Book Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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The Escape Game  by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss  opens on the set of a reality television show called "The Escape Room" where one of the season four contestants, Alicia Angelos, is found in a coffin on set ... dead. Fast forward to season five where Sierra Angelos, the murder victim's younger sister and suspected killer, has been brought back to the show and paired up with Beck, Adi, and Carter. Sierra wants to find justice for her sister, but when Sierra and her teammates start uncovering clues about the true killer, they must figure out how to survive the game. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for approving my request and providing me with a digital copy of The Escape Game  for free in exchange for my honest review. I was immediately drawn to the title and cover of the young adult novel. Throw in the plot being about an escape room, and I was completely sold on the story before even reading it. The story is told from the perspective of fou...
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Book Review: The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney

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Netgalley ARC Book Review of The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney

The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney is a compelling work of women’s fiction that also blends elements of mystery. The novel is scheduled for release on May 2, 2023 and is published by Poisoned Pen Press.

The story begins with Clemmie and her friend Muffin attending a church service, where Muffin unexpectedly spots someone from her past. She quickly pulls Clemmie out of the service, much to Clemmie’s irritation. However, as Muffin starts to reveal the story behind the encounter, Clemmie realizes that she may not be the only one carrying dark secrets.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney in exchange for my honest review. I was genuinely thrilled when my request was approved. Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite authors as a tween and teen, so discovering that she now writes adult novels was an exciting surprise.

The Wrong Good Deed appears to be a sequel to Cooney’s earlier novel, Before She Was Helen. While this book can absolutely be read as a standalone novel, I do think my reading experience would have been even richer if I had read Before She Was Helen first, as it provides important background on the main character. That book has definitely been added to my reading list.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Wrong Good Deed is its powerful flashbacks to the 1960s. The portrayal of a small Southern town’s reaction to desegregation was shocking and deeply moving. Although this is a work of fiction, it offers meaningful insight into the emotions, decisions, and regrets people experienced during that turbulent time in history. As someone who wasn’t alive during that era, I found the story both eye-opening and heartbreaking.

The writing is strong, the pacing is engaging, and the emotional impact lingers long after the final page. I truly have no complaints about this novel.

Well-written, engrossing, and emotionally powerful, The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney delivers a gripping historical narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I highly recommend it and give it five out of five stars.

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