This book hooked me right from the start. Donna receives an anonymous invitation to a stranger’s funeral—but the twist is, the deceased is listed as Alice Anderson, which just so happens to be Donna’s real name. Someone clearly knows her secret… but who? And why?

The mystery unfolds with plenty of twists that kept me guessing. I really enjoyed the suspense and how everyone seemed suspicious—there are quite a few unlikeable characters, which added to the tension and made it tricky to pin down what was really going on. The pacing was solid, never dragging, and the ending was really satisfying. I loved the narration—it added a lot to the atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free audio copy.

This one had a killer premise (literally)—a woman shows up to a funeral, sees her own name on the gravestone, and realizes someone has stolen her identity. Total goosebumps moment. The mystery kicks off strong, and I was instantly pulled into the whole “what is happening and who can I trust?” vibe.

The pacing was solid, and the tension stayed steady throughout. There were a few twists that surprised me and some that felt a little predictable, but overall the story kept me curious enough to keep flipping pages. I wouldn’t call it a jaw-dropper, but it had just enough suspense and weird energy to keep things interesting.

Main downside? The characters didn’t fully land for me—I wanted a bit more depth or spark to really feel invested. Still, the plot itself was compelling and I had to know how it all played out.

The Funeral has an excellent premise and started out so well, but I'm afraid I found the story to be so unbelievable it really got in the way of my enjoyment. Why would anyone offer an unknown person a job in a position that they're unqualified to do, and even if the applicant was desperate, would they really take it and move in the same day? There are parts of the book I enjoyed, but I didn't feel the suspense level was sufficient for a psychological thriller and the ending fell flat because it finished on a cliffhanger. This is more of a mystery. Very sorry that this book wasn't for me but I'm sure plenty of other people will enjoy it as the writing flows well and the narrator is accomplished.

Thank you to Helen Durrant, Bookouture and Netgalley for my advance copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for this audiobook copy. I chose this due to the cover and description but unfortunately its title didn’t really reflect the story. On reading other reviews it appears this book has an alternative title ‘The Other Alice’ which I feel was more of an appropriate title. The funeral only appears in the first chapter. I think the premise of this story is promising but unfortunately it was very predictably disappointing, unbelievable events and repeating details which became boring. The narrator was the only thing that made me finish as I’d sadly guessed the end about half way through.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟

A fun, quick thriller about a woman receiving an invitation to a funeral…for someone with her name. I loved this hook and had a lot of fun flying through this audio. Great narration and fast-paced read.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Helen H. Durrant's The Funeral plunges readers into a gripping psychological thriller where a past identity becomes a present danger. The protagonist receives an anonymous funeral invitation, with no name, only a chilling directive: "I can't afford to miss it." Despite her initial disbelief, she arrives to find her fears confirmed: the gravestone bears the name Alice Anderson—her own former identity.

Trapped in a crowd of curious onlookers, she desperately wants to flee but knows she must maintain her composure. Someone at this funeral knows the secret she'd "kill to keep," and they've orchestrated this confrontation. However, her unknown tormentor gravely underestimates her. She's not a victim; she's been preparing for this moment. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear she has a plan, and she knows "exactly what's going to happen next." The Funeral is a tense, electrifying read about a woman cornered by her past, forced to fight for her future against an unseen enemy determined to make her pay.

Imagine showing up to a funeral and seeing your name on the gravesite...
For Alice Anderson, this is her living nightmare. After receiving an anonymous invitation to a funeral, Alice's curiosity is heightened. Upon her arrival, the body bears her own name. Distraught and confused, Alice becomes determined to find out who sent her the invitation and why. Alice becomes entangled in a tricky web of lies and comes head on with the past she was so desperately trying to escape.

This was my first book by Helen Durant and the plot teaser really enticed me. Overall, I didn't love the book. It seemed to move a bit slowly and I felt slightly bored at times. I did enjoy the audiobook narration and would be willing to try another book by this notorious British author.

If you're looking for a psychological thriller with a unique concept, this could be the perfect book for you. Be prepared to question everyone, trust no one, and search for the true motive for Alice's invitation to her own funeral.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a twisted thriller with so many twists and turns. I enjoyed the premise of the story and did not see that ending coming! I enjoyed this thriller and how it grabbed my attention from the beginning.

Helen H. Durrant's *The Funeral* is a 4-star psychological thriller that grabs you from its chilling opening and never loosens its grip. When Alice receives a mysterious funeral invitation, she's horrified to discover the casket bears her own name—launching a twisted mystery that blends paranoia and suspense in equal measure.

Durrant crafts an expertly paced narrative filled with clever red herrings and believable character development. While some astute readers might guess a twist or two ahead of time, the journey remains compelling thanks to tight plotting and an atmosphere of creeping dread. Sarah Durham's narration elevates the experience, her performance perfectly capturing Alice's growing unease while maintaining tension throughout.

What makes this thriller stand out is its ability to take a simple, eerie premise and develop it into something truly unsettling. The final revelations feel earned rather than contrived, delivering that rare combination of surprise and satisfaction.

For fans of psychological suspense with strong female leads and unpredictable twists, *The Funeral* makes for an utterly engrossing listen. I'll be seeking out more from both Durrant and narrator Durham.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC. This review represents my honest opinion.

The premise of this book was interesting and had so much potential. I mean, can you imagine being invited to your own funeral?! Unfortunately, the overall execution of this story just did not work for me. I think the narrator did an excellent job with the audiobook and she kept me invested when the pace of the story slowed down and the plot became confusing. Overall, there was nothing memorable about this story when there was so much potential.

Fast paced, twisty thriller that I enjoyed from start to finish! New author for me but may be tempted to read more! Quick, easy and entertaining- thanks for ARC!

This wasn't really for me. It seems really constructed that a family like that would just invite a complete stranger into their house, when they are this dysfunctional. Everyone is behaving so weird I don't know where to start...
The narrator did a good job.

The premise to this story was unique, so I was excited to dive into this audiobook. This gripping thriller begins with a chilling start: a mysterious funeral invitation that leads to murder. A woman receives an invitation to a funeral for a mystery person. Intrigued, she decides to attend the funeral to see who had passed away. When she gets there, she sees Alice Anderson as the name of the deceased. How can that be? She is Alice Anderson, but she hasn't used that name in. years. Who knows her secret? She must stay calm and level headed to find out.

This was a quick listen that was messy and had me doubting everyone. This complex story kept me guessing right up until the end. From the first chapter, the tension is palpable, as secrets from the past begin to surface and a web of deceit slowly unravels. The story follows a group of characters connected by buried trauma, lies, and old rivalries. When one of them turns up dead, it becomes clear that someone wants revenge — and no one is safe. The story cleverly develops from multiple points of view and timelines to help build suspense. Many of the twists and turns were unexpected and had me audibly gasping. This was a very enjoyable story! Sarah Durham did a good job with the narration.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

In this first novel I’ve read by the very talented Helen H. Durrant, I stayed mesmerized in the story! I felt with Donna/ Alice that she was lost in a sort of ‘House of Horrors’ with no one surrounding her that seemed trustworthy. This is a completely addictive page-turner from beginning to end!

With a premise that instantly intrigues—an anonymous funeral invitation, a hidden identity, and a powerful secret—The Funeral (The Other Alice) starts off strong. Helen H. Durrant crafts a compelling setup that had me turning pages quickly in the beginning. As the story unfolded, the pacing slowed a bit and the twists became less grounded, but the atmosphere of mystery and tension held steady. I especially enjoyed the dramatic family dynamics and the theme of reinvention. A good pick for fans of psychological thrillers who appreciate layered secrets and a slow-burn unraveling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked! I kept thinking, “It’s going to be her!” and while I was partially right, the twists kept me guessing. I couldn’t stop reading until I had all the answers. The ending was satisfying, and I’d absolutely read more from this author!

There’s lots of intrigue - who exactly is Alice Anderson, who sent the email invite and why? The timing of events seems a little unrealistic/out of whack but storyline keeps drawing the reader in.
The narration of the audiobook, done by Sarah Durham, is clear, well paced and very easy to listen to.
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

This book felt that it started with a lot of questions, why would you turn up to a funeral if you are trying to hide. Once I got about halfway through it and got around all the questions had about how it wasn't a realistic physiological thriller I did enjoyed the story. When I read psychological thriller, I enjoy not having to see too many holes or have too many questions about the story, so this tripped me a up a little. I enjoyed Sarah Durhams narration on this book, and she helped keep me interested. I feel as though I would've stopped if I hadn't been listening to this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advance audiobook copy of The Funeral by Helen H Durrant from netgalley.

I enjoyed the narration of The Funeral. Easy to follow and understand.

The Funeral is a twisty thriller, you may have figured out. But you won't be able to guess the ending.

Every single character is suspicious and acts oddly. It's impossible to know who to believe. It's even harder to figure out why they are doing the things they do. And is anyone really safe?
I enjoyed the weirdness of this book, though you must suspend disbelief at some of the choices that people are making to get past the beginning of the book. I definitely feel it was worth sticking through to the end, what a ride in between.

thank you NetGalley, the author Helen H. Durrant, and Bookoture Audio for my ARC of this audiobook.