Book Review

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Published January 14, 2025 by Macmillan Audio

I was really excited for this book! I love a good twisty, mystery. The audiobook is narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, and I thought they both did a fantastic job narrating. Despite being a tad slow paced, Thorin, oops! I meant Richard :), and Tuppence really brought it to life along with the various sound effects. I always enjoy when there are multiple narrators.

Grady is an author who's wife mysteriously goes missing one evening on her way home while she's on the phone with Grady. A year later he is still haunted by her disappearance. He's grief stricken, can't write, and he's losing everything. His agent offers him the use of a secluded cabin on a small Scottish Island, and he accepts in the hopes that he will be able to write again.

Once on the island he begins seeing glimpses of his wife, hearing her voice, and noticing that the locals all seem a bit strange. He starts to think he may be losing his mind. As I said, I love good twists, but with this book, I felt lied to, in a sense. I can't say much without getting into spoilery territory, but it all seemed a bit far fetched.

I like Feeney's writing style, and the audiobook was very well done, but that ending! I'm still scratching my head over it.

Rating: ★★★★