Beautiful Bad: A Novel - Softcover

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.

“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