We Begin at the End

If you look at reviews of this book, you see words like “gripping” and “powerful” showing up again and again. I’d like to read the book those people were reading. I found this one inconsistent and, honestly, a bit weak. The characters are pretty stereotypical. Most of the real action takes place off-page, in reminiscence, or both. The personal drama is the better part of the book, to be sure, but even that wasn’t consistently compelling. And the central “ticking clock” element—Darke’s pursuit of Duchess, to retrieve the security tape—was comically implausible. Are we really supposed to believe that an insurance company could avoid paying a claim simply because the criminal perpetrator had the presence of mind to remove video evidence of their misconduct? Then too, the twist of Vincent being the kids’ father is also pretty incredible. And unnecessary, frankly. I guess all in all, it was fine to read, but I will utterly forget it within a few months.

I didn’t know this was going to be a mystery. The story was a little hard to follow but a good story nonetheless. I really liked the authors sense of humor and the characters of Duchess and Walk.

I enjoyed this as an audiobook, kept engaged listening, and was curious how the story would reveal itself.

nearly gave up but glad I didn’t! i had to start from the beginning again after chapter 10 cause i got lost. glad i finished it because it did turn out to be pretty good.

One of my faves