An anonymous funeral invitation...a stolen name...an unturndownable job offer...a dramatic wealthy family with lots of secrets...what could go wrong? With this premise I was immediately drawn in. The tension was building and I was fully invested. But then things kind of took a turn and the pace slowed and the storyline became, well even more out there. Nevertheless, this was a fun tale of intrigue with twists and turns...just nothing shocking or over the top. It is worth a read for fans of psychological thrillers. The narrator (the author's daughter) did a good job with expression and the full cast of characters. It's always enjoyable to me to listen to the British accent, so I'm in!
Thanks to NetGalley and Audible Audio for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

I liked this but didn't absolutely love it. There were times that I was scratching my head trying to figure out how I got to where I was because it didn't feel like I should be there. It seemed like it just sort of blended together too quickly. It was also a bit hard to wrap my head around why the main character did what she did right from the start.
All that said, the writing is very good. The characters are strong characters, and the mystery/thriller stuff was good. There were twists and turns and the ending wasn't bad.
I did get the chance to listen to the audiobook of this book, and I liked it. The narrators are very good and bring a bit of life to the story.

This very well narrated psychological thriller has an unbelievable plot set in a leafy village in affluent Cheshire, England, and has a cast of unpleasant people with few redeeming features. The plot moves along quickly with so many ridiculous events that I had to stay with it in order to discover the outcome. But the ending, although solving one mystery, raises at least another two, which was slightly unsatisfactory. I shall probably not be tempted to read any sequel.

The Funeral is a solid, serviceable crime novel with a compelling premise and a few well-placed twists. Helen Durrant knows how to build suspense, and the opening pages hook you quickly.

That said, the pacing feels uneven, and some character arcs don’t quite land. The plot delivers, but the emotional depth is a bit thin, which makes it hard to fully connect with the stakes. It’s a decent read if you’re after a quick, gritty mystery, but it doesn’t quite rise above the pack.

A middle-of-the-road thriller—reliable, but not especially memorable.

3.5/5 ⭐️- Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC copy of ‘The Funeral’ by Helen H. Durrant. Holy dysfunctional family. The psychological mind games were intense! Honestly, if I were in Donna’s shoes, I would’ve bolted and never looked back. I found myself constantly wondering why she chose to stay in that house with such unsettling people.

As an audiobook, it was an enjoyable listen. The narrator delivered a solid performance and kept me engaged. I appreciated the suspense and the mystery around who the true “villain” was—it definitely kept me guessing.

That said, parts of the plot felt a bit far-fetched and somewhat predictable, which is why I’m giving it 3.5 stars. While the ending did tie up most of the loose ends, I was left wanting more insight into the characters’ motivations. Their behavior and treatment of one another were never fully explained, and that lack of depth detracted from the overall impact for me.

I found the way the story unfolded in this one interesting. There’s a lot of unlikeable characters. It was easy to point fingers at the whole family that Donna works for. Their behavior and gaslighting is all questionable. And who actually killed Alice? And who really was Alice? Donna knew working for Max and Tara was the way to figure out the truth about Alice, but how dangerous was it to do so?

I enjoyed listening to this one. It was such a quick listen I finished it in one day.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

Alice receives an invitation to a funeral. She doesn't know who has died or why she has been invited but her curiosity gets the better of her.
As she looks down on the coffin she stares at her name on the plaque. It can't be coincidence that she's there.

Next thing she is at the wake. Hanging with the rich in a beautiful house. Trying to put together pieces. Next thing she is being offered Alice's old life. Her job and the chance to get out her dingy room share and live in this house. Stepping into the dead Alice's shoe's will give her a chance to find out what happened to the woman. But is she putting herself at risk by doing so.

Loved this book. Yes there is a hint of Hannibal towards the end. And i loved the way that the story was wrapped up but it also gave the potential of a follow up book. The narrator had a voice that was engaging and easy to listen to.

I normally just can get straight into books by this author and totally escape into the story. At the beginning I struggled a little engaging with the story and had to stop and start a little About half way through I was in and then fully engaged with the story and had to keep listening.

I really enjoyed this book! The twists just kept coming and I ran through this one so fast to see what would happen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my ARC. This book was a solid 3.5 ⭐️. The timeline was a bit too rushed for me, which made everything seem unrealistic. I think it might have been more relatable or believable if there would have been more relationship development between the characters and a significant increase in the time Donna/Alice was at the home before all the craziness started happening.

Despite the above, the book still had me hooked, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I liked the storyline and trying to figure out where it would all lead!!

Well this was a pretty gripping book! Wasn't sure how it was going to go to be honest but once I got into it I couldn't put it down! Some of the twists and turns I didn't see coming which is always a green flag in this type of book! My main frustration was that while I really got to like the main character, I felt she was a little naïve and overly trusting at times, but I guess she doesn't know she's the main character in a book so isn't looking for what could go wrong like me. With that ending... I really hope there'll be another book as I would love to read more!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for letting me read this treat of a book!

A very implausible story but nonetheless I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version. I guessed the ending which made me very proud! But I did enjoy it.

Imagine getting an invitation to your own funeral! When Donna receives an invitation to a funeral, she is stunned to discover that the funeral is for none other than her own true identity. Hell bent on solving this mystery, she begins her own investigation and she knows it starts with getting close to the family this mystery woman worked for.

The story immediately draws you in, and started with a great premises. Although I did enjoy the story, it didn’t keep the momentum through the entirety of the book. I am still interested in more from this author. Great narration in the audiobook. Overall an enjoyable story that is worth the read!

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was an excellent choice for this one, perfect with the voices and portraying emotions. I read a lot and rarely am I surprised by twists but this one got me! Highly recommend and I will definitely be looking for more by this author.

If you are a fan of Freida McFadden, you will really like The Funeral by Helen H. Durant. Alice Anderson mysteriously gets invited to a funeral for,,, herself?? Then she discovers a world of gaslighting and mystery as she tries to discover several truths as the story unfolds. Who borrowed the name she gave up three years ago? Who is the family that the mysterious new Alice was working for? What are the secrets in Alice’s past waiting to be exposed?

This book has the twists you love that keep you up all night, and the narration by Sarah Durham was superb.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook.

#NetGalley #TheFuneral #Bookoutureaudio

This was a great psychological thriller! Loved this audiobook. I think the author did a phenomenal job narrating the book as well. This one had me hooked from the very beginning. Great listen!

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant and narrated by Sarah Durham was a excellent psychological thriller and so addictive, full of twists and turns throughout. I love the way the author Helen writes, she always draws you in with great characters and a great storyline. The Funeral was no different! Excellent audiobook/book!

An email arrives in a woman's email account and its anonymous. She doesn't use her email much only goes on her account just to check her emails especially as she has been living under the radar for the three years. She has even changed her name to Donna. The e mail asks her to attend a funeral, in the email it tell her the date and time. . . . . But no name of the person's funeral she has to attend! Donna goes but, is not sure who's the funeral she's attending is, whether she knows them or not!
Donna attend the funeral and feels so out of place and she know no one there! Surrounded by strangers Donna walks to where the coffin has been laid and looks at the white coffin and see's a name. . . .. . . . . Alice Anderson!

Who is Alice Anderson?

That was Donna's name before she changed it.

Why has she been invited to Alice Anderson funeral and how did she die?

Why is she here?

Is she safe?

Donna starts to talk to a couple at the funeral Max and Tara, individually and she finds out they were Alice's employers. Whilst at the wake, they ask Donna if she would like to work for them, as she was a friend of Alice. They did not know much about Alice, especially as she did not talk about her past to anyone. Her life was a secret.

Does Donna say Yes to their job offer?

WoW. . . . . . Donna has to be very careful and she must keep her secrets close to her, someone has asked her to go to this funeral and they want to find her! But what do they want from her?

The narrator Sarah Durham was excellent.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨


Helen H. Durant’s The Funeral is a masterclass in quiet tension and emotional unraveling. Set against the somber backdrop of a family gathering for a funeral, this novel peels back layers of long-held secrets, guilt, and unspoken grief with remarkable subtlety.

What I Loved:
The atmosphere is stunning—heavy, claustrophobic, and yet strangely intimate. Durant does an incredible job capturing the awkwardness, the suppressed emotions, and the strange moments of honesty that often surface when people come together to mourn. The dialogue feels authentic, filled with subtext and emotional undercurrents.

Character work is another highlight. Every family member brings their own baggage, and Durant makes you feel it. No one is purely likable or detestable; they’re complicated and fully realized. The slow reveal of past events is paced just right, keeping you engaged without ever feeling rushed.

Also, the writing itself is beautiful—restrained yet powerful, and packed with emotional resonance. Durant’s ability to say so much with so little is impressive.

What I Didn’t Love:
While the emotional depth is a strength, it can also make the novel feel a bit too internal at times. Readers looking for action or plot-driven momentum might find it slow in parts. Some side characters also felt underused—introduced with promise but not given enough space to develop.

Final Thoughts:
The Funeral is an emotionally intelligent novel about memory, silence, and the complicated ways we grieve. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it lingers in your mind with the weight of real emotion and truth. If you appreciate literary fiction that’s introspective and quietly devastating, this book is well worth your time.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy family dramas, emotional nuance, and beautifully crafted prose.


❤️shaye.readss

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Helen H Durrant for the audio Arc of The Funeral.
Narrated by Sarah Durham

Donna, who has been in hiding for 3 yrs and gets an anonymous email inviting her to a funeral. Upon arriving, finds out that the person who has been buried has the same name as her. Her old name, Alice Anderson. Feeling uncomfortable and out of place, she gets talking to a Max Marsden and finds herself working in his household. But, all is not as it seems as it feels she is filling the shoes of the deceased.

This is the first of Helen's books and have seen her name around in books for a long while. I found the general premise intriguing and its well paced and written. I did lose some attention as the pacing dropped off to character develop more once " Alice " was working. The twists and the gradual unravelling of the plot was engaging and suspenseful as was the final.

This book was narrated by Sarah Durham which I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her voice, very well suited to this sort of psychological thriller.

4 stars

Donna Slade has started a new life, she moved, changed her name and is living a quiet life as a new person. Then she receives an email invitation to a funeral, it is addressed to her past self. What follows is a twisty turvy roller coaster of a thriller. Nothing is quite as it seems. This sucks you in and keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy. I highly recommend this unputdownable thriller.