Rock Paper Scissors

My Book of the Month selection for September was Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (the other options were The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo, Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, and The Neighbor's Secret by L. Alison Heller). I did not especially care for Sometimes I Lie, the only book I have read by this author, but I chose this one because it sounded really intriguing and I have been in the mood for thrillers lately. I couldn't put it down and, this time around, Feeney got me with several twists even though I was expecting one. Amelia and Adam Wright are having trouble in their marriage because they both feel that they don't know who the other is anymore. Amelia wins a weekend stay in the Scottish Highlands in a raffle at work and, in a last ditch attempt to save their marriage, she insists that they go and Adam begrudgingly agrees. However, it soon becomes apparent that they are each keeping secrets from each other and that they both have ulterior motives for agreeing to the weekend. After a difficult journey through a snowstorm they discover that their destination is an isolated chapel, with an ominous past, that has been converted into a living space. It appears to have been neglected for years. They attempt to settle in and make the best of the situation but soon there are strange goings-on that add to the already palpable tension between the two of them. As the storm intensifies, they are left without power and without cellular service but, even more frightening, a local inhabitant named Robin takes a disturbing interest in the couple and it seems that not everyone will survive this weekend. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of Amelia, Adam, and Robin, who are all very unsympathetic and unreliable, and interspersed between these are letters written to Adam by his wife on their anniversary (which he has never been allowed to read until this weekend) chronicling the deterioration of their relationship. The setting is incredibly atmospheric which creates a sense of impending peril on every page (there is even a hint of the paranormal thrown into the mix) and this kept me reading into the early hours. There are multiple layers (with several supporting characters) to the story and I was ever vigilant in trying to predict the twist that I was sure was coming. I had several theories but, when it inevitably came, I was absolutely blown away. I had to go back and read several sections again to pick up on any clues but they are there! Then, just when I thought the characters had reached the perfect resolution, there is another twist that made me question everything I thought I knew about them. I actually laughed out loud because the ending is so sinister. I may need to read more from this author (and I may need to read Sometimes I Lie again) because this is absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend it!

Note:  While I was reading I kept thinking that this would make a fantastic movie.  Apparently, the rights have been acquired by Netflix.