Drip, drip, drip...the novel slowly exposes the murderer and the murdered leading to an ending with a twist that will surprise the reader. The novel focuses on 3 main people, Maddy, her best friend from high school, Joanna, and Ian, Maddy's husband. Maddy was living in Bulgaria on a Fulbright while Joanna was only an 8 hour bus ride away. While visiting her one day, Maddy meets her future husband when he was working as a soldier for British security. However, the book begins with a bang when a detective responds to an aborted phone call and discovers a bloody kitchen, a shattered phone, and silence throughout. There are three main alternating time lines, which were sometimes jarring to me, as we also get a glimpse of life where Ian is doing security detail in Nigeria and Maddy is undergoing therapy for severe anxiety..Issues of PTSD, the entanglements of friendship and the trials and tribulations of marriage and motherhood are deftly woven in this tragedy, elevating it to more than a simple domestic suspense novel.

Holy Moly!! This was such an exciting read. I had to know what happens next and next and next. The end had a spectacular “Wow” moment.

This is the story of Maddie who has two major life events which alter her in an unexpected way. As a young child she drowns and as an adult, she falls and damage greatly her face and possibly her brain. She is anxious and afraid of all the bad that is happening in the world. Her husband Ian travels a lot in war-stricken countries and suffers from PTSD. He is doing his best to protect his wife and Charlie, their son, but by doing so, he is causing major stress to Maddie. The stress is mounting, and their relationship is strained. To add to the matter, Maddie’s best friend Jo is adding to the fire because of her previous relationship with Ian. What will give?

Remember reading a book that took you by total surprise and made you realize how a deft turn of the phrase could perfectly tune your awareness aware from what is in front of you? Welcome to another one! This page turner will have you going back and rereading, knowing you missed signs! Twisted doesn't BEGIN to describe it, but it will stay with you for awhile! I see this one making it to the theatres, so read it as soon as it comes out and be in the know before your friends!

3.5/4 This book has a lot of really good pieces in it; I'm just not sure that they all fit together. I loved the "before" sections in Bulgaria and Macedonia. For me, that could have been the book. We could have had more insight into Joanna's dealings and there's your thriller right there. Then we add in a love triangle, a crazy ex, doomsday prepping, past trauma, and it all gets to be a little much. Needless to say, not a boring book at all.

I found this book so very predictable. Maddie, Joanna and Ian are the three main adult characters. Maddie is the main narrator and the book goes back and forth over the years, mostly from Maddie's point. I did not like her and I have read plenty of books where I did not like the character of the narrator but still enjoyed the book. Not so much with this one. Too predictable.

Different viewpoints and time periods weave together to create a tension that keeps you flipping pages. The author draws out the readers emotions with these complex and compelling characters. This is one you will continue thinking about long after the end.

This is one of those few books with no likeable or relatable characters. The layout is a little confusing as the narrative shifts to different times. The times are defined in the chapter heading, but even so I found it hard to keep track. The characters are realistic and have some depth. The story itself is about relationships between the various characters. The bickering is handled very well. As you read, a growing sense of foreboding develops, but who is in danger isn't known until late in the book. The ending is a groaner, which leaves no doubt about the title.

I am one of the rare few who did not like this book. It definitely had potential for me but I felt that it didn't quite get there. When reading through and seeing the behavior of Ian and yet Maddie continuously takes it?? There were red flags the entire time I was reading the book. I will however give it an extra star for the twist at the end, however upon reflection Maddie is a self-absorbed woman who wants her way and damn anyone who tries to be in her life. I would not read this book again.

WOW. It has been awhile since I’ve read anything that I would describe as gripping. I absolutely could not put this book down, and I was so mad at myself for not figuring out the plot! (It’s a doozy!) I enjoyed the various viewpoints and the different locations that the book took place as well. This would make a fantastic movie!

At first, this seemed like a very predictable kind of domestic thriller. It started strong, but then slingshotted back to the past. Actually, by the middle of the book, I was so distracted that I forgot about the opening events. Much of the story backtracks through the main character Maddie’s European travels. It dragged on during those pages, and could have been pared down by about 20% without losing steam.

As the story switches back to present day, the suspense started to build. I didn’t want to stop reading, which is hard when the chapters are short because “just one more chapter” is usually my self-regulator. The constant on-again-off-again of the Maddie/Ian relationship had me rolling my eyes.

So, I’m aware that it sounds like I didn’t like the book. I really did! In fact, I waited a couple of days to post my review just so that my musings would have time to stop swirling in my mind. In essence, the book really was good. It surprised me in a way that I don’t usually experience with this genre. The rocky romance made for a decent drama while the murder mystery had me questioning everyone in the story. The day after reading this, I passed it on to my friends at work. Can’t wait to hear what my friends think of it.

Wow! I just finished and I really don’t know what to say about this book. It was very well written but also disturbing in its own way. This is an intriguing psychological thriller/love story that gave me an eerie feeling at the end. I liked the story even though I didn’t like any of the characters very much. Ian, Jo and Maddie are so damaged as people that it’s amazing they had relationships with anyone, let alone each other. Each chapter is told by from a different point of view so I could get into the head of each character. I didn’t like all the jumping from past to present and back again but that was a minor issue. It started off rather slow and dragged in places but in other places I couldn’t read it fast enough. I don’t want to give away any of the story but if you like twisty psych thrillers, you’ll probably like this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I could hardly put this book down. The format of the book...jumping from character to character was a bit difficult at first but got easier as I read. Maddie was truly a character that was like a chameleon, changing and changing as story progressed. I went from feeling sorry for her to not liking her throughout the book. The author really showed us a unique character and story

I loved this book. The first chapter completely hooked me, and the mystery at the heart of the novel kept me reading late into the night. The setting was also unique to the story, and the relationship development between Ian and the main character. I am so excited to share my love for this book on my blog later this week.

This book was great! Ward does a great job of weaving the story of past and present together in a way that you don't realize what was truly going on until the last page. Well done!

I'm not exactly sure what I should rate this book, it's a hard one. I loved the thought and the basis but the presentation not so much. I loved that this book touched on the reality of PTSD in a marriage, it's something that is not often discussed and happens more often than we seem to think. But I thought this book could have cut out a huge chunk of unnecessary information that just, in n my opinion bored the reader a bit. The book had a fantastic beginning, and started off great with a 911 call that grabs the readers attention. But then in the middle it slows right down. I usually like books in reverse chronological order but this one just didnt so it for me due to the incredibly slow middle of the book. But I found myself starting to dislike both of the characters.
This was not a bad book, it was good just not great in terms of pace and keeping the readers attention. I'm sure others really enjoyed it but I just feel this book wasn't for me so I had to give it 3 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC to review.

This is a dark psychological thriller told from different perspectives across different time lines.
It is also a slow burner, and I had some trouble keeping track of all the POVs and different time lines.
But once this was sorted out, the novel became quite absorbing with lots of twists and surprises that held my attention throughout.
The ending didn't leave loose ends which is sure a positive sign.

Interesting & different.

A little too much backstory, getting to know the characters and relationships and how everything comes to pass. That said, the book is good and the ending was nicely tied up, which is always a plus in my opinion.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this title!*

Maddie fell in love with Ian overseas, when she was writing a travel guide and he was working with the British Military. It took years before they finally got married, but once they did, and had baby Charlie, things looked fairly idyllic from the outside. Until Maddie had an accident during a camping trip and ended up with a scar. Until Ian started hoarding survivalist supplies in the basement. Until the day of a brutal, bloody murder in the family home. Told in alternating perspectives between Maddie and Ian, and including excerpts from Maddie's writing therapy, this book is intended to keep you guessing until the very end.

*My Notes* This book was trying so hard to be Gone Girl. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't particularly original. I wish I'd liked it more!

Beautiful Bad was an interesting psychological thriller about a husband and wife that spans 3 timelines and deals with heavy issues such as unrest in Eastern European countries, PTSD, and potential domestic abuse. It opens with a 911 call in a small Kansas town and the caller saying "please help us. hurry!" When the officer arrives there is a lot of blood, a scared little boy, and a scene that is clearly nefarious and is called "The Day of the Killing". We then travel back to 2001 and to the weeks before the killing. The timelines to me were a bit difficult to grasp at first but made more sense and were easier to understand further into the book.
In 2001, Maddie is living in "the darkest, most forgotten corner of Europe", the soviet Bloc and is teaching English. Her friend Jo Is not far in Macedonia on the Greek border doing humanitarian work for women and children. Both of the women are there as "do-gooders" but spend a majority of their free time meeting men and enjoying the bar scene in countries that are war torn and on the brink of civil war. During their time there, Maddie meets Ian, a British body guard, and instantly falls in love with him. Ian is a bit rough; he smokes, he drinks, he womanizes but still, Ian and Maddie cannot deny their connection.
In the weeks prior to the Killing we learn that Ian and Maddie are married and Maddie has recently taken a serious fall while camping . She has been left a large scar and amnesia about what happened that night. She starts to see a writing therapist to try to rectify what really went on.
The story goes back and forth in this way, from the past, to just before the killing to the day of the killing, slowly filling you in on who these 3 people are, and how this tragic end came to be. It is a mystery, a thriller, and Eastern European history lesson all in one- with a big twist at the end. I love good twists and this one is pretty shocking.
I really enjoyed the depth to which the author knew her European current events and was able to create characters with such depth and history. I felt like I knew them. The plot was thorough and didn't leave plot gaps. I am always amazed when an author can create such an intricate plot inside their head. It is an insane gift and I look forward to reading more from Annie Ward.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

2 1/2 stars

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley.

The first 2 pages of this book were amazing, and really sucked me right in. Unfortunately, they were the best part of the entire book. It went downhill from there.

I questioned a lot of things while reading this.

1. That whole huge estrangement between Maddie and Jo never made any sense to me.

2. I didn’t understand how Maddie and Ian could be so much “in love”. There never seemed to have been much of a relationship between the two of them. (I pretty much grind my teeth over Insta-Love!)

3. I thought Ian was rolling in it and that money was no problem? Why couldn’t he pay the airfare for his family to come to his wedding?

4. Am I really supposed to be satisfied with that ending? Yeah, right. I love character development, and just hate it when… SURPRISE!... it ends up meaning nothing at all to the story. Up is down and black is white. BS!

Sorry, but this style of book is feeling very same old – same old. Once again, here we have a psychological thriller featuring an unreliable female protagonist, and it is written as a dual timeline. I guess that is what sells right now, but quite frankly, I’ve had enough for a while. This ship needs to sail!