Secrets, Suspense, and the Female Experience in Good Bad Girl

Alice Feeney’s novel Good Bad Girl ultimately delivers an interesting and engaging domestic mystery thriller.

Synopsis: Good Bad Girl

In this twisty, atmospheric thriller, a decades-old mystery collides with fresh bloodshed in a way that will leave you breathless.

Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller—a crime that shattered lives—a new murder in a care home sends shockwaves through a community still haunted by its past.

At the heart of the unravelling mystery is Edith, an 80-year-old woman who, despite being deceived into a nursing home, is determined to escape and reclaim her freedom.

Working at the home is Patience, whose warm exterior and bond with Edith conceal a labyrinth of lies. Meanwhile, Edith’s estranged daughter, Clio, remains distant, until a mysterious new arrival at her door stirs up fresh trouble.

With every character harbouring secrets, the trio must piece together clues linking the stolen baby, a grieving mother’s loss, and a present-day murder.

With three suspects, two chilling murders, and hidden connections spanning years, Good Bad Girl is a relentless, unpredictable ride.

Fans of fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers—think Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors—will find themselves captivated by Alice Feeney’s masterful blend of intrigue and betrayal, where trust is scarce and every twist deepens the mystery.

Review: Good Bad Girl

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney is a dual-timeline, multi-perspective mystery thriller that weaves together the stories of four women whose lives may be more interconnected than they first appear.

The novel wastes no time in grabbing your attention—the opening scene depicts the chilling abduction of a baby, setting the tone for a narrative that shifts 20 years into the present.

Story and Structure

The novel unfolds through a series of chapters, each dedicated to one of the main characters. This structure promises diverse insights into the mystery, but early on, the frequent changes in perspective can be disorienting.

At times, it’s unclear whose viewpoint you’re reading, which might slow the pace and make it difficult to fully engage with the story.

Strengths

• Intriguing Premise: The kidnapping scene at the start is a powerful hook, establishing high stakes and a sense of urgency.
• Twists and Turns: As the mystery deepens, Feeney introduces plenty of unexpected developments. Some twists are well-explained, adding layers to the narrative, while others, though surprising, occasionally lean toward the unbelievable.
• Focus on Female Perspectives: The narrative is strongly rooted in the female experience, exploring how good people can sometimes make questionable decisions. This focus adds a unique, personal dimension to the unfolding drama.

Areas for Improvement

• Narrative Clarity: The multiple perspectives, while offering a broad view of the characters’ inner lives, can feel muddled at times. Readers might struggle to keep track of who is telling the story, especially in the early chapters.
• Character Development: While the female characters receive detailed exploration, the male characters are often sidelined. Many either vanish from the narrative when challenges arise or are depicted with little redeeming quality. This imbalance might leave readers wishing for more complexity and nuance in the portrayal of all characters involved.
• Plot Coincidences: Some twists come off as overly coincidental, straining the suspension of disbelief that is crucial for a mystery thriller.

Final Thoughts

Despite its stylistic and structural challenges, Good Bad Girl ultimately delivers an interesting and engaging domestic mystery thriller.

Alice Feeney’s ambition to explore the darker sides of human nature through a predominantly female lens is evident, and while certain elements of the plot and character dynamics could have been polished further, the novel still offers plenty of suspense and intrigue. For readers who enjoy multi-layered mysteries with a strong focus on complex female characters—and who can overlook a few narrative hiccups—Good Bad Girl is worth a read.

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Mark.