Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney Narrator: Richard Armitage, Tuppence Middleton
Published by MacMillan Audio on January 14, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 9 hours, 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
This author always comes up with something rather creepy with a big twist. She gets you rooting for someone only to find out they are not what they seem
Beautiful Ugly is the story of an author and his wife who love each other but stop communicating well. Dire consequences follow. There’s the mystery of what happens when the wife disappears. Then the downfall of the husband as he can’t write without her and is financially ruined.
Finally, the husband goes to a remote cabin on a Scottish island owned by his agent. He has his dog and his quiet. He does something questionable but he does manage to start writing well. Because of his grief, or guilt, or lack of sleep or hallucinogenic tea or his drinking, he sees his missing wife everywhere.
There was sort of a feminist vibe to supporting women on the island. It seemed ironic with how they had no qualms about stealing money / work from men but wouldn’t consider that being done to a woman.
I won’t spoil the twists but there are some big ones. We get flashbacks from the wife leading up to her disappearance. The pacing was comfortable but I got a little bored with the creepy dreams / visions. But everything ended up starkly realistic.
Narration:
I don’t believe I have listened to these narrators previously but I appreciate their performance keeping me in the story. The voices were appropriate and allowed me to feel and think about the happenings. There were some accents which sounded right to me. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
About Alice Feeney
Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author. Her books have been translated into over twenty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Including Rock Paper Scissors, which is being made into a TV series by the producer of The Crown. Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in Devon with her family. Daisy Darker is her fifth novel.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
I am intrigued! This sounds like a good book to listen to when I need a distraction.
It’s twisty. I didn’t like the main characters too much though.
This sounds good and I like the setting.
yes the setting was fascinating.
I should be getting my preorder copy today. I’m excited to start this!
I hope you love it!
Love Richard Armitage!!!!
yes he is a narrator I enjoy too.
An isolated island and creepy visions sound like a good set up for a thriller.
Creepy is right and it’s a mind bender with twists. Twists are very Alice Feeney.
I love Richard Armitage’s narrations. I like how creepy this sounds.
It is creepy and with this author it always seems to have a mind bender too.
I read Daisy Darker and it was one that stuck with me. The twist was a sad one. I have this on hold at my library and hope it’s not sad.
Well because these usually have a murder mystery it can be sad. I did feel some sad but more creepy and twisted.
Sounds like an interesting story, although probably not one I’d read. Great review!
Thanks. It’s seriously creepy with big twists.
I’ve read 2 books by this author – one I DNF’d and the other (Daisy Darker) I enjoyed. I will have to pick this one up though I may skim the creepy dreams when they get too much!
I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve read but they stretch creepy for me and they are twisty.