Bite-Sized Reviews of Alice Feeney Novels

The story revolves around two main characters: Anna Andrews, a successful television presenter, and her ex-husband, Jack Harper, a detective. They find themselves unexpectedly connected to a murder investigation in their hometown of Blackdown. When a woman named Rachel, who had a complicated history with both Anna and Jack, is found dead, the two are drawn back into each other’s lives as they become involved in solving the murder. As they work separately on their own angles of the case, their shared past and secrets begin to resurface.

I really wanted to like this book, but I think the main problem I had was that I didn’t like either of the main characters. Both Jack and Anna were just blah. I rated this as 3.5 stars because I thought the plot was captivating and I was constantly changing my mind about who I thought the killer was and the motivation behind it. There are some events involving sexual trauma with underage girls and I found those parts difficult to read. The story itself has an interesting plot, but I thought it was a little difficult to get through.

In this psychological thriller, the story revolves around Adam and Amelia Wright, a couple facing marital troubles who decide to go on a secluded retreat in the Welsh countryside. However, their choice leads to unexpected and dire consequences as they find themselves isolated in an eerie house. As the tension rises and secrets come to light, the couple becomes entangled in a web of deception, manipulation, and paranoia.

Alice Feeney is a master of constructing a plot that makes you question everyone and everything! Literally everything is going wrong for this couple. In an attempt to save their marriage they go on a little retreat in a beautiful area where an old church has been converted into an Airbnb-type deal. Except it seems as if no one has stayed there in years and it’s creepy af. Of course it’s remote. Of course it’s basically a blizzard outside trapping them in so they can’t leave. It’s perfectly eerie.

I really enjoyed the dual pov and the non-linear narrative of this novel. The letters the wife wrote every year on their anniversary gives us some knowledge into the relationship and what has led them to be where they are now. The twist was one my simple minded brain didn’t see coming at all! It made for a really fun read!

In this mystery novel, the Darker family gathers for Nana’s 80th birthday party on a remote island in a crumbling gothic house. They have been avoiding each other for years, and are back together one last time. When the tide comes in they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. As the family members reunite, it becomes clear they are hiding secrets. The situation takes a dark turn when Nana is found dead at the stroke of midnight during a raging storm. An hour later, another family member is found dead. Trapped on the island with a killer among them, the Darker family must confront both their present mystery and the secrets from their past.

This novel is a nod to the book by Agatha Christie ‘And Then There Were None’. I hold a special place in my heart for that book because it marked one of my earliest encounters with mystery novels, back in middle school. Right from the opening line, it captivated me, and I devoured the entire book. If you are familiar with Christie’s book then you might expect one of the big reveals. The others, however, absolutely shocked me. This book is smart! When you get to the end, you’ll understand all of the subtle clues Alice Feeney gives throughout the story. Loved it and highly recommend!