What a gripping, creepy thriller. I raced through this desperate to find out what on earth was going on. Just when I thought I had worked something out another twist comes along and blows that out of the water, this was definitely an ending I didn’t see coming.

The queen of the twisty twist is back 💃🏾 and her crown is firmly in place.

Life is both beautiful and ugly.
The day Grady Green becomes a New York Times best selling author is both the best day and the worst day of his life. Why so? His doggedly brave investigative journalist wife Abby is driving home when he calls her to share his excitement. Mid call, she suddenly breaks, gets out of the car and disappears. A panic stricken Grady dashes to find her, discovers the car with its headlights on, the drivers door wide open but there’s no sign of Abby. One year on, in a state of stasis, he’s unable to function in any way shape or form, stuck in an awful land of limbo. When he’s offered the use of a cabin on the tiny Scottish island of Amberley, he jumps at the chance, travelling north hoping to find the peace and tranquility he needs to get his life back on track. Perhaps it will even enable him to pen a new novel. There, the impossible happens - can the impossible become the impossible?

There are so many layers to this latest psychological thriller from one of my favourite authors but first let me mention the beautiful and magical descriptions of Scotland. The love of the place really stands out with a rich and ever-changing atmosphere permeating all. You get all weathers in one day which could equally apply to the ever-changing mood of those that live on the island and of Grady himself. As he approaches the island there’s a strong sense of calm before a storm although his excitement and anticipation are infectious. Perhaps though, the noisy seagulls as he awaits the ferry to whisk him Amberley sound a warning that he should heed. Prophetically so as it soon becomes very ominous.

The peace of the island, its isolation and silence are used so masterfully to drop little bombshells into the illusionary calm which of course being Alice Feeney are often worthy of an OMG jaw drop. It’s very cleverly done as you become as unsure as Grady about what’s real and what not. Is someone playing mind games or is it Grady’s mind that is broken? The island becomes stranger and stranger, with the residents behaving oddly and the whole feel is off kilter. At times it has a sense of Stepford Wives which is very unnerving. There’s tension which underpins the whole storyline and there are occasions where it’s so intense I realise that I’m holding my breath. As well as having a spooky, chilling and sinister tone, it’s also a very good character study. All are well portrayed but especially Grady and Abby. Through them a number of pertinent issues are raised and questioned which I really enjoy. It has several twists of course and an excellent ending – just desserts?

Overall, this is a thought provoking and suspenseful psychological thriller. It’s perhaps a bit more understated than some of her other novels but it packs a punch nonetheless . Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to. Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Alice Feeney releases roughly one new thriller per year, and each one to date has been a treat, with an original and well-researched plot line (the author is a former journalist, after all), strong characterisation and what thriller readers like to refer to as ‘plenty of twists and turns’. I was delighted to be granted an e-ARC of this, her latest novel, and savoured it until the end. The book represents a departure from previous Feeney novels in that we have a male protagonist by the name of Grady Green. However, reassuringly familiar are the ‘disappearing female’ (Grady’s wife Abby who vanishes after a brief and chaotic conversation on car speakerphone) and a series of ominous events that arise. Numb with shock and grief, Grady takes up an opportunity for a writing retreat on a remote island, hoping to come to terms with Abby’s mysterious disappearance and make sense of everything that has happened since. This decision marks the intersection where the plot of ‘Beautiful Ugly’ starts to resemble the storylines in ‘Daisy Darker’ and ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ a little, as these two Feeney novels equally feature the voluntary seclusion of characters who have to stomach their chosen retreats from the world slowly turning into menacing ‘locked room’ settings. As in her previous novels, Feeney slowly leads us along a narratorial trail full of suspense and deception that leads to a masterfully crafted ending. Highly recommended! Thank you, NetGalley and the publishing house, for the free e-ARC that made this book review possible.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was my first Alice Feeney book, but it won’t be my last!
Beautiful Ugly presents two characters who are distinctly unlikable and show little respect for each other or their desires. Grady comes across as dim-witted, dull, and difficult to care about, while Abby feels flat and equally unappealing. However, I did appreciate that both characters serve as unreliable narrators, adding an intriguing layer to the story.

I'm not a fan of plot twists delivered through first-person narration; they often feel unrealistic and nonsensical to me. Despite this, the book was a fast read. The sections set on the island, particularly the plot surrounding its inhabitants, were well-executed. The atmosphere was intensely oppressive and claustrophobic, which I found captivating.

I also appreciated the feminist themes woven throughout the narrative. The messages were powerful, though at times they felt a bit heavy-handed, especially as the story neared its conclusion.

I read a lot of books but I think this is one of the most clever but unhinged books I’ve ever read! I was glued to the story and couldn’t put it down for fear of missing out on key information. The whole book has you questioning everything you know and is the definition of a ‘psychological’ thriller! Short chapters and sensible time jumps and flashbacks add to the story. Twists and turns throughout and the ending is just perfection! Wow! Add to your TBR now!!

I'm a big fan of Alice Feeney and this book is another hit in my opinion. Great plot that kept me hooked!

Wow! What a read!
The plot is unlike anything I’ve read before and had me totally engrossed. The writing is atmospheric and clever. I loved the various twists and the ending took me completely by surprise.
I finished this book a few weeks ago, but it’s stuck with me and is one of my favourites this year.

What would you do if your partner vanished ? This is what happens to Grady Green in this twisty, page turning book. Grady an author has been unable to write since his wife’s disappearance and seems to see and hear her everywhere he goes.

When he gets an offer to travel to a secluded Scottish
Island he thinks this may be the answer to put his past behind him and finally start living and writing again. All does not go to plan and he finds himself encountering strange events which leave him questioning his sanity.

This book is full of suspense, each character brings their own element of mystery and as the story develops I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t.

The tension., intrigue and dread builds up in the story leading to an astonishing end one which I never imagined coming! Breathtaking writing one which I will remember for a long time .

I love Alice Feeney, so I was excited to read this one! Tbh I didn’t love her last one, Bad Good Girl. I was hoping she would go back to writing psychological thriller with wild twists, and this didn’t disappoint. Not as wild as her earlier thrillers, but this missing wife x locked island mystery is addictive so I finished it in just two days. The pace is on the slow side compared to Paper Rock Scissors and His & Hers, but it’s not too slow with suspense building at a steady pace until a shocking reveal. The ending is quite sinister it gave me chills.

I’d say 4-4.5 🌟 Highly recommend if you’re a fan of psychological thriller!

When author Grady Green's wife mysteriously disappears everyone believes that she has left him. Devastated he is offered the chance to escape to a remote island to work on a new novel and attempt to rebuild his life. However not is all it appears to be on the island and the longer that Grady stays the more sinister the residents appear to become. Is this his grief skewing the real world or is something more sinister happening on the island?

I loved Daisy Darker so when I saw that Alice Feeney had written a new novel I jumped at the chance to read it. This was a a gripping and insidious thriller; I felt Grady's fear as he slowly realised that he was trapped on the island and that something else was going on. I really liked that the character's were flawed and I loved the twisty ending 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a testament to Alice Feeney’s writing that even though I had absolutely no clue what was going on throughout most of the book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it! There were some quite creepy moments, not one to read alone on a dark night!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

✨ARC Book Review✨

Title: Beautiful Ugly
Author: Alice Feeney
Publication Date: January 30, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars

I always read anything written by Alice Feeney, so when I received an advance copy of Beautiful Ugly, I was ecstatic. What a fantastic page-turner, and if you’ve read anything by Feeney, you already know the twists are immaculate. The ending will make you ask yourself, 'WTF did I just read?'.

Beautiful Ugly follows the once-bestselling but now struggling writer Grady Green, whose wife vanished a year ago. In an attempt to resume his life and his writing, he flees to a cabin on a secluded Scottish island. Although the people on Amberly Island are lovely and the island itself is stunning, Grady feels as though something is not quite right.

Those who enjoy well-written psychological suspense and books that keep you guessing until the exciting conclusion should definitely read this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Macmillan for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a dark story that delves into themes of revenge, grief, and the evils of neglecting one partner’s career over the other. Grady Green is an author who is unable to write following his wife, Abby’s tragic disappearance a year ago. Tormented and plagued with writer’s block, his agent suggests he stay in the late bestselling author Charles Whittaker’s cottage on the small Scottish island of Amberly to immerse himself in his work and hopefully, start writing again.

The idea of no noise and no distractions appeal to Grady and he retreats to Scotland. But no sooner does he arrive on Amberley, he becomes so haunted with visions of Abby, he believes she exists somewhere on the island. Not only does he find something under the floorboards of “Whitty’s” house, but his creativity comes back twofold, and he begins to write again. His quest takes him on a journey of self-discovery but what seems like charming village life on the outside is deceptive, and the idyllic island with all its fresh air and beautiful scenery slowly becomes ominously stifling. Even the houses on the village green have names like The Last Straw and Whit's End and I love the map in the front matter and its compass that says, "You are not here."

The locals appear to have banded together in what appears to be some kind of cultish behaviour, which gave me eerie reminders of the 1973 film The Wicker Man. There is no way off the island except by ferry. Isolated, Grady has been “persuaded” by some of the locals to stay. If it weren’t for his loyal labrador, Columbo, he would have lost his sanity.

Each islander is intricately crafted with the personalities you’d expect to find in a remote area. They appear resilient on the outside – determined to protect their turf and the people who come to live there - but underneath, they harbour vulnerability and pain. The weather seems to change with their moods, impacting Grady more than he imagined. He can’t help questioning if what he sees and learns is real. One thing the reader will sense is Grady’s terror.

The underlying tension throughout the book makes this a page turner which is testament to Feeney’s skill as a top psychological suspense author. It resonated with me long after I’d put the book down and it will be a story I will think about for some years to come. Memorable and utterly brilliant. Five stars, more if I could give them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

Alice Feeney has done it again! Another masterfully crafted novel that this time also explores themes of grief, family, marriage, betrayal and revenge. It was gripping and fast-paced. The characters were well fleshed out and the atmosphere enhanced the story even further. A thrilling read with a jaw-dropping ending.

I've always had Alice Feeney down as a hit or miss author. She hasn't written a book which I have disliked previously but nor has she delivered a knockout blow either....until now.

This, for me, was the book that she always had in her and has finally delivered a 5 star book. The novel tells the story of Grady Green, finally a successful author, but whose best day (becoming a NYT bestseller) turns into his worst day when his wife disappears on her way home after stopping at the scene of an accident.

Filled with questions, and no answers as to the whereabouts of his wife, Grady's publisher suggests that he visits Amberly, a small Scottish island with only a handful of residents, in order to regroup, recover and begin working on his next novel. However, when he gets there, all is not as it seems....

The story is told in the present day from Grady's perspective but with some chapters interspersed from his wife, Abby, in the week before his disappearance. The book moves slowly but steadily on to a dramatic conclusion, killer twists and a hidden message in the book.

A brilliant novel and one of the best I have read this year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alice Feeney has once again proven her talent for creating captivating, mind-bending stories!!
Beautiful Ugly is a brilliant psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Set on a remote Scottish island. The story follows author Grady Green, whose wife Abby mysteriously vanished a year ago. Struggling with grief and writer's block, Grady’s agent offers him her house on the island, however, the eerie atmosphere and strange behaviour of the island's residents over and above him seeing his wife everywhere, makes him start to question his sanity.

This book is best suited for fans of psychological thrillers - if you appreciate a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, Beautiful Ugly is your next must-read.

Grady Green is eagerly anticipating a telephone call that means the world to him. Only ever so slightly (!) annoyed that his wife Abby is not waiting with him, Grady calls her to find out where she is. On her way, almost there she tells him, then Abby sees someone lying in the road. Grady begs her not to get out of the car.

Twelve months later Grady is a shadow of his former self, so when Kitty, his agent, throws him a lifeline he is only too happy to accept. The result of his actions are soon apparent!

An amazing read, lots of twists and an unexpected plot. Alice Feeney at her very best. So atmospheric and fairytale like, with an evil undertone, is Grady dreaming? Who knows! The clues are there but tantalisingly just out of reach of solving. Don’t try to work it out, just enjoy the ride.

The ending, OMG 😱! Breathtakingly good. A very cleverly written book.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan.

Grady's wife Abby mysteriously goes missing one night leaving him with no answers to what happened to her. A year later he goes to stay on a small Scottish island to work on a new book. It doesn't take him long to realise that the few people that live on the island act very strangely around him. He keeps seeing his wife everywhere, that and all the other strange things that are happening there makes him question his own sanity. This book Alice Feeney has done such a good job creating a spooky atmosphere on the island. Some of the characters give you the chills with their strange behaviour and you can really sympathise with Grady's wish to get off the island. There are twists and turns along the way to add to the suspense. This is a five star read for me and I am so glad I got a chance to get an early read.

Beautiful Ugly is an exquisitely written mind twisting novel about bestselling author Grady Green whose wife has disappeared. Set on the remote Scottish Island of Amberley, the novel explores grief, identity, and marriage plus the lies we tell ourselves and others. The setting provides a fabulously claustrophobic and creepy backdrop to a story where nothing is quite what it seems. This is an excellent book and I raced through it.

Thank you to Alice Feeney, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my advance copy.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a well-written story that kept me engaged throughout. It tells the story of author Grady Green who is suffering from grief and writer's block after the disappearance of his wife. He hopes that a stint in a cabin on a remote island will help him to recover. The setting of a remote Scottish island in winter adds to the chilling atmosphere. There is no phone or internet and the ferry to the mainland is unreliable. Visitors are not allowed on the island and the 25 inhabitants are insular and secretive, adding to the claustrophobic atmosphere. Grady doesn't know who to trust. There is also a hint of the supernatural. Some great twists and an unexpected ending. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.