Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - Book Review

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney is one of those psychological thrillers that grabs your attention from the first page and refuses to let go until the very last twist. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and emotionally layered - a slow unraveling of secrets wrapped inside a marriage that’s falling apart.

The story follows Adam and Amelia Wright, a married couple whose relationship has clearly lost its spark. They decide to take a weekend getaway to a remote converted chapel in the Scottish Highlands - a chance, or so it seems, to fix what’s broken. But from the very beginning, the setting feels too isolated, too quiet, and too cold to promise reconciliation. There’s an unshakable sense that something isn’t right - and Feeney builds that tension masterfully.

Adam is a screenwriter who suffers from face blindness - a condition that prevents him from recognizing even the people closest to him, including his wife. Amelia, on the other hand, is secretive, observant, and hiding something that simmers beneath every line she writes in her annual anniversary letters - letters Adam has never seen, until now. The story alternates between their perspectives and these letters, slowly piecing together a puzzle that feels both domestic and dangerous.

What makes this book stand out is Feeney’s knack for misdirection. Just when you think you’ve figured out who’s lying, or where the story is heading, she flips everything upside down. The twists feel earned - shocking, yes, but not random. Every detail connects back to something that was quietly planted earlier. By the time the truth is revealed, you realize how cleverly the narrative was designed from the very start.

Personally, I loved how unsettling yet emotional this book was. It’s not just about deceit or revenge - it’s about memory, identity, and how well we can ever truly know someone we love. The eerie Scottish setting adds to the claustrophobic tension, and Feeney’s writing makes even the silence feel heavy with secrets.

The ending left me speechless - unexpected, haunting, and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of twist that makes you want to reread the book just to trace the breadcrumbs you missed the first time.

Rock Paper Scissors is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that’s both clever and heartbreaking. If you enjoy stories about broken marriages, unreliable narrators, and eerie secrets hidden in the middle of nowhere, this one’s definitely worth your time.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️