Rock Paper Scissors

"Rock Paper Scissors" by Alice Feeney is a gripping and mind-bending psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Feeney's third novel takes us on a chilling journey into the depths of human psychology, exploring the intricacies of relationships, trust, and the fragile nature of the human mind. The story revolves around Adam and Amelia Wright, a couple in crisis who embark on a secluded retreat in an attempt to salvage their failing marriage. Isolated in an eerie house in the Welsh countryside, they quickly realize that their decision may have dire consequences. As the tension rises and secrets come to light, the couple becomes entangled in a web of deception, manipulation, and paranoia. Through alternating perspectives and a non-linear narrative, Feeney skillfully constructs a tale that leaves readers questioning everything and everyone. Feeney's writing style is both evocative and addictive, drawing readers deeper into the twisted world she has created. The pacing is relentless, and the short, punchy chapters propel the story forward with a sense of urgency. The author's ability to maintain suspense and create a sense of unease is commendable, as she skillfully plays with readers' expectations, leading them down unexpected paths with surprising twists and turns. The characters in "Rock Paper Scissors" are flawed and complex, making them compelling and relatable. Adam and Amelia are deeply flawed individuals, each battling their own demons, and Feeney delves into their psyches, unraveling their pasts and their true motivations. The exploration of their fractured relationship is poignant and raw, adding an emotional layer to the otherwise tense and chilling narrative. One of the highlights of Feeney's novel is the exploration of the theme of perception and reality. As the story progresses, the line between truth and lies becomes increasingly blurred, and the reader is left questioning the reliability of the narrators. The author masterfully manipulates perceptions, making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is a figment of the characters' imagination. This constant sense of doubt and uncertainty keeps the reader engaged, eager to uncover the truth hidden within the layers of the narrative. While "Rock Paper Scissors" is an engrossing and intricately plotted thriller, some readers might find the non-linear structure and frequent shifts in perspective slightly disorienting. The narrative jumps back and forth between past and present, and although this technique adds to the overall mystery, it may require readers to pay close attention to keep track of the events unfolding. In conclusion, "Rock Paper Scissors" is a thought-provoking and suspenseful thriller that showcases Alice Feeney's talent for crafting dark and twisted narratives. With its complex characters, unpredictable twists, and exploration of perception and reality, this novel will leave readers questioning their own assumptions and eager to unravel the secrets hidden within. Fans of psychological thrillers will undoubtedly find this book a gripping and satisfying read.

I’m not sure what to make of this book but a friend said she couldn’t put it down so I wanted to try it. I actually couldn’t put it down either. I had to know what was going to happen. It was suspenseful. I found the couple confusing but I didn’t know what to make of Adam’s ex. My reaction was that she was a weird mean person. The ending certainly surprised me. All the characters were rather odd except the dog. I gave it 4 stars because it was suspenseful and had interesting twists.

I read My Husband's Wife and absolutely loved it. It was full of twists and turns, so I though I'd try another by Alice Feeney. Well this one didn't have the depth like the other book. I didn't connect with the characters and plot wasn't too deep. It was ok; it wasn't terrible.

Read this book as part of a book club at work. This was my first story by Alice. The plot and multi-povs definitely add to the story. I enjoyed the twists and the build up to them.

I loved His & Hers so I was excited to read another. This was a fantastic and easy read. Alice’s writing style is easy to follow and she is definitely the queen of twists. I loved learning about a prosopagnosia and new words along with the fabulous thriller story. I loved the narration as well. Stephanie Racine is a new favorite narrator for me now.

This book has been coming up in suggestions for me for a while, and I’ve always passed it by until now. WOW, am I ever glad I finally gave it a chance! This was a fantastic book. First of all, the way the book was written was unique and interesting. Normally I’m not a huge fan of time jumps, as it often breaks momentum for me. This time, however, they fueled the momentum. The “letters” were carefully constructed with clever and effective red herrings and just enough insight into the couple’s past to have you constantly rethinking what’s actually happening. Second, the twists, especially *the* big twist, absolutely bowled me over. If anyone else guessed the whopper twist in there, I can gladly accept that they are smarter than I am! This author sneaked things by me like none other - I had no idea I was being duped for the majority of the book. Loved it! The ending was a little unfinished - it seems reality was distorted for me right up to the very end. Fantastic, but I felt the end was just slightly unresolved for me. Regardless, it was too good not to give it all 5 stars!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a super complex puzzle to solve, and will be reading more by this author!

The story is more like a 4.5 stars ⭐️ It’s well written, it has a few touch and go slow spots yet enough teasing of something more to keep you curious enough to find out. It begins with a husband and wife - Adam and Amelia embarking on a weekend getaway to Scotland Highlands to hopefully repair their troubled marriage. Each year on their wedding anniversary, Adam’s wife writes him a letter that basically recaps the year they’ve had - ups & downs - yet she never gives them to him. They’ve been married for ten years and you believe they are getting away to a nice place to reconnect. And they bring their beloved black Labrador retriever Bob. Adam is a screenplay writer and an author. He tends to put his work before his relationship. Amelia works at a dog rescue/shelter. They are quite opposite and as you read the letters to Adam, then read his POV it almost seems like he is the one already checked out of the marriage. He suffers from a condition of face blindness so he has difficulty making out or recognizing faces, including his own. That in itself would make any relationship challenging. He is suspicious of Amelia and seems to think she’s up to something less than genuine about this weekend get away as she keeps secrets from him and he does too. The story unfolds and you feel sad for the couple as they just seem to have lost whatever they once had together Lots of reminiscing in the minds of the characters. The place they stay at makes almost no sense and it definitely has the husband questioning his wives motives. Some very creepy things begin to unfold and then it becomes a story out truly didn’t see coming. It’s a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The very first time I’ve read a book by this author. It certainly won’t be the last.

This was an exciting read and moved along fairly quick. I didn't like any of the characters (besides Bob), but I suppose that's the point in this psychological thriller. It was quite suspenseful at times. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out. I rarely stay up trying to finish a book (mom needs sleep! 🙃), but I couldn't stop once I got near the end. I found some of the quirky sayings fitting in the story. There were sooo many twists! It was exciting and sometimes was a nice shock 🤯 What I didn't like was the many times where it just didn't add up. Adam had prosopagnosia, face blindness, yet he couldn't recognize someone's signature style/look? He wasn't blind! Feeney made it seem like Adam knows more about the church, like he's been there before, by having him miss the squeaky steps and opening the locked doors, etc. But then nothing came of that and he never was there before. There were other loose ends, aspects that were so unrealistic (but didn't ruin the story imo) and puzzling, and there wasn’t much of a closure. The ending ruined it a bit. The ghostly aspect was redeeming for Robin, perhaps those tales (especially about her father) were true after all? However, the box with the trinkets on the grave made sense in referencing rock paper scissors, but made absolutely no sense why they were there and on that grave. That part seemed unnecessary. But I could have totally missed the connection. This story was good, had more potential, but I felt like the author got so caught up in twists that she got lost in where she was headed.

I absolutely LOVED this offering. Omg, after reading some stinkers lately this was everything I could want in a thriller. Hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. Great storytelling: the locales described beautifully, interesting characters, a delicious twist at the end- this baby has it all. Would give 10 stars if I could!!

Rating: 4.6/5 My first experience of Alice Feeney's writing was her previous release, "His & Hers". Although I enjoyed it, I didn't think it ranked amongst the very best books in the genre. However, her latest offering, "Rock Paper Scissors" certainly does! It is difficult to go too far into the plot without giving away annoying spoilers and ruining other readers' enjoyment of the experience, so I will do no more than refer you to the official synopsis. As with the author's previous novel this is written in a style that is quite filmic. It doesn't surprise me in the least that the book has already been optioned and is going to brought to the television screen by Netflix. At its heart, this is essentially a domestic suspense thriller - and a very fine example it is too. When you read a lot of books from the mystery thriller genre you do tend to become quite adept at piecing together the various parts of the puzzle well before the solution is formally revealed. I can honestly say that I did not manage to achieve that with this novel. There were various tracks that I thought the story might go down, but Alice Feeney kept managing to surprise me by taking matters in a slightly different direction to the one I had envisaged. It has to be said that any misdirection is handled in a legitimate fashion, rather than cheating and simply pulling a rabbit out of the hat. This is much more a case of careful planning and plotting on the part of the author. I am not aware of the influences there may have been on Alice Feeney's writing, but at times I picked up hints of Stephen King, but I also sensed an atmospheric menace akin to the work of Daphne du Maurier. I can heartily recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys quality, suspenseful mystery writing and I will certainly be back for the author's next book.

Really recommend very good book and very good plot twists

Full of surprises and unexpected twists - an original storyline and some well rounded characters, I was hooked from the start :)

Absolutely enjoyable. 💯