#GoodBadGirl #AliceFeeney #MacmillanAudio #FlatironBooks #NetGalley #KatherinePress #StephanieRacine

This is an Advanced Listening Copy of the audiobook from Net Galley.

Twenty years after a baby vanishes from a stroller, a murder in a care home sets off a chain of events that connects three women across decades of secrets and lies. Feeney weaves together the stories of Edith, an eighty-year-old plotting her escape from a nursing home, Patience, the cleaner who befriends her while hiding her own dark truths, and Clio, Edith's estranged daughter who becomes the target of someone with dangerous intentions.

This psychological thriller explores the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, examining how past traumas shape present choices and the lengths people will go to protect those they love.

Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine deliver compelling performances that bring distinct voices to each character's perspective, enhancing the layered storytelling as the connections between these women slowly emerge.

Feeney delivers her trademark twists with precision, keeping readers guessing about who can be trusted while gradually revealing how a decades-old crime binds these characters together. With its intricate plotting and emotional depth, this thriller proves that sometimes good people must do questionable things to uncover the truth.

I feel like Alice Feeny can do no wrong when it comes too writing. I have never read one of her books that I haven't loved
Full of suspense and turns that keep you guessing until the last page, her books are truly captivating.

"Good Bad Girl" by Alice Feeney keeps you guessing until the very end with its clever twists and turns. The story unfolds in unexpected ways, weaving a complex web of secrets and intrigue. Feeney's writing style is gripping, pulling you deeper into the lives of characters who are far from what they initially seem. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you on edge, this one delivers with its suspenseful plot and intriguing narrative. A definite must-read for fans of the genre!

Enjoyed trying to put together all the pieces and hints about this domestic puzzle. The twists and turns in mother/daughter relationships was different depending on whose angle you looked from. Loved the slow reveal of all the clues; “truth bends”. Good writing kept me reading but at 60% I’m getting bored with the plot. I can understand why reviews for this book are all over, 3-5 stars. I went with 3; more a mystery and not her usual thriller.

This statement surely sums it up … “Sometimes bad things happen to good people, so good people have to do bad things.” Another favorite quote from the book for me “We are all made from stars, the result of explosions millions of years ago. You, me, everyone we meet, we’re all stardust and stories.”

I did not end up finishing this book. The narrator was great and did what they could to keep the story moving. But it seemed like the whole story was just trying too hard to confuse the reader and it wasn’t going anywhere in my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me listen to this. The narration was engaging and I could not stop listening. I really loved it and hope others love it as well. The story was engaging as well as the characters. I would recommend.

Alice Feeney's Good Bad Girl is a twisty, character-driven mystery that delves into the complexities of motherhood, identity, and the blurred lines between good and bad. Set across two timelines—twenty years apart—the novel begins with a baby stolen from a stroller on Mother's Day and unfolds into a present-day murder at a care home, weaving together the lives of four women: Edith, an 80-year-old care home resident; her estranged daughter Clio; Patience, a young care worker with secrets; and Frankie, a prison librarian searching for her missing daughter.​

Feeney masterfully crafts each character with depth and nuance, exploring their flaws and motivations. The narrative's strength lies in its exploration of mother-daughter relationships, highlighting the emotional complexities and the impact of past traumas. As one reviewer noted, "Feeney is so good at keeping the reader in the dark, then shedding just enough light to help us find our way to the end." ​
Goodreads

While the novel is a slow burn, the payoff is worth the patience. The interwoven storylines converge in unexpected ways, delivering satisfying twists that challenge readers' assumptions. However, some may find the pacing leisurely and the multiple perspectives initially confusing. As another reviewer mentioned, "Initially, though, I wasn’t so sure. A looong, slow burn start had me wondering if this book was going to break my Feeney loving streak... But the truth was so much more delicious than what I’d thought." ​

Overall, Good Bad Girl is a compelling read that combines psychological suspense with emotional depth. It's a testament to Feeney's ability to craft intricate narratives that keep readers engaged until the final page.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a good read, id love to see this as a tv series tbh! would recommend and possibly reread

Alice Feeney is my favorite author, but this may be my least favorite from her. I didn't really care for this one on audio either. The narration never really brought me into the story. I would recommend all her other books before this one. This was not bad, just not as good as her others.

This was a such an amazing story loved listening to this while doing chores around the house 🏠 she never let's me down

Good Bad Girl is a good mystery with plenty of suspense. Following two women and their desperation for motherhood, this novel offers a unique look into what lengths people will go to for their children. Though I found the plot to be somewhat unbelievable and the ending to be somewhat predictable, I still believe this is a solid book.

Alice Feeney delivers another twisty thriller in Good Bad Girl, a story that intertwines a decades-old kidnapping with a present-day murder. The novel follows Edith, an elderly woman plotting her escape from a care home; Patience, a young woman working there who isn’t who she seems; and Clio, Edith’s estranged daughter, who finds herself caught in the tangled web of secrets. As these women navigate their fractured relationships and hidden motives, they must uncover the truth behind two seemingly unrelated crimes before it’s too late. Feeney’s signature style—unreliable narrators, shifting timelines, and shocking reveals—keeps the suspense high as the mystery unfolds.

While the premise is intriguing, the execution falls a bit flat. The story takes time to gain momentum, and some of the twists feel more forced than organic. The characters, though complex, don’t always feel fully fleshed out, making it difficult to connect with their struggles. Feeney’s writing remains sharp, but compared to her previous works Good Bad Girl doesn’t pack the same emotional or narrative punch. It’s still an entertaining read for thriller fans, but not her strongest.

I love Alice Feeney! This book centers around the mystery of a stolen baby and a murder that took place in an assisted living facility 20 years later. The major theme is the mother/daughter relationship and the pitfalls of this dynamic. The book explores what motherhood should be and how our own mothers affect our role as mothers. This is another twisty, highly engaging book from Alice Feeney.

Another great book by Alice Feeney. Kept you in suspense and added good twists along the way. Not extremely suspenseful - was able to figure out some of what was going to happen. Was able to stay interested and wanted to keep reading.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney is a clever and twisty thriller that explores the complexities of motherhood, guilt, and the secrets we keep. The story weaves together the lives of four women—a nursing home resident, a carer, a grieving mother, and a rebellious young woman—whose paths collide after a shocking crime. Feeney masterfully builds suspense with her layered narrative, slowly revealing the connections between the characters and their hidden truths. The alternating perspectives keep the tension high and the reader guessing until the very end. While the pacing occasionally falters, the emotional depth and unexpected twists make Good Bad Girl a compelling and thought-provoking read. It’s a story that challenges perceptions of right and wrong, leaving you questioning what it truly means to be a “good” or “bad” person.

I love Alice Feeney books so it's no surprise that also really enjoyed Good Bad Girl. There were a multiple characters and jumps in time that were a little hard to follow along as an audiobook, so I ended up taking notes to keep everything straight. Everything comes together by the end and it was a satisfactory conclusion to all of the groundwork Feeney laid.

4 stars
Many thanks to @macmillanaudio for the ALC of Good Bad Girl. All opinions are my own.

Could not - would not - stop listening. I kept guessing & was WRONG at every turn ... which, I absolutely LOVED. Alice Feeney is climbing my "fav authors list" at a quick pace. In the beginning, it was hard to hear, because of the circumstances, but after that moment (which was necessary for the story) the story flowed quickly. I had my audiobook playing as often as I could, carried it everywhere with me & listened. My husband would even attempt to guess the next turn of events - even off the little information he was hearing. We have already been recommending this book to our friends & family.

I love how Alice Feeney always keeps me on my toes - as soon as you think you know what is going on, she cackles and turns everything on its head haha! This plot is more complex than her previous books so be sure to pay attention to who is who. Once you have that figured out though this book will fly by. I listened to the audiobook and admittedly making heads or tails of the characters and how they were linked took a big to navigate but the narration was great and it is worth the read/listen. There are multiple POVs and admittedly, I cared about certain ones more than others. But once everything started converging, it didn't matter whose POV it was, I was hooked. The twists got me in this one, I didn't expect that ending!

CW: Kidnapping, murder, death of a parent, grief.

Thanks to MacMillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

First of all, the book was incredibly confusing with so many female characters and little to differentiate them. I found it so hard in the beginning to keep track of which characters belonged together because they all had a similar vibe. The book does take an interesting look at mother/daughter relationships, though.
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Secondly, there were no thrills in this thriller. I could easily predict where this was going.
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Finally, I was just bored through most of this. I know Alice Feeney is beloved by many so as usual take my opinion with a grain of salt.

A slow-burn mystery that starts off a bit disjointed, making it hard to fully connect with the story at first. However, the narration is well done and helps keep the listener engaged. While it’s not my favorite Alice Feeney book, the signature twist is still satisfying, even if the buildup feels a little uneven. Overall, a decent listen but not as gripping as some of her other works.