I recently delved into Alice Feeney’s latest thriller, Beautiful Ugly, and it truly captivated me from the start. As an avid fan of psychological thrillers, the intriguing premise of a husband dealing with the sudden disappearance of his wife caught my attention. I was particularly drawn to the added element of sound design mentioned in the book’s description, enhancing the listening experience; the thought of the ocean sounds and the tick-tock of a metronome captured my curiosity.
The story revolves around Grady Green, a struggling writer who faces the horror of his wife Abby going missing after a mysterious incident on her drive home. This setup alone had me on edge—what could have happened? Driven by grief and desperation, Grady retreats to a remote Scottish island in hopes of finding solace and inspiration. The isolation of the island adds a rich layer to the atmosphere, cultivating a sense of unease as Grady begins to suspect that he might be seeing Abby again.
One positive aspect I genuinely appreciated was the immersive experience brought out by the audiobook’s narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton. Their performances breathed life into Grady and Abby, making me feel deeply connected to their struggles. Several other readers echoed this sentiment, noting how the narration made the story engaging (shoutout to Reviewer Stacey Labissiere for highlighting this); it certainly held my attention throughout.
The compelling thrills don’t stop there. Many moments had me guessing about the twists and hidden truths behind the characters’ lives, engaging me beyond a simple plot unraveling. I found the writing quality to be skillfully layered, as noted by T. Sparks, who mentioned the “twisty story with unreliable characters.” This complexity is a hallmark of Feeney’s writing and certainly did not disappoint here. The contradictory narratives of Grady and Abby kept me questioning my assumptions, which I loved.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were notable drawbacks that detracted from my overall experience. Some reviewers pointed out that they found the initial pacing slow, and I have to agree to some extent. The early chapters took time to set up the background, which may deter readers who thrive on constant action. Additionally, as the plot progressed, I found certain twists to be convoluted, leaving me bewildered rather than thrilled. Reviewer shopper in VA echoed this feeling, noting a repetitiveness about Grady’s insomnia and how it detracted from the narrative.
One particular twist left me scratching my head—without divulging spoilers, it felt forced and detracted from all the built-up suspense. These moments left me craving clarity, while many plot threads seemed rather bizarre and far-fetched toward the end. As Aquakeke aptly mentioned, the conclusion was a bit of a letdown, leading me to wonder if I missed something pivotal.
Despite these drawbacks, Beautiful Ugly provided plenty of entertainment, with a gripping narrative that compelled me to read late into the night. The setting, writing, and character dynamics kept my fingers flipping the pages, and I found it to be an overall solid read, just shy of greatness.
In conclusion, while Beautiful Ugly presents a mesmerizing journey through grief, trust, and deception, the execution may not sit well with every reader due to its pacing and some twists. Still, if you enjoy psychological thrillers that make you think and question everything you read, this one should certainly be on your list. I wholeheartedly recommend it, keeping in mind its occasional hiccups. Four stars for an intense yet flawed experience!