The Ugly Duckling
Worth buying if: You follow Iris Johansen's domestic thriller instincts and want another female-led suspense.
Skip it if: You prefer procedural police investigations over personal, family-focused thrillers.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780553569919. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
If this page helped you decide, purchasing through the Amazon button above supports UPB Books at no extra cost to you and helps us continue improving the site. Thanks for visiting today.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Affiliate disclosure: purchases made through links on this site may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
Summary
When a woman's ordinary life fractures under hidden betrayals, Johansen's The Ugly Duckling follows her unraveling of family secrets and a web of lies that threaten everyone she loves across 408 pages of escalating suspense.
Why this book now
Readers who follow Johansen's tense domestic suspense will find The Ugly Duckling's themes of betrayal and family secrets freshly relevant to today's appetite for character-driven.
30-second preview
Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.
Card 1 of 2
Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You follow Iris Johansen's domestic thriller instincts and want another female-led suspense.
- You enjoy mystery novels that center family secrets and escalating personal danger.
- You prefer procedural police investigations over personal, family-focused thrillers.
- You dislike quieter, psychological unraveling in favor of nonstop action-driven plots.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780553569919
Worth buying if: You follow Iris Johansen's domestic thriller instincts and want another female-led suspense.
Skip it if: You prefer procedural police investigations over personal, family-focused thrillers.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Steady Needs some room
At about 408 pages, expect a multi-evening read that builds steadily—best for readers ready to follow slow-burn revelations and domestic stakes rather than a brief procedural.
What stands out here
This Bantam Books edition highlights Johansen's tight plotting and character-driven tension, emphasizing the domestic betrayals and protective instincts at the novel's core.
Best way to approach it
Read The Ugly Duckling with attention to family relationships and small detail clues; pace yourself to let Johansen's gradual revelations amplify the thriller payoff.
Was this page helpful?
Quick thumbs only. No login.
Loading feedback…
Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780553569919
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.