Tell Me How This Ends

Can Henrietta find out what happened to Annie’s sister – before it’s too late?

Haunted by the past, Henrietta throws herself into a new job transcribing other people’s Life Stories, vowing to stick to the facts and avoid messy emotions. But when she meets the older eccentric Annie, she finds herself inextricably drawn into her story. When Annie reveals that her sister drowned in unexplained circumstances in 1974, Henrietta can’t help following the story’s loose ends.

Except Annie seems oddly resistant to delving into the murky depths of her memories. . .

Could unlocking Annie’s story help Henrietta rewrite the most devastating passages in her own life? And, in return, can she offer Annie a final twist in the tale, before it’s too late?

Tell Me How This Ends, a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, is a poignant story about uncovering family secrets, accepting grief and the joy of finding unexpected connections.

This discussion guide was created and shared by the author, Jo Leevers.

Book club questions for Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Henrietta knows she is different from other people, especially when she puts on her ‘mask of indifference’. What do you think lies behind her quirky ways – nature or her parents’ version of ‘nurture’?

If Annie had never heard about the Life Stories Project from Mia, how might her final months have played out?

What do you think Henrietta learned from Annie?

And, in turn, what did Annie gain from her friendship with Henrietta?

How accurately do you think the book represents attitudes to women and people of Irish descent in the 1970s?

What role does humour play in the book?

How do you imagine Henrietta’s life continuing after we leave her on the platform of St Austell station in Cornwall?

Did the theme of grief strike a personal chord with you?

If you were writing your own Life Story, what are three key events that you would include? Is there anything you would be tempted to leave out?

Tell Me How This Ends Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Tell Me How This Ends discussion questions

"A brilliant, moving novel. Jo writes so beautifully about grief and our strongest emotions, but is also very funny" --Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2 Book Club

"This promising, poignant debut concludes with that vital ingredient: a well-crafted twist." --The Observer

"A heartfelt exploration of how the secrets we carry shape our lives. The quirky, endearing characters and the mystery at its heart had me hooked." --Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

"An incredible story of regret, grief and the gift of time, all wrapped up in a heart-rending package." --Ashley Tate, author of Twenty-Seven Minutes

"Like balm for the soul. Poignant, touching and heart-warming with two fully realised, engaging female protagonists. Highly recommended." --Charlotte Rixon, author of The One That Got Away

"A bittersweet story that appears to be about death but actually holds the richest truths about life. A stirring, compassionate debut with a page-turning mystery at its core." --Amanda Cassidy, author of Breaking

"In a poignant story of friendship, Jo Leevers deals with grief and the bonds of sisterhood as her characters explore a decades-old mystery. A must-read for anyone who has ever wondered how much good one average person can accomplish in the world today." --Kristen Bird, author of The Night She Went Missing