Review: The Good Samaritan - Toni Halleen

Review: The Good Samaritan - Toni Halleen - March 2025

The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of redemption, moral choices, and the consequences of helping others—even when it might be the wrong thing to do.

Matthew Larkin, a sociology professor whose life has unraveled in the wake of his toddler son’s death, is barely holding it together. After a messy divorce, the estrangement of his daughter, and the loss of his job, Matthew is clinging to the last thread of stability with a new tenure-track position at a small college. But life has a way of testing you when you're already at your breaking point, and that test comes on a desolate stretch of road one stormy evening.

Caught in a hailstorm, Matthew’s attention is drawn to a small child huddled under a tarpaulin. The boy is unconscious, soaked, and potentially hypothermic. In a split-second decision, Matthew makes the choice to rescue him, even though it means putting himself at risk. But when the boy wakes and frantically pleads with Matthew not to take him to the hospital or call the police, the situation spirals into a moral quagmire. As Matthew faces the prospect of saving this child, he must grapple with his grief, guilt, and the urge to make amends for his past.

What follows is an intense, slow-burn thriller where every decision Matthew makes seems to lead him further down a dangerous path. This book explores the themes of guilt, redemption, and moral ambiguity, asking the question: if you could redeem yourself, at what cost? This is a gripping, thought-provoking novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

Fans of psychological thrillers with a deep emotional core will be hooked from the first chapter. The Good Samaritan is a must-read for anyone who loves a morally complex story that keeps you questioning what you would do in Matthew’s shoes.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RxNhEN