No Good Deed: A Novel

This was an enjoyable slow-burn mystery that let me spend time in the Australian Outback without leaving my couch.

Rena is a refreshing lead — in her sixties, newly retired from a career in geology, and still deeply connected to the land she loves. Her road trip honors plans she made with her late husband, and her quiet, ever-present grief adds an emotional layer that feels authentic rather than heavy-handed.

When she discovers a body in a burning car in the middle of the desert, the story shifts into a layered mystery rather than the thriller I expected — and that actually worked in its favor. The investigation unfolds at a steady pace, sometimes almost cozy despite the serious crimes, with geology details and diamond country show more politics adding depth and intrigue.

The Outback setting is vivid — I could see the red dirt and feel the heat — and the small-town cast, environmental tensions, and unlikely alliances give the story texture. Danger follows Rena like a shadow, but her determination never wavers. She may be gray-haired, but she proves more than once that she’s not to be underestimated.

I did guess the killer, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment. This isn’t a twist-heavy read — it’s about atmosphere, resilience, and a heroine proving that strength and reinvention don’t have an age limit.

A solid mystery with heart and a main character I’d gladly travel with again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own. show less

No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic is a highly recommended character-driven mystery set in the Australian Outback.

Rena is a retired geologist and currently on the cross-country trip she and her husband Tom had planned before he passed away. As she is driving her kitted-out truck on the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia headed for her first destination she notices a burning vehicle off the road and immediately pulls off to see if she can help or stop the fire from spreading. There is no help for the victim inside so Rena calls the police and waits for them. After a few questions the police ask her to stay in the area by the nearby town of Fitzroy Crossing.

She soon discovers two things. First the area is a proposed site for show more diamond mining to begin operations and the the community is divided over the action. Then Rena learns that the victim in the vehicle is thought to be a geologist she knew decades earlier. Intrigued by the situation, Rena decides to start looking into the death, especially because it may be related to her area of expertise.

After an attention grabbing opening, No Good Deed features an even-paced plot, even slow at times, that relies more on character development and personal interaction over action, thrills, and twists. While Rena and the police conduct their own separate investigations, the connection to diamonds becomes clear. This make geology which focuses on the exploration for minerals and mining a major plot-point so it helps if this is also an interest of the reader as it becomes important to the plot. The case also becomes increasingly dangerous and threatening toward the end.

The key to enjoying this novel is Rena. She is portrayed as a complicated, fully-realized, intelligent older woman with strengths and weaknesses. She is grieving the loss of her husband and admits that having a focus and problem to solve will help her mindset. She is certainly a novice sleuth, but the skills she developed as a geologist are useful in noticing details and knowing areas of interest to investigate. Her friendship with much younger Aitch was a welcome addition to the narrative.

No Good Deed is a good choice for those who would enjoy an even-paced mystery focused on character development over non-stop action-packed twists. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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