“Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney follows author Grady Green as he waits for a call from his publisher to announce his new status as a New York Times bestseller. However, when his wife is on her way home, she suddenly disappears. A year later, the grief-ridden Grady moves to a remote Scottish island to focus on writing a new book when he suddenly sees a woman who looks just like his missing wife. Is it her?
This novel is the definition of a psychological thriller. It reminds me of the Johnny Depp movie “Secret Window.” You just don’t know what to believe. Is Grady so sleep-deprived that maybe he’s hallucinating? Or is he really onto something? You just don’t know what to believe, but one thing is sure: Grady is completely struck by grief, to the point that it radiates off him. It’s so sad.
Let’s talk about the setting: the secluded Scottish island. It’s incredibly cut off from the outside world. Can you imagine? No cell phone service, no internet, and no landlines either! With beautiful surroundings, it’s the perfect place to be unwittingly stuck on an island. It’s the ideal setting for a psychological thriller.
The ending of this novel is really the cherry on top. It was shocking, and I felt a little betrayed by Grady. There are no red herrings to be picked up for the conclusion. It felt like it came out of nowhere, but in a good way. It was surprising!
Overall, I would recommend this story. It was very unique and enjoyable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
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Page Turning Thrills 