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 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.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great psychological read that had you really thinking about who could be behind this campaign of hate. Inducing fear and worry and not being able to live your life fully because you’re looking at everyone close to you and wondering “Is it you?”. Then as the story evolves you learn more about Ellen and her history to make sense of what has sparked this horrendous situation. The plot is great, the characters all have some reason to be “the one”, so it’s really gripping!! Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley. My opinion is my own. #Netgalley, #Simon&Schuster, #CazIffWrites.

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. 4.5⭐️ rounded up

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.