Beautiful by Anita Waller
The Blurb
A Stunning Debut Thriller Full of Suspense
"In a year that has seen a few great psychological thrillers published, Beautiful is a standout because of its compelling simplicity." Crime Fiction Lover
"A remarkable debut that fills the void after Gone Girl… A very clever writer. All the makings of a best-seller" Betsy Reavley, author of the best-selling thrillers Carrion and The Quiet Ones
Book Description:
What happens when your innocence is taken away?
Amelia is a happy six years old. Then a chance encounter with a bad man, in the park changes everything
Can she ever recover from the trauma in her childhood?
This is Amelia’s story. Follow her as she discovers that life, love and loss can be a killer. And sometimes revenge can be beautiful…
This is Anita Waller’s stunning debut.
About Anita Waller
I live in Sheffield, UK. I am retired and have recently fulfilled my lifelong ambition of becoming a published author with Bloodhound Books. I am married (almost 50 years to Dave) with three children and seven grandchildren. I am a patchwork and quilting tutor as well as a writer. My first book was Beautiful and my second, a sequel to Beautiful, is called Angel.
My Review
Don't be fooled by the title, the word beautiful has dark and sinister connotations in this book. I have read most of Anita Waller's psychological thrillers but left it till now to read her debut novel, which doesn't really matter as she writes standalone novels. I know I've said it before, but Waller is masterful in her ability to craft characters, and not just the bad guys, but protagonists and those close to them, (because Waller's stories are usually family centred), that the reader is really going to care about. 'Beautiful' is no exception although it has to be said that the victim becomes impossible to like as we follow her story over the years. Amelia, has her childhood devastated by Treverick, a monster who is caught and serves eight years in prison for his unspeakable crime that he carried out on this girl. Because of his harrowing experience in prison, he has vowed vengeance on his victim and her family, and has physically changed his appearance beyond recognition to gain the family's trust and get close to them. The reader is kept guessing right up to the end who amongst these Walleresque likeable characters he is, but knows terrible things are going to happen. As with other Anita Waller novels there is a sequel to read, which I can't wait to get stuck into, but I'll have to read something else first and catch my breath, allow my blood pressure to settle down. If you're a suspense junkie like me, look no further than 'Beautiful.'
