By: Alice Feeney
Narrators: Richard Armitage,
Tuppence Middleton
ISBN: 9781250337788
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: 01/14/2025
Duration: 9 hrs. 20 min.
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars ++ (ALC)
“Her best book yet.”
—Harlan Coben
The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . .
. . . and revenge.
Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.
Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.
A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.
Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.
“Magnetic and jaw-dropping.” —Mary Kubica, bestselling author
"Unforgettable." —Chris Whitaker, bestselling author
Praise
“I was consumed by this book. It’s her best ever, a work of genius.”
―Lisa Jewell, #1 bestselling author
“Alice Feeney is one of my favorite thriller writers and this is her best book yet. Highly addictive and beautifully written. Read Beautiful Ugly right now and thank me later.”
―Harlan Coben, #1 bestselling author
“Alice Feeney is back with another magnetic and jaw-dropping thriller. With a dreamlike quality and atmosphere that is off the charts, Beautiful Ugly takes readers into a world that is charming on the surface, but with danger, hatred and revenge lurking just beneath. Both witty and terrifying; I couldn't put it down!”
―Mary Kubica, bestselling author
“Wicked, wild, sinister and shocking. Alice Feeney rips up the rule book yet again. Beautiful Ugly is unpredictable and unforgettable.”
―Chris Whitaker, bestselling author
“A riveting, hypnotic thriller that begs to be read in one sitting. Beautiful Ugly is Alice Feeney at her twisty, unpredictable best!”
―Amy Tintera, bestselling author
“This may be Feeney’s most delightfully chilling thriller yet. . . Feeney mixes gothic atmosphere on a remote Scottish island; not one, but two possibly unreliable narrators; a woman who may or may not be dead; and a plot that delivers suspense like an IV drip. . . A completely immersive puzzle.
―Booklist (starred)
“The book’s slow unfolding of dread, mystery, and then truth is both creative and well-paced. . . Deeply satisfying.”
―Kirkus
“Alice Feeney’s thrillers are always such a fun time, filled with well-earned twists and surprises. And Beautiful Ugly might just be her best one yet.”
―BookRiot
“Be prepared to put your life on hold when you start this novel because there is a new twist on pretty much every page. Will you believe the husband or the wife’s story? As with every marriage, the truth is pretty murky right up to the very end. This is immersive and addictive storytelling.”
―Araminta Hall, bestselling author of One of the Good Guys
“When I started reading Beautiful Ugly I was not prepared to feel such joy in the writing, yet such terror in the story. A missing wife, a tortured couple and a lonely writer banished to a mysterious Scottish island, this exquisite novel is a relationship drama, a darkly twisting thriller and an examination of the fine line between isolation and loneliness. Alice Feeney has created a masterpiece, a riveting read, immaculately written.”
―Janice Hallett, bestselling author
“I’m a huge fan of Alice Feeney and Beautiful Ugly is an atmospheric gem of a thriller, weaving an unpredictable and clever plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Brilliant and chilling, with an inspired setting, characters that jump off the page, and twists to give you whiplash. I loved every word.”
―Claire Douglas, bestselling author
My Review
The Queen of Killer Twists, NYT Bestselling author Alice Feeney is back better than ever with her highly anticipated thriller BEAUTIFUL UGLY, her best yet—(exceeds all expectations), amid the anticipated Netflix series adaptation of her novel HIS & HERS starring Tessa Thompson.
From London to a remote Scottish island, a totally gripping, wicked, and deliciously dark, BEAUTIFUL UGLY is a twisty story of marriage, relationships, revenge, and the dark secrets they hide. Note: Always appreciate what you have—as it may be gone tomorrow.
Audiobook...
🎧🔉The audiobook is utterly captivating and deserving of 10 stars! Top Audiobook of 2025!I have never been so excited to receive an ALC! Richard Armitage (The Fool Me Once star) and Tuppence Middleton deliver a stellar performance, capturing the suspense, characters, lurking darkness, menace, and beauty to perfection. The performance deftly elevates the novel from beginning to end with the bonus of sound effects (waves), and the walkie-talkies are brilliant. The unpredictable ending is priceless and chilling for a wild adventure. You will find yourself hanging on every word and sound and listening repeatedly— IT IS THAT GOOD!
About...
Grady Green is an author married to Abby. As the book opens, he calls his wife on the phone. She was to be home already so they could share the upcoming news of possibly a New York Times bestseller. After all, they always celebrate their milestones with champagne, fish-and-chips.
Grady is a chap who loves his solitude, fictional characters, and writing. But he wants his wife by his side to hear his upcoming news. However, on her way home in the car, everything mysteriously changes when they are on the phone. A woman is in the middle of the road, and Abby wants to help. Then nothing. She is gone, never to return. The sudden turn of events will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the truth.
When he eventually finds her car by the cliff's edge, her phone is there, but not Abby. She has disappeared.
A year later, after losing everything due to being distraught, grieving, and unable to write, living in a run-down hotel with his dog, financially ruined, his agent throws him a lifeline and offers him a remote cabin for writing —The Isle of Amberly, a remote Scottish Island.
You are not allowed to have a car that is accessible only by ferry. Excited and nervous, he soon finds this may be what he needs, and he begins to write and enjoys the solitude. He is writing again with his dog sidekick! He has always wanted to be left alone with his writing and characters.
However, odd, creepy, and sinister things begin happening around him. He sees a woman in a red coat that looks like his wife. Then, a few more discoveries that will change his life. What happened to the writer who lived there previously, and what is going on with this island?
Things are so strange he wants off the island. He wants nothing more than to go home and get off the island. But some forces are pulling him, and he can see NO escape.
My thoughts...
Holy Cannoli! I LOVED (devoured) this book! SPELLBINDING! Brilliantly and cleverly crafted, Alice has outdone herself! Her skillful storytelling and masterful plot twists will leave you in awe. Grady's character is chilling!
Beautifully written, from the perfect setup that hooks you immediately, the careful building of suspense, perfect pacing, the shifting between characters with sound effects, a twisty plot, the jaw-dropping twists, and the atmospheric setting of the island—A show-stopping, first-class psychological thriller of domestic suspense!
You are unsure of the character's motives, where nothing is as it appears, with unreliable narrators. The author takes you on a wild adventure with a perfectly fitting title.
Psychologically rich, addictive, and razor-sharp, BEAUTIFUL UGLY is a complete package. A thriller lover's dream—from the stunning cover to the explosive finale. The novel delves deep into the human psyche, offering a thought-provoking reading experience.
A masterpiece. Brilliant, spine-chilling, witty, and clever. Do not miss this book of the year! Thriller fans will devour. I would love to know the inspiration behind this fascinating book.
Recs...
BEAUTIFUL UGLY is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Mary Kubica, Chris Whitaker, B.A. Paris, Kaira Rouda, Kimberly Belle, Robyn Harding, and Samantha Downing.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio (#MacAudio2024) for an advanced listening copy via NetGalley and Google Play in exchange for an honest review. I also ordered the hardcover copy for my home library and cannot wait for it to arrive!
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
Top Books of 2025
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
About the Author
Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Including His & Hers which is being made into major TV series by Netflix.
Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in Devon with her family. Beautiful Ugly is her seventh novel.
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