Beautiful

Beautiful #1

by Anita Waller

“A remarkable debut that fills the void after Gone Girl” from the bestselling author of Angel and the Kat and Mouse Murder Mysteries (Betsy Reavley, bestselling author of Broken).   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 . . .   “In a year that has seen a few great psychological thrillers published, Beautiful is a standout because of its compelling simplicity.” —Crime Fiction Lover   “You’ll be left thinking about this book long after you finish it.” —Florrie Palmer, songwriter and author of The Decoy

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2015

About the author

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.

Reviews

[The Badger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, damn! As if the book itself wasn't disturbing enough (and don't get me wrong--it WAS good), I just read the author profile and learned that Anita Waller is a 70+ patchworking/quilting granny of 7 kiddos. I can imagine sleepovers at Grandma's:

Anita: Now that everyone's tucked into their serial killer-themed patchwork quilts, who wants a bedtime story?

Kiddo 1: NO! Uhm... I mean, I'm good.

Kiddo 2: There's a clown under my bed.

Kiddo 3: PLEASE don't turn off any lights; everyone got really grumpy when you forgot and I had to make a fire...

Kiddo 4 (softly): I may or may not have a knitting needle under my pillow...

Kiddo 5: Are you sure Kiddo 4 was born the normal way or did she crawl out of one of Granny's books?

Kiddo 6: Are we having Stephen King character pancakes for breakfast tomorrow? I'm perfectly fine with granola instead.

Kiddo 7: Gran? Can you not watch us sleep this time? Your subconscious thoughts terrify me, and I'm only 5.

Anyway, back to the serious mundane... What merited the 3 star rating, was the vilification of Amy's character, especially right after the trauma. Having worked with child survivors of sexual trauma, I've exhausted myself trying to get foster parents and caretakers to understand that the behaviors they're seeing, no matter how extreme, can't be used to label the child as "bad." They're simply making the wrong choices, but those choices don't define them. Are they pooping in the corner? That's because they WANT you to hate them, because they HATE themselves. They will do everything to prove their belief that they are useless, broken, and unloveable.

The character of Amy morphs into a psychopath, and that is contradictory to nature, as psychopaths are born, not made through experience (such as with sociopaths). However, Amy is very much NOT a sociopath, as she's meticulous and organized in her plots to hurt (and kill) others.

In reality, child victims of sexual trauma (both females and males, but mostly females) usually turn to self-destructive behaviors (drug/alcohol addictions, controlling relationships, prostitution, etc.) that lead to re-victimization. And sexual offenders, such as Amy's rapist, have the highest rate of recidivism of ANY criminal. So maybe it's time for other countries to realize that some people really DO need life in prison, especially if their release means more lives ruined.

Flashback to my OWN grandmother warning me from the age of 4 not to trust men, because of the things they liked to do to little girls, and then taking me out to lunch (remember, I'm still 4) and teaching me how to flirt with the waiter. Until recently it was just another wacky grandma anecdote, and were she alive today I'd point out the mixed messages I was getting. I just thank Bast that I was never outfitted with extensions as a toddler and made to twerk on stage in order to become the bitchiest 3-year-old in a tiara and mink eyelash extensions in daycare. If it's illegal to sexually abuse your kid, it should be illegal to sexually exploit them and take away their childhood as well.

Steps off soapbox...

Trips...

Fuck--almost a perfect exit!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I found Beautiful thought provoking and at times disturbing - also, very well written.

At the start we're introduced to a small girl who's been brutally sexually attacked by a stranger. Her parents who do their best to help her heal from her terrible psychological injuries. (There's a minimum of explicit description about this.)

I was pulled in from the start and had to find out what happens to her. The characters are well developed, the dialog convincing. There are some quite chilling moments from early on and a great twist later... (There are some annoying formatting issues in the version I read - the section breaks have not been marked.)

I have to say that I was shocked and quite disturbed by the ending - it certainly made a deep impression on me.

The novel explores themes of responsibility and revenge. To what extent can we hold someone responsible for the crimes they commit, when they themselves have been deeply hurt by the crimes of others?

Highly recommended if you can take a novel that deals with dark subject matter - and doesn't pull its punches!

[Craig Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book,

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to read Captor by Anita Waller and saw in someone’s review about her book beautiful which I had read a while ago but decided to read it again.
The book is a dark story that gets under you’re skin and even though I’d read it before the ending still shocks me!!

[Rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Disturbing, haunting, with a final twist I didn't expect.
A hard-to-read book but definitely worth it, it was amazing, you truly don't know everything til the very end!

[Babus Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first book in the Beautiful series recounts the horrific attack on Amelia and the effect on her family and life since that point. I, uncharacteristically, have read the second book in the series before I read this first book and must admit I found the second book much more intriguing.

The series covers themes that are difficult reading but does so in a sensitive manner appropriate to the story. I wish I had read the books in order but if I had to chose one I would read the second book as it just seemed an altogether better read with more rounded characters.

If you haven't read the second book in the series then I would definitely recommend reading this first book before you start the second, but if like me you've already read the second I wouldn't prioritise reading this one and would probably wait for the third book.

[Livia Sbarbaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia's story will touch your heart.. .and get under your skin...Chilling..

Amelia ,six years old ..the precious and beautiful daughter of Jack and Brenda is playing in the fields one day.In the shadows a man is watching and before this day is over...this man has destroyed her innocence and discarded her like a rag doll..This day though four lives are changed forever...The attacker Treverick is caught and sentenced...Amelia and her family have their own sorrows to carry..Amelia is left scarred by this so deeply...There are two boys at her school who always protect her David and John...But there's something dark about Amelia. she keeps everything inside....When Amelia goes off to another school she believes this is her fresh start ..only the past has a habit of catching up with the present...Meanwhile Treverick the monster who destroyed Amelia's innocence is making plans of his own..he has all the time in the world...Amelia marries...yet there is something ammiss about Amelia...She has a husband who loves her..a handsome, rich successful man....who just wants to give her the world and loves her so deeply...After repeated rejection ....will he stay or leave her...When tragedy strikes ...those that have always loved Amelia... begin to see a dark side... But there are darker forces here hidden...that are waiting to uncoil... and when this happens... nothing will ever be the same....I read this in half a day...My God ...this story is heart breaking yet such a pageturner...There are secrets...lies..betrayal ..murder... And a darkness ...so terrifying.... that lurks almost invisible. ...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start with, due to the nature of the storyline, I did find this novel hard to read as it is quite upsetting.

Amelia is a beautiful and carefree six year old. She is the apple of her parents eye and is very much full of life. Her innocence is sadly ripped away from her after an horrific attack that changes her life for ever.

Reading the story of Amelia whilst she was growing up was quite heartbreaking. Her childhood has been ripped away from her and her parents have lost the happy little girl that they knew before the attack.

You could really feel the heartache and pain from Brenda and John's point of view. Their daughter has understandably changed due to her ordeal. The relationship they once had with their daughter has sadly gone and they don't know if they will ever get their little girl back.

Due to the attack, Amelia wants to be different from the girl she once was, she changes her name to Amy in the hope of distancing herself from the horrendous event that has changed her.

As Amy (Amelia) gets older the reader gets to see how much of an effect the attack has had on her. At times I just wanted to hold her tight and other times I wanted to give her a good slap.

There are so many lovely characters in this story and the immediate people in Amy's life really want to help her and be there for her. Sadly Amy just seems to be on a mission of self destruct. She cant get over what has happened to her or forget abut the man that caused it all.

Beautiful is quite a haunting story that is steeped with sadness and heartbreak, with a shocking beginning and an even more shocking ending, this is a book not to be missed.

[Kanchana Bandara-Coore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsettling

Twisted plot, and we are kept guessing until the end. A very depressing story line, with no redemption. I am not sure if it was a deliberate technique used by the author to create an unsettling effect, but the way the paragraphs ran into each other and a new conversation began between a different set of characters without warning or even a little extra spacing, got to be very annoying to read. I completed the book because I wanted to know who the villain was, but it's not the type of story I would want to read again, and not interested in the sequel either. I prefer stories with a little more hope .

[John]

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.'

[Shervin Jamali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what great storytelling with plenty of tension and heartbreak. Right around chapter fifteen is when I started absorbing the tale at break-neck speed, eager to find out what was going to happen next. This might be a difficult read for some. A prominent event that molds the story, the characters, is the rape of a child, which occurs on the very first page. But it is handled with care by the author; not gratuitous, not detailed. Also, the protagonist, Amy, is not a likable character; quite the opposite. But I don’t need to like the protagonist, quite prefer not to actually, as long as the character is complex, flawed, multi-layered and interesting. Amy most certainly is all of those. I often found myself thinking, one more chapter and I’ll take a break, which led to six or seven more read. I even neglected some work today to finish the book. The climactic ending will punch you in the face! Waller is a new author to me and I look forward to reading the sequel, "Angel."

[Gail McGlashan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I finished this book, the author's first, and it was entertaining to a degree, it's got quite a few confusing chronology flaws dealing with time passed and age of the characters. There are several abrupt jumps throughout between one thought in one sentence paragraph and the onto a completely jarring jump to new characters and follow-on subject(s) with no transition between paragraphs, thoughts nor any section break, which I believe is more important. The story and especially it's end are sick. And self-serving to continue on (I assume based on the author's acknowledgments section, with more sickness with the adopted daughter. I do not intend to read further in this "series". I got this because it was free to read via Kindle Unlimited subscription and Is read this authors Kat and Mouse series, which I enjoyed much more, but aren't flawless either.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and thought provoking read. Extremely well written with compassion and understanding for a little girl lost of her innocence and childhood at the tender age of six. This book takes you on a journey through her life. Will she ever forget....forgive...move on? A loving caring supporting family, a childhood sweetheart...her protector from the start. However, there is something they don't know, only the reader will!
Well done Anita Waller for engaging me with your writing yet again. A fabulous book.

[Kim Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

The 4 is only because Any never sought help and everyone seemed to ignore or cover up all for her.
It was very saddening that the rapist/murderer killed her and escaped yet again.
This book and each character in it are all well developed. Each character is believable, the storyline is very well written, as if the author had been right with Amy all the way through her horrible journey.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book involves a very uncomfortable storyline. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish this book, but I am so pleased I did. The book begins in the 1950's, when a 6 year old child is horrifically assaulted. There is no graphic descriptions but one's imagination is enough. It now follows the life of Amy who has to cope with life. The suspense is heightened throughout the book, as Amy lives her life. Superbly and tastefully written. Gripping psychological read.

[David Liscio · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dog does not like Anita Waller because for two days I have been late walking him while I read Beautiful. There's plenty to like about this psychological thriller. The character development is spot on and the dialogue keeps the story moving. Must say I didn't see the end coming, which shows the writer's skill. I haven't told my dog yet, but I'm about to start reading Angel.

[M T · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading so many glowing reviews I thought I was reading the wrong book. The basic storyline is good but this book needed some serious editing. The way the paragraphs ran into each other makes it very confusing and hard to follow. I also feel the author needs to research the effects of sexual abuse on children and the subsequent behavioural issues.

[Dawn Charlton-Strang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written.

Read these two books in the wrong order. This Did not distract from my enjoyment at all. They were both brilliant. Away now to download Anita wallers other books and read them. Could not put these down.

[Carol Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

I didn't find that this book was a psychological thriller until the end. I knew Brian was Ron but it was a shocker to find out it was true. I can't believe that he killed her.

[m weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read , captivating story that has you guessing right to the end

Amy is a character that you will have many strong feelings about. Whilst those around her struggle as much as she does with the twists in her life

[Carol Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book

The subject of this book was upsetting, but created a brilliant story, so much is happening to so many people and taking its toll on their lives, happy moments and some not so happy, tragedy and revenge complete this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Loved reading this book. The story was brilliant and I couldn’t put it down.

The only complaint I have was it needed proofreading as there were paragraphs that read into each other even though they should have been separated. It was very confusing at times.

[Elisha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel by Anita Waller.
It’s not very often I have to pick up my jaw off the floor and stare off into the void, in shock and amazement about what I just read. Anita’s writing has that effect. Well done.
Love from Canada 🇨🇦❤️

[Aureliana Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, i don't read thriller books, but Anita Waller's books captivated me and now I can't wait to read her next book. The book started very interestingly telling me that I won't get tired of it.

[Paul Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting. Could not stop reading. Anita Waller's debut is a stunning view into the mind of both the victim and the predator.

[Shevy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing, gripping and a good read. I enjoyed both of the books. A solid read.

[Carole McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner of a book

Hooked from beginning to the end. Can't wait to start the follow up to this book. A must read of a book

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, loved that there was a character from my home town of Rotherham, the dialect was perfect! Can't wait to start the next one.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly disturbing - child abuse, psychological damage etc