Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

The book cover for Rock Paper Scissors by author Alice Feeney

Alice Feeney’s Rock Paper Scissors follows a married couple, Amelia and Adam Wright, as they head to a remote Scottish chapel-turned-cabin for a weekend getaway meant to salvage their strained relationship. Things have been wrong between Mr. and Mrs. Wright for a long time, and what begins as an attempt at reconnection quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. Secrets simmer beneath every interaction, the isolated setting amplifies their unease, and the story unfolds through shifting perspectives and letters that reveal just how little these two truly know about each other. As the weekend unravels, so do the lies holding their marriage together.

I gave this novel three stars, and that rating comes from a place of genuine admiration for Feeney’s talent. I’m a huge fan of her work—her writing style, her sharp hooks, and her ability to blindside readers with twists right from the jump are what draw me to her books again and again. Those elements are absolutely present here. The setup is intriguing, the atmosphere is moody and tense, and the reveals are clever in that signature Feeney way.

But despite all of that, Rock Paper Scissors didn’t have me feverishly turning pages the way her other novels have. The twists were interesting, yet they didn’t deliver the same jolt of adrenaline or emotional investment I’ve come to expect from her stories. The pacing felt a bit more measured, and while the structure is smart, it didn’t grip me with the same urgency. Overall, it was an entertaining read—solid, twisty, and unmistakably Feeney—but it didn’t quite reach the heights of expectation for what I've come to know of her work.

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