Another twisting tale from Alice Feeney. I’m officially a fan. ( )

I have now read a few books by Alice Feeney with Rock Paper Scissors and His and Hers being my favourite so far. I still enjoyed the new offering just didn't get the wow feeling at the end.

The story follows four women. Frankie works in a prison library, Edith lives in a care home, Clio is Edith's daughter and Patience cares for Edith. All four women have their own stories and in true thriller style are all connected.

I flew through the book and read it in two sittings. Little cliff hangers at the end of each section leading up to the final twists when everything comes together. I did think the ending went a little thrillerland though which let the book down slightly.

I enjoyed this book very much and as of yet have not read a novel by Alice Feeney that I didn't enjoy. Will definitely read the ones that I haven't yet and anything new in the future. ( )

Alice Feeney is one of my favorite authors in this genre. I loved Rock Paper Scissors, Sometimes I Lie and His and Hers. I’m always eager to be immersed in her stories and left shocked at the surprises she throws your way, though I found Daisy Darker a tad disappointing on account of its predictability and lack of originality. I really wanted to love her latest offering, but sadly, Good Bad Girl failed to deliver on the thrills.

The narrative begins with a baby being stolen from a stroller in a supermarket on Mother's Day. Twenty years later, on Mother’s Day, we meet eighty-year-old Edith, a resident of an assisted living facility who resents having been placed there by her daughter Clio. Edith’s relationship with her daughter is strained on account of reasons that are gradually revealed. Edith is befriended by Patience, who works at the care home and is fond of Edith, often going out of her way to help her. We also meet Frankie, who works as a librarian at a prison, who is frantically searching for her teenage daughter who ran away from home after an emotional confrontation. The narrative follows these characters, weaving past and present timelines together as we discover how these characters’ stories are connected, as they get entangled in a web of secrets, lies and murder.

Plenty of dysfunctional family drama, complicated mother-daughter relationships and the mystery of a missing baby at the core of the story would have made for a riveting read had there been a few less predictable “twists”. The rather convenient surprise toward the end of the story rendered that particular plot point a tad contrived. While the characters were well thought out and the author discusses several sensitive issues such as post-partum depression, the pacing is on the slower side and the story feels relatively more character-driven than plot-heavy (which is fine but, in a thriller, I would expect a stronger plot!). I found a few developments in the story rather amusing more than surprising (I did laugh out loud a couple of times, so there’s that). The mystery surrounding the elder care facility could have been better developed, which would have added to the suspenseful vibe but that element of the story was relegated to the background and there is more telling than showing how it was resolved.

I can’t categorize this as a psychological thriller in the true sense of the term, and had I not been looking for a more intricately plotted and twisty read, I would have enjoyed this more. I should mention that this novel is emotionally heavier than Feeney’s other works. Overall, while I did not dislike this novel, it certainly wasn't what I had expected. However, I’m clearly an outlier here and would ask you to read the other reviews before deciding on reading this one.

I listened to the audiobook (9 hours 21 minutes) narrated by Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine, who have done an overall decent job of voicing the characters and breathing life into the story.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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From the very first page, this gripping thriller had me hooked and kept me on the edge of my seat until the final, shocking twist. The author's skillful storytelling weaves a complex web of suspense, drawing readers into a world of uncertainty and intrigue. The character development is top-notch, with protagonists that feel real and relatable, and antagonists who send shivers down your spine. The pacing is masterful, seamlessly blending heart-pounding action with moments of quiet tension, making it nearly impossible to put down. The plot unfolds like a series of perfectly executed dominoes, each revelation more jaw-dropping than the last. Every chapter leaves you hungry for more, as you attempt to unravel the puzzle before the characters do. This is a thriller that doesn't just rely on shock value; it delves into the psychological depths of its characters, exploring their fears, desires, and secrets. The writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the story's setting and atmosphere. Without a doubt, this is a must-read for fans of the genre, an experience that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Prepare for sleepless nights and a lingering sense of unease – this is the mark of a truly exceptional thriller. ( )

Edith has been placed into a nursing home but she has no intention of staying there. She becomes very close to one of the cleaning ladies, Patience. Edith and Patience concoct a plan. But, then the care home’s administrator ends up dead in the elevator. Now all of a sudden everyone is a suspect.

Ok, I am in the minority again…but I found this book BRILLIANT! I know a lot of other reviews did not find this to be as thrilling as Daisy Darker . But this book is a completely different style. The way Alice Feeney meandered through the story (and yes it is a bit slow!) to come to this ending….geez! I knew it was going to come together, just didn’t expect it to be this way!

Alice tied all these characters together in a neat little bow, including the detective with the pink stipe in her hair. And no…I did not see that one coming!

Every single one of these characters are dysfunctional at best. Talk about terrible mother-daughter relationships. But, I can’t help but see the intelligence it took to come up with this plot.

The narrators, Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine are fantastic. I love when there is a great tag team!

Need a good mystery which will have you wondering how it is all going to tie together…THIS IS IT!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )