Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. There are many words but it felt in the main that not much happened. I hated the main character and just found the whole book boring. This is a new author for me and sadly this book has put me off reading any more of her work. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster UK and the author for the chance to review.

A twisty read. Ellen, a teacher and mom of three, sees her world start to tumble for reasons she doesn't understand. She thinks she's got a solid marriage to Adam, her sister Kristy lives in her garden, her friends Gwen and Nosh are with her, and she's renovating her house. But why is she in prison? And who is Zane? This unfolds through multiple points of view (although mostly Ellen's) to tell the story of malicious targeting of Ellen through hate letters, social media, and so on. But what are her five bad deeds? That won't be obvious for a long time and, to be honest, the deeds don't entirely fit the somewhat ornate scenario constructed by the villain. I liked seeing Ellen from the perspective of others- made for a more well rounded character- although I could have done without the texts between her daughter Orla and her friend Esme. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner that might have you shaking your head at the ending.

Ellen is doing her best in her life, with what she has. Married with a teen and two toddlers, she has also decided that that isn't enough to have on her plate and is also undergoing the renovation of her forever home. With her husband frequently away on business, it has all been left to her. But if that wasn't enough, she also, it appears, has someone targeting her. She receives a weird threatening note in the mail regarding consequences...
But consequences to what action. Yes she's done things, haven't we all, but what could be so bad as to have angered this unknown person... And so, as we follow the present day narrative, we also delve back to the past and learn of the things that could be the trigger... The stakes get higher as more notes arrive...
During the book, we also meet Zane, a student who Ellen is tutoring. Her sister Kristy who used to fly high but who has fallen on bad times and is living in the "guest house" in Ellen's garden. Gwen, her neighbour who lives with her daughter and brother Jason who is the local cop. And Nush, her best friend who is living alone since she threw her husband out for cheating.
What really makes this book stand out are the characters. It more character driven than plot driven. Not to say that the plot isn't well crafted, it is, and all things interconnected and also a tad convoluted. I read the majority of this book wondering what way was up as I really had no idea where in the heck we were going.
Yes I rolled my eyes on occasion, yes it was a bit far fetched, but I also had a cracking time trying to second guess where we were going. Finally giving up on that idea and just going with the flow, letting it lead me to a rather shocking but also satisfying conclusion.
I forgot to say at the start that I was already a big fan of this author - her Cat Kinsella series - so I was wondering how she would do with this standalone thriller and I have to say I was just as impressed. I really can't wait to see what she serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc of Five bad Seeds.

For those who like a slow burn, this domestic thriller will hit a spot! Unlikeable characters, which kick off a series of events which undo the seemingly perfect life of our main character, Ellen. The plot has some fun twists and turns and a few I didn't see coming, which made it a great read. Even though I didn't like a lot of the characters, including Ellen, they were well fleshed out. A great summer thriller read.

3.25 stars

I am afraid I just could not get into this book. The premise sounded interesting but did not follow through in story telling..Unlikeable characters. Quite underwhelming overall. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it..

I’ve really enjoyed this author’s previous series of books and this is her first standalone book so I was looking forward to seeing what it was like.
I did like the premise of the five bad dead’s and finding out what they where and how that made the story unravel, however where it fell short for me was the fact that all the characters where really unlikeable and parts of the story seemed to stall a bit instead of racing forward.
Overall it was a okay read but not one that’s going to shock you and keep you as gripped as other thrillers

I love Caz Frear, but Five Bad Deeds wasn't for me. I finished the novel but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Other people will love it though

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.

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 ai 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 read stone cold heart back in 2019 and really enjoyed it, so was pleased to read another book by this author. What a fun read! Full of unpleasant characters with shady pasts, any one of whom could be making life difficult for our "heroine" Ellen, it was a novel with red herrings aplenty and I raced through it with great enjoyment.
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

Caz Frear is the author of the wonderful Cat Kinsella series and Five Bad Deeds is her first standalone psychological thriller.

This twisty tale centres around Ellen Walsh. She’s a teacher, a stressed mother to a teenage girl and twin toddler sons, a loving wife to Adam and a good friend to everyone in the small village of Thames Lawley where she lives and works.

Having recently bought her “dream house” she and her husband are undertaking the renovation of all renovations (think Grand Design meets Extreme Makeover) but money is a little tight despite her husband Adam’s family being very rich, Ellen still struggles with her own childhood background being brought up on a council estate with several siblings, living hand to mouth with extremely dysfunctional parents.

When Ellen is pulled over for suspected drink driving in front of everyone after an “anonymous” tip off, things go from bad to worse. With a malicious letter and several threatening messages, someone seems to be intent on ruining her life and exposing her secrets, but who, why and what remains a puzzle.

This book is absolutely full of despicable characters and I absolutely loved it. The author skilfully creates a village full of a shady and suspicious individuals who all may or may not have reason to want to destroy Ellen’s life.

I absolutely loved reading Ellen’s slightly unreliable point of view, how she refused to see herself as anything except a great person, a role model, a supportive friend and all round fabulous human being, yet her friends chapters show a slightly different version of Ellen.

If you are looking for your next great read, then I can give you five good reasons to read FIVE BAD DEEDS; it’s clever, it’s got some brilliant twists, it’s full of fabulous characters, it’s full of secrets and has wonderful dark humour running throughout.

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 😎

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ellen seems like one of those people that others love to hate so it’s easy to suspect pretty much anyone around her when things start going wrong. Good read

I could not put this book down!! I was soon engrossed into the story but the more I Was reading the more questions I had!! What had happened? Who was it? and WHY?

I loved reading about Ellen's 'perfect' life - only it was far from it. Things start happening but the problem is - it could be anyone, from her daughter Orla who is definitely a sassy teenager who seems to be hiding something but is it typical teenage stuff or more?

Ellen's sister clearly has issues from their past and I love how this unfolded. Ellen's 'friends' also clearly have issues with her and even the local policeman looks to be more than he seems and is watching Ellen.

As the storyline was going on I was loving it, I thought I had it sussed out as to who it was that was making life difficult for Ellen and them bam something else happened to make me doubt it and completely change my mind. This literally had me guessing all the way to the reveal and I couldn't put it down.

The characters are well written and some are more likeable than others! But that is just the way they are meant to be. There were some scenes that really made me laugh as they were so typical of village life where you can't do anything without everyone finding out!

I thought that the way this was written was brilliant and the way it layered up as we went along was fabulous and just had me gripped throughout. I was that hooked my poor dog had to have a delayed walk as I needed to finish work and finish this book before doing anything else!!

I absolutely love Caz Frear’s Cat Kinsella series, so I was really excited to read Five Bad Deeds. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to, but it’s still really well written and worth a read if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers.

I found the characters quite difficult to like in this book. I didn’t think any of them were particularly nice, which could have been the point, but I’m not sure. They had very few redeeming features, and I just found myself not bothered by what happened to them. I think Ellen’s daughter Orla was probably my favourite, and I enjoyed the segments of her chats with her friend.

I thought the ending was also slightly disappointing, and a bit confusing. It seemed like a lot of build-up to a lacklustre finale, but maybe I was just expecting more. As always, I really liked Frear’s writing and ability to provide suspense, and it’s a shame the big reveal fell flat for me in this instance.

Five Bad Deeds isn’t a bad book by any means, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other readers — we all like different books, and I know other people have really liked this one, even if I didn’t. Caz Frear is still among my favourite crime writers, and I do hope we get more from the Kinsella series one day!

This was so highly anticipated. I’ve been waiting years for the author to release a new book. And it did not disappoint

The book tells the story of Ellen - a teacher, mother and wife who everyone loves. Ellen’s life suddenly becomes threatened and upon her journey to find who is trying to destroy her, secrets close to home are uncovered

The book was full of deceit lies and tension. I was getting throughout the book who was responsible for the notes

There were so many twists in this book and I just loved it. The book is a bit of a slow burner to begin with, but anyone who picks up the book should stick with it as it will be so worth the journey.

Highly recommended from me

DNF. 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.

'Five Bad Deeds' was an addictive page-turner where I suspected everyone, everything and everybody at one point or another.

Opening up with Ellen languishing in prison for an as yet unspecified reason, we jump back to the beginning of the story. Ellen is the mother of three, a teenage daughter and three year old twin boys, celebrating her recent interview for Head of English at a prestigious local school. They live in a small close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else and she's very happy there in her stunning house, with her husband and children.

She's been assured that the interview is pretty much a formality so she's letting her hair down with her sister and friends in the local pub but being careful about her alcohol intake. Just before she drives home, she is shocked to be stopped by local policeman and neighbour for a breathalyser test, taken in full view of friends and family. Even though she passes the test, it signifies the beginning of a run of bad luck and decisions that just get worse and worse.

The news of her breathalyser test spreads on social media with some unflattering photos and unpleasant insinuations about Ellen's drinking.

Ellen has come from a pretty tough background on a rough estate; she has worked hard to put it all behind her and achieve an enviable standard of life. All of this is challenged as she receives a poison pen letter, which threatens to unseat all that she has achieved. Ellen becomes obsessed with the letter and finding out who sent it - and as the threats mount up, she widens her search for the truth. Her tormentor is several steps ahead of her at every stage, setting up situations for Ellen to fall into.

The list of characters was excellently cast; none of them are squeaky clean and my loyalties changed as I read the book. The various backstories and grievances that came to light as the story unfolded were brilliantly conceived, the clues scattered throughout the book suddenly make more sense as other sub-plots come to fruition.

A great domestic psychological thriller with much to recommend it.

I chose to read a free eARC of Five Bad Deeds but that has in no way influenced my review.

A new book from Caz Frear is a very exciting prospect indeed! I'm a huge fan of the author's work, having read and loved all three books in the DC Cat Kinsella series. However, the new book in question - Five Bad Deeds - is a standalone domestic psychological thriller rather than the police procedurals I have come to know this author for. Matters not though, still very much in my reading wheelhouse! I have been so looking forward to reading Five Bad Deeds for some time now and it did not disappoint one jot!

Teacher Ellen Walsh tries her best. Tries to be a good mother to her teenage daughter and twin toddler boys. Tries to be a good wife to her husband, Adam. Tries to be a good friend to those she surrounds herself with. Tries to live a good, honest, decent life. But we all tell the odd 'porky pie*' here and there, right? To protect someone's feelings, to swerve an awkward social situation, to hide your own embarrassment about something. Some would say it's unavoidable. So when an ominous note arrives at Ellen's enchanting Cotswold stone farmhouse, in the small village of Thames Lawley, addressed to her, Ellen struggles to understand what she has done to incite such anger, such venom. But perhaps Ellen isn't as perfect as she likes to believe. Because Ellen it seems has made an enemy out of the wrong person. A person intent on destroying everything she holds dear. Will Ellen discover who is behind the escalating campaign of hate before it's too late...?

Five Bad Deeds is a highly readable, hugely compelling psychological suspense novel which I devoured over the course of two sittings. I was engrossed in Ellen's story. Keen to find out who was behind the unravelling of her life. And believe me when I say there are several suspects. But Ellen is oblivious to her friends and family's true feelings towards her. Because Ellen has a habit of getting involved when she really shouldn't. Her opinions should perhaps be kept to herself more often than not. But offering some friendly advice can't hurt...can it? I didn't like Ellen but I did sympathise with her. I don't think she's there to be liked but I do think many of us will recognise something of ourselves in the character. How many times have you shared a nugget of advice with a friend you thought would help them? How many times have you considered the full implications of that well-meaning advice?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Five Bad Deeds. There are quite a few characters but I was able to keep track of who everyone was and their different relationships. It's an intriguing read which builds in intensity over the course of the book until the shocking denouement is revealed. No matter how much you dislike Ellen as a person, you will end up feeling sorry for her. The book is told via multiple points of view and it was interesting to get insight into supposedly loyal friends' real feelings towards Ellen. Who has it in for her? Who wants to destroy everything she holds dear? And most importantly, why are they doing this? As the book progresses the punishments meted out increase. From a report to the police that she was drunk driving (she did have a skinful the night before and she had just left the pub following her sister's birthday celebration) to someone reporting her to the council's Children's Services Department regarding safeguarding issues with her twin boys. Things really do escalate, building the tension and increasing the level of threat, leaving Ellen confused, bewildered and ultimately, scared. Because Ellen has a secret. And it's a secret she will do anything to protect...

All in all, Five Bad Deeds is a very engaging, well-written story with great characterisation, expertly written suspense and a shocking conclusion. It's a cracking, compelling, irresistible read and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Five Bad Deeds. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

What a great read. I was completely engrossed after reading the prologue which finds Ellen Walsh in prison ‘three months later’ but why? Written from multiple POV’s and with an easy to follow story. Ellen has made it, a rags to riches story of a girl from a deprived background, who married well and is now living in her dream house with husband Adam and their three children. A teacher she is in line for a top job, she has a number of close female friends and is about to start renovating their home. What could possibly go wrong? This is so well written and plotted I was mislead repeatedly!

Briefly, out of the blue Ellen receives a vitriolic anonymous letter. Someone clearly has a problem with her and she can’t understand why. But this is only the start and with rumours spreading on social media and in her local community Ellen’s life begins to implode.

The more you learn about them the more you realise that most of the characters in the book are pretty unlikeable. It’s amazing just how quickly life can go from perfect to disaster and how easily gossip spreads. There are a number of potential suspects and I was constantly changing my mind about who the perpetrator was. Dark and tense as Ellen tries to discover who her enemy is. I couldn’t make up my mind about Ellen, was she genuinely kind, was she really happy, was she narcissistic, did she love her family, was she a good person. Only one way for you to find out. Very entertaining.