Grady Green, a writer, is lost after his wife disappeared. He has money problems, his social life is nonexistent and he can't write. This is why his agent sends him to a remote isle of Amberley in Scotland, hoping that staying at the late well known writer's cabin will make his creative juices flow. But people on the island are acting weird and something seems fishy about it... or is Grady's lack of sleep making him paranoid?


I have a complicated reading relationship with Feeney, "the queen of twists".
The reason is exactly that: she is stubbornly clutching to this title, like she has to justify it with every new book. The preoccupation with the twist makes her sometimes overlook the glaring inconsistencies in the story and character development.
In that sense, this book is very similar to another one of hers that really didn't work for me: Rock Paper Scissors. We have a writer, in a remote place and weird things keep happening. And the story is interrupted with chapters from his wife from her point of view in the past that shows a slightly different picture of the wife from his memory. A similar structure, but definitely a different story with perhaps the same intention behind it and if you enjoyed that one, than you may enjoy this one as well.

I'll start with things I liked:

-I always maintained that Feeney does a really good job writing inner dialogue, especially if character is unlikable. So, reading from Grady's pov perfectly conveys how whiny, clueless and unable to cope with consequences of his actions he is. You will not like him as you are not suppose to.
-Feeney has a great way of to intensify the suspense with one sentence. That sentence is: "I hope you die in your sleep." I can confidently say that that sentence carried me through more boring and devoid of logic parts of the novel.

Things I wasn't so keen on>
-Well, if Feeney did a good job with depicting Grady's inner thoughts and matching them with his cowardly behavior... she totally missed the ball with other characters, but most importantly with Abby. When it comes to residents of he island, this is not such big thing because they are very much part of the creepy,unsettling scenery of Amberley. They are there to dismantle Grady's peace of mind and they are doing a great job at it so we don't really need to understand who they are beside their common motive. But Abby? Well, what we see of her is simply not enough to explain her motivations. But this is why Feeney needs to let the obligatory "never-saw-it-coming!" twist go. In order for twist in this novel to land, we were kept in the dark about Abby's character and I bemoan that "I hope you die in your sleep" sentence because it hinted at someone much, MUCH more intriguing than Grady. In truth, all the main characters in this novel go to such lengths and make outlandish decisions when a simple walkaway or a conversation would do and we never got enough of characterization from any of them that would suggest this.
(view spoiler)
-The plot and the twist. The plot progression is, by design repetitive because the structure demands it: Grady experiences some creepy, odd thing on the island, puts it behind...only to go through something odd again the next day. It's kind of like The Wicker Man, The Turn of the Screw and similar stories, but the payout makes it worth it. Here, the twist was kind of nonsensical when you start scrutinizing the whole explanation in second to last chapter of the novel and the whole feminist/revenge message would work better if, once again, if we got into heads of characters that would explain their drive.

All in all, this one didn't work for me like some of Feeney's previous novels, but she is never a waste of time.

This book is absolutely fantastic. It will grip you and not let you go. You'll be hooked and not want to put this down till you find out what happened. There are so many twists, most of them where shocking and I didn't see them coming at all. My heart was racing at times, it's terrifying.

As you read this book, the questions stack up, one after another. Everything you are told becomes questionable quite quickly. It leaves you reading on and on, in an effort to get the resolution you now need.

Grady is an author. He's not written since his wife disappeared a year ago so his agent sends him to a remote Scottish island for 3 months. She hopes that getting peace and quiet will give him the clarity he needs to start again.

The cabin is cosy, with the most breathtaking view. The island has no phone or internet capability. You are completely secluded,except for the 25 permanent residents.

Is this what Grady needs, or are all his nightmares coming home to roost?

This isn't out until January, but is well worth pre-ordering. You'll have something to look forward to, during one of the darker months of the year!

This was atmospheric, seething with tension and vividly set on a remote Scottish Island.

One was never quite sure if Grady was losing his mind or if something evil was haunting his presence. Steeped in folklore and superstition the characters were exquisitely drawn and the brooding pace of the narrative pitch perfect.

With its strong feminist theme I found this book captivating and was blown away by its surprising twist at the end.

This was the best thriller I have read this year.

It was absolutely amazing, I did not see the twist coming and I could not speak to anyone until i had finished it (I was that gripped).

Alice Feeney always ties in quite hard topics, but I loved how this book ended- no spoilers but I was absolutely overjoyed!

I’m always slightly nervous to start an Alice Feeney novel as I worry that it won’t meet the expectations generated by previous offerings but once again, I’m proved wrong and devoured this book.

Beautiful Ugly follows the story of Abby, an investigative journalist and her husband Grady, an author. Grady has just received the best news after years of hard work: he’s a New York Times best seller. Eager to share his news, Grady calls Abby who is thrilled and nearly home. Suddenly braking, she discovers woman lying on the road. Against Grady’s instructions not to get out of the car, Abby goes to check on the woman and disappears…

A year later and no one knows what happened to Abby. Grady’s life has unravelled and he’s offered a last chance lifeline to move to an isolated cabin on the Isle of Amberly to try and write again.

Arriving on Amberly, Grady is introduced to some of the 25 inhabitants who all appear to have secrets they don’t want revealed. Isolated, alone and increasingly unstable, Grady finds a lifeline to writing his next book.

Told through the points of view of Grady, and Abby prior to her disappearance, this book is impossible to put down. Feeney’s distinctive flair for writing the most compelling human stories with unravelling twists and turns meant that I finished in one sitting.

This will undoubtedly become my most gifted book of the year. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I absolutely loved this book and read it in two sittings.
A psychological thriller with some great characters that had me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading until the small hours.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t knew what I was getting myself into when I started reading this book! It got me questioning everything! This book has a lot of twists and turns, mistery and honestly it made me want to know what happens next!
I won’t start telling you what this book is about, but I’m going to tell you that I don’t know what to think about the book. It’s an interesting reading for sure. And if you like mystery and questions about everything that happens than this book is for you! Go grab it! You’ll like it for sure!
From me this book gets 3.5-4 stars. I think I’ll always question myself if I really liked it or not.

Alice Feeney does it again! I devoured this book!

Unreliable narrator (tick) creepy (tick) unnerving (tick) plot twist (tick) un-puttable down-able (tick)

Grady is an author on the brink, and his wife Abby is missing, presumed dead. He has lost everything, and he can no longer find it in him to write. With nowhere to live and money fast running out, his agent offers him an opportunity to stay at a writers cabin on a remote Scottish Island that was gifted to her in a will. A last chance at sorting his shattered life out is too good to pass, but things are never quite as they seem.

I loved the Island setting that Alice painted so vividly, and how the tension and claustrophobia quickly sets in from what first appears to be an idyllic escape.

As we follow Grady around the island and meet the curious inhabitants, the sense of unease raquets up. Hints are dropped that there's more to this Island than we imagined. I had goosebumps and couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out the truth of what was really happening - and why? As the dots are connected, true to form the revelations left me reeling!

Absolutely recommended - the perfect thriller to curl up with on a dark winters evening - if you dare!

I don’t know where to start with this because omg, this was a corker of a twist. I’ll be honest I didn’t think there would be a twist that could get me as much as the Daisy Darker one, but this did! I had cottoned on to a couple of things that the main character Grady Green had missed but I still was not expecting the reveal to be what it was!

Author Grady Green got the big news he was waiting for just before his wife Abby vanishes into mid air after stopping to help a woman in the middle of the road. His life falls apart and he can no longer write. His agent sends him to a strange remote Scottish Island to see if he can start to write again. Grady soon notices things in the island are not what they seem. He is still struggling with his wife’s disappointment, will the island be able to help him find some closure?

I just couldn’t put this book down. It is so fact paced and has been excellently executed and it may even top my book of the year list! Alice Feeney is the queen of twists and this did not disappoint.

I love Alice Feeney. If she wrote a cereal packet I would read it.

I loved this. Totally hooked from the beginning to the end
What a gripping read.

Thanks for the opportunity to review

A great, story full of twists and turns and intrigue. Keeps you engrossed all the way through and totally absorbed.

I am grateful to Pan Macmillan Publisher for giving me early access to this book.

This is the best book of the year. Alice Feeney is my favourite author. This is a mind-blowing book with killer twists. The book is twisted, suspenseful, dark, atmospheric and jaw dropping. The book will make you question everything and the twists will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is dark and truth is twisted. After reading the book, you will realise why the title fits so well. If you like Scottish island setting, atmospheric vibes, and a good revenge plot, read it.

Alice Feeney is an auto-buy of an author for me. She’s there with Lisa Jewell, CL Taylor, and Claire Douglas. An excellent writer of domestic noir and suspense reads that are pacy, gripping with a shocking twist or two at the end.

Most of the time her books are a hit for me, however this one didn’t quite work for me. I felt, for me personally, the reveal at the end just didn’t quite land and I wasn’t really with it. That being said sometimes it’s a taste thing. I just think maybe this one wasn’t to my taste.

This one is similar in themes to Rock, Paper, Scissors (Feeney’s earlier book) in that it follows a couple and the unraveling of their marriage. However that book was much superior in my eyes. This one is more of a slow burn with a vivid sense of place. It’s definitely atmospheric, moody and more eerie. I felt like the twist had potential but it just wasn’t executed in a compelling way. All that build-up and then it falls flat at the end. Although I did enjoy the build-up and the characters were intriguing enough. It had potential. Again this could be a taste thing. I will continue to anticipate Feeney’s future books. Again this is just my opinion. Other readers may feel differently.

I loved reading Alice Feeney's books.
And I loved this one. I read this on a holiday and it just enhanced that for me.

I love a thriller set on a remote island. I love it even more when the women of the island perplex a man.
I think this is one of those one sitting books that you will enjoy a lot.

I read this in two sittings! I have read one of the authors previous books and was pleased to be given a copy via netgalley! It’s a very easy read that I seemed to be half way through before I knew it!
After reading the synopsis, most of the anticipated plot happened in the first couple of chapters and I genuinely couldn’t guess where the book was going!
If you are looking for a book to get you out of a slump or some dark winter nights, this is it!

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.