Five Bad Deeds - by Caz Frear (Paperback)

About the Book

"Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen, Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, declaring: People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I'm going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose. Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She's no angel--a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there--but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She'd never intentionally hurt anyone. But intention doesn't matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed 'good person' for all the bad they've experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else's. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?"--

Book Synopsis

"An involving, layered, and thrilling story of secrets, lies, and revenge, Five Bad Deeds takes us far beneath the surface of suburban bliss into the dark heart of human desire. . . . Riveting!" --Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

"[A] devastating suspense novel. . . . A must-read for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Acclaimed, internationally bestselling author Caz Frear ratchets up the suspense in this outstanding standalone psychological thriller--a gripping tale of revenge, loyalty, and the secrets hidden between the walls of the most beautiful home in town.

Ellen Walsh has done something very, very bad. If only she knew what it was . . .

Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, declaring:

People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen.

And I'm going to teach you that lesson.

Right under your nose.

Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She's no angel--a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there--but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She'd never intentionally hurt anyone.

But intention doesn't matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed "good person" for all the bad they've experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else's. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?

As she races to discover who's set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages . . . each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes.

Review Quotes

"A dark and smart page-turner." - New York Times on Sweet Little Lies
"Brilliant . . . so clever and the characters felt real. Whip-smart and perfectly executed." - C.J. Tudor
?"A page-grippingly good read." - National Examiner
"Exceptional. . . . quickly ramps up the fear factor. . . . Five Bad Deeds skillfully taps into the ennui of small-town life, frenemies, and jealous relatives."
- Oline Cogdill, Shelf Awareness
"Caz Frear writes with depth, intensity and insight as she relentlessly turns the screws of suspense. An involving, layered, and thrilling story of secrets, lies, and revenge, Five Bad Deeds takes us far beneath the surface of suburban bliss into the dark heart of human desire. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Riveting!" - Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
"A twisty domestic-suspense thriller. . . will likely appeal to readers of Shari Lapena, Sally Hepworth, Jamie Day, and Melissa Adelman." - Booklist
"I've been a Caz Frear fan ever since I discovered her Cat Kinsella series, and with Five Bad Deeds, Frear blends another seriously twisty storyline with her unmistakable, signature wit. But this suspenseful tale is so much more as it digs into how we perceive ourselves vs. how we're seen by others, and you may find yourself wondering what seemingly innocuous things you've done in your past that others will never forgive you for. Smart, cunning, and compelling, Five Bad Deeds will surprise you page after page until the very end. A fantastic, binge-worthy read!" - Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of The Revenge List
"A big high-five for Caz Frear's Five Bad Deeds--a page-gripping, nail-gnawing good read." - Cara Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of Murder in the Family
"Caz Frear, with her almost freakish gift for witty, rapid-fire dialogue and sharp observations, gives this portrait of a flawed woman targeted for destruction the tone of a screwball comedy, albeit an edgy one. I confess to not guessing the identity of Ellen's tormentor, but belatedly realizing the clues were there all along, lurking in the quiet spaces among all that coruscating prose. Well played, Ms. Frear." - Air Mail
"Fans of Three Perfect Liars and any other domestic thriller will love Caz Frear's latest." - Katie Couric Media
"An utterly compelling, superbly characterized, constantly fascinating mystery. I read with my eyes inches from the pages as each new reveal unfolded, and the final reveal was superb." - Gytha Lodge, author of A Killer in the Family
"Deliciously waspish, twisty, and relatable." - Claire McGowan, author of Are You Awake? and What You Did
"A suspenseful novel about revenge and justice." - The Story Exchange
"A psychological triumph. . . . Well-plotted and deliciously edgy." - Kirkus Reviews
"[A] devastating suspense novel . . . .This is a must-read for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Deliciously wicked." - Crimereads, Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Fall
"A gripping mystery." - People on Sweet Little Lies
"Astonishingly assured. . . . A stellar crime fiction debut by an author to watch." - Crime by the Book on Sweet Little Lies
"A sumptuously unsettling mystery that lives up to all the hype. . . . This is the kind of mystery Agatha Christie would have penned these days if she were still alive." - Jon Land, Providence Journal, on Stone Cold Heart
"Frear's complex plotting, vivid and nuanced characterization and realistic dialogue confirm her stature as a top-notch practitioner of the genre." - Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA) on Shed No Tears
"Frear is clearly separating herself from the overcrowded pack of writers in the mystery genre and carving out her own unique path. . . Readers better catch on quickly before new authors in the genre start being called 'the new Caz Frear.'" - BookReporter on Shed No Tears
"A dark, addictive, suburban nightmare. Five Bad Deeds is an edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night delight." - Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End