing seemed a bit choppy at times. I’m also confused as to why Helen continued to have Jerry and Bunny in her life. I didn’t really “get” her as a character.

I didn’t like this book enough to recommend it. It had potential, but ultimately fell flat in its execution.

[Suraj Patil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read ARC on Netgalley. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher.

TDLR:

4/5

a very well written book about two friends who get involved into a mess. Both the main characters are likable and the story is good.

Bunny and Jerry are two friends who are paid to beat up a lawyer's ex husband. They're then arrested and then one thing leads to another and they end up helping the police to crack a white nationalist group.

Both the main characters are extremely likable and well fleshed out and the best part is they aren't hateful or plotting against each other

The book tackles lot of serious topics but they gell together so well in the plot that it doesn't feel like a book about taking down a white nationalist group

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sure, we’ll beat him up for ya. Nothing too nasty. Friends helping friends, right…”

Bunny Simpson’s best friend Jerry has a proposition for him- $500 for help beating up a guy. Bunny is reluctant to do it, but agrees. Jerry and Bunny don’t know that the guy they’ve been hire to beat up is a judge. And that lands them in a lot of trouble. The police have no trouble arresting the pair. Federal agents offer Bunny a deal -infiltrate and gather information on a white nationalist group run by Bunny’s uncle. Bunny is thrown into a world of extreme violence. Can Bunny survive being a snitch and escape with his life? Swipe to read the full summary.

Friendship is at the heart of this story- mostly Bunny’s and Jerry’s friendship. They might be misguided and directionless, but they’re really not bad guys. They’re best friends and their actions through out the book prove how loyal they are and how much they deeply care for each other. It was really refreshing to see genuine friendship like this in a crime fiction novel. And since it is crime fiction, there was lots of conflict, twists and turns.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Jacques Roy provides a top notch narration, giving Bunny and Jerry depth and emotion. Kudos to author Patrick Hoffman for a unique and riveting thriller with male characters that show a real depth of emotion and who I really cared about. Definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re looking for a unique thriller with engaging characters and a satisfying ending.

[Suzanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wherever you think this book is going, you're wrong! This book was full of twists and it was quite a fun ride.

This book addresses some important topics, but doesn't add anything significantly meaningful to the narrative. I feel like more of a 'lesson' could have been provided with more reflection from the characters.

The characters were great. Not great people, but as characters they really helped build the story.

The ending was satisfying, although a bit rushed. Ultimately, I would have liked more of the book. But it's an easy read with straightforward writing and dialogue and I quite enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunny just wanted a happy and better life as did his friend Jerry but they took a lot of wrong decisions that put them in jail. They had to deal with murderer white nationalists, cops who wanted to rob someone's money, and a hurt woman who also wanted to have a happy, normal life and a family. Friends Helping Friends could be a true story in most parts and it just shows as decisions big or small affect the lives of many and may put people in danger or in simple bliss. I liked Bunny's and Jerry's characters, they were simpleton boys who had no big dreams but reached them.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Mary Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know how to review this book. It was either brilliantly written as a story being told in the same mind frame as the characters who were featured OR it was shabbily written.
For example, Bunny and Jerry may not have explored the whole idea of white supremacy training on the ranch and, therefore, neither did the author OR maybe Patrick Hoffman may have left that part of the plot undeveloped.

This is my first Patrick Hoffman book, so I have no frame of reference.

So, I will stay neutral and give it three stars.

This is a book club book choice. I will be anxious to see what others think.

[Tina T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends Helping Friends is a tense, morally charged crime novel that spirals from a small favor into a life or death descent. Patrick Hoffman masterfully turns an everyday act of loyalty into a nightmare of undercover danger, where conscience, survival, and betrayal collide.

Bunny Simpson is an unforgettable protagonist ordinary, flawed, and painfully human caught between prison and infiltration, friendship and self preservation. As the story plunges into the brutal inner workings of a white nationalist cell, the tension never lets up. This is crime fiction at its sharpest: gritty, unsettling, and impossible to put down.