Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
Narrated by Katherine Press; Stephanie Racine

This story was very confusing for me, as it was meant to be, but I enjoyed it very much. We have eighty year old Edith, who has been put into a care home, very much against her will. She did have a friend her age here but Edith thinks something very shady happened to her friend. Luckily Edith does have a young friend, Patience, the girl who does the lowest of jobs at the home. Patience gives Edith what little independence she has in this place by doing things for her and spending time with her. She even brings her beloved dog, Dickens, to spend the day with her once a week.

Patience has so many secrets. Patience isn't really her name, she gets paid under the table because she has no identity at all, and she feels bad because she IS Edith's friend but she is keeping big secrets from Edith. Her life is so hard because of all the hours she works for hardly any money, because the attic she lives in comes with a personal price she has to pay weekly, and because someone she trusted didn't keep a promise made to her.

There is also Clio, Edith's traitor of a daughter. At the same time, Edith knows she is a bad mother because she's let Clio down. Good people do bad things when they feel like they have no other choice.

Frankie is a prison librarian and she is missing her daughter so much. Her daughter is all she can think about and she has no idea how to find her. Frankie had a very bad mother and she wanted to give her own daughter a good life but now it seems her daughter hates her and she may never see her again.

Then there is the young DCI Charlotte Chapman who I really like a lot. I would not mind another story with her as the main character. DCI Chapman still has a lot of learning to do and experience to gain. She'll even admit it by the end of the book, she is quite the character and if you pay attention you will see that what she does and doesn't do helps to push this story along. I enjoyed following all these people although I felt anxious during a lot of the story. At the same time, considering what this story is about, it feels so much lighter than I expected it would be and I appreciate that lightness. The audiobook has two lovely narrators and I enjoyed the narrations by both of them.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

I've read several of Alice Feeney's novels, and while I enjoyed Good Bad Girl, I didn't love it. What I most missed was the feeling of being thrilled and caught up in action as I have felt in her other novels. Good Bad Girl had a well-thought out plot the intertwined all the characters and their circumstances, but it moved slowly and really was focused more on the mystery than containing thrilling situations or scenes that had me gasping. The mystery seemed a bit too simple, young baby taken who did it of these suspects, but there was an element that I was surprised about even when a majority of it I correctly assumed based on plot. While I didn't really like any of the characters, not sure I was supposed to, I enjoyed the multiple narrators POV and the flashbacks once I got in the groove of who was talking and the time period.

Good Bad Girl kept me guessing and my jaw literally dropped at some of the twists. There wasn’t much thrill, but it was very suspenseful and definitely kept me entertained!

There was a lot of characters to keep track of & it is important to pay attention because as things start to unravel, you’ll need to know who is who!

Overall, this is easily one of my favorite Feeney books! My favorite being His & Hers! Definitely recommend if you enjoy complex storylines & getting whiplash from twist after twist!

4.25 ⭐️

"Exploring the Complex Dance of Morality: A Review of 'Good Bad Girl' by Alice Feeney"

As I sit down to pen my thoughts on 'Good Bad Girl', the resonating chords of 'Rock Paper Scissors' serve as a melodic backdrop, a reminder of my unwavering fandom for the literary works of Alice Feeney. But let's not dwell on my bookish proclivities. Instead, allow me to delve into the captivating world of 'Good Bad Girl' and share what truly captivated my literary senses.

In a realm where the lines between virtue and vice blur, where the wicked sometimes masquerade as the righteous, and where circumstances can force the noble to commit dark deeds, the tapestry of 'Good Bad Girl' is meticulously woven. Two decades past, on a Mother's Day marked by a fleeting lapse in attention, the innocence of infancy is snatched away. Fast forward to the present, and yet another Mother's Day dawns. Frankie, burdened by the weight of her vanished child, grapples with a world where trust is a scarce commodity. She stands alone, isolated by necessity and circumstance. Meanwhile, within the confines of Windsor Care Home, Edith, an octogenarian ensnared by a clever ruse, orchestrates a daring escape. Her suspicions are stoked by the alleged murder of her friend May, and her ally in this quest is Patience – a caregiver whose honesty is as enigmatic as the shifting sands of truth. As their stories intertwine, a rich tapestry unfolds, weaving together the threads of four women, two murders, three suspects, and one unfortunate victim.

The narrative's tempo may, at first, seem deliberate – a slow simmer of domestic drama and suspense that takes its time to kindle. It demands patience as the intricate relationships among the four central characters are painstakingly etched onto the canvas. Yet, in this simmer lies the promise of a narrative crescendo that proves to be Alice Feeney's pièce de résistance. While not her most shadow-laden tale, 'Good Bad Girl' shines brilliantly in its exploration of the dichotomy between good and bad. Feeney deftly dissects the intricacies of motherhood, particularly the harrowing struggles endured by those ensnared in the throes of postpartum depression. Her narrative serves as a mirror, reflecting the multifaceted nature of parenthood and the burdens it entails. Thought-provoking and incisively observed, the prose resonates like a haunting melody, compelling multiple re-reads to fully absorb its depth. This is an Alice Feeney creation that beckons to be revisited, each re-reading promising the discovery of subtle nuances previously overlooked. It's an invitation to self-reflection, prompting readers to scrutinize their own maternal journeys.

As the lives of the four protagonists seamlessly interweave, Feeney's mastery of suspense takes center stage. With each twist and turn, the tension mounts like a tightly coiled spring, and the narrative propels forward with electrifying momentum. The Queen of Twists keeps her scepter firmly in hand, delivering revelations that hit like lightning bolts, illuminating the intricate web of secrets and lies that entangle the characters. A symphony of concealment, 'Good Bad Girl' unveils layers upon layers of truth, revealing the delicate dance between revelation and mystery.

Feeney's characters are nothing short of literary alchemy, each imbued with distinctive voices and personalities that span the spectrum of human complexity. They serve as the narrative's pulsating heart, their stories an intimate reflection of our own. As the narrative hurtles towards its zenith, emotions intermingle, culminating in a denouement that is simultaneously poignant and uplifting.

Alice Feeney, a maestro in her genre, has deftly carved her niche yet again. 'Good Bad Girl' stands as testament to her ability to reinvent and captivate with every new tale. Her repertoire is a testament to her versatility, each work adding to an ever-growing list of literary triumphs. A word of advice to fellow readers: in a world of instant gratification, 'Good Bad Girl' beckons for a patient approach – a demand that yields a reward beyond measure.

Gratitude extends to NetGalley and the generous team at Pan Macmillan for granting me the privilege of experiencing 'Good Bad Girl' in exchange for an unreserved appraisal. For those who share my admiration and wish to embark on this literary journey, mark your calendars for the eagerly awaited unveiling on August 29th. This is an odyssey that promises to be a soul-stirring voyage through the realms of morality and human intricacies.

Alice Feeney is consistently entertaining and there are no shortage of twists in this latest offering. A recommended purchase in all formats for collections where suspense and thrillers are popular.

A baby is stollen from a stroller. Twenty years later, a woman is murdered in a care home. Edith, Clio, Patience, somehow they are all connected and one must be responsible for the murder.

Great read. Enjoyed the twists and turns that kept me on my toes.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review

Alice Feeney's book His and Hers was the first audiobook I ever listened too, and she's been an auto-read author for me ever since!

Good Bad Girl was slightly less thrilling than her previous works, but still intriguing. The relationships between mothers and daughters take center stage in this novel.

Alice Feeney's books are fantastic on audio. The perspectives for this one were a bit confusing at first, but only at the start.

This story is of three suspects, two murders and one victim. When a nursing care owner is killed solving her murder will dig up another twisting that writer Alice Feeney is known for.

Alice Feeney has once again worked her magic to create another must listen audiobook! Good Bad Girl is a thriller that had me enthralled until the end. Initially, I found the storyline a little confusing, but being such a huge Alice Feeney fan I kept with it, and I am so glad I did! I had several conspiracy theories that I was very sure of that ended up very wrong, lol! I should’ve remembered Alice Feeney is a master at twists and turns— she definitely had me hook, line, and sinker! Good Bad Girl will entertain you, consume you, and shock you which is why Good Bad Girl is a 5 novel that I highly recommend!

Thank you to @Macmillansudio for the arc. Wow this book had so many twist and turns. You start with a kidnapped child and that leads to loss, grief and despair. This one tragedy sets into motion so much pain, anger, regret and sorrow. The family dynamics are so sad but can forgiveness give people a second chance at happiness. So good and a must read.

This was twisty, but difficult on audio as all the characters sounded the same, I had to keep notes to distinguish between the characters for awhile. I ended up enjoying the book, but it definitely needed more character development.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Good Bad Girl is different from the other Alice Feeney novels I have read, as it felt like a more slow burn instead of the fast paced writing I was expecting. The novel has a lot of confusing twists and turns, and I often had to rewind the audiobook to figure out where I got lost. Not my favorite, but still enjoyed listening to it!

Readers are immediately lured into a web of curiosity in "Good Bad Girl". However, what follows is a complex narrative that spirals into confusion, presenting readers with a challenge that demands both patience and focus to unravel. Although some might find the puzzle-like structure intriguing, others, like myself, may be left grappling with a tangle of timelines and characters that take a considerable portion of the book to fully comprehend. As the story unfolds, the multiple characters and timelines come into play causing confusing intrigue. The reader's initial enthusiasm can quickly turn into frustration as they grapple to keep track of the various threads and their connections. This lack of clarity persists for a substantial portion of the book, roughly around 60%, making it a daunting task to stay engaged and emotionally invested in the story.

Good Bad Girl" is a story that demands both focus and patience. While some readers might revel in the challenge and ultimately find themselves captivated by its complexity, others may feel like they are navigating an intricate maze with no clear exit. As someone who found themselves in the latter group, I'd rate this book three stars.

4.5⭐️! The queen of twists does it again for me with this thrilling mystery! I truly enjoyed this story because it kept me guessing through and through. Just when I thought I knew how things would unravel, I was taken by complete surprise each time.

The story begins with a baby being stolen from a buggy, fast forward to twenty years with the occurrence of two murders in a care home. Somehow, these instances are all interconnected. Each character we are introduced to has something to hide, about themselves and each other. We are introduced to Patience (a care home worker) Edith (an elder in the care home) Clio (Edith’s daughter) & Frankie (Patience’s mom). Four women, three suspects, two murders, & one victim. What really happened and who's to blame?

I recommend this book because just when you thought you solved it, no you didn’t. 🙂 You’ll be engaged until the very end.

I truly loved Rock, Paper, Scissors and am excited to have finished another of Alice Feeney's work.

When it comes to Feeney, there's no question, I WILL BUY.

I think I requested this book on every platform providing ARCs and man, I could've wept when it was approved.
This book is the epitome of dysfunction, family secrets, and a pinch of delusion.

Not gonna lie, it took me a second to get drawn into it, multiple POVs will do that to ya.
But, I prevailed, and man, Feeney never disappoints when it comes to handing out those delicious twists.
There's a lot going on here, dual timelines that are two decades apart.

The heartwrenching secrets being kept, and of course, murder!!!

I missed having a little less with the POVs, which I'm used to from Feeney, but I did enjoy this overall.

As always, there's just an air of something not being right when you step into a Feeney book because her characters can be sketchy AF, but, that's always a good thing.

Happy reading!!

This was a quick paced book that I really liked how things connected! I really like the characters especially Edith! It definitely gets a bit confusing in the middle and I was having a hard time keeping some of the characters together. Overall I really liked it and loved the ending. 🐞

Alice Feeney is an author I have been meaning to check out but haven’t yet. I love books with twists and turns and that’s what she is known for. Good Bad Girl was exactly that but it seemed like a slow start for me.

The story follows multiple characters and tells it from their POVs. There was a kidnapping 20 years ago and now in the present day there are two murders. They are linked and I was excited to find out how.

As for how twists go, I was not surprised by the twist and turns this book took. I was able to figure out a lot of it, and the rest was not as shocking as I was expecting, so it left me a little disappointed.

There are a lot of main characters and they are mostly average. To me, the standout was the 80-year-old Edith. When these characters were all together the interactions made them better than average and that’s when the book was at its best. When the characters were alone I found myself getting a little bored while they try to figure out what we have already figured out.

Wow....if you are an Alice Feeney fan you will definitely want to grab her latest thriller Good Bad Girl!! The story begins and ends on Mother's Day and is told from multiple points of view. There are flashbacks along with current realities which keep the story moving. It's hard to divulge too much about this book without spoilers but if you are a fan of Feeney's work, be sure to check this one out. It's not a dark read like some of her work, but the story unfolds throughout and is neatly wrapped up in the end.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC. All opinions about this book are my own.

Really great, fast paced read with some unexpected twists at the end. The narrator did a great job and I enjoyed how clearly each character came through. It helped keep track of the different characters, especially at first!

3.5 stars

Good Bad Girl is a domestic drama with a mystery plotline focusing on mother and daughter relationships. I wouldn't consider this book a thriller; rather, it is a slow burn mystery that takes inspiration from the classic detective genre.

The mystery is written in such a way that the plot twists are not really plot twists. They are more like revelations that were previously hidden under a mountain of lies. I really enjoy Alice Feeney's books on audio. If you're familiar with her audiobooks, then you know that they are usually narrated by Stephanie Racine and Richard Armitage. In this case, there are two female narrators. This was my first time listening to Katherine Press, and she really complemented Stephanie Racine's narration.

While this is not my favourite Alice Feeney book, I still had a great time listening to the audiobook. The story is a bit slow at first, but it's entertaining once the pace picks up. And as always, the audiobook narration is stellar.