11/04/2019
While driving alone one rainy night, veterinarian Cassie Larkin, the narrator of Chavez’s propulsive debut set in California wine country, spots a large man menacing a young woman in the road. Cassie stops and calls 911, but against the dispatcher’s advice, she gets out of her van and confronts the man, who threatens Cassie before escaping with her car. The next night, which is Halloween, Cassie’s husband, Sam, abandons their six-year-old daughter, Audrey, while trick-or-treating and disappears. Det. Ray Rico, who investigates, suspects that either Cassie or her 15-year-old son, Leo, is involved in Sam’s disappearance. Chavez peoples her tale with credible, flawed individuals, presenting even the multiple antagonists with harrowing backstories and convincing psychological motives. While readers must suspend disbelief at times (as when Cassie fails to check in with Rico and goes rogue), Chavez is in full command of plot and pacing as the connection between Cassie’s roadside confrontation and Sam’s disappearance becomes clear. Domestic thriller fans will be well satisfied. Agent: Peter Steinberg, Foundry Literary + Media. (Feb.)
An explosive beginning that quickly spirals into a tense family drama… The brisk plot of No Bad Deed moves with realistic twists as Cassie proves to be a credible sleuth, intent on saving her family… Chavez has a knack for characters… [and] fills her novel with flawed, authentic people.” — San Diego Union-Tribune
“A sensational debut - compelling, hypnotic, full of suspense and quiet menace. Don’t miss it!” — Lee Child
“An extraordinary thriller… that may well become the book everyone is talking about…In a mesmerizing first-person narrative, [Cassie’s] fear is palpable, then vanquished by an astonishing ferocity she finds within herself. Where does that come from? Wait until you find out. This one glows in the dark.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Chavez embarks on a paranoia-fueled thrill ride, escalating the stakes while exploiting readers’ darkest domestic fears.” — Kirkus Reviews
“[A] propulsive debut… Chavez peoples her tale with credible, flawed individuals, presenting even the multiple antagonists with harrowing backstories and convincing psychological motives… Chavez is in full command of plot and pacing... Domestic thriller fans will be well satisfied.” — Publishers Weekly
“A treacherous game of cat and mouse and a frantic race against time until the final explosive twist. Chavez has crafted the perfect thriller.” — Liv Constantine, author of The Last Time I Saw You and The Last Mrs. Parrish
“The kind of twisty, jet-fueled thriller that explodes on page one and has you happily abandoning work, sleep, and life as you race to the stunning end. Don’t miss it!” — Lisa Gardner
“Heather Chavez’s debut novel starts at a sprint and never lets up, twisting its way to an exhilarating, you’ll-never-guess-it ending.” — Peter Swanson, author of Before She Knew Him
“Chavez’s powerfully addictive debut proves nearly impossible to set aside as it describes how one selfless act can breed chaos.” — Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
“No Bad Deed has as many twists and turns as the winding roads of Sonoma County. For fans of authors like Liv Constantine or Lisa Gardner, this fast-paced book will give you surprises galore against a beautiful backdrop.” — CrimeReads.com
“An exciting exploration of what might happen when a person’s ordinary life is suddenly thrown into chaos, and knowing whom or what to trust is no longer possible… A delightfully Harlan Coben-esque tale of the ways in which the past can influence the present, for better or much, much worse.” — BookPage
“Chavez is off to a good start with this twisty thriller… With her finely drawn characters—impetuous Cassie with her flaws, good-hearted Sam whom everyone loves, and her really villainous bad guys—and a satisfying ending, No Bad Deed is a worthy read.” — Mystery Scene
“Her scrappy female heroine and the breakneck speed in which Chavez unfolds her story make No Bad Deed an exceptional read.” — Shelf Awareness
“Twisty, timely and absolutely terrifying, Heather Chavez’ No Bad Deed is a propulsive thriller that grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. A terrifically suspenseful read.” — Alison Gaylin, Edgar-winning author of Never Look Back
“Chavez’s breathless page-turner will have every aspiring Good Samaritan thinking maybe they should let the NEXT guy help.” — Linwood Barclay, author of The Noise Downstairs and No Time for Goodbye
“I’m not easily surprised nor do I have a hard time predicting the twists most thrillers pull out… The plot is so very cleverly created so the reader really never has a clue until piece by piece the puzzle is put together… A rare treat.” — Deerfield Valley News
“This book is truly difficult to put down… If you enjoy books that keep you on edge… then No Bad Deed is perfect for you. There are twists, followed by more twists, and plenty of excitement and mystery.” — BookReporter.com
“I did not expect the story to take the turns that it did… Definitely a page-turner that would have any lover of suspense and thrillers going mad by the end of the story. A fabulously written story with a juicy plot and some intimidating characters.” — Tulsa Book Review
“[A] fast-paced, menacing story… The paranoia is contagious, and Chavez will definitely have you looking over your shoulder. The book, however, is fantastic, with unique characters and nerve-wracking tension!” — TheNerdDaily.com
Chavez’s powerfully addictive debut proves nearly impossible to set aside as it describes how one selfless act can breed chaos.
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
An explosive beginning that quickly spirals into a tense family drama… The brisk plot of No Bad Deed moves with realistic twists as Cassie proves to be a credible sleuth, intent on saving her family… Chavez has a knack for characters… [and] fills her novel with flawed, authentic people.
An extraordinary thriller… that may well become the book everyone is talking about…In a mesmerizing first-person narrative, [Cassie’s] fear is palpable, then vanquished by an astonishing ferocity she finds within herself. Where does that come from? Wait until you find out. This one glows in the dark.
Booklist (starred review)
Heather Chavez’s debut novel starts at a sprint and never lets up, twisting its way to an exhilarating, you’ll-never-guess-it ending.
The kind of twisty, jet-fueled thriller that explodes on page one and has you happily abandoning work, sleep, and life as you race to the stunning end. Don’t miss it!
No Bad Deed has as many twists and turns as the winding roads of Sonoma County. For fans of authors like Liv Constantine or Lisa Gardner, this fast-paced book will give you surprises galore against a beautiful backdrop.
A treacherous game of cat and mouse and a frantic race against time until the final explosive twist. Chavez has crafted the perfect thriller.
A sensational debut - compelling, hypnotic, full of suspense and quiet menace. Don’t miss it!
“ An exciting exploration of what might happen when a person’s ordinary life is suddenly thrown into chaos, and knowing whom or what to trust is no longer possible… A delightfully Harlan Coben-esque tale of the ways in which the past can influence the present, for better or much, much worse.”
Chavez’s breathless page-turner will have every aspiring Good Samaritan thinking maybe they should let the NEXT guy help.
I did not expect the story to take the turns that it did… Definitely a page-turner that would have any lover of suspense and thrillers going mad by the end of the story. A fabulously written story with a juicy plot and some intimidating characters.
[A] fast-paced, menacing story… The paranoia is contagious, and Chavez will definitely have you looking over your shoulder. The book, however, is fantastic, with unique characters and nerve-wracking tension!
I’m not easily surprised nor do I have a hard time predicting the twists most thrillers pull out… The plot is so very cleverly created so the reader really never has a clue until piece by piece the puzzle is put together… A rare treat.
Twisty, timely and absolutely terrifying, Heather Chavez’ No Bad Deed is a propulsive thriller that grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. A terrifically suspenseful read.”
This book is truly difficult to put down… If you enjoy books that keep you on edge… then No Bad Deed is perfect for you. There are twists, followed by more twists, and plenty of excitement and mystery.
Her scrappy female heroine and the breakneck speed in which Chavez unfolds her story make No Bad Deed an exceptional read. ”
Chavez is off to a good start with this twisty thriller… With her finely drawn characters—impetuous Cassie with her flaws, good-hearted Sam whom everyone loves, and her really villainous bad guys—and a satisfying ending, No Bad Deed is a worthy read.
The kind of twisty, jet-fueled thriller that explodes on page one and has you happily abandoning work, sleep, and life as you race to the stunning end. Don’t miss it!
A sensational debut - compelling, hypnotic, full of suspense and quiet menace. Don’t miss it!
An extraordinary thriller… that may well become the book everyone is talking about…In a mesmerizing first-person narrative, [Cassie’s] fear is palpable, then vanquished by an astonishing ferocity she finds within herself. Where does that come from? Wait until you find out. This one glows in dark.
Booklist (starred review)
If you’re a fan of twists and turns, whodunits, and why’d-they-do-its, this is a must-listen. Narrator Megan Tusing does a great job capturing this engaging mystery. The story centers on a veterinarian who’s a loving mom, devoted wife, and doer of good deeds. That last part is what gets her into trouble. Has her past finally caught up with her? Is it true that no good deed goes unpunished? Throughout, the surprises come fast and furious. Did her husband play a role in the unfolding mystery? And just what did the violent man she confronted mean when he told her, “Let her die, and I’ll let you live”? Tusing’s narration imparts just the right amount of suspense. J.P.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
If you’re a fan of twists and turns, whodunits, and why’d-they-do-its, this is a must-listen. Narrator Megan Tusing does a great job capturing this engaging mystery. The story centers on a veterinarian who’s a loving mom, devoted wife, and doer of good deeds. That last part is what gets her into trouble. Has her past finally caught up with her? Is it true that no good deed goes unpunished? Throughout, the surprises come fast and furious. Did her husband play a role in the unfolding mystery? And just what did the violent man she confronted mean when he told her, “Let her die, and I’ll let you live”? Tusing’s narration imparts just the right amount of suspense. J.P.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
