Definitely think reading the first book would make this book more enjoyable. As I didn’t realize it was a sequel I was lost. Still a well written and narrated book.

Caroline is such a classic suspense/thriller/mystery writer you can't go wrong with any of her stories. This was good albeit a bit predictable at times. (I think I have really high expectations of this genre because its the primary category of what I read) I saw the ending coming but not too soon so it wasn't spoiled. I would recommend it for a quick read

"The Wrong Good Deed" by Caroline B. Cooney offers an intriguing premise with ethical dilemmas and moral complexities. Cooney's storytelling skill is evident, and the exploration of consequences adds depth to the narrative. However, the pacing may feel uneven, affecting the overall flow of the story. While the novel raises thought-provoking questions, some readers may find the execution lacking in certain aspects. "The Wrong Good Deed" receives a three-star rating, acknowledging its merits but noting the potential room for improvement in consistency.

I was looking forward to reading this mystery with octogenarian main characters. I enjoyed their banter and learning about some of the issues unique to this age group.

I was also taken with Muffin's storyline, particularly her past and why she had been keeping a low profile. Her character drew me in. Unfortunately the other MC wasn't as interesting or straightforward. I found it difficult to stay interested in Clemmie's story, which seemed disjointed.

As a whole, this audiobook just didn't work for me. It lacked emotional depth and character cohesiveness. I would suggest checking out other reviews as there are readers who enjoyed this story more than I.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an ARC on exchange for an honest review.

By my own fault i didn't know this was a sequel to another book so I was confused most of the time.

Thank you Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for this.

I didn't have the first novel so I felt reading this one without its prior publication wouldn't make much sense. Sorry about not reading this, thank you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advance audiobook of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a Caroline Cooney fan for some time, though up til now, for YA titles such as The Face on the Milk Carton. I believe this is the first of her adult books that I have read. I also think this is the first book that I have listened to by this narrator (who was wonderful).

So many twists!

This book really highlighted the range of life within a retirement community, from a man begging others for rides to visit his wife in memory care, to a woman regularly driving to teach high school Latin. With mysterious death thrown in the mix, did make me wonder a bit if I’d want to move there!

The characters took a hard look at life in the ‘60s from different viewpoints, focusing on race relations at the end of segregation and whether/how people can change.

What happens when secrets come out? I spent most of the book pondering the meaning of the title—how can a good deed be wrong?

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney.
Caroline Cooney was one of my favorite juvenile fiction authors. I read and loved everything she wrote in the 1980s. When I saw this book I was so excited! However, either my reading expectations changed or hers didn't develop. This book was flat and predictable. I had a hard time staying engaged. I'm sorry Caroline, but this didn't work for me.

This story had a great premise, unfortunately the delivery didn't work for me. I usually really enjoy a story with multiple POV's and dual timelines, but I struggled to keep up with this one. The switches seemed abrupt and were difficult for me to follow.
I thought that the narrator did a great job with this book.

This is a book that I really enjoyed! I found it to be an easy (but with a heavy topic) read and I got through it quickly as I kept wanting the story to unravel and go deeper. I didn't know going into it that it was book 2, and now I need to read the first one to get more of Clemmie's back story (as she's super interesting!) The character development was fantastic and I felt as though I really did know the characters and could see them as real people.

Set in the 1960's against the back drop of racism, it deals with dementia, murder, and violence. Two friends (Clemmie and Muffin) are learning about one another and the lives they lived in the world they faced and I was hooked on their friendship! (Goals!)

The narrator was perfect in this book as the characters were older, and her soothing voice had a maturity to it that made me believe the women were along in age as well.

Overall, I give this book 4/s stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!

The Wrong Good Deed is a story about how the past comes back to haunt you. It was ok but I didn’t finish it. I had trouble keeping up with the characters. And I had a hard time understanding all the narrator said.

I grew up loving and reading all of Caroline B. Cooney's YA novels, such a rare treat back before YA was the flourishing genre it is today. I was extremely excited to see that she had an adult novel coming out this year and that it historical fiction to boot.

The Wrong Good Deed finds us in 1964, a terrible crime has been committed. Flash forward to 2014 and it seems as if the secrets of that night will finally be unraveled.

I think Cooney did many things well here, in the same vein as her YA titles but this book felt like it was missing something. None of the characters felt fully fleshed out and I found the ending to be lacking and rushed.

I was so excited for an audio version of this to be available via NetGalley but personally, I didn't enjoy the narrator very much. Perhaps this pulled me away from a story I might otherwise have enjoyed.

Diehard Cooney fans might find something here but overall, it felt like something of a miss.

3 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up reading Caroline B Cooney but have never read anything by her in an adult category. Though I love her writing I will say that this novel just didn't click with me. The story was interesting and I loved the setting of a retirement community. The narrator Mary Boyer was really entertaining and I did like this but I just wasn't over the moon.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me listen to an ARC of this book.

Two women, two fake names, two pasts they are running away from, and they are friends. Until one of them is killed in an automobile accident. This should have been thrilling. It was just ok. The ending was terrible. As the reader, we are told over and over and over what the wrong good deed means and what it is. I felt treated like an imbecile.

The narration was fine. She had a pleasant voice and did several characters without sounding 'off'.

The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney offers an intriguing storyline with two different timelines. However, I find it challenging to distinguish between the two due to a lack of clarity in the audiobook version. While the narrator's voice work is commendable, the transitions between timelines can be confusing. The additional point of view in the story doesn't contribute significantly to the overall plot. It seems that either the story didn't delve deep enough into certain aspects.

Nevertheless, the friendship between Clemmie and Muffin serves as a central focus, as their secrets gradually come to light. The exploration of racism adds depth to the narrative, addressing important social issues. Overall, while the book has its merits, it's not the usual thriller I was expecting.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for providing the opportunity to read and review this book.

This story wasn't for me, unfortunately. I found it difficult to differentiate between the characters and the timelines in the audio format. This was through no fault of the narrator; she did a great job! However, I also hadn't realized this was a sequel to another book. These elements left me pretty confused, and I didn't think the ending really fit with the rest of the plot.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Thank you to author Caroline B. Cooney, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for access to the audiobook ARC.

<i>The Wrong Good Deed</i> showcases Cooney’s linguistic and stylistic flourishes as a seasoned author. The story contains well-paced accountings of main characters’ histories and snappy dialogue.

This is not a high octane thriller. Rather, you feel that you are sitting down at the kitchen table of these aging best friends Muffin and Clemmie as they recount their pasts and share their secrets. If you temper your expectations accordingly, then Cooney keeps the reader engaged with skillful storytelling and a character focused narrative. The suspense ebbs and flows over the course of the novel. Using a framed narrative format, Cooney takes us back in time with Muffin to the 1960s—when America was experiencing desegregation but also suffering racism, white supremacy, and societal turmoil. How did that young housewife Christophine become Muffin Morgan, and why has a figure from her past come calling?

Unfortunately for me, after I received those answers as to Muffin’s identity, my interest declined. For me, there was a limited intrigue as to whether Muffin was in real danger or if she would have to confront ghosts from her past… Frankly, the slice-of-life tone that dominates the present-day thread deflated the tension I had felt earlier in the story.

I think a reader’s enjoyment may depend on how much you enjoy living in the shoes of your main character and hearing their mundane thoughts. If you don’t want to just hang out with the characters, you might get bogged down at times. Keep in mind that this is not a high stakes thriller but one hinging on past life choices and secrets.

Overall a pleasant listening experience but not a standout and not for me.

While at church, Clemmie's friend and neighbor Muffin believes she sees a man from her past who likely wishes her harm. Panicking, she drags Clemmie away and begins to reveal bits and pieces about her past. In 1964, she was newly married to who she thought was the love of her life, until she witnesses him and his friends in the process of committing a horrible crime. She thought she saw one of them men involved at church and is afraid that she was recognized. Clemmie realizes that she's not the only one with dark secrets and that Muffin may just have to come face to face with hers.

I quite liked that the primary timeline had older protagonists. Clemmie's inner-dialogue was funny and relatable, and I enjoyed how interesting her character was. I also enjoyed how these two women had their own secrets and were so wrapped up in their own secrets that they didn’t notice the true distress of the other. I also enjoyed the exploration of growing older, of admitting to past crimes, and the commentary on the news (quite relatable!).

While I did like Clemmie's character, the relationships didn't come through well. They didn't feel realistic and there was no real emotion present. The writing also became quite repetitive. As the different characters remembered the day/event that the story focused around, the story was told and retold. But the different perspectives rarely provided new information, which became frustrating. Then in an almost opposite direction, Clemmie's past and secrets were referenced several times and kept mysterious, but we got no real exploration or explanation relating to this. I also didn't care for the ending - it didn't add much to the story and felt like it detracted from the impacts the historical plot could have had on the ending.

This was an easy light mystery that was overall enjoyable but not necessarily as memorable or impactful as it could have been. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for allowing me to review this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was not feeling this audiobook at all. There are two different timelines and I had a hard time recognizing the jump between the two. The narrator did a good job with voices but it was hard to tell when we had switched. I also felt like the additional POV didn't really add much to the story and so I was bored. It also seemed as though there was information missing. Either the story didn't go deep enough or I just wasn't listening closely enough. Either way this book was not a good fit for me.