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.

Wow wow wow wow wow!

What a book. I could not put it down.

This is Alice Feeney at her finest.

I will be telling all my friends and family to read this

A slow build up but well worth reading on.
Terrific psychological suspenseful and full of drama.
Fabulously written characters and everything you expect from this talented author.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Wow… Just WOW! A beautifully written tale of an ugly situation.

What an incredible read and what a book to follow up with after her amazing Daisy Darker. Feeney, in my opinion has found her niche in the world of crime fiction. If you want an atmospheric, compelling psychological thriller Alice Feeney has a created her own very special blend served with a twist of suspense.

If you hadn’t guessed already I loved this book by Alice Feeney. From the moment I picked it up I was captivated by her writing and the unsettling island of Amberley. Similar to Daisy Darker this book is a ‘closed door’ tale whereby all the characters and the tale unfolds in a place that is inescapable and truly unsettling.

Had this book been a dark comedy you’d be forgiven for comparing the island and it inhabitants as similar to those who lived in Sandford in the movie Hot Fuzz ‘it’s for the greater good’. But as there is little light relief in the oppressive nature of the situation, Amberley is one of a kind. Whilst I’m referencing movies there is a slight nod to The Shining in how Grady slowly begins to loose his grip on reality.

The bit that stands out the most to me about this book is the ending and that’s where Alice Feeney really comes into her own. This is the type of book that you read rapidly and absorb every single word and yet when you get to the end you question what you’ve read and if you were actually paying attention?

Beautiful Ugly and her Daisy Darker - both have echoes of Sarah Pinborough’s finale to Behind Her Eyes. I know I’m referencing a lot of other peoples’ work here but when you look at what I’ve referenced collectively, (Hot Fuzz, The Shining & Behind Her Eyes) I don’t think that’s a bad place to demonstrate how clever this book really is!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

After Good Bad Girl, I couldn’t help having hugely high hopes for the new Alice Feeney book. It was so original and clever. Beautiful Ugly, I would say, is a return to a more classic Alice Feeney psychological thriller - for me, not AS special and stand-out as Good Bad Girl, but still a cut above most for the genre.

Grady Green has the perfect life. As he waits to find out if his latest novel has the made the Times Bestseller List, he just wants his wife Abby to get home to share the moment with him. But whilst on the phone to her on her drive home, she gets out of the car to help someone in the road - and completely vanishes! A year later, he is struggling to write and running out of money. When he’s offered the chance to stay in a cabin in a very remote island off the coast of Scotland to concentrate on writing his next novel, he grabs the opportunity. But when he gets there, he is sure he spots his missing wife…

I felt like it took a while to really get going. But slowly the atmosphere built and built until it seemed the island became a character of its own and started kicking out serious Midsommar vibes! As Grady learns more about the island, its history and its inhabitants, things get very claustrophobic. Coupled with his own doubt as to whether or not he’s hallucinating from lack of sleep and the island curious tea, it’s hard to know who or what to be wary of - for both him and the reader!

I had no idea how things were going to turn out, and it was a clever story - BUT I wish there was a bit less of one character explaining all at the end which always comes off a bit unnatural to me. Still, a very enjoyable read which was hard to put down.

Wow, wow, wow. This is such a cleverly written book and definitely my favourite Alice Feeney read so far. It kept me guessing throughout and really makes you question what is reality. The characters were well written and intriguing and I was gobsmacked at the ending. Definitely one of my favourite reads recently.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review, thank you!

My first book from Alice Feeney was Rock Paper Scissors which was a great and chilly thriller. So when I saw that her next novel was available, I immediately requested it. The specialty of Beautiful Ugly lies in the slow unfolding of events.
We meet Grady, whose wife Abby disappeared under mysterious circumstances a year earlier. What started as one of the best nights of his life (his book became a New York Times bestseller that day) turned into the worst when his wife disappeared during their phone conversation. As a result of the events, Grady suffers from insomnia and is unable to continue writing. His fortune slips out of control and he is forced to live in a cheap London hotel with Columbo, his dog. Then his agent offers him her house on a small Scottish island, to see if the change of environment and silence will help him with his writing. However, after strange, unexplained events on the Island of Amberly, Grady begins to doubt his sanity.

The atmosphere of the novel helps the reader imagine how isolated and lonely life can be on an island with a small population (25 people). Feeney's stories do not engage the reader with fast-paced events and action-packed scenes. Rather, by presenting the darkest recesses of the soul and emphasizing isolation. In Rock Paper Scissors, the accomodation is covered in snow, and here the inaccessibility of the island is meant to highlight this.

The plot was really interesting and I loved the conclusion of the story but sometimes I felt that it was a bit slow and too mysterious (that is the reason of the 4*).

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 30th Jan 2025. I adored the setting of this book. Alice Feeney does it again she is queen of twists and turns and oh my goodness there were plenty in this book!

It was rollercoaster of a plot with many unexpected turns throughout I was glued to my kindle! The book explores the themes of marriage/ grief and how far one will go for vengeance.

A masterpiece of a book full of psychological suspense and drama; everything you want in a domestic thriller! Wow, wow what an ending I couldn’t believe it! I was gobsmacked so much so I had to read it twice!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

Thank to the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC

First I want to say that I always find Feeney's books mental they are so twisty and while not set in a fantasy world they are so far removed from reality they are beyond belief but the really clever thing is all the themes and issues she explores are very much real and very topical.

This was no expedition what opens with a rather shocking scene of a woman going missing while on the phone to her husband this a book from the off where you know something isn't right.

It fast forwards a year later where hear in the first person POV from Grady the husband here is where is I started to find the book less exciting first off Grady has to be worse and dumbest characters I've read in a while he is everything that is world with mediocre white men( probably the writers point given the themes that are explored in the book) not only is he is pain the disappearing of his wife isn't really probably discussed other than to say how it's effecting him, it's ruined his life I found this a little hard to believe he is meant to be successful writer but since his wife has been missing he is now penniless and homeless. After meeting with his agent he quickly packs up and head to remote Scottish island to write his next bestseller this done on a moments notice after his agent offers this solution. It really moves quick and this for me didn't work it lacked padding and background everything goes a warp speed then kinda drags a bit then picks up at the need. While he is on the island it became like the old DS game Prof Layton all he really does is wonder around the island meeting folk whom he instantly is not sure of and starts to let his imagination run away with him it becomes a little boring in places and he becomes even more annoying and stupid . These chapters are intertwined with chapters from Abby the wife set just before she disappeared. Between the two voices I started to get sense both were unreliable narrators. this started to give the book more an edge.

Things I really loved about the book were the island setting. The map at the front of the novel is a great guide at giving the reader a view of a visual of the layout of the island as to be honest while Feeney writes some beautiful pieces about the island and nature I felt I couldn't have got a visual layout of the locations without the map. The full isolation part of the island is my favourite type of setting ever since reading And Then Were There None I have devoured books with a mystery and a isolated island this along the eerie things on the island, the islanders and the general mystery of Abby all make for quite creepy reading almost horror like in nature. Think whickerman!!!! Towards the end it is very nightmarish. I loved the issues raised in the book and how the author presented them she makes such valid points about woman and their place in society.

Things I wasn't sure of were the pacing of the book, the characters and the ending. It was a bit far fetched and the pacing was confused for me. The ending was a little of little down but I did like final bit.

All in all I enjoyed this book it was more than usual domestic noir books. It made me think of quite important issues in a unique way that was actually quite pleasurable to read it was a like a extreme revenge plot on all bad men without that overly serious or dark comedy way that so many books have been of recent times.

Fans will maybe find it lacks the start quality of her earlier works but this will be a hit

3.5 stars

Author Grady Green should be having the best day: after years of working, his book is a New York Times bestseller, and he wants to celebrate with his wife Abby. However, when she’s heading home, she gets out of her car and is never heard from again. A year later, Grady’s not himself. No longer solvent, happy and in the midst of grief, his agent sends him to a remote Scottish island to write the next bestseller. But while there – and, well, fond of the stronger beverages – Grady spots his wife’s dead ringer. It’s not possible but then the island has an otherworldly quality to it: no phones, no internet and – where possible – no tourists. This is a captivating read full of the twists and turns we’d expect from Alice’s work but are no less brilliant when you witness them.

This book made me feel like I was going crazy. An unreliable narrator, inconsistent information, and being fed the tiniest hints as the book progressed meant I was trying to guess what the hell was going on but it was literally impossible. A very spooky book that gave me shivers in places. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed but other than that a great book

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Gave me whiplash and mad anxiety.
This book is so creepy and twisted and filled with plot twist that no one could predict.
It’s given me a bit of fear of Scotland. Which is wild because I LIVE in Scotland.
Story is interesting and I was hooked from the beginning.
Only read one book from this author before this one and will definitely be reading more.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this earc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My review is based on my own opinion and has not been influenced.

Alice Feeney's latest novel, "Beautiful Ugly," is a haunting and exquisitely dark examination of marriage, vengeance, and the delicate boundary between seclusion and solitude. The narrative centers on Grady Green, an author who, following a personal tragedy, retreats to a secluded Scottish island to pen his next work. Immersed in his isolated environment, Grady becomes haunted by visions of his missing wife, propelling him on a convoluted path of self-exploration and the unearthing of a sinister secret.

The island, initially appearing as an idyllic haven for a writer, gradually reveals its true nature. Much like people, places can seem pleasant at first glance, only to show their true colors upon closer inspection. We inhabit a world rife with animosity and pain, yet there remains love and light for those who seek it. Every individual harbors the capacity for both virtue and vice, perceiving right and wrong through a subjective lens. Our society's obsession with an illusory ideal of beauty and perfection has led to a homogenized world, where people mimic one another in a relentless pursuit of conformity, often missing the broader perspective. We have to accept that while we may not change the world, but uniqueness should be celebrated rather than feared or condemned. Life encompasses both beauty and ugliness, and we must learn to embrace both aspects, finding light within the darkness. The world, relationships, and people are all "Beautiful Ugly." Recognizing this duality makes existence more bearable.

Feeney masterfully infuses the narrative with a dreamlike ambiance, creating an atmosphere that is charmingly deceptive on the surface and ominously complex beneath. The characters are intricately developed, with Grady's tormented psyche serving as the story's focal point. Feeney's prose is meticulously crafted, achieving a delicate balance of wit and dread that keeps readers engaged. It is intriguing how Grady's world revolves around himself and his literary pursuits, driving him to extreme measures. His deepest fears—of abandonment and oblivion—surpass even the fundamental human fears of death, abandonment, and failure, which we confront daily.

The novel delves into themes of marriage, grief, and the extents to which one will go for retribution. Feeney explores the profound depths of human emotion, scrutinizing the impact of isolation and the repercussions of past deeds. The narrative's twists and turns are both unexpected and indelible, prompting readers to question the nature of reality and the fragility of relationships.

The island's isolation imbues the novel with an eerie undertone, intensifying the tension with each page. "Beautiful Ugly" stands as a masterwork of psychological suspense, a poignant relationship drama, and a testament to Feeney's prowess as a storyteller. It is an exceptional read that resonates long after the final page.

Absolutely brilliant!

Oh my God! I devoured this one! What an amazing read which is a page turner for sure. As always Alice Feeney knocks it out of the park. I literally shrieked with joy when I received this book and rightly so when it comes to Alice Feeney. An auto buy author for a reason and this book once again proves why.

The story, writing style, leads and supporting characters are brilliantly charted out. Did not see the end coming and that's what makes this brilliant. As usual amazing use of the location and atmosphere to bring in the fear and nail biting thriller. I loved the premise of the book and without giving any spoilers the underlying themes and settings here. I swear some of the twists literally made me turn back a page.

Coming to the characters and how we sometimes perceive ourselves and others is beautifully written. The themes of family (at times beyond blood), love, insecurity and loss is again weaved well. A brilliant read that is my top book for the year for sure. Please pick this up and you will not regret it! Alice Feeney does it again and brilliantly!

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
Wonderfully atmospheric and beautifully written this is Alice Feeney at her best. A brilliant array of characters bring this story to life as the author leads the reader on a tantalising and intriguing journey and you have no idea where she is taking you. Super creepy, full of intrigue and suspense this soon becomes a highly addictive read. And. That. Ending. It will leave you scrambling back through the book. Insane! A five star read from the genius that is Alice Feeney