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We Begin at the End Paperback – April 12, 2022
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Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers’ Association (UK)
Winner for Best International Crime Fiction from Australian Crime Writers Association
An Instant New York Times Bestseller
“A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it.”
―Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds
Right. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between.
Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids.
Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he’s still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother.
Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return. We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families―the ones we are born into and the ones we create.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 12, 2022
- Dimensions5.4 x 1.3 x 8.2 inches
- ISBN-101250759684
- ISBN-13978-1250759689
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From the Publisher
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers’ Association (UK)
Winner for Best International Crime Fiction from Australian Crime Writers Association
Winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (UK)
An Instant New York Times Bestseller
A Good Morning America Buzz Pick
#1 Indie Next Pick
A Lariat Reading List Pick
Praise for We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
“We Begin at the End was recommended by a friend, who recommended to a friend, who recommended it to my wife, who gushed about it to me. It is that kind of very emotional, well-written, unforgettable story that gets people gushing―including me.”
―James Patterson
“Cape Haven, Calif., is a pretty town of broken souls. Its chief cop clings to the past as his body fails. A drunk former beauty can barely care for the kids she loves, and her fierce 13-year-old daughter Duchess Day Radley imagines herself an outlaw willing to do anything to defend her little brother."
―People (Book of the Week)
“A heartbreaking, page-turning, swashbuckling thriller.”
―Good Morning America
“What is new is the protagonist’s anguished, gorgeous voice, filled with rage and tenderness.”
―The Washington Post
“Ravishing, pulse-raising suspense....”
―O, The Oprah Magazine
“A moving, propulsive story.”
―The New York Times Book Review
“A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it.”
―Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds
“A beautifully written mystery, packed with unforgettable characters. An intricately woven portrait of small-town intrigue where old and new sins collide.”
―Jane Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Dry and The Survivors
“Couldn’t put it down. Incredible writing, characters so brilliantly drawn they jump off the page. Outstanding.”
―B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors
“Two damaged children―one timid and sweet, the other foul-mouthed and furious―will break readers’ hearts in this well-plotted and perfectly-paced novel. If, like me, you love stories that kidnap your intended schedule because you can’t not keep turning the pages, then I wholeheartedly recommend Chris Whitaker’s We Begin at the End.”
―Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author of I Know This Much Is True
“I LOVED this book. From the riveting plot to the beautiful writing. But mostly what kept me longing to get back to it each day were the characters, especially young Duchess. Fierce, brave, vulnerable, she leaps off the page fully formed. As does Walk. How aptly named. A chief of police on his own inexorable journey. This is a book to be read and reread and an author to be celebrated.”
―Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“With prose as eerily beautiful as its settings, you’ll be left thinking about this novel long after the final page.”
―Newsweek
“It's an instant classic….Let’s begin at the end. After you’ve turned the final page of Chris Whitaker’s magnificent new novel, you’ll struggle―I struggled, certainly―to describe the experience…it recalls the very best of Tana French and Dennis Lehane. Think of Duchess Day Radley as a twenty-first-century Scout Finch, tough and curious and good. In fact, think of We Begin at the End as a novel at the same time distinctly American and profoundly universal.”
―A.J. Finn, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Woman in the Window
“Rich with character and story, conflict and tension, humor, tragedy, and raw, unadulterated guts, this one has it all. Throw in the most compelling young protagonist I’ve read in at least a decade, and you have a deep and meaningful story that is an absolute delight from first page to last.”
―John Hart, author of six New York Times bestsellers
“We Begin at the End is a searing portrait of guilt and grief, strikingly written and full of characters you can’t help but love.”
―Charlotte McConaghy, author of Migrations
“Beautifully written, We Begin at the End really reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird. And the spirit of Scout is very much alive in Duchess.”
―Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes
“This is an epic drama and a profound masterpiece. I’ll be amazed if I read a better novel this year.”
―Daily Mirror (UK)
“Heartbreaking and profound, this is my thriller of the year.”
―The Mirror (UK)
“It's extraordinary.”
―AARP
“[An] impressive, often lyrical thriller. Whitaker crafts an absorbing plot around crimes in the present and secrets long buried, springing surprises to the very end. A fierce 13-year-old girl propels this dark, moving thriller.”
―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A superb thriller…. Powered by extraordinarily deep character development and an impressively intricate plot, this novel is simultaneously a murder mystery, a love story, and a heartbreaking tragedy. The existential agony is palpable throughout, but so, too, is the hope at the end. Whitaker has upped his game with this emotionally charged page-turner.”
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Holt Paperbacks (April 12, 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1250759684
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250759689
- Item Weight : 11 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.4 x 1.3 x 8.2 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #40 in Police Procedurals (Books)
- #211 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #306 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
![Chris Whitaker](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/5nh92dt3r6ddk6ipecmcijdn1q._SY600_.jpg)
Chris Whitaker is the award-winning author of Tall Oaks, All the Wicked Girls, We Begin at the End, and The Forevers (YA).
His debut Tall Oaks won the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award.
An instant New York Times and international bestseller, We Begin at the End was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick and a Good Morning America Buzz Pick. The novel won the CWA Gold Dagger Award, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world.
We Begin At The End has been translated into twenty-nine languages, with screen rights going to Disney, where ‘Hamilton’ director Thomas Kail and producing partner Jennifer Todd will develop the book for television.
Chris lives in the UK.
Follow him on Twitter @WhittyAuthor
And on Instagram @chriswhitakerauthor
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the emotional tone heartbreaking and caring. They also describe the story as interesting and intense, with twists and turns that keep them on the edge of their seat. Readers praise the characters as incredible and resilient. However, some find the pace slow in the beginning. Opinions are mixed on the writing style, with some finding it beautifully written and easy to follow, while others find it frustrating and hard to follow. Reader opinions are mixed also on the plot, with many finding it perfectly structured and realistic, while other find it confusing and inconsistent.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the story interesting, intense, and page-turning. They say the settings are gorgeous and memorable. They also say the book is well-written and keeps the mystery going until the very end. Customers describe the book as wonderful, moving, and illustrating the complexity and depth of human emotion. They mention that the power of selfless acts are revealed in the end.
"...The characters are quirky and full of contradictions and the descriptions of the land are simply beautiful. A book that you will keep and read again." Read more
"Moving, amazing characters, realistic, suspenseful and well written. Just great! I highly recommend it." Read more
"...The characters are complex but quickly imagined and not easily known until the ending chapters. The author’s first book! Amazing...." Read more
"...brother, and keeps clawing her way forward is an amazing and poignant tale of love in action." Read more
Customers find the characters in the book incredible.
"...The characters are quirky and full of contradictions and the descriptions of the land are simply beautiful. A book that you will keep and read again." Read more
"Moving, amazing characters, realistic, suspenseful and well written. Just great! I highly recommend it." Read more
"...The characters are complex but quickly imagined and not easily known until the ending chapters. The author’s first book! Amazing...." Read more
"I really liked the twists and turns of this story. Even the character names were fun - duchess, star, robin, sissy...." Read more
Customers find the emotional tone of the book heartbreaking, powerful, and gut punching. They also say the novel is smart, tough, but caring, and the children's pain is palpable.
"...rolled-out with a final reveal that is surprisingly shocking and heartbreaking - but with a bit of poetic justice as well...." Read more
"This was a story full of love, sadness, and life's twists and turns...." Read more
"...This is a simply wonderful novel that will upset you, make you laugh, have you rooting for the Outlaw, and bring you to a gentle if not emotional..." Read more
"...I highly recommend this book. But it’s so heartbreaking from the start to finish." Read more
Customers find the emotional impact of the book gripping, moving, and powerful. They also say it makes them feel all the feels and stays with them after the final words. Readers also mention that the storytelling is terrific and sucks them right in from the beginning.
"...A gripping, unforgettable and ultimately hopeful story to savor and share with others...." Read more
"...It’s a gripping thrill-ride from the beginning and full of twists and surprises...." Read more
"...Please read this book. It will make you feel all the feels. Loved it!" Read more
"...to others considering purchasing it. This is an exhausting book to read...." Read more
Customers find the pacing of the book moving and unputdownable. They also say it draws them in and spins them around.
"Moving, amazing characters, realistic, suspenseful and well written. Just great! I highly recommend it." Read more
"...I truly enjoyed your book – the ride was definitely moving, and I deeply cared for these incredible characters...." Read more
"...was trying to tell what happened in slow release form but it just seemed clunky. A lot of detail to make the story more complicated than necessary...." Read more
"...and I really can't think of the words to express how beautiful and moving it is...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the writing style. Some find the book beautifully written with vivid characters. Others find the language too verbose, the author uses sentence fragments, and the book is hard to follow.
"...It is so thoughtful, dynamic and surprising it will stay with you long after you’ve finished...." Read more
"...However, the characters, plot, and narration lacked. However, even though this book lacks much, this book paved the way for such a memorable book." Read more
"Moving, amazing characters, realistic, suspenseful and well written. Just great! I highly recommend it." Read more
"...I liked it, but I didn’t love it.Whitaker’s writing style is not my favorite and it took awhile to for me to adjust to it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find it perfectly structured, real, and interwoven. They also say it is well written and truthful. However, others say the story rambles, confusing at times, slow, and predictable. They mention that there are too many characters and inconsistent development.
"...is because I felt like the story jumped around at parts and it got a bit confusing." Read more
"Moving, amazing characters, realistic, suspenseful and well written. Just great! I highly recommend it." Read more
"...The story can be slow and at times predictable." Read more
"...Someone said they disliked Star. To me she was complex and deeply sympathetic. Walk a mile in her shoes and see how you turn out...." Read more
Customers find the pace of the book a little slow in the beginning and takes forever to lay the background.
"This was a great story. A little slow in the beginning. It was so sad what Duchess and Robin went through as just children." Read more
"...I feel the characters were a bit unbelievable. The story can be slow and at times predictable." Read more
"Beginning started slow, but a few chapters in and I could not stop reading!!! Twists and turns don’t end, fixed to the edge of my seat...." Read more
"...At first I really felt let down because I felt very sluggish while reading. I just felt bogged down...." Read more
Reviews with images
![A Blend of Mystery, Police Procedural, Emotional Drama, and General Fiction](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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He said in his acknowledgments this book took him a very long time to write. When you read it you will know why and you will easily refer it to others.
The story begins with a step back in time to thirty years prior, when a small child is killed, and the person responsible for her death is a teenager. Moving the timeline ahead to the present, an ex-con and former best friend of the town’s sheriff is being released from prison.
What follows is a harrowing and impressively told story that shows how far the tentacles of tragedy can reach. Whitaker’s characterization of self-proclaimed modern-day outlaw thirteen-year-old Duchess Day Radley and her five-year-old brother, Robin who suddenly find themselves on their own after their mother’s devastating death and continuing to face the afflictions of tragedy after tragedy, is deeply moving and heartbreaking.
The twists and turns in the plot are ingenious as well as the justice meted out at the end – with a couple of sad and tragic exceptions. I’ll let you discover those situations for yourself.
The stand-out cast of characters, the suspense, the emotional arcs were all riveting. While for the most part complex and serious, there are some lighter moments rendering smiles and laughter, too. The layers of the events are slowly rolled-out with a final reveal that is surprisingly shocking and heartbreaking - but with a bit of poetic justice as well.
A gripping, unforgettable and ultimately hopeful story to savor and share with others. This must-read book is deserving of all the hype that comes its way.
And a note specifically addressed to Chris Whitaker, the author --
I truly enjoyed your book – the ride was definitely moving, and I deeply cared for these incredible characters. I’m also excitedly waiting for that brave little outlaw, Duchess, to be portrayed on television one day soon.
So far this year, this is my favorite read
Top reviews from other countries
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