Rock Paper Scissors

This is the first book I have by this author and I was suprise how deep it went. This is a gripping thriller execellently written. Adam and Amelia want to save their marriage and go to Scotland to try and rekindle it. Will it assist or will the marriage fall apart? They have been married for 10 years and as the book develops there are twists and turns which have you wondering which way it will turn. The style of writting is very good and there are many twists. You read plenty as you want to know more. The characters are well developed and details are known by letters Amelia wrote to Adam over the 10 years and by thoughts of Adam. I will read more of this author.

This had been chosen as a book club read. I hadn't heard of the author or the book but the genre is a favourite of mine so I was looking forward to giving it a go. The book was first published in 2021. There are 310 pages, divided into chapters that are mostly narrated by the couple - Amelia and Adam. Interspersed are letters that track the back story of the marriage. The first chapter draws in the reader straight away - a snow storm, a failing marriage, a car journey and a spooky chapel - all set up to be a gothic story. The atmosphere is a key element in the book on many levels and this gives a complex novel written in an intelligent way. The level of detail is high. We can see the hall of the house at the start and can almost taste the tension that is being created. I had expected a psychological thriller but was delighted that the first few chapter promises such a deep/dark story. There are many interesting observations of human nature - one is "better at collecting acquaintances than making friends". We immediately see the problems in the marriage and gradually the history of the relationship is revealed using an unusual technique of letters written on each wedding anniversary. The thoughtful letters contrast well with the immediacy of the first person chapters (these are written by the wife which potentially gives an unbalanced view, messing with the reader's opinions). The reader, however, does have a privileged position in the present, in that we can see into both heads as the situation unravels - neither trusts the other but we don't know why. I liked the introduction of an unusual word for each year and it was interesting to see most of them being used - Discombobulating is one of my favourites. Adam's condition was a distraction to me - the author used it well but I'm not convinced that it was necessary at all. Of course, the tension builds and we can see that one of them is going to do something dramatic. When the mysterious stranger is added the intrigue builds even more. I found Robins "companion" really shocking and it had me fooled for while - my imagination really was running wild. I suspect the author is encouraging the reader to imagine the worst at every point and I liked being manipulated. As we started to have the main secret revealed it all became implausible but it is written in such a clever way that I got sucked in and I was totally engaged. You know this is not going to end well for someone but I had no idea which way it was going to go. Particularly admirable is that the author pushes the reader far into the fiction but seems to know exactly the right point to stop. She leaves us breathless with excitement without ever quite reaching the point of nonsense. The actual ending is very satisfying with many questions left hanging. I was filling in gaps and investing in the next steps which is the sign of an enjoyable book.

I flew through this one in under 24 hours, which says a lot. It is incredibly easy to listen to and I was definitely entertained. The main twist caught me by surprise, even though I have seen similar ones before. It was well timed and delivered. That said, the other reveals did not land as well for me. Some were obvious, others felt tangled up in the bigger twist. I did not feel much for the characters. I could not root for any of them, and their decisions were often baffling. You really have to suspend disbelief to get on board with the logic of it all. By the final chapters, things unravelled quickly and the last ten pages felt like a completely unnecessary add-on. I had more questions than answers by the end. It is a fun and twisty read if you do not think too hard, but for me it did not hold up well enough to earn four stars.

Rock Paper Scissors is the fourth novel by Alice Feeney, and it’s the second one that I’ve read. I was hooked by the intriguing premise: a couple in a troubled marriage who win a weekend getaway to a remote chapel in the Scottish Highlands. What could possibly go wrong? The story alternates between the present, where Adam and Amelia Wright are trapped in the chapel by a snowstorm, and the past, where we learn about their relationship through letters that "the wife" wrote to Adam every year on their anniversary. The letters reveal secrets, lies, and betrayals that have shaped their marriage, and they also hint at a shocking twist that will change everything. Feeney is a master of suspense and deception. She creates a claustrophobic and creepy atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re in the chapel with the characters. She also keeps you guessing with unexpected revelations and twists that make you question everything you thought you knew. The ending was just perfect: it was properly satisfying and very cleaver. I highly recommend it to fans of Feeney’s previous books, and to anyone who loves a good mystery. Such a brilliant read to kick off 2024!

I saw a lot of people recommending this book on Instagram, some even calling it their number one thriller, so I picked it up. To be honest, it was a good read. I wouldn’t say it bamboozled me, like one person on Instagram claimed, because it didn’t. When you’ve read quite a few thriller books, you can often see what’s coming from a mile away. (Spoiler warning!) The moment her friend was mentioned, I already guessed Robin was the first wife and Amelia was the second. What actually caught me off guard, though, was Adam’s last POV. Overall, it’s a solid read—fast-paced, a real page-turner, and never boring.

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

Absolutely enjoyable. 💯

This book kept me wanting to turn the pages. Lots of who's and what's and wondering what next...great easy read and short to give you enough without it being too much.

Rock Paper Scissors is one of those thrillers that completely pulls you in and doesn’t let go. I absolutely loved this book and tore through it in no time. The setting plays a huge role—the icy cold, snowbound atmosphere feels claustrophobic and unsettling, perfectly mirroring the tension simmering beneath the surface. Alice Feeney uses multiple points of view to great effect, gradually layering the story and keeping you constantly reassessing what you think you know. The pacing is sharp, with short chapters that make it dangerously easy to keep reading “just one more.” What truly elevates the novel, though, is the twist—clever, shocking, and deeply satisfying without feeling gimmicky. The subtle hint of paranormal spookiness adds an eerie edge, heightening the mystery rather than overpowering it. Smart, atmospheric, and brilliantly plotted, this is a standout psychological thriller that fully earns its five stars.

Me encantó. Intrigante y fácil de leer. Te mantiene enganchada toda la novela!