'Rock Paper Scissors' is the new thriller by Alice Feeney and it doesn't disappoint - it is dark, it is gripping and it is super, super clever! A really great book for anyone who loves to read suspense novels and thrillers.

𝙍𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙮

I had high expectations for this after reading and absolutely loving HIS & HERS at the start of this month. This was definitely the absolute definition of mystery and I was engrossed from start to finish. The chapters alternate between Adam, Amelia and Robin, interspersed with annual anniversary letters from wife to husband which I thought was a really clever insight into the marriage deterioration.

The atmospheric setting was done perfectly— from the creepy neglected chapel to the claustrophobic snowstorm and remoteness of the Scottish highlands, it all added to the eeriness of this book. The characters were well developed and I loved the quirky structure with the traditional anniversary gifts, words of the year and illustrations. Adam’s prosopagnosia was an interesting and unique twist that added to the tension and worked really well in this story. I did think there was a slight overkill on the use of metaphors in this but it also worked with the almost sarcastic tone used throughout.

Feeney is absolutely the queen of twists and this was no let down— thrilling and suspenseful, the shocking revelations at the end bought me out of my zombie-fied state at 4am on my night shift this morning as I flew through the pages. I’m still mind blown by that last twist— I had it so wrong! Recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a twisty and eerie thriller with a unique format and if you enjoyed CoHo’s LAYLA.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 + 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂!

This book was Alice Feeney at her best . Those many twists and turns. Literally left you out of breath as to what happens next. Left me reading into the small hours. Fast paced exciting read. Highly recommended. Gets 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.

Rock paper scissors was full of twists and turns and misdirections that when the big reveal came, I had no idea it was coming!

Adam and Amelia travel to the Scottish Highlands for a last chance weekend getaway to try and save their marriage. Each is keeping secrets from the other and it seems so sinister.

Weird things start to happen while they are staying at an old chapel in the middle of nowhere with only a solitary neighbour living near by.

I loved the addition of the letters that are written to Adam every year on their anniversary that are peppered throughout the book, which made the reveal make me go "OMG". It was genius!

Also Adam having face blindness was also an interesting factor, and I found myself researching the condition to understand it a bit more.

The chapters were written from multiple POV and were short and sweet, which made reading it quick, easy and really enjoyable.

Alice Feeney has nailed it with this book and I will definitely be looking out for more of her stories.

Ok so I have to be honest and say I didn’t take to this at first and put it aside and dare I even say considered not putting it back up again. The eerie spooky early pages spooked me a bit and I didn’t want to read on.
I then read a LOT of amazing reviews and wow. Finished in 2 sittings and could not turn the pages quick enough.
Very very clever and just when you think you’ve guessed it there is another twist,
Just brilliant and extremely highly recommended.
Hooked until the last word and genuinely gutted it’s over

oh. my. days.. WHAT A BOOK!! 😍

It's been so nice to have more time to read recently, and it gave me a chance to devour this book in 3 days!

The main characters were so devious - from chapter to chapter I had NO idea what was going to happen next! It's creepy and the main part of the story is set in the middle of nowhere making it the perfect creepy read for this month!

I have always loved @alicewriterland since reading his and hers - rock paper scissors was just as good if not better! Definitely an auto buy author for me from now on! ❤

Ten years of marriage.
Ten years of secrets.
An anniversary they’ll never forget.

I really enjoyed this dark thriller of a book, loads of twists and turns keeping you guessing the outcome. It wasn’t exactly what I had expected when I first started reading it and story line seemed simple but boy was I wrong! Had a few late nights reading to find out the conclusion of the book and I wasn’t let down – great surprise of an ending! Definitely recommend.


Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#RockPaperScissors #NetGalley.

So many twists and turns to keep you intrigued.

I was hooked from the outset by this dark tale and devoured it in one sitting!

4.5 stars

A well crafted thriller that had me completely enthralled. There was times where I was nervously sat at the edge of my seat and if I bit my nails, they would have been completely chewed off by the time I reached the final pages! It's every bit fast paced and tense - a fantastic read.

Alice Feeney had knocked it out of the park with this one! I absolutely loved it and read it in two sittings! Her writing style is fantastic and will keep you guessing throughout. I actually felt nervous when they were in their night away and couldn’t figure out what was going on. Feeney is a phenomenal writer and this is a fantastic book that I’ll definitely be recommending! It’s fast paced, tense and will leave you shocked! Can’t wait for her next book now!

A great book. It's interesting reading both sides and both perspectives. The book keeps you on your toes and turning the page until the end.

Loved that you got to read from both perspectives, didn’t know who to trust. With lots of unexpected twists kept me guessing throughout. Was a great read!

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Think you know the person you married? Think again...

"Rock Paper Scissors is a story about a couple who have been married for ten years. Every anniversary they exchange gifts - paper, copper, tin - and each year the wife writes her husband a letter that she never lets him read. A secret record of their marriage, warts and all. By their tenth anniversary, their relationship is in trouble. Sometimes a weekend away can be just what a couple needs to get them back on track, but things aren't what or who they seem."

Wow! That's all I can say. Despite my many interruptions that prevented me from reading this book quicker and it's slow start, here I am half an hour or so after finishing it and I am still trying to digest everything. What a ride!

The story starts off slow, and not a fan of slow burns in general, I was finding it difficult to connect with Adam and Amelia because all they seemed to do is bicker and didn't even appear to want to be married to each other. So why were they? If the journey from London to the Scottish Highlands was long and arduous for Adam, then it was even moreso for the reader in some aspects. If they weren't arguing, they weren't even talking. By the time they reach their destination of Blackwater Chapel, converted to a home many years before, they are so far out in the middle of nowhere and pretty much just want to fall into bed and sleep off the journey. Here's hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

Amelia works at the Battersea Dogs Home (she won my heart for that alone) whilst hubby Adam is a screenwriter who just can't seem to hit the bigtime and make a name for himself. Adam has a condition (which I won't even attempt to try spelling without Google) which basically means he suffers from "face blindness", where he cannot see faces or recognise them or their expressions. It's something I've never heard of before so the concept was new to me and added an interesting dimension to the story...in more ways than one. It certainly makes living with someone with the condition a little difficult at times. And as Adam is a workaholic, Amelia takes a backseat to what is essentially his driving passion...and ultimately have his screenplay make the big screen someday.

So when Amelia wins a raffle at work for a weekend away in the remote Scottish Highlands, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to spend some time together and maybe address some of their issues. In other words, this weekend away could make or break their marriage. But the long drive to Scotland proves to a little more than either of them can handle. And why somewhere so remote and out of the way? And in the middle of winter? To top things off, there is no phone signal, the electricity is a bit hit or miss but at least there's a back-up generator. And failing that, candles. But the chapel is anything but warming - both in temperature and atmosphere. And almost from the moment they set foot inside the creepy 9th century structure, each of them have a deep sense of foreboding. This weekend is not going to end well...for either of them.

Then strange things begin to happen. The power goes out. A face at the window. Bats in the bell tower. Locked rooms and secrets abound. And then there are the whispers in the crypt...whispering their names in the darkness. Meanwhile, outside the storm is howling with snow knee deep so if they were hoping for a quick escape it wasn't going to happen. Their Morris Minor Traveller was buried beneath the snow drifts. They were stuck here.

Throughout the course of the two days, Adam and Amelia begin to question how well they really know each other. Both of them are hiding secrets, but what? To get through this they will need to rely on one another, but can they trust each other enough to do that? And who in this great big vast expanse of the middle of Scottish nowhere...is Robin?

Just wow! When I began ROCK PAPER SCISSORS I had a completely different rating in mind, but then it picked up pace and twist after hoodwinked twist was revealed, changing my mind completely! In fact, it was so good I only deducted half a star for the slow start. While I pieced a bit of it together, it was still as confusing as Adam's face blindness and didn't make a whole lot of sense. There is one clue that is so obvious when you look back and admittedly, I did question it at the time but then thought nothing of again...until all was revealed. And just when one twist was revealed, along came another and another and another! How many twists could be packed into this chilling tale? A whole lot and thensome.

The story is told from three perspectives primarily - Amelia, Adam and Robin - with a letter written on every anniversary interspersed throughout. As the story is set in the present day, the letters sprinkled throughout tell the rest of the story leading up to the present. It really is a clever touch and quite ingenious. Particularly when you discover the significance of them. Honestly, the letters are raw, sentimental and heartfelt you truly sympathised with everything that was dealt the couple. But they are not for his eyes and she will never let him read them. Until now.

The setting is just perfect. Usually Cornwall is my favourite setting for atmospheric thrillers, but the remote Scottish Highlands are also perfect...particularly for this thriller. Adam and Amelia are completely cut off with Bob, their loving and loyal Labrador dog. There is a raging snow storm around them and they have no electricity, no phone signal and no way of calling for help. Added to that, Blackwater Chapel is said to be haunted by witches who whisper your name three times before killing you.

But that isn't the most chilling part...in the midst of the remoteness, they are not alone. Someone is there watching their every move; orchestrating every nuance; and they have no intention of letting them go without first playing ROCK PAPER SCISSORS.

Nothing is at all what it seems in this addictive thriller that will have you turning the pages as soon as the pace picks up until every final twist is revealed. And believe me, the pace really ramps up in those final few chapters as twist after twist comes barrelling at you from nowhere! I really didn't think I would would enjoy this thriller that is creepy and atmospheric as well damn chilling (especially the end), but Alice Feeney has redeemed herself with the slow start and certainly made up for it with that headspinning race to the end! I am still reeling.

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS is a thriller where nothing is as it seems. The story itself is not at all what it seems. It may be slow to start with but when the pace picks up it REALLY picks up and it won't let you go until the chilling end.

This is my second Alice Feeney thriller and I am so thrilled I didn't give up on it because ROCK PAPER SCISSORS was soooo good it knocked me completely for a six! It is atmospheric, creepy and chilling and perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and C.L. Taylor.

Note: While there are some tense moments regarding Bob the Labrador, he isn't harmed. Although Amelia does work at Battersea Dogs Home where not all dogs are as fortunate though this isn't focused on. The only other mention is a dog in one of the characters' pasts which left me wondering as to its fate and although it did meet a horrific end, it is again only mentioned briefly. Had there been too much focus on this, I would not have been able to read it.

I would like to thank #AliceFeeney, #Netgalley, #HQDigital for an ARC of #RockPaperScissors in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Really enjoyed this. Loved the 2 different perspectives and not knowing who to trust. The twist was worth the wait andni felt thoroughly entertained throughout!

I had high hopes for this book when I first started it, but it didn't take long before I put the book down and decided I'd give it a go another time - sadly when I started it again all the negative feelings I had about the book the first time just came back and I decided it wasn't for me.

Adam and Amelia are in an unhappy marriage when they go away for a weekend together to Scotland - Sound like a disaster it is. Like going outside when you hear a scary noise. Just don’t do it - it can only end one way.
Adam has an an unusual condition where he can’t recognise people by their facial features which seems to mean he also doesn’t recognise anything about them. Seems to be a lot of padding in the story, some good twists but a lot of information that goes nowhere and is pretty irrelevant.
3 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

I liked this. I liked it a lot.

I read lots of reviews and varied thoughts about this book, so I was quite hesitant to read it. I’ve been meaning to read it since 2021. You know what it’s like, you have high hopes then reviews start coming in dampening you’re eagerness and you think….hmmmm
Will I like it?

I finally went in listening to it on audio. I wasn’t expecting much.

I got hooked.

There are two voices, one male (husband) one female (wife)

The differences the thoughts I was so invested between both of these characters.

I did wonder why the author titled the book Rock Paper Scissors.

I found out! Very clever.

I had a great time with this one, an enjoyable read.

I loved the ending!

Such a shame but this was not a book for me. Couldn’t connect with the characters and found the storyline a bit slow. It was good to see though that there are a lot of 5 star reviews from others and great to see it was definitely enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley.

I was looking forward to reading Rock Paper Scissors as I’d heard a lot about it.
It started well, with Amelia and Adam travelling to a weekend away which Amelia has won in a competition she doesn’t remember entering.
Amelia and Adam take turns in narrating the story, which does work well , they both talk of how the other person won’t be returning home after the weekend away, so there is a threatening, disturbing element running through right from the beginning.
When they finally arrive at their accommodation, it is locked up and appears deserted. After looking around the outside, they return to the front - which is now unlocked. After entering, it still appears to be deserted, and of course there’s a spooky cellar, and a strange woman living nearby...
*Spoiler alert*

Adam suffers from face blindness, but can’t tell his wife from another woman? Even if they had similar hairstyles, which he claims mislead him, surely their voices, mannerisms, etc would be different?

For me, this book had such potential, but just didn’t flow.
The ending needed so much explanation that it was practically a whole story of its own!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review, which, sadly in this case, is not such a positive one.

Alice Feeney is by far one of my favourite authors to date – Without fail, I know what I am getting, and I know that I am in for a wild ride!

If you’ve never read anything by this author before, then I highly recommend you change that. If dark and disturbing psychological thrillers are your thing then Alice Feeney is the writer for you. Often, I find myself thinking about her previous books and the impact they had and still have on me. There are not many authors I can say that about.

My favourite titles to date in order are:

1) “His & Hers” (2020)
2) “I Know Who You Are” (2019)
3) “Rock Paper Scissors” (2021)

I am yet to read “Sometimes I Lie” (2017) but knowing it is recommended by a lot of readers out there, I am sure it will shake up my above list.

Rock, Paper, Scissors, is definitely my least favourite from the ones I have read to date but had it of been my first experience of Feeney and her writing, I am sure I would be singing its praises. I have been spoilt by reading her previous titles first which blew me away each time.

Things I Loved In Rock Paper Scissors:
• Word Of The Day & Word Of The Year – I learnt some new and interesting words.
• Rock Paper Scissor – The way they used this game to make decisions was both brilliant and scary.
• Secret Anniversary Written Letters – These were so brutally honest. I loved every word.
• The Traditional Gift – I loved the way the characters purchased each other a meaningful gift that related to the traditional year.

My Favourite Quote From Rock Paper Scissors:
“The woman wore her bitterness like a badge; the kind of person who writes one-star book reviews” – Pretty sure this is an epic way to call out all the 1 star (nothings ever good enough) reviewers in the world! Bravo Feeney!

I did find “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to be slow and drawn out from about 30% of the way in until the 70% mark. At this point the pace picked back up and the twists just kept coming. However, the big twist, I really did not see coming! This was both refreshing and exhilarating, and the main reason for my overall rating of this title.

In August 2022, Feeney will release a new title called “Daisy Darker” – something about this title and the way Alice Feeney talks about it, makes me feel this will be her most outstanding yet! I cannot wait!!

4 Stars – Recommended Read!

Publication Date: 19th August 2021

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HQ and #AliceFeeney for an ARC of #RockPaperScissors in exchange for an honest review.