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Five Bad Deeds
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,
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.
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,
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.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2023
435 people are currently reading
15560 people want to read
About the author
Caz Frear
5 books707 followersCaz Frear grew up in Coventry, England, and spent her teenage years dreaming of moving to London and writing a novel. After fulfilling her first dream, it wasn’t until she moved back to Coventry thirteen years later that the second finally came true. She has a degree in History & Politics, and when she’s not agonizing over snappy dialogue or incisive prose, she can be found shouting at Arsenal football matches or holding court in the pub on topics she knows nothing about. Sweet Little Lies is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 514 reviews
March 15, 2025
**4.5-stars**
💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜
Five Bad Deeds is suspenseful Domestic Drama from one of my go-to authors, Caz Frear.
I really enjoyed all the books in the Cat Kinsella series by this author, so was looking forward to this standalone novel. The synopsis sounded intriguing and luckily, it delivered.
We do get a few different perspectives in this story, but our main perspective is that of Ellen; a wife, mother, and by all appearances, a good person.
Ellen has a lot on her plate, raising a head-strong teenage daughter, as well as toddler twin sons. She's currently job-hunting and undertaking a fairly significant renovation on their beautiful family home.
She's also balancing time with her sister and friends, just trying to keep all the balls in the air.
When the first sinister note arrives, Ellen can hardly believe it. Is someone threatening her? Who could possibly dislike her so much they would be this cruel? What has she ever done to deserve this kind of ire?
The anonymous enemy doesn't stop with notes though, it seems this person is truly out to trash Ellen's life and her reputation. As the threats intensify, Ellen scrambles to figure out who is behind it all and stop them, before it's too late.
I had so much fun with this. I read 43% in the first sitting. I couldn't put it down once I started. I loved the perspective shifts and how they were used to build-out the story.
As mentioned above, Ellen is our MC and we are getting her perspective the majority of the time. But every once in a while, mixed amongst the Ellen sections, we get the perspectives of various side characters in her life.
Their perspectives are pretty much solely providing their personal commentary on Ellen. So, in this way, it's very how you see your life, versus how outsiders see it. It was interesting to me to have it formatted this way.
Ellen's sister, Kristy, plays a big role in the story, and her thoughts on Ellen were some of the most enlightening, IMO. It's very true that there are two sides to every story, and it was never more evident than in the sister's thoughts about one another and their relationship.
This is just the kind of secret-laden, spite-filled Domestic Drama I love. I was captivated by the twisty storyline. Just when I thought it couldn't get any crazier, it did.
The structure felt unique and I loved how the truth was revealed. It was a bit of a jaw-dropper. Well done by Frear!!
While I understand this type of Domestic Suspense/Drama may not be for everyone, I tend to have a lot of fun with this type of story. I eat it up like cake; it's so good.
If you are the type of Reader who loves small town stories, with a cast of characters harboring a ton of secrets, than this story may be for you. Also, if you are reading for fun, or escape, and are mainly looking for something to take your mind off life for a while, this could fit the bill.
If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, give it a go. Hopefully, you'll end up enjoying it as much as I did.
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Paperbacks, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Caz Frear is a go-to author for me. I'm definitely looking forward to whatever she delivers next!
💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜💙💕💜
Five Bad Deeds is suspenseful Domestic Drama from one of my go-to authors, Caz Frear.
I really enjoyed all the books in the Cat Kinsella series by this author, so was looking forward to this standalone novel. The synopsis sounded intriguing and luckily, it delivered.
We do get a few different perspectives in this story, but our main perspective is that of Ellen; a wife, mother, and by all appearances, a good person.
Ellen has a lot on her plate, raising a head-strong teenage daughter, as well as toddler twin sons. She's currently job-hunting and undertaking a fairly significant renovation on their beautiful family home.
She's also balancing time with her sister and friends, just trying to keep all the balls in the air.
When the first sinister note arrives, Ellen can hardly believe it. Is someone threatening her? Who could possibly dislike her so much they would be this cruel? What has she ever done to deserve this kind of ire?
The anonymous enemy doesn't stop with notes though, it seems this person is truly out to trash Ellen's life and her reputation. As the threats intensify, Ellen scrambles to figure out who is behind it all and stop them, before it's too late.
I had so much fun with this. I read 43% in the first sitting. I couldn't put it down once I started. I loved the perspective shifts and how they were used to build-out the story.
As mentioned above, Ellen is our MC and we are getting her perspective the majority of the time. But every once in a while, mixed amongst the Ellen sections, we get the perspectives of various side characters in her life.
Their perspectives are pretty much solely providing their personal commentary on Ellen. So, in this way, it's very how you see your life, versus how outsiders see it. It was interesting to me to have it formatted this way.
Ellen's sister, Kristy, plays a big role in the story, and her thoughts on Ellen were some of the most enlightening, IMO. It's very true that there are two sides to every story, and it was never more evident than in the sister's thoughts about one another and their relationship.
This is just the kind of secret-laden, spite-filled Domestic Drama I love. I was captivated by the twisty storyline. Just when I thought it couldn't get any crazier, it did.
The structure felt unique and I loved how the truth was revealed. It was a bit of a jaw-dropper. Well done by Frear!!
While I understand this type of Domestic Suspense/Drama may not be for everyone, I tend to have a lot of fun with this type of story. I eat it up like cake; it's so good.
If you are the type of Reader who loves small town stories, with a cast of characters harboring a ton of secrets, than this story may be for you. Also, if you are reading for fun, or escape, and are mainly looking for something to take your mind off life for a while, this could fit the bill.
If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, give it a go. Hopefully, you'll end up enjoying it as much as I did.
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Paperbacks, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Caz Frear is a go-to author for me. I'm definitely looking forward to whatever she delivers next!
December 21, 2023
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.
I’ve heard some great things about Caz Frear, so when I saw she had a new stand-alone novel coming out, I requested Five Bad Deeds from the publisher without a second thought. Was the synopsis perhaps a little short on details? Yes, but that merely meant I was going to have fun exploring the unknown. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be won over hook, line, and sinker by a true barn burner of a book. You know the kind that keeps you up past your bedtime and ignoring all household chores? Well, this was that kind of read, no doubt about it.
What exactly did I love about this one, though? Well, to start with, the suspense was palpable from the ominous first chapter. Setting up the fact that someone ends up in prison, I just knew that things were going to get real—and fast. Happily for me, I wasn’t wrong on that in the least. Even better, the mildly slow burn start quickly erupted into a flurry of bad deeds—and equally bad decision making. And while not exactly realistic per se, the plot felt wholly believable every step of the way.
As for the characters, every single one was thoroughly unlikeable—even Ellen herself. A group of self-centered, somewhat oblivious people, the round robin narration in the multiple POV plot allowed me to see just how badly behaved they all were. From the very five bad deeds alluded to in the title to a growing list of first world gripes, each of these individuals would’ve irritated me to no end in real life. On the pages of a book, however, they each provided the best possible entertainment in a way that already makes me wish I could reread this one all over again fresh.
All in all, Caz Frear has made me sit up and take notice. A master behind the keyboard if this is anything to go by, the undeniable wit, twisty twisty plot, and dynamite characters made me fall in love in a second. After all, the writing was on point in all of its cunning genius from the first word until the very last, as the plotting and format was simply sublime. So if you’re looking for a tale of revenge sure to keep you in suspense, this one is guaranteed to be everything you want and just a little bit more. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Caz Frear and HarperCollins for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 5, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: infidelity, drug use, stalking, mention of: blackmail
*Synopsis provided by the publisher as I wanted you all going into this one just as blind as I did.
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.
I’ve heard some great things about Caz Frear, so when I saw she had a new stand-alone novel coming out, I requested Five Bad Deeds from the publisher without a second thought. Was the synopsis perhaps a little short on details? Yes, but that merely meant I was going to have fun exploring the unknown. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be won over hook, line, and sinker by a true barn burner of a book. You know the kind that keeps you up past your bedtime and ignoring all household chores? Well, this was that kind of read, no doubt about it.
What exactly did I love about this one, though? Well, to start with, the suspense was palpable from the ominous first chapter. Setting up the fact that someone ends up in prison, I just knew that things were going to get real—and fast. Happily for me, I wasn’t wrong on that in the least. Even better, the mildly slow burn start quickly erupted into a flurry of bad deeds—and equally bad decision making. And while not exactly realistic per se, the plot felt wholly believable every step of the way.
As for the characters, every single one was thoroughly unlikeable—even Ellen herself. A group of self-centered, somewhat oblivious people, the round robin narration in the multiple POV plot allowed me to see just how badly behaved they all were. From the very five bad deeds alluded to in the title to a growing list of first world gripes, each of these individuals would’ve irritated me to no end in real life. On the pages of a book, however, they each provided the best possible entertainment in a way that already makes me wish I could reread this one all over again fresh.
All in all, Caz Frear has made me sit up and take notice. A master behind the keyboard if this is anything to go by, the undeniable wit, twisty twisty plot, and dynamite characters made me fall in love in a second. After all, the writing was on point in all of its cunning genius from the first word until the very last, as the plotting and format was simply sublime. So if you’re looking for a tale of revenge sure to keep you in suspense, this one is guaranteed to be everything you want and just a little bit more. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Caz Frear and HarperCollins for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 5, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: infidelity, drug use, stalking, mention of: blackmail
*Synopsis provided by the publisher as I wanted you all going into this one just as blind as I did.
October 29, 2023
3.5 rounded up
This is Ellen Walsh’s story and it’s one of spite. Ellen lives with husband Adam who is frequently away from home leaving her to contend with the trials of 16 year old Orla (every inch a teen) and the anarchy of twins Max and Kian. If that’s not time consuming enough they are trying to renovate their dream home, Meadowhouse. However, it seems as if Ellen has deeply offended someone as an anonymous note warms of consequences. Who is on a revenge spree targeting Ellen? What provokes the Five Bad Deeds? Who wants to teach her a lesson and why? Whoever it is keeps upping the ante ...,
The standout feature of this stand-alone from the talented Caz Frear, author of the excellent Cat Kinsella series, is the characterisation. All are well portrayed although it’s fair to say that few are likeable which does tend to make for more delicious reading. Some characters mislead you or fool you in various ways. The jury is out in Ellen although I tend towards liking rather than dislike because the strongest aspect of her personality is that she knows herself. She’s internally honest even if not necessarily so with those she interacts with and I have to say at times I find her very funny. As for her husband Adam - not the greatest spouse ever eh, Adam? Their family life is well portrayed, you feel like a fly on the wall as the children cause their own particular brand of havoc.
The novel is told via multiple points of view as their perspectives of Ellen are illuminating. As the plot evolves it becomes clear that quite a few have reasons to exact revenge and I cast my beady eye around seeking the strongest candidate. There are so many liars here, so who is the biggest liar of all and who will blink first?
The start of the novel intrigued me and pulls me into the suspenseful storytelling. Whilst this does advance and progress, the pace isn’t fast but the slow burner character driven approach suits the premise. The tone keeps changing which is enjoyable and I love the sense of irony and sending herself up humour which appears on occasions in Ellen’s perspective.
However, the five bad deeds are a bit hidden and maybe could have been worse than they actually are although they do feel authentic and could actually happen. I’m somewhat conflicted about the big reveal. I do enjoy there misdirection which distracts but I’m not convinced the reasons are especially strong. On the other hand people do let things burn and fester inside them, so who knows what they may be driven to?
Overall, despite some issues I do enjoy the book, it’s entertaining and easy to read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is Ellen Walsh’s story and it’s one of spite. Ellen lives with husband Adam who is frequently away from home leaving her to contend with the trials of 16 year old Orla (every inch a teen) and the anarchy of twins Max and Kian. If that’s not time consuming enough they are trying to renovate their dream home, Meadowhouse. However, it seems as if Ellen has deeply offended someone as an anonymous note warms of consequences. Who is on a revenge spree targeting Ellen? What provokes the Five Bad Deeds? Who wants to teach her a lesson and why? Whoever it is keeps upping the ante ...,
The standout feature of this stand-alone from the talented Caz Frear, author of the excellent Cat Kinsella series, is the characterisation. All are well portrayed although it’s fair to say that few are likeable which does tend to make for more delicious reading. Some characters mislead you or fool you in various ways. The jury is out in Ellen although I tend towards liking rather than dislike because the strongest aspect of her personality is that she knows herself. She’s internally honest even if not necessarily so with those she interacts with and I have to say at times I find her very funny. As for her husband Adam - not the greatest spouse ever eh, Adam? Their family life is well portrayed, you feel like a fly on the wall as the children cause their own particular brand of havoc.
The novel is told via multiple points of view as their perspectives of Ellen are illuminating. As the plot evolves it becomes clear that quite a few have reasons to exact revenge and I cast my beady eye around seeking the strongest candidate. There are so many liars here, so who is the biggest liar of all and who will blink first?
The start of the novel intrigued me and pulls me into the suspenseful storytelling. Whilst this does advance and progress, the pace isn’t fast but the slow burner character driven approach suits the premise. The tone keeps changing which is enjoyable and I love the sense of irony and sending herself up humour which appears on occasions in Ellen’s perspective.
However, the five bad deeds are a bit hidden and maybe could have been worse than they actually are although they do feel authentic and could actually happen. I’m somewhat conflicted about the big reveal. I do enjoy there misdirection which distracts but I’m not convinced the reasons are especially strong. On the other hand people do let things burn and fester inside them, so who knows what they may be driven to?
Overall, despite some issues I do enjoy the book, it’s entertaining and easy to read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
February 16, 2025
Well…What do you do when you start off with an author and absolutely love them with their first book, Review here: (Sweet Little Lies) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
And then…You follow up with their next one, and enjoy it, too? Review here: (Stone Cold Heart) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well…You pick up the next book to read, right?
And…Expect to love it, too. The problem is, it isn’t her continuing character DC London-based detective, Cat Kinsella we have grown to love.
So…Are we open to appreciating a psychological thriller stand-alone? Will it keep readers riveted?
Her main character seems like a typical British mother and wife who is also a teacher. She also appears to be a likable, upstanding citizen.
But…The author starts pulling away the layers of her life to reveal secrets that have made her a target of an unknown person sending her cryptic notes.
Besides…Showcasing to readers a less than comfortable personal life with a less than charming police officer husband, and a difficult teenage daughter.
Are we enjoying the story, yet?
Well…We need to know.
What do we need to know?
You know…What are these 5 bad deeds? (Hence: the title of the book.)
And…How will readers feel about her once they are revealed?
Or…Will the suspense keep us turning pages?
Perhaps…We will just want to get to the end and move on to the next book, and hope the author will stick to writing stories about Cat Kinsella.
3.5 stars rounded down
And then…You follow up with their next one, and enjoy it, too? Review here: (Stone Cold Heart) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well…You pick up the next book to read, right?
And…Expect to love it, too. The problem is, it isn’t her continuing character DC London-based detective, Cat Kinsella we have grown to love.
So…Are we open to appreciating a psychological thriller stand-alone? Will it keep readers riveted?
Her main character seems like a typical British mother and wife who is also a teacher. She also appears to be a likable, upstanding citizen.
But…The author starts pulling away the layers of her life to reveal secrets that have made her a target of an unknown person sending her cryptic notes.
Besides…Showcasing to readers a less than comfortable personal life with a less than charming police officer husband, and a difficult teenage daughter.
Are we enjoying the story, yet?
Well…We need to know.
What do we need to know?
You know…What are these 5 bad deeds? (Hence: the title of the book.)
And…How will readers feel about her once they are revealed?
Or…Will the suspense keep us turning pages?
Perhaps…We will just want to get to the end and move on to the next book, and hope the author will stick to writing stories about Cat Kinsella.
3.5 stars rounded down
August 9, 2023
It’s not really a good sign if I have to immediately put a book down and come back to it later. I just couldn’t get into this group of people, so I read a couple other books then came back to this one. The second time, I was just as confused. It took me over halfway through the book to understand why I was reading about these random people in the first place. There are multiple POVs, but the main character is Ellen - a mother of three who has just moved into their new house. She and her husband are planning renovations, but drama soon gets in the way.
Ellen gets a nasty letter one day, letting her know that someone is watching. Her “bad deeds” are catching up to her, but these are the most G-rated bad deeds in the history of thriller books. An offhand comment or two isn’t something I would think could push someone into trying to ruin another person’s life, but here we are in this book. Basically, the house that Ellen and her family just bought has a lot of significance to the community, and one person in particular. Someone is jealous of their home, their money, and is getting revenge. Ellen hasn’t really committed any crimes though, so this was totally washed out and had a very random feel to it.
Towards the end, I started to get into the book a bit more, just because I was curious how it would end. I was surprised - but not in a good way. It was more of a “I just read over 300 pages for THAT?!” surprise. I found this very disorganized and cluttered with characters that weren’t necessary, and the plot’s premise was quite weak. This is listed as a mystery/thriller, but the only mystery was why I was supposed to care about any of the characters, and the thrill was finally ending it. This was just not the book for me. 2.5 stars.
(Thank you to Harper, Caz Frear, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Ellen gets a nasty letter one day, letting her know that someone is watching. Her “bad deeds” are catching up to her, but these are the most G-rated bad deeds in the history of thriller books. An offhand comment or two isn’t something I would think could push someone into trying to ruin another person’s life, but here we are in this book. Basically, the house that Ellen and her family just bought has a lot of significance to the community, and one person in particular. Someone is jealous of their home, their money, and is getting revenge. Ellen hasn’t really committed any crimes though, so this was totally washed out and had a very random feel to it.
Towards the end, I started to get into the book a bit more, just because I was curious how it would end. I was surprised - but not in a good way. It was more of a “I just read over 300 pages for THAT?!” surprise. I found this very disorganized and cluttered with characters that weren’t necessary, and the plot’s premise was quite weak. This is listed as a mystery/thriller, but the only mystery was why I was supposed to care about any of the characters, and the thrill was finally ending it. This was just not the book for me. 2.5 stars.
(Thank you to Harper, Caz Frear, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
February 27, 2024
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!
there I've said it!.
Solid 2 stars!
there I've said it!.
Solid 2 stars!
December 20, 2023
Okay, how have I never previously read Caz Frear??! FIVE BAD DEEDS was my introduction to this talented author, and it was incredibly enjoyable. After reading this novel, I will absolutely make it a priority to continue reading Frear’s work moving forward!
Ellen Walsh is your average housewife/part-time tutor. She has everything she’s ever wanted – the loving husband, the two adorable children, and most importantly, the most beautiful house on the street! At least, it will be, once the renovations are complete. When Ellen receives a letter threatening to expose a secret she’s kept hidden her world is quickly upended and soon becomes a nightmare! Which one of Ellen’s friends/loved ones is threatening her? Will she be exposed before she discovers who it is and stops them, and will her reputation and ideal life survive, if so?
The story is told in sections, via each Bad Deed (although I had trouble following that part of it), and also through multiple perspectives: the best friend, who isn’t as loyal as she may appear, the sister who lives with her and definitely has secrets of her own, the young child-minder who is always willing to help out around the house, the new police officer who mysteriously has left a big career in the city behind to work a lowly patrol officer position in the suburbs, the loving husband, who may not be quite as adoring as everyone thinks, and the rebellious and angsty daughter…there are plenty of suspects, and they all have their own reasons for disliking Ellen, but are they willing to go so far as to ruin someone else’s life? Discovering each of these character's grudges, etc. made for some entertaining reading! To say that each character was insanely unlikeable at times would certainly be an understatement, and I really couldn’t figure out who was behind the threats, if any of them were!
Although it took me some time to iron out this big cast of characters, I eventually did, and enjoyed them each, for one reason or another. Frear has an undeniable talent for creating witty, darkly comical characters that you love to hate and can’t get enough of! Knowing that one of these characters ends up in prison (the beginning of the novel reveals this!), I couldn’t help but be intrigued and at the edge of my seat throughout – this was such a binge worthy, clever and thrilling read, and I just couldn’t help being amused and captivated through to the very last page!
One of the lessons of this story, I believe, is that looks can be deceiving, and you never know what’s going on behind closed doors! That neighbor you envy on account of their perfection could very well be insanely flawed, and more of a hot mess than you ever were, and I appreciated that! I would love to continue exploring these characters to find out what they get themselves into next, and sincerely hope this becomes a series, so fingers crossed!! Now that Frear has caught my attention, I’m a fan and very much looking forward to any of her forthcoming work!
Ellen Walsh is your average housewife/part-time tutor. She has everything she’s ever wanted – the loving husband, the two adorable children, and most importantly, the most beautiful house on the street! At least, it will be, once the renovations are complete. When Ellen receives a letter threatening to expose a secret she’s kept hidden her world is quickly upended and soon becomes a nightmare! Which one of Ellen’s friends/loved ones is threatening her? Will she be exposed before she discovers who it is and stops them, and will her reputation and ideal life survive, if so?
The story is told in sections, via each Bad Deed (although I had trouble following that part of it), and also through multiple perspectives: the best friend, who isn’t as loyal as she may appear, the sister who lives with her and definitely has secrets of her own, the young child-minder who is always willing to help out around the house, the new police officer who mysteriously has left a big career in the city behind to work a lowly patrol officer position in the suburbs, the loving husband, who may not be quite as adoring as everyone thinks, and the rebellious and angsty daughter…there are plenty of suspects, and they all have their own reasons for disliking Ellen, but are they willing to go so far as to ruin someone else’s life? Discovering each of these character's grudges, etc. made for some entertaining reading! To say that each character was insanely unlikeable at times would certainly be an understatement, and I really couldn’t figure out who was behind the threats, if any of them were!
Although it took me some time to iron out this big cast of characters, I eventually did, and enjoyed them each, for one reason or another. Frear has an undeniable talent for creating witty, darkly comical characters that you love to hate and can’t get enough of! Knowing that one of these characters ends up in prison (the beginning of the novel reveals this!), I couldn’t help but be intrigued and at the edge of my seat throughout – this was such a binge worthy, clever and thrilling read, and I just couldn’t help being amused and captivated through to the very last page!
One of the lessons of this story, I believe, is that looks can be deceiving, and you never know what’s going on behind closed doors! That neighbor you envy on account of their perfection could very well be insanely flawed, and more of a hot mess than you ever were, and I appreciated that! I would love to continue exploring these characters to find out what they get themselves into next, and sincerely hope this becomes a series, so fingers crossed!! Now that Frear has caught my attention, I’m a fan and very much looking forward to any of her forthcoming work!
October 5, 2023
Caz Frear is a very popular thriller author, but truth be told, I picked up her newest book, FIVE BAD DEEDS solely because I loved the cover. I honestly didn't know how this book would go for me as it seems like a neighborhood drama, and those books can be hit or miss with me. That being said, FIVE BAD DEEDS is definitely a hit for me and I'll continue my journey reading this author's work.
The story is centered around Ellen Walhs, a teacher/wife/mother in the suburbs of London, living with her husband Adam, teenage daughter Orla, and her two young sons. The family moved to their dream home, nicknamed the Meadowhouse, and have been renovating it. The Meadowhouse is a quintessential English mansion and has been featured publicly, but is definitely a fixer-upper. While renovating the home, Ellen is looking for a new job and juggling her home life. Ellen quickly realizes that something in the neighborhood is going on, specifically with someone out to get her for some reason. After someone calls a compliant to an officer about her possibly driving under the influence, Ellen notices that she's received a threatening note in the mail. Who is out to get Ellen and what did she do to deserve this?
I don't want to dive into the synopsis too much, but FIVE BAD DEEDS is a solid UK crime-fiction. UK crime-fiction (IMO) differs from US crime-fiction because it has a much slower pacing, allowing for the reader to get fully invested into the book's characters. My only issue with this book was the pacing, as I felt it was a bit longer than it should have been. That being said, this one is juicy fun for those who like light mystery, beach read type of stories. It was fun and catty, with all the juice and gossip you'd come to expect from a story with this type of synopsis. FIVE BAD DEEDS was a fun, wild ride, with an ending that I absolutely loved. Some books like to "go there" and I think the pay off with this book was overall a success.
The story is centered around Ellen Walhs, a teacher/wife/mother in the suburbs of London, living with her husband Adam, teenage daughter Orla, and her two young sons. The family moved to their dream home, nicknamed the Meadowhouse, and have been renovating it. The Meadowhouse is a quintessential English mansion and has been featured publicly, but is definitely a fixer-upper. While renovating the home, Ellen is looking for a new job and juggling her home life. Ellen quickly realizes that something in the neighborhood is going on, specifically with someone out to get her for some reason. After someone calls a compliant to an officer about her possibly driving under the influence, Ellen notices that she's received a threatening note in the mail. Who is out to get Ellen and what did she do to deserve this?
I don't want to dive into the synopsis too much, but FIVE BAD DEEDS is a solid UK crime-fiction. UK crime-fiction (IMO) differs from US crime-fiction because it has a much slower pacing, allowing for the reader to get fully invested into the book's characters. My only issue with this book was the pacing, as I felt it was a bit longer than it should have been. That being said, this one is juicy fun for those who like light mystery, beach read type of stories. It was fun and catty, with all the juice and gossip you'd come to expect from a story with this type of synopsis. FIVE BAD DEEDS was a fun, wild ride, with an ending that I absolutely loved. Some books like to "go there" and I think the pay off with this book was overall a success.
May 21, 2024
Over the past few years I’ve gotten to know a lot of new authors. That is, new for me. Many times I’ve picked up a book from someone I never heard of only to read glowing reviews about their books. Caz Frear is one of them; I just finished Five Bad Deeds and I can agree with other reviewers that Frear is an author I would like to read more of in future. I like family thrillers/dramas where nothing and nobody is as it seems, as we see in the opening of Five Bad Deeds where Ellen is writing about her life in prison. How she came to get there is a multi-layered story of love, yes, love and betrayal, real or imagined and of course revenge.
Someone is out there who wants to take on revenge on Ellen. For what? Why? Ellen doesn’t know but as we read on we get to know her better and the understanding dawns that Ellen is not all we think her to be. She’s a part time teacher, mother of three and reasonably happily married. And as in many books with this theme, there is a lot of alcohol involved. Time and time again I’m surprised that people can drink copious amounts of alcohol each day and then moan that they have a hangover. Not to mention the stupid decisions they often make when drunk.
Anyway, it was interesting to read how Ellens husband Adam, her children and her friends really thought about her, and to try and figure out who the person is who wanted to hurt her so badly and why. There are a few surprises and I liked the ending.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this review copy.
Someone is out there who wants to take on revenge on Ellen. For what? Why? Ellen doesn’t know but as we read on we get to know her better and the understanding dawns that Ellen is not all we think her to be. She’s a part time teacher, mother of three and reasonably happily married. And as in many books with this theme, there is a lot of alcohol involved. Time and time again I’m surprised that people can drink copious amounts of alcohol each day and then moan that they have a hangover. Not to mention the stupid decisions they often make when drunk.
Anyway, it was interesting to read how Ellens husband Adam, her children and her friends really thought about her, and to try and figure out who the person is who wanted to hurt her so badly and why. There are a few surprises and I liked the ending.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this review copy.
Read
January 26, 2024DNF. I really wanted to like this but I couldn’t get into it as a physical book or an audio book… it was too long winded. If you decide to pick it up I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
July 5, 2023
This was a fun one, centered on Ellen who seemingly has it all, but is being threatened by an unknown person for reasons unknown that lead you to believe she is hiding a lot more than she is sharing. The story is told I’m various POVs, from Ellen herself to her friends and family members.
Ellen is kind of a likable character, though the difference in situations told from both her perspective and others’ was really interesting to me; it was fascinating to see different interpretations of the same story. I didn’t think she was all that great of a wife, and her oldest child was a spoiled awful brat, but this all just made her seem like a real person. I liked how so many of the characters ended up being different from what I expected; some in a good way and others in a bad way. The mystery is sound, with a multitude of potential villains from which to choose. When the villain was exposed, I wish there had been more bread crumbs laid, though I thought the author did a great job of explaining how it all got to that point and I was able to recognize some subtle breadcrumbs from previous chapters. I do think the “5 bad deeds” theme was underdone, and had to separate myself from the title while reading. The ending was mostly satisfying to me, though I did walk away with a couple unanswered questions.
Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read. I haven’t read any other books by this author but would definitely pick one up, and would recommend this one to those who like domestic/psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ellen is kind of a likable character, though the difference in situations told from both her perspective and others’ was really interesting to me; it was fascinating to see different interpretations of the same story. I didn’t think she was all that great of a wife, and her oldest child was a spoiled awful brat, but this all just made her seem like a real person. I liked how so many of the characters ended up being different from what I expected; some in a good way and others in a bad way. The mystery is sound, with a multitude of potential villains from which to choose. When the villain was exposed, I wish there had been more bread crumbs laid, though I thought the author did a great job of explaining how it all got to that point and I was able to recognize some subtle breadcrumbs from previous chapters. I do think the “5 bad deeds” theme was underdone, and had to separate myself from the title while reading. The ending was mostly satisfying to me, though I did walk away with a couple unanswered questions.
Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read. I haven’t read any other books by this author but would definitely pick one up, and would recommend this one to those who like domestic/psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
I don’t know how this got on my TBR, but whoever is responsible I say many thankings! I didn’t read much while I was on vacation the last week and a half, but I picked this up on Festivus and flew right threw it. The premise here is simple: Ellen is a gal after my own heart . . . .
Who has finally managed to snag her dream home (of sorts) after perusing the Zillow for the perfect location. Now she just has to wait out the remodel in order for this to be the family’s forever home. But when an ominous note appears threatening to shatter Ellen’s glass castle, we find out maybe our leading lady isn’t as squeaky clean as she would want us to believe.
Okay, so this was fun. As you probably know, I love trash and reality T.V. and Lifetime Stabbies and this was on the high-end of that particular genre. Loads of fun.
Who has finally managed to snag her dream home (of sorts) after perusing the Zillow for the perfect location. Now she just has to wait out the remodel in order for this to be the family’s forever home. But when an ominous note appears threatening to shatter Ellen’s glass castle, we find out maybe our leading lady isn’t as squeaky clean as she would want us to believe.
Okay, so this was fun. As you probably know, I love trash and reality T.V. and Lifetime Stabbies and this was on the high-end of that particular genre. Loads of fun.
December 10, 2023
I absolutely adore Caz Frear’s Cat Kinsella procedural mystery series, so I’m gravely disappointed to see her pivot to this sort of schlocky domestic thriller.
I assume Frear will return to the Cat Kinsella series eventually, but this one just felt beneath her talent as a writer, and hits on all the obnoxious themes that continue to put me off of this genre.
There’s nothing interesting about the characters or their world. They’re dull, they’re petty, they could be your own irritating suburban neighbor who never managed to develop a personality beyond terrorizing their own friends and family.
In these types of books we don’t even get the voyeuristic fun of the rich people behaving badly trope. Just a lot of petty squabbling in a dull setting that just makes everyone involved seem pathetic.
I have a lot of respect for Frear as a writer, but she didn’t need to stoop to this. Let’s get back to the world of Cat Kinsella instead.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I assume Frear will return to the Cat Kinsella series eventually, but this one just felt beneath her talent as a writer, and hits on all the obnoxious themes that continue to put me off of this genre.
There’s nothing interesting about the characters or their world. They’re dull, they’re petty, they could be your own irritating suburban neighbor who never managed to develop a personality beyond terrorizing their own friends and family.
In these types of books we don’t even get the voyeuristic fun of the rich people behaving badly trope. Just a lot of petty squabbling in a dull setting that just makes everyone involved seem pathetic.
I have a lot of respect for Frear as a writer, but she didn’t need to stoop to this. Let’s get back to the world of Cat Kinsella instead.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 20, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Paperbacks, and Caz Frear for this ARC of Five Bad Deeds.
On initial review of this book’s synopsis, I was immediately intrigued to see where the book might take me. Sadly, on top of extremely unlikable characters (and for no valid purpose), I found this book to be extremely disorganized and confusing. Oddly enough,I had no issues recalling each character despite several POVs, but the writing style felt very clunky to me. I had a difficult time keeping up with the story and even felt like the plot was unclear for most of the book (without the synopsis I would have been entirely lost).
Lastly, I was a bit let down by the ending, a thus this read was just not for me.
2 ⭐️
On initial review of this book’s synopsis, I was immediately intrigued to see where the book might take me. Sadly, on top of extremely unlikable characters (and for no valid purpose), I found this book to be extremely disorganized and confusing. Oddly enough,I had no issues recalling each character despite several POVs, but the writing style felt very clunky to me. I had a difficult time keeping up with the story and even felt like the plot was unclear for most of the book (without the synopsis I would have been entirely lost).
Lastly, I was a bit let down by the ending, a thus this read was just not for me.
2 ⭐️
April 20, 2024
This is a very well plotted psychological thriller told from the points of view of several characters, Ellen, Orla, Adam, Jason, Gwen, Nush, and Kristy. The book is set in five parts as in the five bad deeds.
Ellen is the main protagonist, she appears to have a happy life, the house of her dreams although she is desperate for the renovations she wants done to make it feel like hers, a teenage daughter, Orla, and twin boys Max and Kian who are just in nursery. Then Adam her husband. Initially all seems well in their lives although Orla is a bit of a handful but it seems it wasn’t always like that, her and Ellen used to get on well, so what changed? besides the twins arrival, who Orla thinks get all the attention, she seems to think she should have everything she wants.
Ellen hadn’t grown up with money her and her sister Kristy had had it tough, but they both came out the other side. Adam on the other hand was raised in a well to do family. At times I find Adam spineless, they seem to have a happy marriage but he is hardly home, off playing squash or golf, or out for a drink with work, leaving Ellen to do everything else despite her being a teacher as well as running the house. They are planning the works on the house as Ellen seems to be almost guaranteed promotion. Until something happens that ends that dream, from then on in things just keep getting worse, who is sending her messages, she has no idea what it is she has supposed to have done to make anyone turn on her like this. Although gradually you see a different side to the people around her, just when she needs their support they turn on her, but why? Even Adam.
I initially liked the characters but as the story evolved, I found they all had some not so nice characteristics, is it jealousy? Ellen has told some white lies were these now catching up on her? Especially when she was accused of having a relationship with a 17 year old pupil she was privately tutoring. Zane, he was an intelligent young girl man who had got 10 GCSE’s but was expelled from school half way through his A levels. Ellen took him on for free but never told anyone.
I absolutely whizzed through this book in a day, I couldn’t put it down, I had no idea who was sending the anonymous messages to Ellen, I had a couple of guesses but was so way off with them.
This is a fast paced, engrossing read, if you like a psychological thriller with several red herrings that throw you off track then read this, the characters are all believable if not all likeable as you get to know them more, it seems they all want to throw Ellen under the bus. She does come across at times that everything is about her, and she spends money like there is no tomorrow. But the main thing is what are the five bad deeds she has done? Is it from her past? Or from something more recent? Pick this up and you will not be able to put it down guaranteed.
Thank you so much to @SimonBooks and @likely_suspects for my ARC of this, all thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way. This is an absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️read without a doubt, when you find a book you can’t put down, you know it’s good. Very highly recommend this one.
Ellen is the main protagonist, she appears to have a happy life, the house of her dreams although she is desperate for the renovations she wants done to make it feel like hers, a teenage daughter, Orla, and twin boys Max and Kian who are just in nursery. Then Adam her husband. Initially all seems well in their lives although Orla is a bit of a handful but it seems it wasn’t always like that, her and Ellen used to get on well, so what changed? besides the twins arrival, who Orla thinks get all the attention, she seems to think she should have everything she wants.
Ellen hadn’t grown up with money her and her sister Kristy had had it tough, but they both came out the other side. Adam on the other hand was raised in a well to do family. At times I find Adam spineless, they seem to have a happy marriage but he is hardly home, off playing squash or golf, or out for a drink with work, leaving Ellen to do everything else despite her being a teacher as well as running the house. They are planning the works on the house as Ellen seems to be almost guaranteed promotion. Until something happens that ends that dream, from then on in things just keep getting worse, who is sending her messages, she has no idea what it is she has supposed to have done to make anyone turn on her like this. Although gradually you see a different side to the people around her, just when she needs their support they turn on her, but why? Even Adam.
I initially liked the characters but as the story evolved, I found they all had some not so nice characteristics, is it jealousy? Ellen has told some white lies were these now catching up on her? Especially when she was accused of having a relationship with a 17 year old pupil she was privately tutoring. Zane, he was an intelligent young girl man who had got 10 GCSE’s but was expelled from school half way through his A levels. Ellen took him on for free but never told anyone.
I absolutely whizzed through this book in a day, I couldn’t put it down, I had no idea who was sending the anonymous messages to Ellen, I had a couple of guesses but was so way off with them.
This is a fast paced, engrossing read, if you like a psychological thriller with several red herrings that throw you off track then read this, the characters are all believable if not all likeable as you get to know them more, it seems they all want to throw Ellen under the bus. She does come across at times that everything is about her, and she spends money like there is no tomorrow. But the main thing is what are the five bad deeds she has done? Is it from her past? Or from something more recent? Pick this up and you will not be able to put it down guaranteed.
Thank you so much to @SimonBooks and @likely_suspects for my ARC of this, all thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way. This is an absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️read without a doubt, when you find a book you can’t put down, you know it’s good. Very highly recommend this one.
April 25, 2024
This was a slow burning domestic drama/thriller. Full of unlikeable characters, a series of events aimed at our main character, Ellen, slowly start to destroy her seemingly perfect life.
I really found it hard to warm to Ellen in any way. While I did feel sorry for her at times, she really didn’t do a lot to help herself at all. She lied so much, to everyone. That was never going to end well. The five bad deeds themself.. I didn’t, I did think they were all that bad really.
Overall it was an interesting story, that once it got going, had me invested. The ending was pretty crazy and I felt like I should have seen it coming. The author did a great job with red herrings.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on May 15th.
I really found it hard to warm to Ellen in any way. While I did feel sorry for her at times, she really didn’t do a lot to help herself at all. She lied so much, to everyone. That was never going to end well. The five bad deeds themself.. I didn’t, I did think they were all that bad really.
Overall it was an interesting story, that once it got going, had me invested. The ending was pretty crazy and I felt like I should have seen it coming. The author did a great job with red herrings.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on May 15th.
September 16, 2024
Five Bad Deeds
Well hell, I wasted all that time to get to the end only to find out that nothing was worth the time I spent there. The book was full of crybabies and just couldn't get to anywhere near a good book.
None of the characters were any good, they were crapy, petty, and over-drama.. I certainly wish I hadn't read it.... well most of which I skimmed because it wasn't worth the time.
I star
Happy Reading!
Well hell, I wasted all that time to get to the end only to find out that nothing was worth the time I spent there. The book was full of crybabies and just couldn't get to anywhere near a good book.
None of the characters were any good, they were crapy, petty, and over-drama.. I certainly wish I hadn't read it.... well most of which I skimmed because it wasn't worth the time.
I star
Happy Reading!
July 16, 2023
I would have given it 5 stars, but Adam got away with being a total brat, no consequences. He gets to be all holier-than-thou when he was the one having an emotional and half physical affair with his wife's friend? Absolutely not. This is a plot hole I cannot forgive. Ruined the ending for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
Caz Frear can weave a story. A story full of unlikable characters, but you get so invested in the story, you can’t wait to know where it’s going to go.
May 3, 2024
always gobble up a neighborhood/family drama thriller. a bit overly long but really binged once it got to a certain point
December 28, 2023
U.K. English & U.K. Phrases used throughout story.
Very slow burn.
All the characters were unlikeable, too.
I considered not finishing this book a few times.
Not my cup of tea.
Please see other reviews for more information & other opinions of this novel.
Very slow burn.
All the characters were unlikeable, too.
I considered not finishing this book a few times.
Not my cup of tea.
Please see other reviews for more information & other opinions of this novel.
April 11, 2024
Highly unlikeable characters, lots of deception and deceit. Old lies and bad relationships. This book has a whole lot going on and it really delivers on the twisty front.
Can't really tell you much more than the blurb without giving spoilers, but take my word that this is a great book that you'll probably binge in a couple of sittings.
Can't really tell you much more than the blurb without giving spoilers, but take my word that this is a great book that you'll probably binge in a couple of sittings.
August 19, 2024
TW/CW: Language, alcohol, cheating, divorce, depression, anxiety, toxic family relationships
*****SPOILERS*****
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, 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.
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 416
Rating: ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Cover
What I Didn't Like:
1. Boring
2. I didn't care about the characters
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Gotta live that the author gives away things about The Changling.
Tom leaves it on Ellen when he is cheating. He blames her and tells her to not tell Nush because it would wreck her. Loser. Then we find out that Tom was lying about her mother being sick.
Final Thoughts:
Dnf! I just couldn't care about the characters or what was happening because it was so utterly boring. Nothing is happening. I thought her getting these notes would be more exciting but they're so mundane because you actually just hear more about her day and chores than the notes.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Paperbacks for the advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
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, 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.
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 416
Rating: ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Cover
What I Didn't Like:
1. Boring
2. I didn't care about the characters
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Gotta live that the author gives away things about The Changling.
Tom leaves it on Ellen when he is cheating. He blames her and tells her to not tell Nush because it would wreck her. Loser. Then we find out that Tom was lying about her mother being sick.
Final Thoughts:
Dnf! I just couldn't care about the characters or what was happening because it was so utterly boring. Nothing is happening. I thought her getting these notes would be more exciting but they're so mundane because you actually just hear more about her day and chores than the notes.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Paperbacks for the advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2023
CAZ FREAR IS A LEGEND. I love her voice so much. It's hard to stand out in the thriller genre but the Cat Kinsella books and Five Bad Deeds have a spark that jumps off the page.
Five Bad Deeds is Ellen's story, told by Ellen, her sister, her daughter, and her two closest friends. The prologue kicks off with Ellen in jail for a serious crime and with no one by her side. Then we jump back a few months, when Ellen starts receiving anonymous threats that someone is going to ruin her life like she ruined theirs.
That sounds pretty standard, but what makes this unique is that 1) Ellen is dimensional- she has it all together except she's kind of a mess sometimes, plus she's self-aware and funny; and 2) Ellen has done 5 Bad Deeds - interspersed throughout in flashbacks- and one of them is the reason why her life is being ruined. I had no idea who the villain was but I was having so much fun I didn't even try to guess lol.
This is already one of my favorite books of the year. I read this in like 2 days, which is very fast for me because I have young children who are determined to throw my Kindle in the bathtub. Thank you Caz Frear, Harper Paperbacks, and Netgalley for letting me read this early!
Five Bad Deeds is Ellen's story, told by Ellen, her sister, her daughter, and her two closest friends. The prologue kicks off with Ellen in jail for a serious crime and with no one by her side. Then we jump back a few months, when Ellen starts receiving anonymous threats that someone is going to ruin her life like she ruined theirs.
That sounds pretty standard, but what makes this unique is that 1) Ellen is dimensional- she has it all together except she's kind of a mess sometimes, plus she's self-aware and funny; and 2) Ellen has done 5 Bad Deeds - interspersed throughout in flashbacks- and one of them is the reason why her life is being ruined. I had no idea who the villain was but I was having so much fun I didn't even try to guess lol.
This is already one of my favorite books of the year. I read this in like 2 days, which is very fast for me because I have young children who are determined to throw my Kindle in the bathtub. Thank you Caz Frear, Harper Paperbacks, and Netgalley for letting me read this early!
January 10, 2024
Maybe 3.5 stars. The book did get better but the fact that it took so dang long just killed it for me.
February 12, 2024
It was ok it had me going for a little while but for me it got to the point of get on with it and when it finally did I was not crazy about the end I am sorry
July 29, 2025
from several points of view,
ellen's good citizen veneer is
slowly decoupled until she's
up for the consequences,
and a huge plot twist. ♡
ellen's good citizen veneer is
slowly decoupled until she's
up for the consequences,
and a huge plot twist. ♡
September 28, 2025
I thought the beginning of this novel was interesting. I enjoyed the format and hearing different perspectives of why Ellen was a narcissist. Later on in the book as you piece it together and realize what’s going on I thought the plot was childish and weak.
January 19, 2024
I first found Caz Frear’s books through Book of the Month Club and have really enjoyed her Cat Kinsella series. This book, however, is quite a step down from that series in terms of plot and characters. It sort of gives an impression of tension and foreshadows some big awful secrets but it’s really just a lackluster, unshocking story. I hated Ellen right from the beginning and her whining and complaining just got under my skin. Then the switching to multiple other characters’ perspectives for short times was confusing. Hopefully, Frear will pick back up with the Cat Kinsella series because this one is not going to be anyone’s favorite thriller.
April 23, 2024
Another new author to me and another great read ( although had 4 DNF inbetween the last one and this 😎 )
This is a story of neighbour’s, jealousies, revenge, calculation and spite…all
delivered in a waspish often darkly humorous narrative that was delicious to devour
Think privilege and entitlement and an assumptive ‘nothing can happen to me versus unbridled anger and playing the long game of ‘you will pay’ and it gives a glimpse of the story within this book
Woefully despicable characters, that make you shout Hurrah at the enjoyment of reading them gave me a wonderful read, I couldn’t learn enough about them, their feelings and their lives
Interwoven in this story is a woman struggling with a surprise to her set of feelings that knock off her kilter as she tries to block, and kinda fails to keep these unwanted feelings re someone at bay
It ‘s really good, really really good and have yet another fav author 😎
This is a story of neighbour’s, jealousies, revenge, calculation and spite…all
delivered in a waspish often darkly humorous narrative that was delicious to devour
Think privilege and entitlement and an assumptive ‘nothing can happen to me versus unbridled anger and playing the long game of ‘you will pay’ and it gives a glimpse of the story within this book
Woefully despicable characters, that make you shout Hurrah at the enjoyment of reading them gave me a wonderful read, I couldn’t learn enough about them, their feelings and their lives
Interwoven in this story is a woman struggling with a surprise to her set of feelings that knock off her kilter as she tries to block, and kinda fails to keep these unwanted feelings re someone at bay
It ‘s really good, really really good and have yet another fav author 😎
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