I found. This book difficult to follow.
I liked the premise of the synopsis but couldn’t really invest in either the plot or the characters.

Ellen Walsh is what many aspire to be: a tutor with a loving husband, three kids, a beautiful home. But while outside appearances show someone who has it all together, Ellen is not perfect. She gets a note in the mail, an anonymous person warning her that she's going to learn that there are consequences to her actions. Ellen's life is then under attack, the police are called on her, accidents bring the attention of child services, her husband and eldest daughter begin to question Ellen. Siblings, neighbors, and others around town are drawn into Ellen's secrets.

Caz Frear created a complex web of lies and characters in Five Bad Deeds. By the time I got to the end of the book, I appreciated the intricacies of the book, but while reading it it was often a little confusing how all of the various characters would come together. The second half of the book, once the reveals start coming more and more quickly, was a lot more exciting as the cat and mouse game begins between Ellen and those plotting her downfall. Ellen was a compelling protagonist, someone you grow to both hate and sympathize with as you learn everything she has done to herself and the people around her. Five Bad Deeds was a well written piece of domestic suspense that has some good rewards for patience.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for a copy of Five Bad Deeds in exchange for an honest review.

"Five Bad Deeds" by Caz Frear is gripping, delivering another dose of suspense, intricate plotting, and compelling characters. Frear's skillful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, unraveling a complex web of secrets and deception. With its sharp dialogue, nuanced characterization, and relentless pacing, "Five Bad Deeds" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction.

Caz Frear's Five Bad Deeds opens in a prison, where we meet Ellen, mother of four-year-old twins Max and Kian.

Before this happened, we meet Ellen and her husband Adam raising toddlers and her teen daughter Orla. Ellen receives a threatening note that 'people have to learn there are consequences'.

Facebook embarrassment follows and nasty rumors circulate. The story continues with sections revealing each of Five Bad Deeds, relating to Ellen's interactions with those around her - all with good intentions but unintended consequences.

Ellen persists in finding out what's behind it all - a real shocker and a dramatic conclusion.

“A person can do twenty good deeds, but all people will remember is the one bad one.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing an eARC of this book! I’m not the biggest thriller reader, but I had to give this one a try based on the blurb!

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this read at all. I didn’t like a single thing about it. And while it is partly that it ~really~ wasn’t for me, this book also just has some major flaws.

I struggled with many aspects of this story, including the pacing, but my biggest issue was, by far, the character work. Not only is every single one of the characters one-dimensional, under-developed, and inconsistent, they’re also all Insufferable!
As a result, I found myself both struggling to tell the characters apart, and unable to root for a single on of them! As the characters and the dynamics between them were the focal point of the story, the lacking character work shaped my entire reading experience.

All that being said, I do think some people would devour this! This book is for you, if you like:
• Small-town drama
• Unhinged characters
• Slow reveals
• Domestic suspense
• Multi-POV stories

Five Bad Deeds is out now, so go grab a copy or request it from your library it’ll it sounds like something for you!

TW: Stalking, infidelity, blackmailing, death.

**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!

Ellen is usually the envied one, the spouse/parent/friend that can do no wrong. While her husband is frequently working late, she is juggling her teenage daughter and two toddler twin boys and starting to renovate their dream home, Meadowhouse. But at some point in her life, she rubbed someone the wrong way. She receives a letter telling her that actions have consequences and her consequences will be starting soon.

I liked the premise of the book and the start of it. I enjoyed the different POVs that included Ellen, her husband, their adult friends, etc. Each one had their own perspective on Ellen. But after each “bad” deed and misdirect of who was the actual culprit, the story started to stall a bit. Also, when we find out the antagonist, it seemed a lot more far fetched.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for this eARC. Five Bad Deeds is out now.

Ellen is busy overseeing renovations of her family's new home in charming Thames Lawley. Between home renovations and managing a family that includes difficult teen Orla and rambunctious twin boys Kian and Max, she has her hands full. The last thing she needs is some nasty anonymous notes, threatening to expose her misdeeds. Ellen sees herself as an upstanding member of society--what could she possibly have done to generate such hatred?!

Lots of unlikeable, selfish characters in this one, which is usually a big negative for me, but Caz Frear made it work. Ellen is pretty self-centered and entitled, but also genuinely cares about the people in her life. I found the ending to be both unexpected and satisfying, and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one kept me on my toes! I really enjoyed it and the cover is sweet. I highly recommend this to all who love a good thriller.

At it’s core, Caz Frear’s novel, Five Bad Deeds, is about a woman named Ellen who has a blessed life, great family, beautiful home, and is surrounded by people who she thinks are her friends but all of whom secretly despise her. A story full of secrets, lies, hidden motives, and the truths we don’t dare speak out loud to those closest to us…

Review | Five Bad Deeds

It took me several chapters to get into Five Bad Deeds, and I think that’s because it took a minute for me to get the hang of how the story would be told. The book opens with a bang—a woman named Ellen Walsh is in prison and reflecting on what brought her there and looking forward to the day she’ll be released.

Backtracking in time, we learn more about Ellen. She may not be perfect, but she seems to be a loving mother, wife, and friend to many. In fact, Ellen’s worst quality seems to be that she is privileged and can at times be somewhat oblivious to how her privilege may come across to others.

Ellen and her husband Adam have a desirable home named The Meadowhouse located in a Thames Valley that is about to undergo several expensive renovations. Ellen sees this house as their forever home, and believes it is worth the expense to make it their dream house. Her husband has a successful job and comes from a wealthy family, so the budget isn’t out of grasp for the couple.

Ellen has three children—a set of 4-year-old twins who are a handful and a teenage daughter named Orla who seems to resent everything her mother does (typical teenage girl, in other words). Ellen may drink a bit too much wine on occasion or show understandable frustration with her kids, but overall she appears to be a great mom who has her flaws but loves her family.

As the book progresses, we learn quite a bit about Ellen. Told in alternating perspectives, the story of Ellen is one of a woman who makes mistakes but is largely well-intentioned. At least that’s what it seems when we hear from Ellen… But interspersed between Ellen’s chapters are stories from those around her—her sister Kristy who is a former model whose career was cut short after an accident, her friend Nush who has recently gone through a divorce, her neighbor Gwen who is always available for a glass of wine and gossip, her daughter Orla whose teenage resentment veers towards malicious, and several others in her life.

The more we hear from the people closest to Ellen, the more bizarre the story becomes. They all seem to secretly…hate her? Hate might be a strong word, but they seem to wish Ellen would get knocked down a few pegs. When it is contrasted with Ellen’s perspective, it’s hard to know who to side with. Is Ellen a good person who is mislabeled by those around her, or is this a case of “where there is smoke, there is fire”?

It's hard to not wonder if Ellen deserves the hate, but at the same time the chapters from her perspective suggest that Ellen has good intentions and is more caring than she may be perceived. Although, eventually we do learn that Ellen is keeping a secret. She is tutoring a teenager named Zane, but for a reason she is keeping to herself, Ellen doesn’t want anyone to know. She’s not being paid to tutor Zane, but she repeatedly lies to those in her life to help Zane in one way or another.

I was so curious to know what was going on with Ellen! Why does she get arrested? What is her pull towards the wily but sympathetic Zane? Why is she so desperate to keep her good deed a secret? And most intriguing… why do so many of her closest friends and family hate her?

I read Five Bad Deeds with my book club and we had an interesting discussion about this book. Most of us took about 20% until we were invested, and from there we were hooked. We were split on whether we thought Ellen was likable or unlikable, and those who found her unlikable cited that so many people around her disliked her and that must mean something. None of us were able to guess the twists or how the ending might play out! Our most interesting theorizing was around what secret was tying Ellen to Zane. I won’t spoil it though—you’ll have to read to find out what it was!

This is an engaging book that centers around an imperfect woman who is imprisoned for something she didn’t do, and the secrets in her life that put her there. Expect lots of twists and turns, and your mind to change some depending on whose chapter you are reading.

Thank you to Harper Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

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 stepdown 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.

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) This was a solid domestic thriller read for me! I'll be honest in saying that I requested it simply because the cover looked cool (yay fire! lol), but I was very much enthralled with the plot the moment I picked it up. This was my first book by Caz Frear, but it certainly won't be my last!

Five Bad Deeds is told in multiple POVs, so it takes a bit to feel settled and like you have your bearings, but the author does a great job of portraying different characters that, while unlikeable, are interesting to read. The novel begins with a lot of suspense, which draws you in right away, but then it starts to lose steam around the 60% mark. The final reveal of thrillers is what decides if it's something I would recommend, but with Five Bad Deeds I can't decide! I think it will be different for everyone, but if you're a fan of domestic suspense (as opposed to full on psychological thrillers) I think you will enjoy it.

This was a really gripping thriller despite well-tread territory, and the writing was clean and visceral.

Ellen Walsh is a sister, wife, private tutor and mother of rebellious 16 year old daughter, Orla and young twin monsters…I mean boys.

Perfectly posh and good-girl Ellen has everything she’s ever wanted. A successful husband with loads of money, posh friends, enviable social status and she’s renovating her dream home. Her life is too good to be true and that makes someone or possibly lots of “someone’s ” quite unhappy and vengeful.

Ellen starts receiving a threatening letter and messages. A mysterious person is out to get her: calling for a breathalyzer upon leaving a party; reporting her to child services; setting her up as a pedo and possible murderer.

So many suspects, all capable and with plausible reasons, but who is it and why??

This read was very enjoyable and had a really surprising TWIST that I seriously did not see it coming. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Publishing for this arc for my honest review!

This is such a well-rounded domestic mystery with multiple players, each having a motive to ruin Ellen’s life. Caz Frear does a wonderful job weaving each person’s story together to make you wonder what will happen next and who is truly involved. As the story progresses, the lies pile up and the characters become more entangled until the jaw-dropping ending – which I never saw coming!
Although Ellen’s life is slightly frazzled, she has everything going for her. She’s purchased her dream home and is about to embark on its total remodel, she is up for a prized position at the school where she works, and she has a loving husband who supports her. One day, she gets an anonymous letter in the mail that says “people have to learn there are consequences.” Who could have sent it and what does it mean? As she struggles to determine who is out to get her, the threats become increasingly more severe, ultimately affecting everything and everyone she holds dear. What exactly has she done to warrant such a response?
Each chapter of this novel ends with a little cliffhanger that keeps you wanting to read just one more. It was hard to set this one down when I needed to and there is SO much to discuss! Perfect for fans of domestic drama, creepy circumstances, multiple points of view, and an ending you won’t see coming!

Ellen is usually the envied one, the spouse/parent/friend that can do no wrong. While her husband is frequently working late, she is juggling her teenage daughter and two toddler twin boys and starting to renovate their dream home, Meadowhouse. But at some point in her life, she rubbed someone the wrong way. She receives a letter telling her that actions have consequences and her consequences will be starting soon. Who is out for revenge against Ellen and how far will they go?

I liked the premise of the book and the start of it. I enjoyed the different POVs that included Ellen, her husband, their adult friends, etc. Each one had their own perspective on Ellen. But after each “bad” deed and misdirect of who was the actual culprit, the story started to stall a bit. Also, when we find out the antagonist, it seemed a lot more far fetched. But the ending was better than how I thought it would end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for this eARC. Five Bad Deeds is out now.

**𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

Ellen is jugging a lot of things. She’s a mom of two twin toddler boys and a teenage daughter with a giant attitude. She’s renovating her home and tutors on the side. When she receives a threatening letter in the mail it seems like someone is out to get her and she’s not sure why. This was just alright for me. Not my favorite read but not terrible either. I struggled to stay engaged and I felt like the characters were giving Ellen too much of a hard time. I have certainly come across characters that were far more unlikable. Overall this one was just ok.

Ellen appears to have a great life - a family, a (soon-to-be) beautiful home, a satisfying job. But someone, it seems, is out to ruin her reputation and wreak havoc on her otherwise "normal" life. This book has a lot of characters, and the story is told from several POVs. It was somewhat easy to lose my bearings at the beginning of the story, but once I was able to keep track of everyone, I appreciated the characterization. While this is definitely a slower-paced book, I did enjoy reading it, if only to figure out what was actually going on in Ellen's life.

The cover on this one really got me, and I can't believe I had never heard of Caz Frear before. This was a good one.