Thank you netgalley for this ALC.

What a twisty audiobook this was! From the get go, it sets the scene of stolen identities, to attending a funeral no one would ever think is possible.

This family was twisted. Actually cracked. Some things that were done left you questioning why? The reverse phycology and gaslighting was heavy in this book and it fit the narrative in such a spiderweb of a way.

I enjoyed how the characters were all flawed in their own way, and it really built the story up. You could never guess who was the real victim until the last 20% of the book when it all came crashing down. The little mysteries had me playing detective alongside the fmc. It was a fun and enjoyable listen!

This was a dnf for me. It was difficult to "buy in" that she would get hired to work for people that she just met at a funeral. The characters were all very unlikeable and just not my cup of tea. A bit too whiney and repetitive inner monologue. Sorry, I did like the premise.

This one started off strong and had me engaged for the first few chapters but after the first 1/4 of the listen the pace slowed somewhat. I found the storyline got a little bizarre but not in a good way. For me it felt like the storyline and characters needed further development as it felt like the it jumped around a bit and like you were missing something and further clarify was needed in places. For me how it came together was underwhelming and left me with some unanswered questions. It had potential but lost its way a little.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #TheFuneral

Unfortunately for this book, both the NetGalley and The GoodReads both categorize it as a 'psychological thriller'. In reality, it is just cozy 'housewife mystery'. And be warned (a mild spoiler) the mystery from the beginning does not get solved but serves as a set up for a sequel.

This books has such a great hook but it all goes south super fast.
There is only so much disbelief I am willing to suspend especially if the author herself is making absolutely zero effort to be convincing.
A bunch of individuals acting like lunatics for no apparent reason gives an effect like I've been dropped into the middle of Season2 of a family drama. Red flags and warning signs everywhere, but they are so rich and the husband is so handsome, and the clothes so beautiful ... we don't know why Alice/Donna excels at reading people but at the same time has absolutely zero sense of self preservation.

The writing feels stilted, the plot so feeble you will miss it if you blink but the narrator is quite good. This books will likely appeal to the fans of the author but I don't know if it will gain her new followers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whilst I did enjoy the narrator in the audiobook. I found the characters in this book really annoying! There were some good twists and kept you wanting to see what was going to happen. I just found the characters Tara and Hannah really irritating.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to listen to this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook version of The Funeral by Helen H. Durrant, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a gripping thriller/mystery that will definitely appeal to fans of Freida McFadden.

The story begins with a simple email and invitation to a funeral. What follows is a tense investigation full of secrets and lies.

I thought I had it all figured it out, especially when I started suspecting Nico, but i couldn’t have been more wrong! The final twist took me completely by surprise and let me wondering if a second book might be on a horizon. 👀 I need to know more about Max and his, not so legal, business.

The narrator, Sarah Durham, did a brilliant job.

I enjoyed this one, the narration was well done. I did find it a bit repetitive at times but the storyline was interesting and with some good twists along the way. This is perfect for someone who loves physiological thrillers and mystery's. Looking forward to see what the author writes next. Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this audio arc.

Definitely does not disappoint. Psychological thriller for sure. I finished it in one day! I really enjoyed this! I was able to be an early reader for the audiobook version. The narrator is great!

Thank you to @netgalley for this audiobook.

Firstly, the narrator had a pleasant voice but I felt it was a bit flat when it came to different characters and also when it came to emotions, such as the character being scared, laughing etc.. The story was a wild ride, a wee bit repetitive at times, but it was good. I was constantly trying to guess the plot but then I was thrown off track! I was constantly shouting at Donna for being so naive 🤣 but that’s what the story intended. No spoilers here! 4 star ⭐️ from me. If you like a psychological thriller, mystery, guessing, then I’d give this a go.

The Funeral is the first stand alone thriller from Helen H Durrant, and as such means we get far more mystery in our thriller, and twists in the tale. a great listen, that will keep you on your toes, as almost everyone appear to be using somebody else's name!

A gripping psychological thriller that takes the reader in a journey of twists and turns that make you gasp. Just when you think you’ve figured it out another sharp turn happens to blow your mind. The mystery and suspense kept me enthralled.

The narration was spot on and drew me into the story immediately.

I received an arc from NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I leave my review voluntarily.

A totally innovative plot that just kept on giving right until the end and beyond me thinking about it after the last page.
I did listen to this on audio the author herself read it which made it so special for me she definitely knew how to hook a reader in. The author of course knew where to put the pitch the power and the pauses to emphasis,

Characters were well rounded and believable? Totally! The opening chapter will draw you in and wonder what rabbit hole she’s going to go down that developed as you read and you will be suspicious of a few characters which I was. Whether you guess or not it’s such a good thriller it is well worth the wait regardless. Super read.

Helen H. Durrant’s ‘The Funeral’ hooks you from the start with a premise dripping in intrigue

The story kicks off in spectacular fashion. Donna, living under an alias to escape a relentless loan shark, is drawn to the funeral of a stranger with the promise of an inheritance. But from the moment she arrives, nothing is as it seems, and the tension never lets up.

I loved the constant uncertainty - who to trust, who to fear. The novel is packed with red herrings and misdirection, keeping me guessing until the very end. And that final reveal? Completely unexpected. The last chapter left me convinced there’s room for a sequel or spin-off, and I’ll be first in line if that happens!

That said, I did struggle with one aspect, how Donna managed to disappear for three years under a new identity, yet still be tracked down via email.

As an audiobook, the narration was excellent, with distinct voices for each character. My only minor gripe? The near absence of the Mancunian accent Donna is supposed to have. I wasn’t expecting an exaggerated portrayal, but it was barely noticeable. Still, that’s a small detail in an otherwise gripping listen.

An absolutely brilliant book! I couldn’t stop listening, and the ending was nothing like I expected. I’ll be impatiently waiting for whatever Helen H. Durrant writes next.

#TheFuneral #NetGalley

Donna is invited to a funeral, she has been hiding for three years and has next to no money. She doesn’t know who the funeral is for but the possibility of an inheritance makes it worth the risk. Attending, she tries to figure out who the person was. As she steps closer to the coffin she can read the name engraved, Alice Anderson. Her real name. Trying not to panic she decides she has to find out if somebody knows who she is. While doing so she discovers more than she expected..

The book was slow paced but kept my attention. You don’t know who to trust especially since, at first, you don’t know anything about Alice either. I find the encounters with Hannah a bit repetitive, she sneaks up and doesn’t give much information. I also think it’s strange that there are no real consequences for the husband in the family. Unsettling discoveries are simply left alone, only the main story is wrapped up. I enjoyed listening to it, it was exciting and I walked around with my headphones on all day. The narrator, Sarah Durham, did a really good job and I love her accent. I would probably give the book a 3,5 if it was possible.

This was the first book I have read by Helen Durrant. The Funeral is about a lady whose name is Alice Anderson who is going by Donna due to circumstances from her past. The invite does not state who the invite is from or who the funeral is for but she goes anyways. At the funeral she peers over the coffin and realizes she is at a funeral for Alice Anderson. This book is the journey she goes on to find out who took her name and why.

First off I am so glad my family is not as dysfunctional as Max, Tara, and Hannah. This book keeps you intrigued throughout the whole story. When I first listed to the Audio version of this the narrator’s voice was putting me to sleep but after a bit I got used to it and it was fitting for Donna/Alice. This book had many twist that make me keep guessing who was behind everything. I am hoping there is a sequel to this book to find out what continues to happen to Alice. I look forwards to reading more books by Helen.

Thank you NetGalley. And Bookouture Audio for the change to listen to this ALC for an honest review.

The narrator was excellent but sadly that’s where it ends.

I found the book to be a real disappointment. Even from the first page I thought the story was totally unbelievable and to be honest ridiculous.
Every plot twist was in my opinion daft and just over exaggerated.

Not a great book but managed to finish it due to the excellent narration.

A well narrated book that was an easy listen. I quite enjoyed it but had to suspend belief a tad. A bunch of truly horrible people!

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

Normally, I avoid books that are labeled "unputdownable" both because I find them easy to put down, and that's not a word. However, I decided to try this one based on the summary. Maybe not a page turning thrill ride, but it was a good story.

If you got an invitation to a funeral for someone you didn't know, would you go? What if the invitation had your original name on it, not the alias you had adopted for safety's sake. Well, our main character throws caution to the wind and attends the funeral. And that's where the chaotic rollercoaster starts!

Twisted family dynamics, untrustworthy characters and dark secrets abound in this one.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Audiobook Review: The Funeral (also published as The Other Alice) by Helen H. Durrant
Narrated by Sarah Durham

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover and read new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book by Helen H. Durrant, and while I always enjoy diving into a new mystery, The Funeral just wasn’t quite the right fit for me. That said, I did listen to the entire audiobook and appreciated the effort and structure of the story. The premise—centered around the discovery of a woman’s true identity at her own funeral—was intriguing and had strong potential.

The narrator, Sarah Durham, did a solid job throughout. I enjoyed her accent and thought her delivery was clear and well-paced. She brought the characters to life with distinct inflections and an emotional tone that complemented the darker themes of the story.

The plot follows a woman named Alice, who seemingly lived a quiet, isolated life—until her death raises questions that expose long-buried secrets. As detectives unravel her background, they uncover a tangle of lies, hidden connections, and a past that refuses to stay buried. While the mystery elements were present, the pacing and character development didn’t fully hook me in the way I had hoped.

Still, I know Helen H. Durrant has a strong following in the British crime fiction genre, and I can appreciate the layered storyline and effort that went into building the suspense. Even though this book wasn’t quite my style, I’d be open to trying another title from her in the future.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook!

I found “The Funeral” to be a solid psychological thriller that drew me in with its intriguing premise. The story opens with Donna receiving an anonymous funeral invitation, only to discover the name on the gravestone, Alice Anderson, is the name she abandoned three years ago.

The mystery kept me engaged as I followed Donna’s unraveling of trust, through the last quarter felt rushed, leaving me going back to check if I missed something, as the pacing seemed off. The characters, like the suspicious Max, Tara, and their unpredictable daughter Hannah, added layers of distrust, and the final twist caught me off guard in a good way. The isolated setting was eerie, but some plot points stretched believability a bit. Sarah Durham’s narration brought a fitting tension to the story, which helped keep me invested.

While I liked the novel, I wasn’t as swept away has I’d hoped – the rushed ending dulled its impact. Still, it’s a decent 3.5 star read for those who enjoy a twisty thriller with a dark edge.