Body Count: The new 2025 revenge thriller from the bestselling author of BAD MEN

by Julie Mae Cohen

Serial killer Saffy Huntley-Oliver's life is going great.

She's got a fabulous new boyfriend, Jonathan. She has literally got away with murder. And now that she's no longer single, she can get back to her favourite killing bad men.

Particularly Sir Thomas West, a children's TV star who truly deserves to die.

But there are a few little snags. For one, her beloved sister Susie is still dating that insufferable Finlay. For another, Sir Thomas has a very large bodyguard. And Jonathan himself has given up his job investigating true crime, despite all the tempting corpses that Saffy keeps putting in his way.

All of this would be easy to ignore in the flush of new love. Except Saffy's never been in love before, and it's weird. She's having difficulty separating romance from homicide. Especially when someone discovers Saffy's secret hobby and starts sending Jonathan coded messages about her crimes.

Is someone trying to break them up? Or trying to hunt her down?

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2025

About the author

I love talking with readers - for 1:1s and Book Club visits, find me on Skolay: http://www.skolay.com/writers/julie-c...

Julie Mae Cohen is the darker side of author Julie Cohen, a million-copy bestselling, award-winning author of book club fiction.

Her first thriller, BAD MEN, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, and was shortlisted for the RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award.

She grew up in the USA and lives in the UK with her family and a terrier of dubious origin. Her Google search history is very weird.

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BAD MEN walked so BODY COUNT could run!!! this was SO good i can't believe she left us on a cliffhanger. anyway when is the next book coming out cause i needed it yesterday

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed some novels in this style, so I thought I would enjoy this too. Others may enjoy its darker, twisty style, but this one just wasn't for me.

[Erin Ezza Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused as to what the point of this book was, I thought it was going somewhere and then it went absolutely no where. Being generous by saying 3 stars. Did not enjoy.

[Dani ~ Booksbrewsandbees · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female serial killer who kills men which treat people badly? What more could I want in a book!

Saffy is a rich, upper class girl socialite whose addiction is murder. Her motive is always to kill men who have been abusive in their life - just like her stepdad who was abusive towards her as a child! Her boyfriend Jonathan is a true crime writer and always seems to be surrounded by bodies - a match made in heaven - although she can’t confess that the crimes he investigates were committed by Saffy herself.

Saffys latest target is an old kids TV presenter who likes kids a bit too much but she finds that she has competition in wanting to be the one to murder him.

While working on her new relationship and covering up her murders, Saffy also has to deal with her sister’s obnoxious boyfriend.

Will Saffy continue to get away with her crimes or will her past catch up with her?

This is book 2 in a series and although this can be read as a standalone book like I did, I think the first book covers how Saffy and Jonathan met and explains more about how her ‘hobby’ began.

The characters were great - even though Saffy kills people, you want her to succeed! Jonathan is a loveable nerd and her sisters boyfriend really is a creep.

I enjoyed the storyline and the plot of vengeance seeking serial killer - it was a bit like a female version of Dexter.

This was a really fun read and I’m definitely going to go back and read book 1. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m assuming there’ll be another book which I will eagerly look out for!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saffy is a fabulous rich young lady living in London, who just also happens to be a psycho serial killer.
She’s determined to rid the world of ‘bad men’ following a traumatic childhood
It’s an amazing sequel to Bad Men and can be read as a stand-alone as Saffy has a clever way of talking in first person, filling in any history
Thanks @juliecohenauthor, @bonnierbooks & @netgalley for the dark, funny read - bad men beware

[Nikki Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saffy, Jon, Susie Sue and a whole cast of wonderful characters scratch the reader’s cathartic itch once again. Girl still loathes Saffy and Saffy is astonishingly adept at getting everyone (except the dog) she loves into terrible trouble. Well, tbh, she doesn’t love Girl, does she?
Once again not enough murders or pages, Saffy’s sojourns on my Kindle really don’t last long enough. Can’t wait for the next book - there will be one, surely, please Ms Author, please…

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body Count is a devilishly funny, darkly humorous thriller. Saffy Huntingley-Oliver is back and she likes to kill bad men .I have read the previous books so was pleased to be given the chance to read this one ,such a fun read which left an ending ready for hopefully the next book .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Anna Sawlani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot goodreads existed apparently. I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. I found it entertaining and light/funny, despite the dark themes and yaknow… murder. I’m a bit disappointed by the ending but I’m guessing that it’s leading to another book to pick up the story, but I was just left feeling like I wanted something more? I’m still confused as to how I feel 😂

[Shanice Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel with Saffy and that the story picked up where the first ended.

A nice easy read with some light crime and humour. Hoping that with the way it ended this means there will be a third book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for this ARC.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this story and the main character. I am just so slightly disappointed in the end.
I will read another one if there will come a book after this one tho.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK ~

Cliffhanger!!

Great book but you are left abruptly at the end on a cliffhanger which is so frustrating!

[Molly Toone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just think it's fun

[Sara-Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book has legs. A female serial killer that kills men that are bad to people? Sounds great and gives thematically the exploration of morals, right and wrong and the dichotomy of are you good if you kill bad people?
Unfortunately overall this book fell flat for me and I was completely distracted and pulled out of the story by the disconnect of location, setting and how jarring the Americanised language being used was. ‘Cops’, ‘county lines’, ‘homicide agents’ and so many other terms, in Kensington London??? Really? It also switches between that language and it meant to be a high society fmc that's your rich Kensington type but she uses the terms coppers etc. What is she? A made in Chelsea rich bitch, a Kray? Or an American?
Honestly it would have been better making her American and making that clear so that there wasn't an identity crisis going on.
I'm giving this three stars, purely because I enjoyed the dark humour and the premise of it, as the rest was awful.