Necessary Deeds

by Mark Wish

Matt Connell, a formerly successful literary agent who' s been in prison for four years for a crime of passion— homicide by strangulation after learning his wife slept with a friend— receives an early release from Sing Sing to join an FBI undercover investigation of multiple murders in Manhattan. Killings continue to mount as Matt does his best to calm his “ Ferrari brain” — a condition in which his mind accelerates wildly into negative thoughts and worst-case scenarios— even as he falls in love with a suspect, then discovers disturbing truths about his past and hers. When he finds his own life in danger, can he stand up for the Bureau' s heralded principles of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity? Not to mention genuine love?

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Alice Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, noir-ish, original and elegantly written, Necessary Deeds is gritty literary fiction disguised as a whiplash mystery thriller that weaves an unpredictable story narrated by a fish-out-of-water literary agent who is offered a chance at redemption by the FBI to solve a string of brutal killings. Highly recommend this fast-paced read.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a real page turner. Mark Wish has delivered a fun, compact, noir-ish whodunnit that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Matt Connell, a successful (former) NYC literary agent, is sprung from prison by the FBI to help them in their search for a serial killer focusing on young authors with big advances. Matt's insights into the book publishing world may help them catch the killer before he or she strikes again. Along the way we get Matt's backstory of why he was imprisoned, his take on the current state of NYC publishing, his clandestine meetings with the FBI to discuss the case, and maybe even a new love interest.

I liked all the characters and I miss them already. Hopefully Wish will continue this as a series: Matt Connell, double agent (FBI and literary).

[Ellen Symons · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish had me from first words to last. It’s a layered, tense, riveting & satisfying story. The characters, beautifully untrustworthy, had me thrillingly unsettled all the way through. The protagonist, Matt Connell, is smart, clever, and likable, but gullible, and also: hardly innocent. He’s central to investigating multiple murders, yet he is the antithesis—or antidote?—to the typical accidental detective who solves crimes and emerges as a hero. Matt Connell may win in the end—but you’ll have to draw your own conclusions about that.

The writing is clean, smart, funny, and touching, and the poetry is perfect for the story and integral to the plot. Mark Wish steeps his characters in the potent broth of a New York City summer, the FBI’s self-interest, and the seedy dishonesty of a big-city publishing world, and they emerge smelling exactly as they should.

I’ll need at least a second read of this one to appreciate the nuances of how Wish has made it work.

[Samantha R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank god that’s over. Character’s were flat and uninteresting. Story could’ve been really interesting but too much time stuck on useless info rather than anything about the crimes. FBI characters seemed very unrealistic. Killer also predictable.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

[Tierney Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer is on the loose, targeting young female authors. Matt Connell, a formally well-respected literary agent turned convict, is saved from a lengthy prison sentence to help the FBI find the killer in Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish.

Matt Connell is rotting away in prison, convicted of killing his now ex-wife’s lover and those 28 minutes changed his life completely, losing his career, his wife, and any semblance of his former life. However, one day, he is brought into the Warden’s office, faced with a stranger he blew off in the yard. It turns out this stranger is an FBI agent, brought in to bring Matt into their investigation of the “Success Killer.”

Matt’s life takes a 360, from a monotonous prison schedule to a free man, or at least free enough. Working with the FBI, he resumes his life as a literary agent, desperate to prove himself to the bureau to maintain his freedom. Through his investigation, he meets Em, a bright woman who seems to understand his fast-thinking brain that jumps to the worst conclusions without pause. But when Em becomes a suspect, the “Success Killer” draws closer and closer to Matt. Will he be able to find the killer, or will he become the next victim?

While this book starts off slow, once it gets going, it runs! I really enjoyed the level of suspense this book provides, and each character is unique and complex. The last half of the book was enjoyable and hard to put down. However, the beginning of this book is a struggle. It felt that the author had a wonderful idea and wrote all that with passion, and then realized he needed a beginning. It lacked the passion the end provided.

Also, I feel some of the dialogue was a little stilted, especially some of the female dialogue. Most women tend not to put themselves in the path of a murderer. True crime has taught us better than that. However, the women in this book don’t even seem to bat an eye at Matt’s past. In fact, it almost seems to intrigue them. While there are those who do find that intriguing, they are in the minority‚—by quite a bit. Finally, the main character’s motivation didn’t feel fully fleshed out. He went from wanting to work for the FBI to gain his freedom to wanting to be an FBI agent. Why? I don’t know because it was not clear in the book.

Necessary Deeds is a thrill ride with amazing twists and a unique main character’s perspective. If you love noir thrillers, make sure to pick this up.

[David Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What emotion could be more murderous than envy? Necessary Deeds localizes this universal curse to the world of publishing; those of us lucky enough to make our living elsewhere will be surprised at how red the streets of Park Slope run with backbiting, covetousness, and malice for those whom the gods have smiled on with talent, or at least luck.

Here we meet Matt Connell, a one-time literary agent, now serving out a sentence in Sing Sing for killing his wife’s lover. Matt is given a chance for freedom and a new life if he’ll work with the FBI in figuring out the identity of a serial killer who focuses on first-time female writers with blockbuster book deals. At the risk of bumbling out a spoiler, I won’t go further into the story, except to say that the final revelation completely surprised me—I was sure I knew who’d dunnit.

Along the way there are plenty of great twists, but also laughter, as Connell, who perhaps had already spent a year or two too many in publishing before his stint at Sing Sing, skewers the fevered egos of both would-be writers and successful ones. For instance, his darkly hilarious paragraph, set in a literary café, on the chances of success of the writers who’ve come to read there, and to meet the right someone who can leverage a career. Or the writer who takes the stage “with an amount of fear that strikes me as wise.” Beautifully subtle snark. And, “I’m an agent again—but unfortunately, a literary one.” But Wish summits Mount Henry Green with a one-word sentence: “Aplenty.” If you want to immerse yourself in the greatness of that word in context, you’ll have to spring for the book.

Apart from the humor, there’s also a touching description of the living quarters of an esteemed poet who nevertheless lives in humiliating poverty.

Without giving away the payoff, I can only say that Wish has a blow-the-hinges-off-the-door twist waiting at the end—it turns the novel inside-out, channeling, and perhaps one-upping for pure, raw, hilarious cynicism, that great film, “The Player.”

Murderous ambition, love and sex, violence and laughter, in a surprising, original milieu, with a killer twist at the end, Necessary Deeds has it all.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Connell is a former literary agent imprisoned for killing a man. He receives an early release from Sing Sing to join an FBI undercover investigation into one of his former clients. His role is jeopardized by thinking of continual worst case scenarios. Even worse, he falls in love with a suspect and discovers disturbing truths about his past and hers. What is the best path going forward?

The idea of a frustrated poet killing successful female authors is sending the FBI to use Matt in an entrapment scheme. Upon his release, he makes contact with the former client as well as other authors and potential victims, including the one he clicks with and is attracted to. Matt is pulled back into the world of publishing, with his former clients, his FBI liaison, and his new crush Em all possible suspects as the novel progresses. While he tries to protect Em in the investigation without compromising himself, his own emotions are suspect as well. He has his prison time and his temper, and others have their own secrets and motives. Further potential killers could be lingering in his agent inbox as well. He's continually fearing the worst, adding to his stress throughout the novel.

Living as an agent is no doubt stressful, given it's a profession that's run on commission in the very expensive New York City. Agents are as good as their sales records, and authors are only as good as their next novel. We see snippets of the work that he fields, and that there's a lot of posturing with people he knows in order to try getting good contracts. It's stressful, as is the pressure that the FBI puts on him. The tension mounts until the very end, when it all comes together and Matt is nearly a victim himself. I was pulled in and curious as to the identity of the Talent Killer, as well as what would happen to the characters. That kept me turning pages until the very end.

[Hollay Ghadery]

Necessary Deeds (novel) by Mark Wish, published by Regal House Publishing, 2024.

Like the majority of readers I’ve talked to who aren’t lying to themselves, I’m a mood reader. There are books that are phenomenally good, but if force myself to read them when I’m in the wrong mood, I’m not going to appreciate the writing as much as I should.

Enter Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish. I picked it up at the AWP and gathered it was a fast-paced read, so it took me awhile to get to because I was in the mood to slow down. Read some personal memoir, lyric stories, poetry.

But then some stuff started happening in my life that was a bit of a drag—was making me more existentially wound-up than usual—so I reached for this book. And it was what I needed it to be.

Necessary Deeds tells the story of a successful literary agent, Matt Connell, who goes to prison for murder—a murder he absolutely committed, so this isn’t a quest for justice. Not in the usual sense anyway. He is released early when there are a string of murders of successful, emerging women writers and the authorities believe Matt (who has been a model inmate and seems to be rehabilitating well) can help them, since he was the agent and friend of their prime suspect.

So the adventure begins, full of twists and turns and surprises. As a writer, I also enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek observations about the literary world and publishing industry. (The author who Matt thinks is the most talented out of all the authors he’s ever worked with is a poet he cannot seem to sell—until that poet is arrested for murder. An appropriately and absurdly bleak commentary, me thinks.)

If you want an energetic and fun whodunnit that reads like riptide and is highly entertaining, I recommend picking up this book.

[Owen Band · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived a charmed life. I’ve always been voluminous reader. And as a young writer and ( in book collector, I mapped out a plan to meet my favorite writers. As an undergraduate student, I enrolled in “literature of the holocaust” taught by Eli Weasel. As a grad student, I was one of eight students selected to take a workshop led by I.B. Singer. And after moving to Manhattan to pursue a career in publishing, I was afforded the opportunity to discuss writing with Philip Roth, first while waiting in line for smoked fish at Zabar’s, and later over a pastrami sandwich at Richie’s Deli. But the final triumph was when I was afforded the opportunity to talk books with Saul Bellow at a Boston University Alumni event.
I remember Professor Bellow discussing the difference between good and great writing. We talked about “ literary” and “commercial fiction, “public and “private” writers ( Balzac and Dickens vs Flaubert and Maupassant). And what properties elevated good fiction.
I am happy to report that Mark Wish’s new work, Necessary Deeds” raises from a mere “entertainment” to a quality work of literary prose. I must admit that as a former employee of a literary agency, I was already biased in favor of Wish’s book. And certainty as one of those writers’ out there who have received enough rejection letters ( in my case from the New Yorker) to wallpaper the Louvre Museum, I am sympathetic to the antagonist plight.
So, read “Necessary Deeds” if you are interested in the crime or mystery genre or if, like me, you are just interested in good writing. You will not be disappointed…..

[Mark Hummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Wish’s Necessary Deeds could stand in as the definition for “page turner.” I am typically a slow reader, but I read the majority of this novel over the course of a couple of domestic flights. Readers will find it ideal for the plane, the beach, or among the comfort of a rainy weekend. The premise is satirically funny—a literary agent doing time for murder released early to help the FBI solve the case of a serial killer who exchanges the “slush pile” for the “slash pile” when he/she murders and dismembers rising new writers. It is particularly humorous to those of who write for a living and who have been left scratching our heads at the at once brutal and seemingly arbitrary decisions/actions/inactions of literary agents.

Wish makes the satire overt by focusing on a readership (and an agent) enamored with a poet, which sets the stage for FBI agents who seem closer to Inspector Gadget than actual feds. There are moments where the book becomes so focused on the conceit of its premise that some of the character relationships fell flat for me and the seriousness of our protagonist’s original crime is too easily dismissed. But then it is not a book meant to ask the reader to critique its realism; instead, it asks us to enter an engaging, if often perverse, who-done-it. As all good novels do in its second half Necessary Deeds gathers the momentum and conveys the desperation we might expect of a fleeing fugitive, and it offers a series of pleasing twists and turns, all while never sparing the real-world absurdity of the New York publishing scene.

[Brianas_best_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚Review📚

Thank you so much @regal_house_publishing for the gifted copy of NECESSARY DEEDS which is releasing on 1/30/24.

This was a solid book and with under 200 pages, is one that readers will fly through. The story follows Matt Connell, a former literary agent, who is released from prison to help the FBI with an undercover investigation. Writers are being murdered and it’s up to Matt to talk to everyone who was formerly in his inner circle to find out the truth.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that the reader gets to explore poems and snippets of manuscripts along with Matt. I thought it was a great idea to include those.

Some elements that didn’t work as well for me were the conversations between the characters and the romance. I think because it’s such a short read there wasn’t enough time for everything to develop naturally.

The ending was solid and leaves the door open for this to possibly become a series of books.

Overall I’m glad I gave this read a chance and hope you will too!

3/5 ⭐️

[Steve Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish is a deftly crafted novel that had me enthralled from the very first page. I love the premise: a literary agent imprisoned for murder is approached by the FBI to track down a killer. This setup brilliantly sets the scene to explore the cut-throat aspects of the publishing world. The characters are richly developed and genuinely interesting, each with their own flaws and depth that make the story feel authentic and immersive. The narrative propels forward effortlessly, with the stakes raised by the ongoing tension of the love story at its heart, and it maintains your interest throughout, smartly avoiding any flashback drag or unnecessary meanderings. The mystery plot structure, laden with classic twists and turns and well-placed red herrings, kept me guessing right up until the end. This is the second novel I've read by Mark Wish, and I thoroughly enjoyed both works. I eagerly look forward to his next one!

[Mary Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish is a twisty noir novel that will keep you guessing to the very end—and surprised by how deeply it probes into the darkest corners of the mind. The premise—a literary agent turned killer is released from prison to find another killer—offers particular pleasures if you’re a writer, with its insights and in-jokes about the New York publishing world. But the novel will also appeal to anyone who wants to be swept up in a page-turning tale of jealousy and betrayal, where no one is who they seem to be, and violent deeds are offset by glimmers of hope, love, and humor.

[Laura Scalzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vengeful poet awash in writer angst wreaking havoc all over Manhattan? The most believable conceit in the world for anyone who’s spent more than five minutes on the publishing scene. Writers, agents, and editors, who have a secret WTF thread (don’t we all?) where they blow off steam with their best pals will wonder if Mark Wish has been reading their texts.

NECESSARY DEEDS is a hall of mirrors and everywhere you look the reflection is serving up delicious and hilarious pub biz truths. All of it wrapped in an edge-your-seat thriller with a narrator as reliable as you might expect a recently released murder convict to be.

It’s the oldest, yet still best praise you can offer a book: I couldn’t put it down. And that is the truth.

[Eric Osserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be a Screenplay!
Necessary Deeds abounds with deceit and suspense, with envy and suspicion, with the right sprinkling of sex and innuendo, all set in gritty NYC. Necessary Deeds reveals, too, the dark underbelly of publishing, the jealousy that resides within the less well-published. Necessary Deeds parodies the industry, and law enforcement, although I never laughed. Too consumed was I in the plot.
Ordinarily, one wouldn’t associate those who are literary with murder. It has happened but not often. After reading Necessary Deeds, you won’t want to write a successful poem, struggle with your own short story, or toil to write a book. You might become successful doing that. Better to be a reader.
Necessary Deeds is unforgettable and tough to put down.

[Cheryl A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Wish’s Necessary Deeds is sly and smart, literary noir with writing so smooth you’ll wonder how you arrived at the finale without noticing the passage of time. Though murder and espionage play central roles in this sprinting story, what stands out is Wish’s fresh take—his double agent protagonist isn’t a spy with dual allegiances, he’s a (possibly) washed-up literary agent with FBI agent aspirations. But the book isn’t only stylish and sleek, it’s human and real, the story of a man stunned by an unexpected second chance at life, plus temptation in female form—with potentially dire consequences. Delightful.

[Eric Osserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be a Screenplay!

Wow!! Necessary Deeds abounds with deceit and suspense, with envy and suspicion, with the right sprinkling of sex and innuendo, all set in gritty NYC.
Ordinarily, one wouldn’t associate those who are literary with murder. It has happened but not often. After reading Necessary Deeds, you won’t want to write a successful poem, struggle with your own short story, or toil to write a book. You’ll just want to read them.
Necessary Deeds is unforgettable and tough to put down.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Wish weaves adventure, plot twists, and the unexpected all the while delivering a well-crafted book submerged in the ever-unfolding publishing industry. Necessary Deeds probes the world of emerging writers and agents tangled with inmates through, yes a series of murders. Between the lines, Wish pushes humor and betrayal, yet manages to pull in love and hope. Wish hits all the highs and darkness surrounding the human condition. Necessary Deeds is a novel to read for both enjoyment and a study of literary art.

[Martin Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish, an author who came to my attention years ago when I first read his fiction. So many things I like about this book - the hero is flawed / the literary world is exposed for the cutthroat biz it is / the prose is literary while the propulsion is pure thriller. I think this is one of those crossover books that fans of literary fiction and suspense will both enjoy. Looking forward to what comes next.

[Nick Tseffos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Marks book. He quickly grabs the reader with a who done it plot that plunges you into the world of book publishing. The characters jump off the page with emotional stories that are interesting and unique.

Probably one of the most inventive stories I have read in a long time. I highly suggest you read this book if you’re tired of cookie cutter plots and recycled characters.

[Chris Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware! The first sentence of Mark Wish’s new tale Necessary Deeds hooks immediately and carries you so fast through this page-turning thriller you’ll have to will yourself to slow down to savor the journey through wicked dark, jealousy-fueled deeds. This feels like the start of an edge-of-your-seat series sure to keep us guessing at every twisty turn. Let’s hope so.

[SmallPressPicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gripping, fast-paced novel delivers the thrills of the finest noirs--and then some. I found every character to be complex and compelling, and the unexpected twists and turns kept me guessing, and turning the pages. I also enjoyed the humor of the novel, and its cynically humorous take on the publishing world. This thought-provoking read will stay with you long after you finish it.

[Jeanette Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in the voice of a self-deprecating, whip-smart ex-literary agent, Mark Wish's twisty thriller is noir-like in its hardboiled suspense and yet full of humor and sincerity. If you've ever dreamt Richard Ford and Raymond Chandler could team up to take on the literary world, NECESSARY DEEDS is for you.

[Deirdre Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Maltese Falcon. Think The Third Man. Killer on the loose? Check. Femme Fatale? Possibly. Crime of passion? Crime of envy? Wry, sardonic, smart, playful, and deliciously tight. I loved listening to this book and will be ordering a paperback for a friend. Highly recommend!

[Andy Mozina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fearless novel about literary jealousy. That a murder mystery might be a perfect vehicle to explore the competitive aspects of the publishing industry is a bit unsettling and a great occasion for dark humor. Wish goes deep here. Buckle up.

[Wyncia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd one

I read this book through on a snowy spring Saturday. The story telling is excellent. The story told lacks the goodness of humans and the brightness of spirit that I hope for in a novel.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This genre-bending book (is it a literary novel, a mystery, a romance or all three?) makes for fast, easy, clever and suspenseful reading. It's also original and goes in unexpected directions.

[Georgia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fast-paced and compelling read! A noir-style thriller set in the NYC literary scene.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book--love these characters, the surprising twists, unexpected ending: thrilling read. Love the lore of the literary world, the "undercover" work, the great details. Page turner!