Alice Feeney has become one of my favorite authors! I did enjoy Good Bad Girl but I wish that it progressed a lot quicker because I wanted to know more about the plot twist (will not give any spoilers).

I'll start by saying that I really liked 'Daisy Darker' and from that reading experience, thought that I 'got' this author's style—slow burn suspense with gradual reveals of small, very significant details. But this one felt a little ham-handed to me, like she may have succumbed to the pressure of needing to blow readers' minds even more than she had with the previous book. I can safely say she succeeded in that, but for me, not in a good way.

The premise, that there are good people who make sometimes bad choices, without becoming bad people did not bear out AT ALL for me. True, some of the decisions were bad ones without making a character irredeemable, but the seminal decision? Ugh. It transcended bad. It would take a rethinking of the English language to characterize just how awful it was. But characters can make despicable choices and still the book itself is fine, because though we may not have made the decision ourselves, we can sufficiently get into the character's head that we see why they did. That wasn't the case here for me. The decision wasn't just "bad" it was farfetched, difficult to reconcile with the character as portrayed, not explained by their insistence that they were 'different back then', and involved a series of very convoluted and equally farfetched plot points that, by the end, had me simply wishing the entire drama over. The twists actually made me question whether the author even wanted it to be believable, or whether there was an actual goal of just coming up with as many twists as possible. And the final twist, for me, wasn't even that much of a surprise. I guessed it, and read on, wondering how the author could weave a yarn that sufficiently explained it as being in the realm of the possible, never mind the likely. She explained it alright, but using the device that I dislike most—a long-winded confession of motive and circumstances by one of the characters. Whenever that's necessary, IMO, it means the author has written themselves into a corner from which it is impossible to emerge without a lengthy explanation, which can't come in narrative, so must be in the voice of one of the main players in the drama. To me, it renders all of the red herrings tricks, rather than legitimate misdirection. They didn't feel ... honest, if that makes sense

I was disappointed by this one.

Audiobook Note: Generally competent narration, including changes of accents and inflection where necessary, but there was at times, a hint of melodrama in the style, which I didn't enjoy. Having said that, I think the narrator was better than the book.

This book was great! It kept me guessing and i didn’t find the different POVs to be confusing. Alice Feeney remains an auto read for me!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Good read with plenty of decent twists! Sometimes it got a little confusing who was who if I wasn't fully paying attention, and was a bit more of a slow burn but still enjoyable. The narrators did a good job.

I unfortunately DNFd this book from Alice Feeney. I’m not sure if it was the pacing of what exactly but I just couldn’t get through it. In my opinion the story is a bit meh and predictable. I’ll possibly pick up at a later date.

I have been loving Alice Feeney’s books for years, and was so excited to read Good Bad Girl. I can always count on the author for all the twists and shock value, but for me this one was more of a slow burn suspense with themes of motherhood at the center of the story.

While I did enjoy it for the most part, I definitely think I hyped it up a bit, and I was really hoping for more twists and more of a fast paced thrill ride that I’m used to.

🎧I thought the narration on the audiobook was a great choice and would prefer this format.

*many thanks to Flatiron and Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This is my first Alice Feeney book and while I might could have followed along more closely, the skilled audiobook narrators did a superb job at keeping things flowing even when the plot was a confusing. The book starts at The End and goes back to The Beginning. I found the varying points of view and timelines confusing and couldn't keep the characters straight. The convoluted plot meanders along at a slow pace, and while it eventually comes together, it wasn't my favorite.

Another Alice feeney but found that this one didn't hit like it has in the past. I found myself not thrilled iwht the mystery

20 years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow connected, and a “good bad girl” seems to be the key to figuring it all out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved the connections and trying to figure it all out. I was actually right about a few things, but for the most part I was blown away by the reveals.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller/mystery novel and will be telling my friends and family that they should check it out ASAP!

Shocking twists!

The story revolves around several women.

There is Edith who used to be a store detective. She is now in her eighties and was tricked into signing a power of attorney, placed in a care home and her dog was taken away from her and sent to a rescue.

Edith's daughter is Clio. She is a therapist who likes to help people but is unable to help herself. She lives in her pink house alone with the memories of happier times.

Frankie is the prison librarian. She has a secret. Frankie did a bad thing but for a good reason. Frankie suffers from anxiety and the only thing that helps her is counting.

Patience works at the senior care center where she does housekeeping. She befriends Edith and saves her dog. However, she is hiding who she really is.

Then a murder happens.

"Three suspects, two murders, and one victim."

DCI Chapman is called in to process the scene. She believes Clio, Patience, or Frankie are involved and all she has to do now is prove it.

The novel has several POVs and past and present chapters. The story flows and the characters are all very original and interesting. The last few twists were freaking amazing and the narration by Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine was superb! A sure winner for me.

I wouldn't mind seeing DCI Chapman in another novel and please keep the strand of pink hair!

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Will I always read Alice Feeneys book, yes! But this one was not for me. We follow the days of three women with some flashback scenes. But much did not shock me in this book like her stories normally do. I couldn't put this one down only because I was hoping what I was wrong on the twist.

This book was so so good! Loved the narration as well! I listened in 2 days I believe ….unputdownable!! Thank you for the ALC!!

Can a person be completely good? Completely bad? Or a mix of both? Can life's experience change a person from one to the other? That's what the reader finds out in Feeney's latest.

The story starts when a baby is stolen from her stroller. We then travel to the future and I wondered how this tied into the missing child. It seemed like a whole new story. Then when I thought I knew where that was going, it morphed again and again I was left wondering.

I love the complexity of this authors characters. I Enjoy how she takes the reader from there to here and twists us all around. I also enjoyed the Gothic tones in this novel. I'm a big fan of Gothic novels and try to read as many as I can.

The narration was also perfect.

There are two murders and three suspects...

I am not really sure on how to summarize Good Bad Girl without making it sound confusing or accidentally spoiling the book a bit. So, let's just skip ahead to the review.

As most know thrillers once upon a time used to be my jam but over the past two years or so I have fallen out of love with thrillers. But I tend to keep giving the genre a try.

I've discovered Alice Feeney's books back in 2018 but I did not pick up another book by her until the fall of 2022. Last year I read Daisy Darker and seriously loved it so when I saw Good Bad Girl on
NetGalley for request, I instantly knew I wanted to read it because I love how twisty Daisy Darker was.

I went into listening to Good Bad Girl without comparing it to Daisy Parker or Sometimes I Lie.

The premise of Good Bad Girl was good but the execution was just okay. This had an uneven pace with lots of drama going on and then there were multi-povs. With this being on audio, I struggled knowing who was who because all the characters sounded the same because it felt like their character traits were super similar which made them blend all together with no uniqueness to them.

There were parts that felt forced or rushed as the story unfolded. I did enjoy the secrets that came to light. This did not have many twists that left me thinking on my gosh and it just fell flat.

A lot of people will really enjoy this for the drama, secrets, and the puzzle like mystery.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney is a gripping and suspenseful mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story unfolds two decades after a baby is stolen from a stroller, and a murder occurs in a care home. The connection between these two seemingly unrelated events is the central mystery.

Edith, an eighty-year-old with a plan for escape, forms an unlikely bond with Patience, who works at the care home but has a slew of secrets. Edith's daughter, Clio, is dealing with her own troubles, including an unwelcome visitor with sinister intentions.

Feeney's storytelling is masterful, with a web of deceit, mistrust, and a fast-paced narrative filled with twists and turns. It's a tale where nobody can be trusted, and surprises lurk around every corner.

If you're a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, Alice Feeney's trademark surprises will not disappoint.

I had to restart this book. I wasn't following the plot, and I had just grown so bored. I put the book down and dreaded picking it back up. When I finally did, I told myself that I would stick it through to the end. I can't say it was worth it, honestly.

The characters were average. Their personalities were relatively flat: this is her goal; this is her motivation. I mean, Frankie had her OCD and fears form from a single trauma.

The plot was boring and hard to follow. It was an interesting story, but there was so little information given to the reader that I couldn't find reasons to be interested. Why is Frankie doing this? No idea. Why does Clio hate her mother so much? No idea. It wasn't even really a thriller because nothing about it was tense.

The only redeeming quality of this book was the mildly interesting climax. I never would have guessed the twist, but then again, there was never enough information for me to even begin guessing.

I love Alice Feeney, and this was no exception! Great page-turner - clever and well-paced. I am glad I listened to this as well, the narration added to the story.

The plot of this book was so riveting and I absolutely devoured it, however I found Edith to be a bit boring. I thought it was going to be more of a thriller, but it was definitely a heavy, domestic drama story. I enjoyed it enough though! This was a 3 star read for me!

Let me begin by saying I am Alice Feeney diehard.

The book has been praised for its suspenseful plot and its well-developed characters. However, it has also been criticized for its predictable ending and its lack of originality.

Overall, Good Bad Girl is a decent thriller with some good moments, but it is ultimately forgettable. It felt fragmented and was not what I was expecting from the "Queen of Twists". If you are looking for a dark and suspenseful thriller, there are better options out there. However, if you are a fan of Alice Feeney or psychological thrillers in general, you may enjoy the book.

Good Bad Girl
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Alice Feeney

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth.

Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything.

Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good.

With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.

My Thoughts: I have typically loved Feeney books in the past but this one was a little off for me, not all bad, just expected a little more. There were the typical Feeney twists and not providing information until the second you need it, but it lacked a little luster from His and Hers, or even Rock, Paper, Scissors. The story covers a twenty year time span and involves a host of characters. It takes a little while to sort out who is who, as they each have their own distinctive voice. We open up with a baby stolen from a stroller then twenty years later a woman is murdered in a care home. Are these two tragic events related? Packed with dysfunctional family drama and beyond complicated mother-daughter relationships.

Edith is 80 years old and in an assisted living facility. Her daughter is Clio, their relationship is estranged at best. Patience works at the assisted living facility and has befriended Edith. Frankie works as a librarian for a women’s prison and is searching for her teenage daughter after she ran away from home. DCI Charlotte Chapman is the investigator for the murders. All of these characters don’t seem to belong together but towards the end, it makes sense of who they are and why they are paired the way that they were. Each chapter is clearly labeled with whose voice is narrating so it was easy to keep up. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, creative, and intriguing. This was more of a character driven than plot driven story. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and engaging. The story is built around the characters and the plot is delivered in twisty layers within the characters.

This was a great read that I enjoyed. It had the elements of family dysfunction, psychological thriller, and class whodunit mystery, all rolled into one novel. The pacing is on the slow side but the flow is typical Feeney fashion, delivering what you need when you need it. Feeney also tackles sensitive social issues, such as post-partum depression. I would highly recommend this or any of Feeney’s backlist.