The Funeral by Leah Mercer was an excellent psychological thriller. This was a book that was so addictive it will have you hooked from the very first few pages and WoW, it was so good I could not put it down.
This was a truly suspenseful read and with all the twists and turns a full on intense read as well.
Mercer’s masterful storytelling keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end, drawing them into the unfolding drama. This domestic thriller is a must-read, an absolute delight that will leave you eager to discover what happens next.

The Funeral
An intense, addictive thriller about a lady who has been invited & attends a funeral of someone who stole her name. Loved the characters
What a page-turner! Loved the impressive twist at the end! 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.
The twists and turns start from the start with Donna receiving an email to a funeral.
Not knowing who the message is from she decides to go, but when she gets there it is her name she finds. Her old name, someone has used her old name and now they are dead. Is Donna next.
A twisty read, not knowing who to trust.

Reading this book was like riding the Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair because it spun me around and back again over and over.
I kept wondering what was Donna’s backstory?
Three of the characters had such mercurial temperaments I didn’t know how Donna stood or because I would have hightailed it out of there.
The story lines finally merged to complete the picture but the main characters were really messed up!
Donna/Alice should have ran!

I absolutely enjoyed reading this. Will definitely be recommending. Kept me really hooked I'll love to reread again

3.5 stars

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant is a mystery about a woman who attends a funeral for someone that stole her name.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.



My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Donna Slade receives an email, requesting she attend a funeral for someone with her real name, and that it would be worth her while.  Donna has been down on her luck, and has been avoiding the loan shark for the last three years.   She just can't afford to pay him.  She decides to play along.

When Donna gets to the burial site, the stone reads Alice Anderson.  That's her name.  The name she abandoned when she went running.  Wanting to run again, she is convinced to return to the home where "Alice Anderson" resided, and worked.  She gave her name as Donna Slade, and said she was an old friend of Alice's.  Much to her surprise, the family offered her Alice's old job and residence.  Determined to get to the bottom of this, she accepts, and "Donna" now has a job and a roof over her head.

But the family here is weird.  Max's temper comes and goes so fast she can hardly keep up.  His wife, Tars, is the same.  Only their daughter Hanna seems somewhat normal, and that's saying a lot. She seems to have her own issues.

Donna is intent on staying only long enough to solve the mystery of who invited her to the funeral.  Then she's getting out of here.




My Opinions:
First, the bookcover on GoodReads is "The Other Alice", but it is for this book, so perhaps there will be a name change by the time it is published.  I received "The Funeral" from NetGalley, so that's what I'm using.

The characters were really good, and every one of them was suspicious.  I really didn't like any of them...Donna/Alice included.  I just had problems getting behind her.

Yes, the plot was a little unbelievable.  Getting a job with no interview or questions regarding qualifications/suitability is a little "off", but I could disregard that because it's fiction.  I think I had more of a problem with the fact that anyone could live or work with the abuse that went on in that household.

Anyway, this was still a really fast and entertaining read, and the ending almost suggested it may become a serial.  Personally I hope not.

I'm ashamed. The Funeral is only the second book I've read from this author.

That first chapter and the invitation to the funeral had me hook, line and sinker. I couldn't stop reading - well not until I'd flipped that last page on my Kindle!

I'm not sure that I'd be wanting to attend a funeral of someone I didn't (as yet) know. Would you?

It's fast, compelling and the suspense was crazy! I trusted no-one and the anticipation waiting for the secrets and lies to be exposed was through the roof!

Unreliable narrators, a cracker of a plot and don't even get me started on the twists and red herrings peppered throughout!

I'm definitely up for reading more from Durrant after this!

Addictive and enjoyable.

I found the way the story unfolded in this one interesting. There’s a lot of unlikeable characters. It was easy to point fingers at the whole family that Donna works for. Their behavior and gaslighting is all questionable. And who actually killed Alice? And who really was Alice? Donna knew working for Max and Tara was the way to figure out the truth about Alice, but how dangerous was it to do so?

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

This gripping thriller offers a masterclass in suspense and psychological complexity, continually challenging the reader’s assumptions and perceptions with each turn of the page. To describe it simply as a story that keeps you guessing would be an understatement—it is a narrative that demands constant reevaluation of everything you believe to be true as the plot unfolds.

As an avid reader who typically consumes seven to ten books each month, I found myself genuinely surprised by the resolution, unable to unravel the mystery until its final pages. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the author’s skill in crafting a tightly woven, unpredictable storyline.
While I did feel that the conclusion arrived somewhat hastily—perhaps a testament to how deeply I had become invested in the characters and the world they inhabit—I nonetheless found the ending satisfying and emotionally resonant. The immersive quality of the writing places the reader squarely within the unfolding drama, fostering a visceral sense of urgency and curiosity as one attempts to decipher the truth alongside the protagonist.

Paced briskly yet written with nuance, this is a highly enjoyable read that maintains its momentum throughout. The final twist is powerful, but I strongly encourage readers not to skip the epilogue, which adds a compelling layer of closure to an already impactful story. Without hesitation, I would recommend this novel to anyone seeking a suspenseful, thought-provoking, and thoroughly entertaining reading experience.

Donna thought she had escaped her past; so when she receives a seemingly random email to attend a funeral, she is shocked to see her old name on the grave. Who knows her true identity, and why did they invite her?

From the first page, you’re thrown straight into the story and find yourself asking so many different questions about the plot.

I really loved the sound of this book, however it all felt very discombobulated. I couldn’t understand the reasoning behind a lot of the characters actions which made it difficult for me to connect with the story. This doesn’t make it a bad book, it was just not for me unfortunately.

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant and narrated by Sarah Durham - Now called The other Alice! was a excellent psychological thriller and so addictive, full of twists and turns throughout. I love the way the author Helen writes, she always draws you in with great characters and a great storyline. The Funeral was no different! Excellent audiobook/book!

An email arrives in a woman's email account and its anonymous. She doesn't use her email much only goes on her account just to check her emails especially as she has been living under the radar for the three years. She has even changed her name to Donna. The e mail asks her to attend a funeral, in the email it tell her the date and time. . . . . But no name of the person's funeral she has to attend! Donna goes but, is not sure who's the funeral she's attending is, whether she knows them or not!
Donna attend the funeral and feels so out of place and she know no one there! Surrounded by strangers Donna walks to where the coffin has been laid and looks at the white coffin and see's a name. . . .. . . . . Alice Anderson!

Who is Alice Anderson?

That was Donna's name before she changed it.

Why has she been invited to Alice Anderson funeral and how did she die?

Why is she here?

Is she safe?

Donna starts to talk to a couple at the funeral Max and Tara, individually and she finds out they were Alice's employers. Whilst at the wake, they ask Donna if she would like to work for them, as she was a friend of Alice. They did not know much about Alice, especially as she did not talk about her past to anyone. Her life was a secret.

Does Donna say Yes to their job offer?

WoW. . . . . . Donna has to be very careful and she must keep her secrets close to her, someone has asked her to go to this funeral and they want to find her! But what do they want from her?

The narrator Sarah Durham was excellent.

I highly recommend this audiobook/book. I loved it. Another 5 star read.

This book was not as good as I thought it was going to be.

Donna receives a mysterious email to attend a funeral and that she must attend if she does not want to reveal her secrets. Donna has no choice but to attend the funeral. However, when she reaches the funeral parlor, the name of the deceased person is Alice--Donna's real name. Now Donna works for a family and takes over the role of an assistant--the same role that the deceased person used to have. And as Donna is working, she finds many disturbing secrets about the family.

The story actually started out great, creating a tense and eerie atmosphere and there was something going to happen in the story. However, as the story subsided, the story kind of got boring in my opinion. It was slow paced, and the story in my opinion kind of seemed to be out of order or rather, the writer didn't execute the story well to an amazing plot. Nonetheless, I think I would like to give this author another chance and try out her future books. The pacing was slow and there wasn't too much twists and turns that you would expect in a thriller book. Overall this book is worth three stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture fo the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant is a tense and page turning thriller where you can trust no one.

When Donna receives an anonymous invitation to attend a funeral, she has no idea who would have sent it to her, but she knows that she must go. That's because the funeral is for a woman named Alice Anderson. Donna is stunned, she hasn't heard that name in years. What's more unsettling... Alice Anderson is Donna's real name and she realizes that somehow someone knows her secret.

This was definitely a quick and easy but enjoyable read! The twists were well placed and the short, punchy chapters made this book a breeze to read. Donna's character is vulnerable and as the story progresses I loved to see her grow more assertive and determined. Some of the characters are not overly likable, but I felt like that added to the sense of unease throughout. Overall, a quick but satisfying thriller that I would recommend to fans of Daniel Hurst, Nicole Trope and K.L Slater!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen H. Durrant and Bookouture for this ARC!! Publication date is May 14th 2025.

When Donna receives an invitation to go to a funeral she decides to attend even though she’s unsure who’s it is. She is shocked when her previous name that she hasn’t used for years is written there. Does someone know who she really is and will she uncover the truth behind it?

This sounded like a unique concept so I was excited to give it a go and it ended up not being a bad read, however felt a bit slow. I enjoyed discovering the secrets and did not know who to trust. The characters are not overly likeable and I have to admit I found it hard to connect with them, likely because they did not feel fully developed. Even though not my favourite read, it was intriguing enough and I would not be put off reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

“He’s never laid a finger on me. His way of punishing people is more subtle than that.”

The Funeral follows Donna, who attends a funeral she is mysteriously and anonymously invited to, only to find her real name, Alice, on the gravestone. Someone, somehow knows who she really is, and Donna can’t afford to lose everything she’s worked for. But Donna has planned for this moment, and although she doesn’t know who’s really in the grave, she knows exactly what’s going to happen next…

The Funeral is a fast paced thriller complete with short, tense chapters that meant I flew through this book in just a few hours. We follow Donna’s perspective as she becomes interwoven with the family closest to ‘Alice’ in a desperate search for the truth.

Donna is a complex, vulnerable character, and I found it compelling to watch her grow stronger and more determined as she uncovered the truth. That said, the Marsden family really got under my skin. They were all very unlikeable characters, and I didn’t trust any of them, but that unease plays perfectly into the narrative.

Clever, chilling, and subtly unsettling, The Funeral kept the surprises coming right up to the final page and held my attention from start to finish. It’s a quick but captivating read that definitely has me adding more of Helen’s books to my list!

Thank you so much to Helen H. Durrant and Bookouture for sending me this advanced copy of The Funeral to read and review. My opinions are my own.

This was such a gripping read as it had me trying to work out all the secrets and lies. I loved the twists and turns, it kept me engaged.

The invitation is anonymous. It doesn't say whose funeral I must attend. I don't want to go. But I have no choice if I want to keep my terrible secret safe.....

As we gather by the graveside, prying eyes behind the designer sunglasses take in my every move. I don't recognise anyone. I pull at my dress, wanting to run, but the words in the invitation keep me frozen in place. I can't leave without discovering who sent it = I see the name, Alice Anderson. My blood turns to ice. That's my name. I haven't used it for three years. But somehow, someone here knows who I really am.,

I was suspicious of everyone, not knowing who, if anyone, I could trust. I was quickly pulled into this story after reading the premise. A woman was invited to a funeral, but she had no idea who had passed away. At the funeral, she sees the dead person's name, Alice Anderson, a name she has not called herself by for three years. She is now known as Donna.

This fast-paced read is full of twists. I liked Donna, she was a strong character.. I didn't trust anyone in this book. It's a quick and easy read.

Published 14th May 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #HelenHDurrant fpr my ARC of #TheFuneral in exchange for an honest review.

The FMC is invited to a funeral. When she arrives at the funeral, she learns that it's for her. Someone has stolen her identity! The pacing in this book was fast, but also nothing happened in the book. It was very repetitive. This book was a wild ride with quite a few "roll your eye" moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the arc!

This story is your classic “trust no one” psychological thriller! It’s toxic people doing toxic things with toxic results! I can honestly say that there wasn’t one character I liked … and if that is what the author was going for, then success! They were truly awful people.

There is plenty of messy drama, lots of sketchy situations that will make your brain explode with frustration and as many ups & downs as a nausea-inducing roller coaster. It’s one of those that you want to yell at the MC or throw something at her because her decisions will make you shake your head & sigh. No way, no how would I have stuck around as long as she did!

Although this one is maddening on so many levels, it’s still entertaining & a wild trip for sure! So if you pick this one up, my suggestion to you is to check your common sense at the door, because the MC seems to have misplaced hers as well … and it will just make you mad! LOL!

This book was a good read. I liked that the author kept me guessing and that I was not able to guess any of the twists. I enjoyed the pacing in this book, it kept my attention well.