3.5 stars.

If there's one author you can rely on to produce a twisty, fast-paced thriller that keeps you guessing to the end, it's Alice Feeney. I was instantly intrigued by the blurb, particularly the "three suspects, two murders, and one victim" tagline. It was certainly a wild ride.

I wasn't surprised at how intricate the plot was in order to execute the number of unexpected twists. This did make it hard to follow though, especially as you're trying to stay one step ahead (something I've learned not to bother with when it comes to Feeney - I'm always 100% wrong 😂). However, I struggled to even stay in the present with this one - the character connections are intricate and confusing, especially with all the red herrings thrown in. Things become clear in the end, but while reading, I felt like the story was often disjointed and hard to follow.

That being said, every twist that was unveiled came out of nowhere and made me gasp, so there's no denying that the author nailed this crucial thriller element.

One thing I used to love about Feeney's books was the writing - her use of metaphor was highlight-worthy, to the point where I would make notes of each quote so I could reread them and appreciate some truly brilliant writing. However, we're quite a few books in now and this style of writing is getting on my nerves. While I appreciate a sprinkling of metaphors, they should be used sparingly, and I felt like this book has crossed that fine line, with most coming as cringy or preachy.

Overall, the plot had really good potential but there were some holes that could have been easily filled and a bit too much withholding of information. The twists were spot on but there were just a few too many to the point where it affected the pacing of the book. I still enjoyed it and will continue to read her future novels but it wasn't my favourite.

Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3.7
Writing style/readability - 3
Characters - 3.8
Diverse themes - 3.5
Ending - 4
Overall - 3.6

Good Bad Girl Alice Feeney

Alice is one of my favourite authors. At times I wondered if I was keeping track of the characters and timelines, but from reading this authors previous books, I know to trust the process and it will all come together spectacularly at the end.
If you are into audiobooks, Stephanie Racine is a fantastic narrator, I switched listening for a while just to hear her voice.

If you love this author, check out this book.

Another gripping read from one of my favourite authors exploring the notions of good and bad, and what happens when bad things happen to good people.

Edith isn't speaking to her daughter. She can't forgive her for tricking her into living in a care home. But their relationship was strained long before.

Patience is her saving grace, smuggling in treats and even bringing her dog to visit. But Patience is lying to Edith too.

In fact, they are all lying to each other, but when the police are brought in to investigate a murder will the truth finally emerge?

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

I love a good thriller and in particularly have really enjoyed Alice Feeney's books in the past, however this one was not as spectacular as I was hoping. Don't get me wrong it was still enjoyable but was just missing something for me. I found the multiple pov's a little confusing at times and thought the characters were hard for me to relate to, although I did not see the outcome which is always a plus. Thanks so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Alice Feeney is the queen of thrillers, this one was absolutely no exception!
This was fast paced, mysterious and intriguing and the multiple POV really helped with the tension throughout the story. I was hooked!
I also loved the bits of dark humour scattered throughout they made me giggle! Loved this one

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney is an amazing psychological thriller with a totally unexpected twist. The story had a good start, and there was a point when the plot became predictable. But the author saved the dessert for last, and it was mind-blowing. A totally unexpected one with a few characters. Each character had a different story to narrate, which contributed equally to the story.

Edith's character was the most interesting and secretive one. And the last few pages were a bang. Although the story became flat for a few pages, Still, the climax is fresh in my mind. You are going to love this book. Definitely, it deserves 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

LOVED how all these different stories connected! It’s one you have to persevere with to get the answer but it is worth it! Alice Feeney builds and sets the scene so well that the endings are always phenomenal.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth.

Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything.

Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good.

With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.


My Opinion

What a journey.... this book had me hooked from the beginning. I started reading this late one evening and couldn't wait to get back to it the following day. Alice Feeney was a new author to me but this was such a great thriller that I am sure I will be back for more.

There are four main characters in this book and each character is very different. There are so many secrets just waiting to be revealed. A great read.

Rating 4/5

4.5 stars

This felt a little bit different to Feeney’s usual style; having more of a mystery vibe than the dark psychological thrillers I’m used to. However, this certainly didn’t make it any less enjoyable, and I found myself totally hooked after an initially slow start.

I loved that this was a story exclusively about women, and more specifically, that it focused on mother-daughter relationships. As always, Feeney does an excellent job of creating interesting, well-rounded characters. The multiple viewpoints were a bit confusing at first, but it didn’t take long to get a grip on the various strands. From then on, it was intrigue and suspense all the way to see how everything would come together.

It wouldn’t be Feeney without a murder or two, and in this she obliges. Her hallmark secrets, lies and obfuscation are on full display, along with more twists than a corkscrew.

A highly enjoyable read with a very satisfying ending.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

A baby is stolen from her push chair in a supermarket causing a devastating chain of events.

20 years later 4 women must come together to solve a murder in a care home and find out more than the investigation links them together. Edith may be in the care home but she's not past it just yet. Her daughter Clio, Patience her carer and a mysterious new arrival bring events of the past back to the present and Edith seems to be the link to them all. Can the Good Bad girl really make all the difference and right the wrongs of the past?

Brilliantly written once again by Alice Feeney. I was hooked from the start and the surprises kept coming. All the characters manage to suck you in and want to follow their part of the story.

Highly recommended 5 stars.

Alice feeney is a go to author for me ! What you expect is a good twisty action family fouled drama ! What you get is exactly that a great edgy thriller ! Well worth picking up !

Feeney is a fully fledged go-to author for a decent thriller. Good, Bad Girl is a tangled tale of deception going back decades. It all centres around an elderly resident in a care home called Edith. The narrative jumps back and forth in time to reveal the causes of her current conflict with her daughter and the reasons she finds herself in the care home rather than with her daughter. In the care home, she finds kindness and lobe from one of her carers. The carer has her own burdens resulting from family conflict. Following a murder at the care home, they all become embroiled in the story together. By the time I felt I had it all worked out, Feeney side-swiped me with a shocking reveal. A super domestic thriller #goodbadgirl #alicefeeney #netgalley

Sometimes bad things happen to good people. So good people have to do bad things…”

Another great thriller from Alice Feeney - you know what you’re getting with this author, and I love that. Full of family drama and secrets and twists and turns… the perfect thriller to get stuck into!

Another cracker from Alice Feeney !
Just when you think you have cracked it -another surprise comes along !
Loved it !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

A very slow paced book! The characters are very flawed and not realistic at all! I found the story and book very busy and didn’t flow well at all!

I love Alice Feeney's writing and this book did not disappoint. I had no idea what was happening or who the reveal was going to be and I loved it.

The reveals were excellently done and I couldn't wait to get to the next twist. This book is an excellent option for anyone who loves a twisty domestic thriller.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I liked that it had multiple POVs and the twist towards the end that I didn't see coming. Overall a good book that I would still recommend.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

This was a very interesting, gripping, dark novel. So many secrets and it was very well plotted to gradually reveal the outcome.

Alice Feeney is one of my favourite authors and this book has made me like her even more. We have dual timelines unfolding relationships its fast paced. I gave this 5 stars and think everyone should read it.

Great psychological thriller
A gripping story which flips back in time and then to present day and shows how the women's lives overlapped and intertwined while telling from each of their perspectives. It is a great crime mystery and it twisted and turned right until the end keeping me guessing.
It was the first novel I've read from the author and I'll definitely check out her other books.