We Begin at the End: Crime Novel of the Year Award Winner 2021
Chris Whitaker
FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK.
*THE THEAKSTON'S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR*
*WINNER OF THE CWA GOLD DAGGER FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR*
*WINNER OF THE NED KELLY INTERNATIONAL AWARD*
Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.
Now, he's been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.
Duchess Radley, Star's thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin - and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.
Murder, revenge, retribution.
How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WE BEGIN AT THE END:
'Magnificent . . . an instant classic, a West Coast Where the Crawdads Sing . . . a special, vital novel. I'm grateful to have read it' A J FINN
'Surely destined to conquer the world' RUTH JONES
'A magnificent crime novel. It deserves to win a hatful of awards. A BIG hat. Consider me a major fan' MARK BILLINGHAM
'So beautifully written' LYNDA LA PLANTE
'Incredible writing, characters so brilliantly drawn they jump off the page. Outstanding' BA PARIS
'I LOVED this book . . . This is a book to be read and re-read and an author to be celebrated' LOUISE PENNY
'A stunning and heartbreaking book - will keep you gripped until the last moving page' CLAIRE MCGOWAN
'An exceptionally beautiful and accomplished crime novel' ALI LAND
'One of the best books I've ever read' FIONA CUMMINS
'An absolute masterclass in crime writing and story-telling' JO SPAIN
'One of the year's best crime reads' VASEEM KHAN
'One of my favourite books of all time' M. W. CRAVEN, winner of the CWA's Gold Dagger Award
'A beautifully written mystery, packed with unforgettable characters' JANE HARPER
'Contender for thriller of the year' SUNDAY EXPRESS
'An accomplished and moving story of crime, punishment, love and redemption' GUARDIAN
Product Details
About Chris Whitaker
Reviews for We Begin at the End: Crime Novel of the Year Award Winner 2021
Jane Harper
I LOVED it. I mean, jeez, what a story. And so intricately, delicately written, with such care and affection for all the characters. I adored all the relationships and ALL the characters without exception - I mean Duchess!! I could seriously rave about every single character that people the world of this book . . . his descriptions are so vivid, so visual, so beautifully drawn.We Begin at the End is surely destined to conquer the world. This intensely captivating story and its uniquely intriguing characters holds you in its jaws till the very last word. Astonishingly good
Ruth Jones
A magnificent crime novel. It deserves to win a hatful of awards. A BIG hat. Consider me a major fan
Mark Billingham
The character of Duchess Day Radley is so beautifully written, she will remain with you for a long time
Lynda La Plante
I love Duchess Day Radley so much I want to adopt her. She is every thirteen-year-old girl at risk, an outlaw both pure of heart and ill of intent, a fierce and melancholy girl, so memorable she will make camp in your brain and never leave. In We Begin at the End, Chris Whitaker has written a gorgeous, crystalline novel, a cautionary tale about the long shadows cast by our past selves, and one defiant girl with the bravery to hope for something better. I love this beautiful book
Jeanine Cummins, author of American Dirt