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 … 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.
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WOW! I am so blown away by the storyline in this book. Heartbreaking rollercoaster ride, and an ending I didn’t see coming. Gorgeous prose. I am definitely a Chris Whitaker fan now! I loved the Montana scenes. Duchess was such a witty young girl. So entertaining.
Well-paced with plenty of action and lots of characters whom I felt like I got to know well. Vincent is a former felon, imprisoned for killing a young teen named Sissy. Vincent and Sissy’s sister Star had been dating and that relationship is mourned when Vincent is convicted. Walk, Cape Haven’s sheriff, continues to be Vincent’s greatest protector and best friend. There is so much that happens, but nothing happened quickly in this book. The events were revealed slowly and built on each other like using building blocks to end up with a house. There were intricate relationships between the characters, including the bad guy, Darke, whom Walk considers the prime suspect in a murder. Two young children are main characters, Robin and Duchess Radley. Duchess calls herself “the outlaw” and is Robin’s big sister and runs interference for him during all conflicts. Hal, their grandfather, was a totally likable character, with a lot of tragedy in his own life. Everyone in the story has sad events in their lives, so I can’t say that the book was uplifting but it was a good book to read and would be good for a book club to discuss. With themes of sacrifice and forgiveness and retribution, this book made me think, cry and even be amused at times. Fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I checked out a copy of this book from my local library using the Overdrive App. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Absolutely beautifully written, cohesive book in regard to the storyline, characters and the flow of the book.
The young female protagonist “Duchess” describes herself as an Outlaw and by gosh she sure is. At her age she has had to witness and endure way too much, I found myself totally rooting for her throughout the book.
This book is a highly recommended keeper!
Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Company and the Author Chris Whitaker for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The third novel from Chris Whitaker is a New York Times bestseller. And deservedly so.
We Begin at the End is a heartbreaking and compelling saga about friends who grew up together in the little town of Haven Cove on the California coast. They were just ordinary kids until one tragic night changed all of their lives. And the repercussions of it are also impacting the next generation — this children of Star. Thirteen-year-old Duchess has had to grow up too soon in order to take care of her mother, who drinks too much, gets involved with the wrong men, and is unable to competently mother Duchess’s little brother, five-year-old Robin. Duchess adores Robin and makes sure he is fed, clothed, and comforted when he is frightened, which is frequently. She walks him to school and intercedes when he is bullied. Neither child has any idea as to the identity of their father.
On that horrific night, Star’s sister, seven-year-old Sissy Radley, died, and Vincent went to prison for her death. Vincent and Star were then fifteen years old, and boyfriend and girlfriend. Walker (“Walk”) was Vincent’s best friend, but his unfailing sense of right and wrong demanded that he take the stand during Vincent’s trial and testify truthfully.
As the story opens, Duchess, clutching Robin’s hand, finds Walk, who knowingly says, simply, “Your mother.” They race to the house where Star is on the couch, an empty pill bottle next to her. At the hospital, Duchess tells Walk that Star wants to die. “I can’t decide if suicide is the most selfish or selfless act.” Star survives and they return to the house Star rents from Dickie Darke, who owns a bar where the locals hang out. Their next-door neighbor is Brandon Rock, who is employed at Tallow Construction but still works out constantly in his garage, dreaming of recovering from the knee injury that ended his football hopes. He drives his father’s classic Mustang and Walk tells the just-returned Vincent, “The hair, the clothes, the guy still lives in ’78. You see, he hasn’t changed, Vin. None of us have, not really.” Milton, the butcher who can never completely shed the smell of blood, lives across the street.
Duchess is deeply angry about the way in which they live and the fact that Star will not tell them anything about their father, but she does love and is protective of Star. And when she believes that Star is being mistreated, she will not tolerate it. She will seek revenge. Her temper has gotten her in trouble all of her life, but this time is different. She inadvertently sets in motion yet another series of tragic events that put her and Robin in danger.
As a result, she and Robin come to know the grandfather they had never previously met — Star’s widowed father who lives on a ranch in Montana. He is a man of quiet strength who lives with the pain of losing his family, and knows exactly how to handle Duchess’s anger, gradually breaking down her defenses before catastrophe strikes again. Duchess and Robin are placed in a foster home where they are not permitted to interact as members of the family. The couple who are fostering them only want the money they receive for doing so. Eventually, they find themselves in a children’s home and Duchess, whose grief, anger, wisdom far beyond her years, and undiminished determination compel her to make an unspeakable decision about their future.
Whitaker has deftly found Duchess’s voice — her tone and vocabulary are believable, and Whitaker compassionately reveals the internal struggles that fuel her.
Back in Haven Cove, Walk is harboring a secret as he searches for answers. He must solve a crime for which Vincent has been — Walk is convinced — wrongly accused and prevent him from returning to prison. But Vincent won’t participate in his own defense. And he will only consent to being represented by one attorney: Martha May. She and Walk dated for three months back in high school, but things did not work out between them. Back then, she and Star were best friends. Unlike so many of their classmates, Martha left town and never looked back. Now she has a successful career as a family law attorney, focusing her practice on women who have been abused. She’s not a criminal attorney, which is what Vincent needs in order to avoid the death penalty. Eventually, Walk wears her down and she agrees to help. As Walk continues investigating, he and Martha have a chance to finally talk about what happened when they were teenagers.
Each of Whitaker’s characters is fully developed, complex, and compelling. Whitaker demonstrates the myriad ways in which the adults’ lives have been entwined since they were children and the ways their relationships have, in most instances, never changed. They’ve stayed in the same little town where everyone is acquainted and their personalities, formed so many years earlier, have also stayed the same, even though several of them have secrets that the others would never guess.
As the story progresses, Duchess and Robin find their circumstances getting worse and worse, and Whitaker heartbreakingly portrays their reactions to their plight. Robin, so young, naive, and hopeful, clings to and relies on Duchess for all of his needs, but wants and still believes that it is possible for them to find a loving, forever home and family. He has nightmares, though, and cannot recall what happened on one particularly horrifying night. No one is sure what, if anything, he witnessed because he cannot remember any of the details. Duchess, hardened by what she has endured, no longer believes in happy endings but will do anything necessary to ensure that Robin has the chance to realize his dream. Even if it is the hardest thing imaginable . . . and breaks her.
Whitaker convincingly illustrates life in a small town and the demons that haunt Walk, a man who is principled, committed to his career in law enforcement and the values undergirding it, but also unyieldingly loyal to his friends, especially Vincent. As boys, they were so close that they were like brothers. And he will work tirelessly, at the risk of his own health and well-being, to prove that he has not misjudged Vincent’s character. Even when Vincent, a man has spent the bulk of his life consumed with guilt about the mistake he made thirty years ago, refuses to make any effort to save himself.
We Begin at the End is an utterly consuming, absorbing story that will leave readers heartbroken, but hopeful, and richer for having gotten to know Walk, Duchess, Robin, and Whitaker’s whole impressive cast of supporting characters. Aside from being a masterfully constructed character study, We Begin at the End is also an engrossing mystery full of expertly-timed, surprising plot twists. Readers experiencing Whitaker’s evocative prose and emotionally resonant dialogue for the first time will want more after finishing the book. And hopefully, Whitaker, an extremely talented writer who resides in England and works in a library part-time, will publish another book for readers to enjoy soon.
Thanks to NetGalley for and Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Duchess Day Radley is only 13 years old. But she is in charge of so much. Her mother is unable to cope with Duchess and her little brother, Robin. So, Duchess has had to step up and be responsible for just about everything.
Duchess and Robin tear your heart out through this whole book. Their life is just not the best. And when it turns worse and they end up at their grandfather’s farm you think it is finally going to get better. But as usual, life twists and they once again are in the wind.
Walk, the local sheriff, is struggling with his own medical condition. But he is determined to help these children and hopefully mend a wrong.
Oh wow! That is one heck of a good book! Especially the ending. Geez! This will have you all over the place. This is a multilayered story which is amazing from start to finish. Your heart will be broken, fixed and broken again.
I listened to this one and the narrator, George Newbern, could not have been better. I am going to have to search this narrator out.
Grab your copy today! You do not want to miss this one.
I received this audiobook from The publishers for a honest review.
Thank you @henryholtbooks @macmillan.audio @netgalley for this #gifted audiobook.
I wasn’t sure what I was walking into with this book other than I’d heard good things about it. I’m definitely glad that I gave this book a chance!
We Begin At The End is a beautifully written, character driven story about protecting those that you love, even if it means sacrificing yourself for it. This was a slow burning story with a bit of a suspense element to it. Although it’s a slow burn, I never felt bored with the storyline. We’re introduced to a wide range of complex characters, which really helps to builds the stage for this story.
This was a beautiful but tragic book about people who deserve so much more than what life has dealt them.
Duchess, wow, what a character. She is 13 years old and considers herself an outlaw. She basically takes care of her 5 year old brother, Robin, and her drug addicted mom, Star. Duchess goes without food so her brother can eat. She makes sure he is safe at night from men in her mom’s life. She gets made fun of but it doesn’t matter. She’s just trying to survive and take care of her mother.
Her guardian angel is Walk, the forty something sheriff who is friends with her mom from childhood. They don’t seem a likely pair but both have had their share of disappointments andost loved ones.
Back in the day, Walk, Star, Vincent and Martha were all the best of friends. Tragedy struck Star’s family and Vincent was put in jail for 30 years.
He is being released and what follows is devastating, thankfully with some humor mixed in and flashes of hope. It is ultimately a beautiful picture of how the human spirit prevails against all odds and how love can overcome all.
You know those books that you can’t stop reading even though you know they will inevitably end up completely wrecking you? well We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker was one of those books for me. I wasn’t sure what to think going into it, but I was fully invested before the halfway point, and I got through this thing in one day because I could not and would not put it down. There is just so much meat to the plot, and it is very layered and detailed. I loved Whitaker’s writing style, and funnily enough, I actually have a book by him on my shelf which I now clearly need to read soon. The characters were complex and fleshed out, and your heart just breaks with the terrible things that happen to them. Plus, the author really brings small-town life to light.
We Begin at the End is a really heavy read, so I was very glad that it is infused with humor as well. I adored Duchess, and when she meets her future friend Thomas it made my heart so happy. There is great comic relief added between the two of them and with Duchess and Dolly, another character in the book. It was much needed since by the end of the novel I was in tears. So happy I checked out the audio as well which is narrated by George Newbern. He did such an outstanding job, and since I was listening I didn’t have to try to follow along in my book while I was bawling my eyes out. This book will surprise you, shock you, and break your heart, but it will also fill you with a hopefulness that I wasn’t quite expecting. We Begin at the End was a real stunner and has officially made Whitaker an autobuy author for me!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wow! Chris Whitaker provides a very unique reading experience in We Begin at The End, and George Newbern’s narration of the audiobook is perfection. It reminds me of Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, one of my all-time favorite novels – high praise indeed.
The writing style is quite spare so it took me a bit to settle in, but once I did, I was there for every carefully chosen word. I came to care deeply for this cast of characters, every one of them seriously flawed – I’ll be thinking of them for quite some time. The plot includes several themes – found family, coming-of-age, and mysterious deaths with shades of a police procedural and courtroom drama – all come together as a cohesive and satisfying result.
If you tried reading this and DNFd, please give this story another chance, preferably on audio. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Henry Holt and Company for the gifted audiobook; all thoughts are my own.
Wonderful
This is a heartbreaking character driven story of true friendship, love, tragedy and family. A group of 4 friends who grew up together in a small town in California. 2 men, 2 woman. One of the men is now a police chief, and the other one is just released from prison after serving 30 years after an accident back in the day. Then we have the 2 women. One is an attorney and the the other is just a mess, and her 2 children, Duchess and Robin are paying a price for it. Duchess will do anything for her brother Robin, who has really been traumatized. I just loved Duchess so much!
There is so much to this one. Murder, revenge, vindication…and love. Not to be missed!
I enjoyed this one in audio and let me tell you it broke my heart over and over. It was so emotionally riveting I had to stop playing it while I was driving because I found myself so engrossed in the story. Duchess Day Radley is a tough as nails teenager who is a self proclaimed outlaw. She will look you in the eye and tell you who she is and not let you get away with anything. She lives to take care of her younger brother, Robin. This story has so many twists from the mother who just cannot pull it together enough to take care of herself let alone her children to the Chief of Police who we know has a medical condition but it is not revealed what until later in the story. Then, there is the man who is let out of prison and comes back to town, the one who accidentally killed Duchess’ aunt in a hit-and-run and was sent to prison for it and then killed a man there and spent even longer. He is now hardened and his self-esteem is so low. When he is found in the house when Star is killed he says nothing to defend himself. So many twists and turns and it takes the entire book which leads us through all the backstory and brings us to the present to find out what happened. So good. The narration was absolutely perfect. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.
This is such an amazing book–I don’t quite have the words. Is it crime fiction? Yes, if To Kill a Mockingbird is crime fiction, Or Citizen Vince, or The Great Gatsby. With its unforgettable story and unique characters, brilliant settings and astonishing writing, I think this is destined to be a classic. All I can say is– I urge you to read it.
Beautiful, poignant, and incredibly heart-wrenching!
We Begin at the End is a tragic, moving, emotionally-charged novel that takes you into the lives of a handful of people, including the unforgettable, 13-year-old, self-imposed outlaw, Duchess Radley, whose worlds have been irrevocably changed by a fatal accident that occurred thirty years prior that left one of their own dead, another incarcerated for three decades, and the rest haunted and struggling to survive the inevitable repercussions and fallout.
The prose is lyrical and expressive. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are complex, scarred, and conflicted. And the plot is a compelling, sobering tale of life, love, loss, family, friendship, grief, guilt, denial, secrets, abuse, neglect, self-preservation, violence, redemption, and survival.
Overall, We Begin at the End will make you think, it will make you cry, and it will resonate with you long after the final page. It’s an impactful, enthralling, hopeful tale by Whitaker that uses extraordinary character development to weave a combination of an impressive, intricate mystery and a heartbreaking, bittersweet love story all steeped in an abundance of tragedy and pain.
“With We Begin at the End, Chris Whitaker has written an extraordinary novel about people who deserve so much more than life serves them. At times devastating, with flashes of humor and hope throughout, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of how the human spirit prevails and how, in the end, love—in all its different guises—wins.
There are two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create.”
I quote this description from the book’s product page because it’s probably a perfect description of this lovely book. I wasn’t sure how I was feeling about it for the first couple of chapters, but as I kept listening, Whitaker drew me more and more deeply into the lives of these characters who’d all been damaged, one way or another, by a tragic accident one night 30 years prior. By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, brutal and gentle, it’s beautifully written. It’s also brilliantly narrated by George Newbern, who’s reading feels more like a conversation than a reading. Read it with your eyes, read it with your ears – but I definitely recommend reading it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
We Begin at the End is exquisite in every possible way – any words I write hear cannot begin to convey the impact and punch of this beautifully written, heart-wrenching novel. Add it to your TBR pile NOW, you won’t want to miss out on this read! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
Chief of Police Walker (Walk) learns that Vince King, imprisoned at age 15 for the death of 7 year-old Sissy Radley, is being released after 30 years and returning to their hometown Cove Haven, CA. Unfortunately, it was Walk’s testimony that sent his best friend to prison and he has carried the burden of it ever since. He visited Vince regularly through the years, and routinely looks out for Star Radley (Sissy’s sister) and her children Duchess 13, and Robin 5. He is an honest man, one who takes his responsibilities seriously, and one who cares deeply. Now he looks forward to helping Vince re-enter the world again.
Star has struggled through the years. She has been felled by grief over her sister’s death, heartache caused by men who used her and abused her, and has danced too long and too closely with alcohol and drugs. She wants nothing more than to be a good mother to her children, but she is incapable of it.
Duchess Day Radley, a self-declared outlaw, never had the chance to be a child. She learned early to count on no one but herself, and after her brother Robin was born, she assumed the role of his primary caregiver as well. She also has had to take care of her mother more times than she can count. She is hard, cynical, fearless, selfless, strong, and brave beyond measure. She does what it takes to take care of her family, and loves Robin more than anything else. Unfortunately, in protecting her family, she does something drastic that leads to yet another tragedy.
It is the characters (those mentioned above and several others) that give this book heart. Their relationships, their frailties, their hopes, their dashed dreams and disappoinments are what make this such an absorbing read. They are alive and truly memorable. Duchess in particular is a shining star.
This is a book about people who have been dealt rotten cards in life; how they cope, how they rise and fall, and continue on. It is about family – the family you are born into, and the family you make for yourself. It is about grief, regrets, remorse, hope, forgiveness, and love. A mesmerizing and memorable read!
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read a copy of this book prior to its scheduled publication date of 3/2/21. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a very highly recommended exceptional, tragic drama/thriller featuring a broken and dysfunctional family. This novel is unforgettable and is sure to be one of the best books of 2021.
Thirty years ago seven-year-old Sissy Radley was accidentally killed by fifteen-year-old Vincent King. Vincent was sent to a men’s prison for thirty years and is now being released. His best friend at that time was Walk, who is now Police Chief Walker of Cape Haven, a small tourist town on the California coast. Walk is planning to pick up Vincent and bring him home. He grew up with Vincent and Star Radley, the older sister of Sissy and Vincent’s girlfriend at that time. Since that time Walk has tried to look after Star, whose life has taken a downward spiral into self-destruction with drinking and drugs. Star is the negligent mother of 13 year-old Duchess and five-year-old Robin. Walk is medicated, suffering from a progressive medical condition that he has never told anyone about.
Duchess is a self proclaimed outlaw – the outlaw Duchess Day Radley – but also the one who cares for her younger brother Robin and tries to look after her mother, Star. Walk, in turn, tries to watch out for Duchess and Robin, along with Star. Local kids make fun of Duchess and Robin, but Duchess will fight back, hard. She’s used to fighting for herself and her family and doesn’t feel the need to follow rules. Both Walk and Duchess expect the worst to happen as that is what has always been the case. When Star ends up murdered and it appears Vincent is responsible, both Walk and Duchess begin to look for the truth. Developer Dickie Darke is the prime suspect for both of them. When Duchess and Robin are sent to Montana to live with their grandfather, Hal Radley, a man they never met, Duchess knows Darke will be looking for her.
Set in 2005, this is a breathtaking, heartbreaking literary novel, vast in scope and emotional depth. The plot is intricate, authentic, and perfectly plotted and paced. In We Begin at the End Whitaker has written a thriller, murder mystery, family drama, and love story. It is a quest for retribution, friendship, a tale of personal sacrifice, and, ultimately, allows a sense of hope. This is the kind of memorable novel that will leave an indelible mark and stay with you long after it is over. The writing and descriptions are
Part of the enduring nature of the narrative is due to the character development. It is absolutely impeccable and all of these characters will make a mark on you and will be remembered for a long time. Duchess, the angry teen, is the main character whose fierceness and fury is justified, yet dangerous. She is the one protecting what remains of her family and clutches hard to her moniker of an outlaw. Her care for Robin is heartbreaking, as she tries to protect him from all the bitter truths in their lives. Walk is also and incredible character and you will feel his emotional struggle, his desire to make everything alright, his need for a happy ending, for closure while he is facing a future struggle he won’t divulge. The ending is perfect, heartbreaking, yet hopeful.
(There was one odd flaw in an otherwise masterful novel that most will overlook. When Whitaker mentioned the “priest” at Hal’s Baptist church several times, I was taken aback and wondered how a writer could make an error like this – until I saw Whitaker is from the UK and it all made perfect sense. FYI: a minister at a Baptist church is normally called a reverend or pastor. Since I read an advanced readers copy, this could have been corrected but it also made me respect even more how he captured the specific settings in the novel.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Henry Holt & Company.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/02/we-begin-at-end.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3839902095
A powerful story. Two car accidents that will set in motion some many changes in some many people’s lives that will last for more than thirty year. Deaths, broken hearts, friendship, family all involved in this complex story. A really great book and ever better as audiobook.
We Begin at The end, was a good book but I kept debating if I should give only 3.5 stars because I was having a hard time getting hooked into the story, I was already around 30% and I kept missing something but that’s not something that really didn’t stop me to continue listening.
Two different souls having a hard time in life but as we all know life has a funny way of connecting people that are similar or that can help each other to find a way out of our minds and experiences we’ve lived in the past and that somehow was what made us who we are.
This is the case for dutchess and Walk two souls from a very different age that are united for the same thing disappointment and many heartaches that life and people have given to them, dutchess was an angel I really have a hard time listening to what she went threw, she was more mature for her age and I guess that’s what it happens when life doesn’t really give you the change to grow in a safe and lovable environment.
Walk, is the hero of this story I wish there were many men like him who will not stop to make justice and bring peace to those who really need it
The narrations by George Newbern were great, he did a great job bringing the story to life even giving it more depth and more strength to each character.
as I said this is a good book but somehow I was having a hard time getting into the story, I’m tempted to give it another try because I feel like it deserves it. so I encourage you to give it a try and come to your own conclusion.to
This is a beautifully written tragic and heartbreaking story. It is set in a small town that could be anywhere. Duchess Radley is born in to poverty, to a mother (Star) who is an addict and most of the time doesn’t remember she is a mother and a town filled with mostly judgmental, mean nosy people who rather than help make life so much harder for a teenage girl who is doing everything she can to protect her little brother safe, fed and blind to what their life is really like. She in a super hero and worries each and every moment of her life. How is she going to keep everything moving forward when on a daily basis she is bullied by mean kids at school, teachers who turn a bind eye, uncaring neighbors who think by calling child services that they have done their job and sit in judgment and a full cast of characters that are all hiding secrets, many of which are truly heinous? Chief of Police Walk does all he can to keep Duchess and Robin safe, but he is living with the guilt that his testimony sent his 15 year old best friend to prison for killing Duchesses aunt. It’s a long twisted road to what is really the truth and with so much pain and drama along the way. What is the truth? Who really killed Stars sister? What horrible choices will Duchess have to make along the way to make life better for Robin, the little brother she would kill for? This was my introduction to this author and I look forward to reading more of his work. I listened to the audiobook. The narration was great and drew me right in. Set a perfect tone.
I received and advanced copy of this audiobook from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review. My thanks to Netgalley.com and Henry Holt & Company Publishing for the opportunity.