Beautiful Bad

by Annie Ward

Overview

A perfect marriage reveals its dark secrets in this psychological thriller of a devoted wife, her veteran husband, and a shocking murder.

Maddie and Ian’s love story began with a chance encounter at a party overseas; he was serving in the British Army and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend, Jo. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian’s PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son; and the couple’s tangled and tumultuous past with Jo.

From the Balkans to England, Iraq to Manhattan, and finally to an ordinary family home in Kansas, sixteen years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781488099595
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	01/18/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	297
Sales rank:	457,681
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

ANNIE WARD has a BA in English Literature from UCLA and a MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. Her first short screenplay, Strange Habit, starring Adam Scott was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award winner at the Aspen Film Festival. She has received a Fulbright Scholarship and An Escape to Create Artists residency. She lives in Kansas with her family.

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2019

In 2001, Jo and Maddie are best friends living abroad in exciting (if somewhat dangerous) circumstances. When Ian, an attractive and dashing British army bodyguard, enters the scene, a subtle change creeps into Jo and Maddie's easy friendship. Ian and Jo have a barely hidden animosity, but no one will tell Maddie why. As Maddie gets closer to Ian, she disregards Jo's warnings about him and increasingly pushes her friend away. Nearly two decades later, Maddie and Ian are married with an adorable and precocious toddler, Charlie. A mysterious camping accident leaves Maddie scarred physically and emotionally, which leads her to begin writing therapy. Through Maddie's sessions she starts to realize secrets and emotions that were buried for years, and then she recalls a vicious murder. Ward (The Making of June) uses each chapter as a way to guide readers through the beginning of the relationships of Maddie, Jo, and Ian, usually through Maddie's point of view. Some chapters skip forward to the "Day of the Killing," divulging enough information to pique readers' interest but also to keep them guessing. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy suspense novels or thrillers, as well as fans of Paula Hawkins, Ruth Ware, and Liane Moriarty.—Jennifer Funk, McKendree Univ. Lib., Lebanon, IL

Library Journal

Harrowing…. Evocative descriptions and strong senses of time and place complement the intricate, intelligent plot, which shocks and chills.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Sometimes, a book completely takes you on a ride, and there’s nothing you can do but hold on and keep turning the pages….You’ll be so intrigued to find out who the killer is, you won’t stop until you do." —Real Simple

“Readers need to be off-the-charts clever to figure out who’s going to kill whom in this disturbing novel.” —Toronto Star

"Ward writes with the same compelling energy as you get in a blockbuster Netflix series. The original storyline and the expertly drawn minor characters will leave you suspecting everyone – and trusting no one." —Daily Mail

"Beautiful Bad is beautifully written, beautifully twisty – and beautifully twisted. A dark thriller with real psychological depth." -JP Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before

"As imaginatively constructed as it is compelling. Filled with unexpected twists, Beautiful Bad is a riveting read." –Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Anonymous Girl

"You won't be able to tear yourself away from the page. With fascinating characters that chill and horrify, the ending will leave you staggered." –Liv Constantine, author of the national bestseller The Last Mrs. Parrish

"Annie Ward explores a battle-scarred marriage on the brink of disaster in this deft debut. As touching and thought-provoking as it is terrifying, BEAUTIFUL BAD will leave readers spellbound. A buzzworthy read!" —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl and When the Lights Go Out

“A well-constructed thriller… brilliantly conceived… would do Patricia Highsmith proud.” —Booklist

“Recommended for fans of Paula Hawkins, Ruth Ware, and Liane Moriarty.” —Library Journal

“Utterly gripping and thrillingly original – I loved the unique settings. Cannot recommend this book highly enough.” —Karen Hamilton, #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Girlfriend

From the Publisher