A review by awebofstories
Rock Paper Scissors: A Novel, by Alice Feeney
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
I tend to tire quickly of twisty thrillers because the twists start sounding all the same. Enter Alice Feeney--this woman knows how to write a twist! I was sucked into this one and completely along for the ride.
In some ways, this book falls into a trope that we know a bit too well. A woman in an unhappy marriage and a husband you can't trust. Normally, this would irritate me--how many books have I read recently with that setup? Here's the thing: I believe this was an intentional choice by Feeney because this book is not like other "girl" thrillers out there. This book is intentionally disorienting, but that is what makes it work and what makes the payoff worthwhile. While I couldn't put this book down, I will say it wasn't perfect. I wouldn't say there were plot holes, but there were a fair number of loose threads that I wish had been cleaned up. I can overlook one or two of such threads, but there were enough that I noticed. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), they are bothering me more now that I’ve finished the novel than when I was reading it. I was also frustrated that Adam’s face blindness seemed to be no more than a plot device to make things work. It is such an interesting condition, and I would have loved to have seen it better incorporated into his character.
I feel that Alice Feeney is one of those authors who either works for you or doesn’t. While I’ve only read one other book by her (so far), I do think that she hits the right popcorn thriller spot for me. However, if you have read other books by her in the past and they haven’t worked for you, I would recommend not picking this one up.
However, if you have enjoyed Alice Feeney in the past, or if you just want to giver her a try, this might be the book for you.
I tend to tire quickly of twisty thrillers because the twists start sounding all the same. Enter Alice Feeney--this woman knows how to write a twist! I was sucked into this one and completely along for the ride.
In some ways, this book falls into a trope that we know a bit too well. A woman in an unhappy marriage and a husband you can't trust. Normally, this would irritate me--how many books have I read recently with that setup? Here's the thing: I believe this was an intentional choice by Feeney because this book is not like other "girl" thrillers out there. This book is intentionally disorienting, but that is what makes it work and what makes the payoff worthwhile. While I couldn't put this book down, I will say it wasn't perfect. I wouldn't say there were plot holes, but there were a fair number of loose threads that I wish had been cleaned up. I can overlook one or two of such threads, but there were enough that I noticed. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), they are bothering me more now that I’ve finished the novel than when I was reading it. I was also frustrated that Adam’s face blindness seemed to be no more than a plot device to make things work. It is such an interesting condition, and I would have loved to have seen it better incorporated into his character.
I feel that Alice Feeney is one of those authors who either works for you or doesn’t. While I’ve only read one other book by her (so far), I do think that she hits the right popcorn thriller spot for me. However, if you have read other books by her in the past and they haven’t worked for you, I would recommend not picking this one up.
However, if you have enjoyed Alice Feeney in the past, or if you just want to giver her a try, this might be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Infidelity