Caz Frear

I love psychological suspense books! If you do as well, you're going to want to pick up Caz Frear's new book - Five Bad Deeds. That cover drew me in before I even turned a page. A house burning down? Hmm...
The residents of Ellen's neighborhood are a friendly bunch, helping each other out with childcare, a friendly face, meals and so much more.

Or so Ellen thought. She's confused when she receives a note telling her that "People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose." Is it a joke? Who would do something like this?

And that's where things get going. We meet Ellen, her sister, her neighbors, her daughter and a few more - all through their own chapters. So, as readers we have access to that information and we're able to start putting the pieces together ahead of Ellen. But are we really putting them in the right places?

Frear plays with the reader, providing clues, twists and turns along the garden path to the final whodunit it. One minute I thought I had the who, how and why, only to be proven wrong again the next minute. I love not being able to figure out the answers before the final pages.

Now, the characters. I admit it - although I thought I should like Ellen, I couldn't. Or most of the cast of characters for that matter. I'll let you find out why - but suffice to say - everyone has secrets. Even in the nicest neighborhoods.

Frear has penned an excellent suspense book. If you too like this genre, Five Bad Deeds is a great choice… (altro)

I'm so surprised this is a debut! It's well polished, with a voice and cadence that speaks of years of writing experience. As soon as I finished SWEET LITTLE LIES, I wanted to read more by this author, so I'm eager to see what else she can do.

I found this book immensely readable. It kept me hooked throughout, wanting to learn the mystery of what happened to Alice / Maryanne. Was Cat's dad really involved? What role did Cat herself play in masking her disappearance? I was filled with questions, and when the truth unravelled, I was glued to the pages.

My only complaint is about Cat herself. She was so incredibly hostile toward her father, who'd shown her nothing but love, support, and affection (even when she didn't deserve it.) I understand that parents and children can push each other's buttons like no one else - and this sometimes destructive dynamic was beautifully illustrated in the novel - but it still irked me that she held so much hostility toward him. Sure, he hadn't been a perfect parent, or a perfect husband... but who is? By all accounts he was there when it counted, and he'd done nothing but try to love Cat throughout her life. This line, in particular, really struck me -- and it speaks volumes: "He gives me that look. The one that says I’m the apple of his eye and the bane of his life and his world would be a whole lot easier if he didn’t love me so much."

Overall, though, I found SWEET LITTLE LIES quiet compelling, tender at times, and intriguing. I'm excited to have discovered a new author who, I think, has a bright future ahead of her in this genre.… (altro)