Five Bad Deeds

FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SWEET LITTLE LIES COMES A DARK AND TWISTY THRILLER ABOUT SECRETS, LIES AND REVENGE. PERFECT FOR FANS OF LIANE MORIARTY, LAURA MARSHALL AND T. M. LOGAN. 

ONE WOMAN'S SECRET
TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
THREE DEADLY BETRAYALS
FOUR POTENTIAL SUSPECTS
FIVE BAD DEEDS

‘A big high five for Caz Frear’s Five Bad Deeds - a page-gripping, nail-gnawing good read’ Cara Hunter, Sunday Times bestselling author of Murder in the Family

'A deliciously dark story of how one woman’s life of seemingly domestic bliss can unravel faster than she ever thought possible. I predict it will be one of the big hits of 2024 - I loved it' Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party

'Deliciously waspish, twisty, and relatable' Claire McGowan, author of Are You Awake? 

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 non-stop 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:

SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE SITS DOWN TO A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES.

Why would someone send her this note? Ellen has no clue. She's no angel - a white lie here and there, an occasional sharp tongue - but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy.
Everyone around Ellen - her husband, her teenage daughter, her sister, her best friend, her neighbours - can guess why, though.  They all know from bitter experience that while Ellen’s intentions are always good, this ultimately counts for very little when you’ve (unintentionally?) blown up someone’s life.  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 life, Ellen receives more anonymous messages, each one more threatening than the last . . . and each hitting closer and closer to home and everything she cherishes.

Praise for Five Bad Deeds:

'A dark, addictive, suburban nightmare. Five Bad Deeds is an edge of your seat, up all night delight' Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End
 
'Caz Frear is on fire! Five Bad Deeds is an absolute scorcher with a moral message about the effect of our actions on others at its dark and thrilling heart' Victoria Selman, author of the Richard & Judy pick Truly, Darkly, Deeply

'Five Bad Deeds is ferociously entertaining, spiky, bitchy, funny - and absolutely messed with my head in the most fun way. Bravo, Frear!' Catherine Ryan Howard, author of the bestselling The Trap

'Layered characters, gut-punching twists and beautifully written. This is addictive reading from Caz' Jo Spain, author of Don't Look Back 

'An utterly compelling, superbly characterised, 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

‘This book is genius. Funny, authentic, keeps you guessing and gasping as you can’t trust ANYONE. Bravo Caz Frear’ Jo Callaghan, author of BBC 2's Between the Covers pick In the Blink of an Eye

'It is glorious. Every line is a pithy zinger and every character so well drawn. I'm normally a fast reader, but I'm taking my time to savour every word, it's that good' Michelle Davies, author of The Death of Me

‘Had me holding my breath for the last fifty pages. Frear is a master at suspense, building it to breaking point. I didn't want to finish it’ Celia Walden, author of Richard & Judy pick Payday

'If there was ever a book that screamed "what the f**k is going on here?" then this is it. Incredible characters that drew me in and had me completely hooked, this book was tightly woven, so intriguing and utterly satisfying' S. J. I Holliday, author of The Party Season 

'Caz Frear is a class act. A blistering read that will grab you by throat and not let you go' Cass Green, author of In a Cottage, in a Wood