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Bad Seeds
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
44 people want to read
About the author
Mary Monroe
63 books2,778 followersI am the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of my family to finish high school. I never attended college or any writing classes. I taught myself how to write and started writing short stories around age four. I spent the first part of my life in Alabama and Ohio and moved to Richmond, California in 1973. I have lived in Oakland since 1984.
My first novel THE UPPER ROOM was published by St. Martin's Press in 1985 and was widely reviewed throughout the U.S. and in Great Britain. An excerpt is included in Terry McMillan's anthology BREAKING ICE. I endured fifteen years and hundreds of more rejection letters before I landed a contract for my second novel, GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. It was published in October 2000 by Kensington Books. GOD DON'T PLAY is my seventh novel to be published, and it landed me a spot on the prestigious New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time! My eighth novel, "BORROW TROUBLE," was released December 2006. My ninth novel, DELIVER ME FROM EVIL, was released September 2007 and my tenth novel, SHE HAD IT COMING, was released in September 2008, and my eleventh novel THE COMPANY WE KEEP, will be released March 2009.
I won the Oakland Pen Award for Best Fiction of the Year in 2001 for GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. I won the Best Southern Author Award for GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS, in 2004.
I am divorced, I love to travel, I love to mingle with other authors, and I love to read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson. I still write seven days a week and I get most of my ideas from current events, the people around me, but most of my material is autobiographical.
My first novel THE UPPER ROOM was published by St. Martin's Press in 1985 and was widely reviewed throughout the U.S. and in Great Britain. An excerpt is included in Terry McMillan's anthology BREAKING ICE. I endured fifteen years and hundreds of more rejection letters before I landed a contract for my second novel, GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. It was published in October 2000 by Kensington Books. GOD DON'T PLAY is my seventh novel to be published, and it landed me a spot on the prestigious New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time! My eighth novel, "BORROW TROUBLE," was released December 2006. My ninth novel, DELIVER ME FROM EVIL, was released September 2007 and my tenth novel, SHE HAD IT COMING, was released in September 2008, and my eleventh novel THE COMPANY WE KEEP, will be released March 2009.
I won the Oakland Pen Award for Best Fiction of the Year in 2001 for GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY. I won the Best Southern Author Award for GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS, in 2004.
I am divorced, I love to travel, I love to mingle with other authors, and I love to read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson. I still write seven days a week and I get most of my ideas from current events, the people around me, but most of my material is autobiographical.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 4, 2025
Mary Monroe has once again proven why she is a master of domestic drama with her latest novel, Bad Seeds. This fast-paced, highly engaging work of fiction is a powerful and welcome return to the compelling world of the Lexington, Alabama series, easily rivaling the enjoyment of the first installment, Mrs. Wiggins.
What makes Bad Seeds truly stand out is Monroe's incredible gift for character development and vivid storytelling. The characters felt so well-thought-out, supported by key details that made them instantly visual and relatable. Mary Monroe has a unique ability to write in a manner that blurs the line between fiction and reality. These people don't feel like characters on a page, they feel like folks you know. The immersive storytelling made me feel as though I were right there in Lexington, Alabama, witnessing every event unfold in person. The plot moved quickly, pulling me deeper into the drama with every chapter. The sense of anticipation and the need to know what happens next was intense. I simply couldn't put this book down as the narrative thickened and "the seams burst." The novel delivers a truly shocking and unexpected ending. While the conclusion was a surprise, I genuinely didn't see it coming, it felt completely justified and was incredibly well-executed.
If there is a single critique, it's a testament to the author's ability to create a compellingly dislikable character. The character of Della was a source of minor frustration because of her unrelenting misperceived feelings regarding Louise. Although Louise was blind to Della's true, backstabbing and two-timing nature, I, as the reader, was not. Della was brilliantly crafted to be an annoying and dislikable character, yet her actions were a major driving force behind the story's premise. This small point of reader frustration ultimately shows how well the author developed the conflict, even if it meant rooting for her downfall.
Bad Seeds is a fantastic read that delivers on all fronts: engaging characters, a compelling plot, and a shocking, satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book to dedicated lovers of the Lexington, AL series and to general fiction readers looking for a quick, messy, but ultimately good read. They will certainly not be disappointed.
Thank you, Netgalley for the advanced readers copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
What makes Bad Seeds truly stand out is Monroe's incredible gift for character development and vivid storytelling. The characters felt so well-thought-out, supported by key details that made them instantly visual and relatable. Mary Monroe has a unique ability to write in a manner that blurs the line between fiction and reality. These people don't feel like characters on a page, they feel like folks you know. The immersive storytelling made me feel as though I were right there in Lexington, Alabama, witnessing every event unfold in person. The plot moved quickly, pulling me deeper into the drama with every chapter. The sense of anticipation and the need to know what happens next was intense. I simply couldn't put this book down as the narrative thickened and "the seams burst." The novel delivers a truly shocking and unexpected ending. While the conclusion was a surprise, I genuinely didn't see it coming, it felt completely justified and was incredibly well-executed.
If there is a single critique, it's a testament to the author's ability to create a compellingly dislikable character. The character of Della was a source of minor frustration because of her unrelenting misperceived feelings regarding Louise. Although Louise was blind to Della's true, backstabbing and two-timing nature, I, as the reader, was not. Della was brilliantly crafted to be an annoying and dislikable character, yet her actions were a major driving force behind the story's premise. This small point of reader frustration ultimately shows how well the author developed the conflict, even if it meant rooting for her downfall.
Bad Seeds is a fantastic read that delivers on all fronts: engaging characters, a compelling plot, and a shocking, satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book to dedicated lovers of the Lexington, AL series and to general fiction readers looking for a quick, messy, but ultimately good read. They will certainly not be disappointed.
Thank you, Netgalley for the advanced readers copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
November 29, 2025
This story was a crazy and sometimes unbelievable ride, and I mean that in the best way. I was entertained from the very beginning. Louise Brooks immediately stood out with her huge heart and her constant willingness to help others, even when life had already put her through so much. I couldn’t help rooting for her, which made watching her deal with the chaos around her even more compelling.
When Della entered the picture, I kept hoping she would recognize the potential for a real friendship with Louise. Instead, she spent most of the story feeling sorry for herself and taking advantage of the one person who truly cared about her. Her choices were so unhinged at times that I found myself waiting for karma to finally catch up to her.
Cora was such a breath of fresh air. Her genuine friendship gave Louise the grounding she desperately needed. I was relieved that Louise finally had someone in her life who wasn’t trying to manipulate her. And when Malcolm entered the story, everything amped up even more. He brought charm, tension, and just enough suspicion to keep me turning the pages.
As the past resurfaces and Louise uncovers the truth about Della and Malcolm, the story takes darker and more thrilling turns. Watching her come to terms with who these people really were and deciding how far she was willing to go for justice was both shocking and satisfying.
Overall, this was an entertaining and wild read filled with drama, twists, and emotional payoff.
Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Dafina for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
When Della entered the picture, I kept hoping she would recognize the potential for a real friendship with Louise. Instead, she spent most of the story feeling sorry for herself and taking advantage of the one person who truly cared about her. Her choices were so unhinged at times that I found myself waiting for karma to finally catch up to her.
Cora was such a breath of fresh air. Her genuine friendship gave Louise the grounding she desperately needed. I was relieved that Louise finally had someone in her life who wasn’t trying to manipulate her. And when Malcolm entered the story, everything amped up even more. He brought charm, tension, and just enough suspicion to keep me turning the pages.
As the past resurfaces and Louise uncovers the truth about Della and Malcolm, the story takes darker and more thrilling turns. Watching her come to terms with who these people really were and deciding how far she was willing to go for justice was both shocking and satisfying.
Overall, this was an entertaining and wild read filled with drama, twists, and emotional payoff.
Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Dafina for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
November 27, 2025
Another winner for the great Mary Monroe!!! I love this series and I get very excited with each new entry. This is a story about how one feels about themselves, a good hearted person and greed.Pick up this book and enter into the world of Louise, Della and Malcolm. Be prepared to read this book and forget any track of time. But remember this as you read, what’s goes around comes around!!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review Enjoy!!!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews