Caz Frear has become one of the most interesting authors in crime fiction over the last several years, and her series featuring Cat Kinsella is not to be missed. With the release of FIVE BAD DEEDS, she has stepped fully into the psychological thriller realm with a stand-alone novel that will have readers riveted.

At first glance, Ellen Walsh is your typical British mother and wife. She is also a teacher and would come across to anyone who meets her as an upstanding citizen. However, during the course of the story, we will watch Ellen’s world slowly unravel. This is all happening at the hands of an unknown individual who begins sending her cryptic, threatening notes. What occurs next is brilliant as Frear peels back the covers of Ellen’s life and her many secrets to reveal what exactly from her past could justify her being a target.

"FIVE BAD DEEDS will have you thinking and pondering throughout, while the complex characters keep the suspense very real right up to the finale."

Frear also does an excellent job of slowly exposing Ellen’s apparently mundane existence to bring to light all the cracks in the foundation. To begin with, she has an exceedingly difficult relationship with oldest daughter Orla, a rebellious teen who feels her mother can do nothing right. Ellen’s husband, Adam, also appears to be a bit tired of their relationship, and there is enough to suggest that he might have the wandering eye for Gwen, one of Ellen’s neighborhood mates.

When it comes to friendships, Ellen believes she is part of a clique that includes Gwen and Nush, but when you read the chapters from their points of view, you see a different story. They merely tolerate Ellen and do not truly count her as a close friend. We then have Ellen’s tormented sister, Kristy, who was taken in by Ellen and her family after Kristy’s husband had physically abused her. The ex-model is a mere shadow of her former self, and she bears more than a bit of resentment towards her older sister.

At one point, Gwen’s husband, Jason --- who is a police officer --- pulls Ellen over as she leaves a pub claiming he had a tip that she might be driving under the influence. He does everything by the book, even though she passes the breathalyzer test. For some reason, Jason seems to be obsessed with nailing Ellen on some infraction, and she continues to come under what she feels is unfair scrutiny by the police as she tries to go about her life.

It is at this point that we start learning about what Ellen refers to in her mind as her “five bad deeds.” These are events or secrets from her past that might explain why she receives notes with statements like “People have to learn there are consequences.” As each bad deed is revealed, readers have a little more information to make up their minds about Ellen and begin to wonder who has it in for her. From the ex-husband of one of her friends who she had publicly caught cheating, to the student she tutors who she allegedly slept with, there is more than enough juicy plotlines to confirm why these bad deeds continue to haunt Ellen.

FIVE BAD DEEDS will have you thinking and pondering throughout, while the complex characters keep the suspense very real right up to the finale.