I love how thrillers and mysteries draw you into a story right away without that "hard to get into" kind of book feeling, but lately I've been so tired of repetitive thriller storylines and character arcs. This book was EXACTLY what I needed! It was a mystery and showed some of the (real) horror of humanity, but it was also SO funny and relatable. I was thrilled to see that it was a follow-up to "Before She Was Helen" - Clemmie is one of my favorite characters I've ever read about. One review I read said that the ending felt a little random/abrupt - which I can definitely agree with - but it's my only complaint about the book. Other than that, I enjoyed every character, every time Clemmie internally rolled her eyes at a friend, and every single page of story. I look forward to this author's next work and hope we can see more of Clemmie ASAP!

This book was a surprise. It's not often a publisher or author takes a chance on a mystery involving elderly women, but this book was great.

I have read Caroline B. Cooney books since childhood, and this adult book was a great mystery with engaging and interesting characters, all of whom are seniors. The book's main mystery involves a civil rights era crime and an unlikely hero along with an unlikely victim. The book also touches on aging and society's ability to make the old, especially women, both unbeautiful and invisible.

While a serious subject, the book was engaging and never preachy. I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it!

I received a free copy of, The Wrong Good Deed, by Caroline B. Cooney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You never really know someone, Clemmie and Muffin both have secrets in this thriller, of a book, another suspenseful book, by Caroline B. Clooney, I have read her books for years.

I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, since I had read and loved Before She Was Helen. When I realized this book is a sequel, I quickly re-read the original book to refresh my memory. I enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time, but it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one. Once again, I found life in the retirement community locale to be reminiscent of places I've visited in FL. I loved the dynamics of the community, and the author brought the very relatable characters to life. I appreciated being able to know what the characters were thinking, sometimes adding humor and sarcasm to the story. I also liked the concept of people thinking they could start life in a new community with a fresh slate, but many of them had unusual histories they were concealing. The author also did a great job portraying life in the South during the Civil Rights period in the flashbacks. I found the book a great combination of mystery, history and humor, and I highly recommend it. I hope the author will continue the series.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Poisoned Pen Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A talented author with an intriguing tale that captured me from the start.

The Wrong Good Deed
A Novel
by Caroline B. Cooney
This is a beautiful, very well-written book. I was lost in this in the first pages. Once in a long while, will a book read out and you become one watching the story, painted, raw, emotional and so feel of depth. The Wrong Good Deed is definitely this one. It could be a movie, and should.
Muffin and Clemmie are friends in their seventies who live in the same retirement community. Both have their points of view.
Brilliantly done.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN, which featured an older main character with an intriguing identity and backstory who now lived in a retirement community in South Carolina. Clemmie/Helen is featured again in THE WRONG GOOD DEED, along with some of her friends from the retirement community, and while this was a quick read, it was also a little cringey with all of these 70+ year old white characters talking about civil rights, dialect, deliberately calling people by the wrong name, etc. All of the characters are too inside of their heads - we hear all of their internal thoughts, but then there is little action. Also, the ending was kind of abrupt and I wanted more retribution, redemption, punishment, something.

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐
No. Of Pages : 288
Genre : Mystery, Fiction
Publication: Poisoned Pen Press

The story follows two neighbours Clemmie and Muffin who are in a retirement community along with other people of their age.

This text takes place in a matter of a week where we witness some heartbreaking and shocking revelation of their secret past that they have been running from.

A very unfiltered life of two 70 year old women with captivating personalities. The writing style is simple and chapters are short. Can be read in one sitting easily.

Let's be mindful of some TW warnings before you start reading this text. This text touches upon topics that are very sensitive and we must be mindful of.

The text talks about women in a patriarchal construct, male dominance, racial discrimination/conflicts, ideological conflict and so on and so forth.

I have personally never read a text that has old characters as such and it was refreshing to go through their mentality and how they cope up with daily lives in an advanced environment all alone. It's pretty interesting.

I would recommend it for sure !

Thank you to @netgalley for e - ARC in exchange for this review.

I devoured The Wrong Good Deed―absolutely loved it.

Told in dual timelines from the POV of Clemmie and Muffin both in their seventies who are now neighbors and friends and live in a retirement home.
When their dangerous past comes back to greet them the duo must face the dark secrets both have been hiding.

I loved how the book went back & forth from past to present day & we learn some pretty wild things along the way. It's really a pretty fascinating story!
Caroline B. Cooney has skillfully written a clever, brilliant plotting, With two terrific protagonists.
I loved how TWGD was full of wonderful twists, engaging characters and a clever storyline that packs a punch.
Definitely one enthralling read.

My second book by Ms. Cooney was a success so I'll be sure to keep an eye on more upcoming books.
This authors book Before She Was Helen was a great read also!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Poisoned Pen Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Wrong Good Deed follows Muffin and Clemmie, (sort-of) friends in their seventies who live in the same retirement community. Over the course of a week, their heartbreaking pasts are told in a series of shocking revelations and surprising twists.

I was captivated by this novel from the very beginning. I loved reading from the POV of two women in their seventies; their personalities were so unique. The historical details from each of their lives were raw and unfiltered. It could have been a true story.

I read this all in one sitting. It’s a fast-paced, plot-driven, equal-parts exciting and sobering story. I loved every bit of it. Best book I’ve read in a while, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up on a bestseller list.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Cozy mystery with tragic historical details… Secrets of the characters are astonishing. The talented author has woven two timelines intricately without disruption. The elderly women in this book of fiction are so real. They come alive on the pages. This could be a true story as much of it is historical. This is a cannot put down novel. The friendships in this story are problematic which makes the book even more real. No happily ever after for all of them. The irony of meeting after so many years. The tragedies of the past coming back to haunt them. Don’t miss reading this book.