Five Bad Deeds
"An involving, layered, and thrilling story of secrets, lies, and revenge, Five Bad Deeds takes us far beneath the surface of suburban bliss into the dark heart of human desire. . . . Riveting!" --Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
"[A] devastating suspense novel. . . . A must-read for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Acclaimed, internationally bestselling author Caz Frear ratchets up the suspense in this outstanding standalone psychological thriller--a gripping tale of revenge, loyalty, and the secrets hidden between the walls of the most beautiful home in town.
Ellen Walsh has done something very, very bad. If only she knew what it was . . .
Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, declaring:
People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen.
And I'm going to teach you that lesson.
Right under your nose.
Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She's no angel--a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there--but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She'd never intentionally hurt anyone.
But intention doesn't matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed "good person" for all the bad they've experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else's. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?
As she races to discover who's set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages . . . each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes.
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Caz Frear 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. Her first Cat Kinsella mystery was Sweet Little Lies. She grew up in Coventry, England, where she now lives.
"Caz Frear, with her almost freakish gift for witty, rapid-fire dialogue and sharp observations, gives this portrait of a flawed woman targeted for destruction the tone of a screwball comedy, albeit an edgy one. I confess to not guessing the identity of Ellen's tormentor, but belatedly realizing the clues were there all along, lurking in the quiet spaces among all that coruscating prose. Well played, Ms. Frear." -- Air Mail
"A big high-five for Caz Frear's Five Bad Deeds--a page-gripping, nail-gnawing good read." -- Cara Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of Murder in the Family
"Caz Frear writes with depth, intensity and insight as she relentlessly turns the screws of suspense. An involving, layered, and thrilling story of secrets, lies, and revenge, Five Bad Deeds takes us far beneath the surface of suburban bliss into the dark heart of human desire. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Riveting!" -- Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
"[A] devastating suspense novel . . . .This is a must-read for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Deliciously wicked." -- Crimereads, Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Fall
"A psychological triumph. . . . Well-plotted and deliciously edgy." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A twisty domestic-suspense thriller. . . will likely appeal to readers of Shari Lapena, Sally Hepworth, Jamie Day, and Melissa Adelman." -- Booklist
"A dark, addictive, suburban nightmare. Five Bad Deeds is an edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night delight." -- Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End
"An utterly compelling, superbly characterized, constantly fascinating mystery. I read with my eyes inches from the pages as each new reveal unfolded, and the final reveal was superb." -- Gytha Lodge, author of A Killer in the Family
"Deliciously waspish, twisty, and relatable." -- Claire McGowan, author of Are You Awake? and What You Did
“The story, characters, and language here immerse readers in a twisty case that involves more than one dysfunctional family. Frear almost ties all these strands up neatly at the end, until Cat's past comes back to bite her again, leaving things ripe for book three. Frear's fans will enjoy the focus on grown-up Cat; Dervla McTiernan's readers are another likely audience.” -- Booklist
"Cat Kinsella seals her status as fiction's most irresistible cop."
-- Booklist
"Astonishingly assured. . . . a stellar crime fiction debut by an author to watch." -- Booklist
"Frear has fashioned a remarkably rich and sympathetic character in Cat, and her portrayal of dysfunctional families, especially their mix of world-weary dialogue interspersed with cutting comments, is cringingly realistic. . . . Impressive. . . will also work as a way of keeping Tana French fans happy while waiting for French's next book." -- Booklist
"A suspenseful novel about revenge and justice." -- The Story Exchange
"With a portrait of Cat with depth and nuance, Frear creates as fascinating a character as readers are likely to encounter this year. A complex tale of depravity--and daddy issues that threaten to overcome Frear's protagonist--'Sweet Little Lies' represents a study in the damage that falsehoods inflict, a meditation on the grievances and grief of family--and a thumping good read." -- People
"A twisty domestic-suspense thriller. It will likely appeal to readers of Shari Lapena, Sally Hepworth, Jamie Day, and Melissa Adelman." -- Booklist
"I've been a Caz Frear fan ever since I discovered her Cat Kinsella series, and with Five Bad Deeds, Frear blends another seriously twisty storyline with her unmistakable, signature wit. But this suspenseful tale is so much more as it digs into how we perceive ourselves vs. how we're seen by others, and you may find yourself wondering what seemingly innocuous things you've done in your past that others will never forgive you for. Smart, cunning, and compelling, Five Bad Deeds will surprise you page after page until the very end. A fantastic, binge-worthy read!" -- Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of The Revenge List
