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Beautiful Bad

By: Annie Ward
Narrated by: Xe Sands, Vivienne Leheny, Paul Fox
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Publisher's summary

A devoted wife, a loving husband, and a chilling murder that no one saw coming.

Things that make me scared: When Charlie cries. Hospitals and lakes. When Ian drinks vodka in the basement. ISIS. When Ian gets angry.... That something is really, really wrong with me.

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, 16 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.

©2019 Annie Ward (P)2019 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
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What listeners say about Beautiful Bad

Average customer ratings
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    3 out of 5 stars

Eh

I read a lot of good reviews for this book so I really wanted to like it but I just couldn’t get into it. My biggest issue is with the dialogue/narration. Some parts were extremely whiny and childish - more like high school girls than grown women. Also the twist was predictable. I’d recommend this book to those who are just starting to read books of this genre.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book!

Such a great read for both true crime buffs (hopefully you’ll understand what I mean if you read this book) and lovers of the dark & twisty!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!!

I’m an avid audible user. Multiple books a week. Most left unfinished because let’s face it, it’s next to impossible to beat your last good book. This book from start to finish is absolutely impressive. The narration .. especially the narration, but the storyline !!! I can only hope her other books, hopefully she has others, are as good as this was for me. Enjoy the ride!!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What The!!!

First of all, I love Xe Sands!
But the main character, Maddie, what a WhackADoo!!! I don’t know that I have ever felt so awful for a character that lead up to hating her more than any character I have ever listened to!
I loved this listen!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice Twist But....

This is a small complaint but it just showed up at the end of the book so it's fresh in my mind. Why are we told Charlie is 10 but he still talks like a 3 year old?
That aside, the book is pretty good despite a bit of whiny dialog from the lead character and some pretty awful romance scenes. Twist at the end makes up for the bad parts.

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Amazing Listen!!!

This was a great psychological thriller. The twists and turns were great.This book kept me on my toes and invested in the story and plot lying the entire time.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Didn't like the Ending

I really wish it ended better! I like a happy ending. I want the good guys to win, the guy to get the girl and the villain to get what they have coming to them. Good over evil. (spoiler) Don't get this book if that's what you want to read because it isn't going to happen.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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goox

I did enjoy the book. although I knew what was going on so I wad disjointed that I figured out out early.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Could not finish

Very long winded without much information. The everyday life of these people weren’t enough to listen to almost 11 hours. I stopped with 54 minutes left on 1.75 speed. Very surprised, the background seemed great just boring.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth a Credit!

Wasn’t expecting too much but this was an entertaining listen. There was a twist near the end that wasn’t that surprising but then one more at very end that I didn’t see coming. Enjoyed this overall. Listened at 1.25 speed for much of it.

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