Title: A Good Man by Ani Katz
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 224 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
A dark and gripping novel of psychological suspense about a family man driven to unspeakable acts, in the vein of The Perfect Nanny and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Thomas Martin was a devoted family man who had all the trappings of an enviable life: a beautiful wife and daughter, a well-appointed home on Long Island’s north shore, a job at a prestigious Manhattan advertising firm. He was also a devoted son and brother, shielding the women in his orbit from the everyday brutalities of the world.
But what happens when Thomas’s fragile ego is rocked? After committing a horrific deed — that he can never undo — Thomas grapples with his sense of self. Sometimes he casts himself as a victim and, at other times, a monster. All he ever did was try to be a good man, but maybe if he tells his version of the story, he might uncover how and why things unraveled so horribly.
Review:
A Good Man by Ani Katz is an unsettling novel with ominous overtones.
Thomas Martin takes pride in caring for his wife Miriam and their eleven year old daughter Ava. He is well settled into his career with an advertising agency. Thomas and Miriam own a lovely home and Ava is enrolled in an exclusive school. But all is not perfect in his world. His childhood was dysfunctional and even now, his mom and sisters live an eccentric life. Ava has made a huge error in judgment. Real world tragedies are unfolding all around him. So when Thomas’s life takes an unexpected turn, his reaction leads him to make shocking decisions that are irreversible.
On the surface, Thomas’s narration of events seems straight forward and honest. His childhood is dysfunctional but he has managed to build a good life for himself. Thomas is deeply in love with Miriam but is their life as idyllic as he presents? His career is on upward swing but his current pitch is stressful. As Thomas’s story unfolds, it becomes clear his impressions and memories might not be quite accurate. As Thomas’s life begins to spiral, can his narration and recollections be trusted?
A Good Man is a dark yet absolutely mesmerizing character study. Over the course of the story, it does not take long to realize Thomas’s perspective of events is a little skewed. With a heavy sense of foreboding, Ani Katz brings this suspenseful and troubling debut to a completely shocking conclusion. A deeply disquieting read that is as riveting as it is disturbing.
