Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney

I've read all of Alice Feeney's previous books, but I think her latest - Rock Paper Scissors - is my favourite. If you're looking for a book you can't put down 'til the last page is turned, you're going to want to pick this one up. I finished it in a day on the back deck.

Why is it so good you ask? Feeney deliciously and deviously hoodwinked me, turning all my assumptions upside down in the last pages. I well and truly appreciate not being able to predict what direction a plot is going to take. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wright's marriage hasn't been right for a long time. When Mrs. Wright wins a weekend getaway, it sounds like the perfect opportunity to rekindle things. 

The getaway happens to be in a remote part of Scotland in a very old, renovated church. Cue the creepy vibe. The only other person in the area lives in a run down cottage down the road. (Check) Oh, and did I mention that Mr. Wright has face blindness? He literally cannot recognize faces, including his own. (Check) And both Mr. and Mrs. know there's much more than a happy marriage on the line this weekend.

As readers we are privy to both character's thoughts in alternating chapters. Mrs. also writes a yearly anniversary letter to her husband, but never gives it to him. It does give us more information though. And I quite like the yearly word and it's definition included in the letter as well. They're unusual words that tie right into the plot.

And the plotting is superb. That twist at the end had me rethinking what I'd read. It was there in front of me, but I didn't catch it. The atmosphere is perfect, isolated with a sense of eeriness that can't be defined. The characters are perfectly drawn. And there's a dog.  :0)  

Clever, clever, clever! I loved this one to bits. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Rock Paper Scissors. 

4 comments:

Vicki said...

This sounds really good! I may add it to my long tbr list.

Luanne said...

It's worth adding Vicki!

Kay said...

I've been watching for this one because I read a blurb about it a while back. That face blindness thing - weird - adding it to my list to try before long. Thanks for featuring it!

Luanne said...

You're welcome Kay - I hope you enjoy it!