Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly is a psychological thriller that defies easy categorization. At its core, it’s a story about marriage, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. But it’s also an exploration of isolation, creativity, and the thin line between reality and imagination. From the very first page, Feeney demonstrates her mastery of psychological suspense, crafting a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the final devastating revelation.
Plot and Structure
The story begins with author Grady Green experiencing what should be the best moment of his career – learning his latest book has hit the New York Times bestseller list. Instead, it becomes the worst night of his life when his wife Abby mysteriously disappears after stopping to help someone on a dark cliff road. A year later, still unable to write and haunted by her disappearance, Grady accepts his agent’s offer to stay at a remote cabin on the Isle of Amberly, a tiny Scottish island with strict rules and mysterious residents.
The novel’s structure is particularly impressive, alternating between:
The present-day narrative on the island
Flashbacks to the night of Abby’s disappearance
Chapters from Abby’s perspective one week before she vanished
The final revelations that tie everything together
Character Development
Feeney excels at creating complex, morally ambiguous characters. Grady Green is a masterfully crafted unreliable narrator—sympathetic yet suspicious, grieving yet calculating. His deteriorating mental state, exacerbated by insomnia and isolation, creates a compelling psychological portrait that keeps readers questioning his perception of events.
The supporting cast is equally well-developed:
Sandy MacIntyre, the enigmatic ferry operator and island sheriff
Kitty Goldman, the shrewd literary agent with hidden motives
The various women of Amberly, each harboring their own secrets
Abby herself, whose true nature is gradually revealed through multiple perspectives
Atmosphere and Setting
The Isle of Amberly deserves special mention as practically a character in its own right. Feeney’s description of the island is atmospheric and oppressive:
The ancient redwood trees that dominate the landscape
The complete absence of birds, adding to the unsettling atmosphere
The perpetually changing weather that mirrors the story’s mood
The isolation that both attracts and traps its inhabitants
Themes and Symbolism
The novel explores several interconnected themes:
Marriage and Identity
The ways couples change over time
The secrets we keep from those closest to us
The impact of betrayal on trust
Reality vs. Perception
The unreliability of memory
The effects of isolation on mental health
The blurring of truth and fiction
Power and Control
The dynamics between men and women
The role of community in enforcing social order
The relationship between authors and their stories
Writing Style and Technical Execution
Feeney’s prose is sharp and efficient, with a poetic edge that emerges in key moments. Her background as a BBC journalist shows in her ability to pace revelations for maximum impact. The writing is particularly strong in:
Creating mounting tension through subtle details
Using weather and landscape to enhance psychological states
Crafting dialogue that reveals character while advancing plot
Managing multiple timelines without losing momentum
Strengths
Beautiful Ugly showcases Alice Feeney at her best:
Intricate plotting that rewards close reading
Deep psychological insight into character motivation
Masterful misdirection that plays fair with readers
Themes that resonate beyond the immediate story
Areas for Improvement
While generally excellent, there are some minor issues:
The pacing occasionally slows in the middle section
Some secondary characters could be more fully developed
A few plot points require significant suspension of disbelief
The ending, while powerful, might be too dark for some readers
Comparison to Previous Works
Fans of Feeney’s previous novels (Sometimes I Lie, His & Hers, Daisy Darker) will recognize her trademark ability to craft shocking twists while maintaining emotional authenticity. However, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney represents a more ambitious examination of psychological manipulation and community control.
Impact and Relevance
The novel’s exploration of gender dynamics and power structures feels particularly timely. Feeney’s portrayal of an isolated community’s response to trauma raises questions about justice, revenge, and the price of protection.
Technical Elements
The book’s construction shows considerable skill in:
Maintaining multiple narrative threads
Managing time shifts effectively
Building tension through parallel storylines
Creating satisfying payoffs for carefully planted details
Final Verdict
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a sophisticated psychological thriller that transcends genre conventions. While it delivers the shocking twists Feeney is known for, it also offers a deeper meditation on marriage, identity, and the nature of justice.
Recommended for:
Fans of psychological thrillers with literary ambitions
Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators
Those interested in stories about isolated communities
Anyone who appreciates complex narratives about marriage and betrayal
Similar Books and Authors
Readers who enjoy Beautiful Ugly might also appreciate:
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Conclusion
Beautiful Ugly confirms Alice Feeney’s status as one of the most skilled practitioners of psychological suspense writing today. It’s a book that will keep you guessing until the end, then leave you thinking about its implications long after you’ve finished the final page. While it might be too dark for some readers, those who appreciate sophisticated psychological thrillers will find this a rewarding and thought-provoking read.