I don't care what they were wearing. I just wanted the story to Move!
I knew One Good Deed was going to land squarely in the “fine, but not a favorite” category when I realized it was less mystery-thriller and more historical mystery. Set in the late 1940s, this book spends a lot of time establishing atmosphere, and by atmosphere, I mean what everyone is wearing, what things look like, and other period details that mattered far less to me than, you know… the actual story. They all could’ve been naked for all I cared. I just wanted to get to the point.
That said, the story itself is solid.
Aloysius Archer has just been released from prison and sent to Poca City to serve out his parole. As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that Archer didn’t commit the crime that landed him behind bars. When a wealthy and powerful man in this small town is murdered, Archer finds himself tangled in something much bigger and framed yet again. Along the way, he builds relationships with his parole officer, the murdered man’s concubine, and the local lawman, all while trying to stay on the right side of the law.
Archer is a well-rounded, likable character. In fact, it wasn’t until I finished the book that I really saw his potential as a series lead. He’s already edging into amateur-detective territory here by making smart observations, asking questions, and making plenty of mistakes along the way. That growth arc worked for me.
The small-town setting also added genuine tension. In a place where everyone knows everyone (and everyone’s business), things get personal for Archer very quickly. I especially enjoyed his relationship with Shaw, the local lawman. Shaw felt fair, steady, and quietly instructive, taking on a subtle mentor role as Archer finds his footing. That dynamic was easily my favorite part of the book.
The mystery itself was satisfying. While the “wrongly accused man” trope is very familiar and obvious from early on, the eventual villain wasn’t who I expected, which helped the ending land well.
Where the book struggled for me was pacing and focus. This is not a thriller, which something worth knowing going in. The story moves slowly, and while it kept me engaged in a “pleasant, steady read” kind of way, it never generated real urgency. Much of the book felt longer than necessary due to superfluous detail that didn’t add to the plot. None of it made the book hard to read, but it did dilute the momentum.
In the end, this stayed at 3 stars for me. It’s a decent read with a strong central character and a solid mystery, but the execution felt overstuffed. Less atmosphere, more story would’ve gone a long way.
I wouldn’t recommend this to thriller readers looking for fast pacing and high stakes. However, readers who enjoy historical mysteries, especially fans of authors like Charles Todd, will likely appreciate this much more than I did.
