I love anything that Alice Feeney writes and I was not disappointed by her latest book – Beautiful Ugly.
Grady Green is an author who has just found out his book made it on the US bestseller list. He calls his wife as she is driving home to share the exciting news. While on the phone, he hears her slam on the brakes, get out of the car and then dead silence. When he arrives at the scene, her car is on the cliff edge with the door open, her phone on the seat, but she has completely disappeared.
One year later and Grady is still traumatised by his wife’s disappearance, so his agent sends him to a tiny Scottish island to get back to writing and overcome his grief. The little island is stunning, but Grady feels unsettled. He keeps imagining his missing wife everywhere he goes. The locals are friendly enough, but things seem a little off. Grady questions his sanity and wonders if it’s grief, insomnia, alcohol or something more sinister going on.
The title of the book is perfect as the island lifestyle is beautiful but there is something ugly underneath it all. This is a slow burn mystery, with a plot twist to make your head spin. An awesome read!
-Kim, RRL
