Review of Good Man Gone

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Good Man Gone" by Peter McPhie.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Addicts to the thriller genre, such as me, know better than anyone that the adage that says “there’s nothing new under the sun” is true. But...is it? With all the elements of domestic noir, Peter McPhie created an original and addictive story with turns you can’t see coming. Chester is a nice guy who meets stunning Candace in a restaurant and is swept right off his feet by her quick wit and dumbfounding honesty. With time, they build an apparently average marriage that includes an adorable little girl, Amara. But Candace has a troubling past. How far would you go for love? Why would Chester plan a murder? Who will save whom in this labyrinthine analysis of the human mind?

I have nothing but good things to say about Good Man Gone. It is hard to keep the reader glued to the pages without a fast-paced plot and high-stakes, but McPhie achieves it with mastery. The first half of the story is so apparently simple and straightforward that I think there’s a bit of sorcery in the way it keeps the reader turning pages. The second half is a wild ride where the reader gets one curveball after another. Furthermore, the congruence of the characters is remarkable: the author lays down their motives and backstories, and they fit perfectly on an unpredictable plot. Quite commendable, too, is the way McPhie handles mental illness in the novel. While it’s usually a quick way out for authors desperate for a twist, McPhie takes a deeply misunderstood illness and makes it work faultlessly and respectfully for the people who suffer from it.

The editing mistakes are the only diminutive tarnish in an otherwise flawless novel. These are minor, such as unnecessary hyphens and misplaced italics, and I hope they’re fixed, so we get a superb piece of fiction.

I would love nothing more than to give this fantastic novel a perfect rating. It has an original plot, masterfully developed characters, a refreshing hint of humor, perfect pacing, and a commendable understanding of an often misapplied mental illness. It saddens me but, due to the over ten editing mistakes, I rate Good Man Gone by Peter McPhie 3 out of 4 stars.

Everyone who loves a good mystery, especially but not only domestic noir and psychological thrillers, readers who like unusual love stories or interesting analyses of human behavior should read Good Man Gone. Aspiring writers could learn a lot from the way Peter McPhie constructs his characters and his plot. I would not recommend this novel to readers who like traditional romance stories or who prefer fantasy or sci-fi.

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Good Man Gone
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[sunny4life]

Very well curated review, perfectly frames the storyline. Would like to give this a read.

[Ailakhu Yusau Aizhebiomon]

The reviewer have no doubt made this book more intriguing and of course, increase my urge to read the book.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Very well curated review, perfectly frames the storyline. Would like to give this a read.

Oh, you should!
Thank you for your kind words!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

The reviewer have no doubt made this book more intriguing and of course, increase my urge to read the book.

And I couldn't say that much because of spoilers.
Thank you for your comment!

[The frant1c reader]

Your review is so good! It convinced me to read this book! Terrific review!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Your review is so good! It convinced me to read this book! Terrific review!

Thank you for your kind words!

[Deprise Evans]

Your review is excellent! I was hooked just within reading the first few sentences. I will definitely have to pick up this book, it sounds so good. Such a great review!

[WADonnelly]

Great review, a very compelling read. Thank you for this great review to read.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Great review, a very compelling read. Thank you for this great review to read.

Thank you for your kind words!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Your review is excellent! I was hooked just within reading the first few sentences. I will definitely have to pick up this book, it sounds so good. Such a great review!

Thank you. I'm humbled. But I'm glad I was able to convey how good this story is!

[Chukwuebuka Ifedigbo]

This book is both informative and thought-provoking. I am eager to read it soon. Thanks for this!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

This book is both informative and thought-provoking. I am eager to read it soon. Thanks for this!

I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!

[Becca Olsson]

This sounds like a captivating story. It’s been so long since I’ve read a story that can hold my attention like that. Thanks for the great review!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

This sounds like a captivating story. It’s been so long since I’ve read a story that can hold my attention like that. Thanks for the great review!

It is. I hadn't finished a book so fast in a long time...
Thank you for your comment!