Having no money, only 1 friend and been hiding for 3yrs, Alice has been sent an invite from anonymous email address to a funeral. I can’t imagine going to a funeral and not knowing the deceased

Alice arrives at the funeral, only to find the gravestone has her name, Alice Anderson

What is she hiding? Who knows her secrets? I couldn’t put this audio down, was hooked from the start with the crazy twists with the family. Definitely recommend it

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre

First off thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this before publication date.
Narration wasn't to my liking and maybe if I would have read the book itself maybe I would have rated a bit higher.

The funeral
Helen H Durrent
Good Narration by Sarah Durham
Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy
Having read and enjoyed a couple of this author’s police procedurals I was looking forward to this psychological thriller the synopsis was good the cover inviting however sadly I was very disappointed
This was one of the most implausible books I have read , I can suspend belief and buy into fantasy realms , I can understand improbable coincidences to move along a story , but a woman who had been in hiding under an assumed name suddenly goes to work for a family she has just met at a funeral because they instantly offer her the dead persons job , is just ridiculous !
All the characters are awful , obnoxious , unpredictable and not in a way that understandable or relatable and have absolutely no depth .
This was a book I very nearly NDF
I can see from other reviews that plenty of other readers enjoyed the book so I am obviously not in the majority , however there was nothing I enjoyed

Helen H. Durrant’s The Funeral is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into themes of identity, secrets, and the haunting nature of past choices. The novel opens with an anonymous funeral invitation received by the protagonist, who is living under an assumed name to escape a troubled past. Upon attending the funeral, she is shocked to discover that the name on the coffin is her own, plunging her into a suspenseful quest to uncover who is behind this eerie message and what they want from her.

Durrant masterfully crafts a narrative filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on edge as the protagonist navigates a web of deceit and danger. The plot is intricately woven, with each revelation adding depth to the mystery and compelling the reader to question the motives of every character introduced.

The author’s prose is sharp and engaging, effectively conveying the protagonist’s paranoia and desperation. Durrant’s skillful pacing ensures that the tension remains high throughout the novel, culminating in a climax that is both surprising and satisfying.

The Funeral is a testament to Durrant’s prowess in the psychological thriller genre, offering a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. It’s a must-read for fans of suspenseful narratives that explore the complexities of identity and the lengths one will go to protect their secrets.

We start off not knowing our main character’s name got invited to a funeral via email. She is hiding she owes money. She’s broke and it sounds like she has changed her identity against her better judgment. She goes to the funeral, even though she doesn’t know who the funeral is for there was no information I won’t give it away, but she is in for a shock when she gets there!
Two chapters in and I am hooked
This funeral has changed “Donna’s” life, and multiple times she ignored her gut instinct telling her to leave, but instead she accepts the dead girls job and moves in.
Everyone in this book has a story and says bad things about everyone else. It’s impossible to tell who is lying and who is telling the truth. Who is good and who is bad. No one is nice to Donna and they always threaten her, but she stands up for herself.
The mysteries continue to pile up so many of them wrapped up in one book.

The invitation was anonymous, but whoever sent it knows my secrets. I don't know who's funeral I am to attend and I do not want to go, but I have no choice. As I look around the gathered group, no one looks familiar. Then I see the headstone and there is something very familiar there: my name! Alice Anderson. I haven't used that name in years, but someone must know who I really am. Now I have to find out who and what they want.

The plot of this one grabbed my attention on NetGalley, but the audio on this one felt very flat and I had a hard time wanting to keep listening. I think this one would have rated higher for me if I had read it rather than listened to it. The narration had no variation between different speakers, so it makes it hard to follow conversations. The story jumps right in, and I was into it, it was just hard to listen to such a flat reading of the story. It is worth reading but skip the audio version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review.

Thank you netgalley for this ALC.

What a twisty audiobook this was! From the get go, it sets the scene of stolen identities, to attending a funeral no one would ever think is possible.

This family was twisted. Actually cracked. Some things that were done left you questioning why? The reverse phycology and gaslighting was heavy in this book and it fit the narrative in such a spiderweb of a way.

I enjoyed how the characters were all flawed in their own way, and it really built the story up. You could never guess who was the real victim until the last 20% of the book when it all came crashing down. The little mysteries had me playing detective alongside the fmc. It was a fun and enjoyable listen!

This was a dnf for me. It was difficult to "buy in" that she would get hired to work for people that she just met at a funeral. The characters were all very unlikeable and just not my cup of tea. A bit too whiney and repetitive inner monologue. Sorry, I did like the premise.

This one started off strong and had me engaged for the first few chapters but after the first 1/4 of the listen the pace slowed somewhat. I found the storyline got a little bizarre but not in a good way. For me it felt like the storyline and characters needed further development as it felt like the it jumped around a bit and like you were missing something and further clarify was needed in places. For me how it came together was underwhelming and left me with some unanswered questions. It had potential but lost its way a little.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #TheFuneral

Unfortunately for this book, both the NetGalley and The GoodReads both categorize it as a 'psychological thriller'. In reality, it is just cozy 'housewife mystery'. And be warned (a mild spoiler) the mystery from the beginning does not get solved but serves as a set up for a sequel.

This books has such a great hook but it all goes south super fast.
There is only so much disbelief I am willing to suspend especially if the author herself is making absolutely zero effort to be convincing.
A bunch of individuals acting like lunatics for no apparent reason gives an effect like I've been dropped into the middle of Season2 of a family drama. Red flags and warning signs everywhere, but they are so rich and the husband is so handsome, and the clothes so beautiful ... we don't know why Alice/Donna excels at reading people but at the same time has absolutely zero sense of self preservation.

The writing feels stilted, the plot so feeble you will miss it if you blink but the narrator is quite good. This books will likely appeal to the fans of the author but I don't know if it will gain her new followers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whilst I did enjoy the narrator in the audiobook. I found the characters in this book really annoying! There were some good twists and kept you wanting to see what was going to happen. I just found the characters Tara and Hannah really irritating.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to listen to this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook version of The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a gripping thriller/mystery that will definitely appeal to fans of Freida McFadden.

The story begins with a simple email and invitation to a funeral. What follows is a tense investigation full of secrets and lies.

I thought I had it all figured it out, especially when I started suspecting Nico, but i couldn’t have been more wrong! The final twist took me completely by surprise and let me wondering if a second book might be on a horizon. 👀 I need to know more about Max and his, not so legal, business.

The narrator, Sarah Durham, did a brilliant job.

I enjoyed this one, the narration was well done. I did find it a bit repetitive at times but the storyline was interesting and with some good twists along the way. This is perfect for someone who loves physiological thrillers and mystery's. Looking forward to see what the author writes next. Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this audio arc.

Definitely does not disappoint. Psychological thriller for sure. I finished it in one day! I really enjoyed this! I was able to be an early reader for the audiobook version. The narrator is great!

Thank you to @netgalley for this audiobook.

Firstly, the narrator had a pleasant voice but I felt it was a bit flat when it came to different characters and also when it came to emotions, such as the character being scared, laughing etc.. The story was a wild ride, a wee bit repetitive at times, but it was good. I was constantly trying to guess the plot but then I was thrown off track! I was constantly shouting at Donna for being so naive 🤣 but that’s what the story intended. No spoilers here! 4 star ⭐️ from me. If you like a psychological thriller, mystery, guessing, then I’d give this a go.

The Funeral is the first stand alone thriller from Helen H Durrant, and as such means we get far more mystery in our thriller, and twists in the tale. a great listen, that will keep you on your toes, as almost everyone appear to be using somebody else's name!

A gripping psychological thriller that takes the reader in a journey of twists and turns that make you gasp. Just when you think you’ve figured it out another sharp turn happens to blow your mind. The mystery and suspense kept me enthralled.

The narration was spot on and drew me into the story immediately.

I received an arc from NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I leave my review voluntarily.

A totally innovative plot that just kept on giving right until the end and beyond me thinking about it after the last page.
I did listen to this on audio the author herself read it which made it so special for me she definitely knew how to hook a reader in. The author of course knew where to put the pitch the power and the pauses to emphasis,

Characters were well rounded and believable? Totally! The opening chapter will draw you in and wonder what rabbit hole she’s going to go down that developed as you read and you will be suspicious of a few characters which I was. Whether you guess or not it’s such a good thriller it is well worth the wait regardless. Super read.

Helen H. Durrant’s ‘The Funeral’ hooks you from the start with a premise dripping in intrigue

The story kicks off in spectacular fashion. Donna, living under an alias to escape a relentless loan shark, is drawn to the funeral of a stranger with the promise of an inheritance. But from the moment she arrives, nothing is as it seems, and the tension never lets up.

I loved the constant uncertainty - who to trust, who to fear. The novel is packed with red herrings and misdirection, keeping me guessing until the very end. And that final reveal? Completely unexpected. The last chapter left me convinced there’s room for a sequel or spin-off, and I’ll be first in line if that happens!

That said, I did struggle with one aspect, how Donna managed to disappear for three years under a new identity, yet still be tracked down via email.

As an audiobook, the narration was excellent, with distinct voices for each character. My only minor gripe? The near absence of the Mancunian accent Donna is supposed to have. I wasn’t expecting an exaggerated portrayal, but it was barely noticeable. Still, that’s a small detail in an otherwise gripping listen.

An absolutely brilliant book! I couldn’t stop listening, and the ending was nothing like I expected. I’ll be impatiently waiting for whatever Helen H. Durrant writes next.

#TheFuneral #NetGalley

Donna is invited to a funeral, she has been hiding for three years and has next to no money. She doesn’t know who the funeral is for but the possibility of an inheritance makes it worth the risk. Attending, she tries to figure out who the person was. As she steps closer to the coffin she can read the name engraved, Alice Anderson. Her real name. Trying not to panic she decides she has to find out if somebody knows who she is. While doing so she discovers more than she expected..

The book was slow paced but kept my attention. You don’t know who to trust especially since, at first, you don’t know anything about Alice either. I find the encounters with Hannah a bit repetitive, she sneaks up and doesn’t give much information. I also think it’s strange that there are no real consequences for the husband in the family. Unsettling discoveries are simply left alone, only the main story is wrapped up. I enjoyed listening to it, it was exciting and I walked around with my headphones on all day. The narrator, Sarah Durham, did a really good job and I love her accent. I would probably give the book a 3,5 if it was possible.