We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is an ambitious novel told from two viewpoints. The first is Duchess Day Radley, the "Outlaw" child who has to protect her younger brother Robin at all costs. The other is Walk, chief of police in Cape Haven, where Duchess and Robin live with their mother Star, long-time friend of Walk's. The story follows them both as they try to make sense out of a life where so much seems to go wrong. When Walk and Star were in high school, his best friend/her boyfriend, Vincent King, accidentally ran over a child, sending him to prison. The child was Star's younger sister, Sissy. As he serves time, Walk tries to look after Star and her children for his long time friend. When King finally gets out, life as they know it, no matter how bad it may seem, will get even worse. When Star is murdered and the kids have to move away, life brings even more changes. Add in a man named Dark who is on the run from people that he owes money to, a butcher who happens to be a peeper, and a slew of other characters whose lives will all intersect and what you get is a novel of immense proportions. There were parts of it I enjoyed. There were several laugh out loud moments. There were moments of confusion as I tried to keep up with everything happening. The end was unexpected. Even now, after a few hours, I am lost in contemplation of it. The book was good, though there were some parts that I didn't enjoy. However, it was well written and the narrator did a great job. Four stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to it. All opinions are my own.

I very much enjoyed this story, but I didn't love it as much as some others did. It is a bit different from my usual reads and had a lot of various themes included. It is a small town drama, a place where many people are related, grew up together and know everyone else's business. It is also a crime mystery, who killed Starr Radley? There is a lot of sadness, depression and desperation in the lives of Duchess and Robin Radley. This was a character driven story, which was quite emotional. I really enjoyed getting to know Duchess and finding out more about her difficult life. Sheriff Walk was another fabulous character and I loved how caring he was to everyone. Now, I don't want it to seem like it is all doom and gloom as there is some happiness and things that work themselves out in the end. The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book with the descriptions of the small American town helping the reader understand what it’s like living in this coastal California town. The residents are very set in their opinion and it’s difficult to change them once they’ve decided, as is often the case in small, insulated communities. Most people thought Vincent King was guilty and it was very hard for them to consider otherwise, not understanding how Walk could stand up for him. There is a lot of tension due to this issue and they were very antagonistic towards Vincent. This is a very slow developing story, but once I got into it, I became invested in these characters and their stories. As the story came to an end, I found myself thinking about them and what would be next in their lives, which I guess is what the author planned all along. Emotional, depressing and hopeful at the same time, I know I will be thinking about this book for awhile. This is the first book I have read by Chris Whitaker, but with his excellent writing and character development, I will check out his backlist. I was fortunate to be able to listen to this audiobook. George Newbern does an exceptional job with the narration. He does not try to sound like a female when performing Duchess' parts, but uses his tone, inflection and expression to bring life to this story.

This book is a prime example of excellent writing. It has all the features that make a successful mystery: well-drawn, relatable characters, an intriguing plot, a well-described setting and lots of movement and suspense. I fell in love with these characters and found myself to be invested in their outcome. The story was complex but not overly so and the ending was so, so good. The audio rendition was perfection and the narrator easily held my attention throughout. 5 well-deserved stars!

The story is good and I loved how complex the characters are. Although a work of fiction it felt almost like a true (although unbelievable) story, in its writing style. Although I enjoyed this book it went on for too long for me.

We Begin at the End - thank you so much for my advanced audio copy. The narrators were good, but made it a bit tougher to connect to. The inflections and tone were on the slower side and it made this book a bit longer for a normal read for me. I enjoyed this but would likely not recommend to many others. Thanks so much.

“We Begin at the End” is a highly anticipated book for 2021, and with good reason. It's chock-full of interesting characters. The most memorable is our protagonist, Duchess Day Radley, a 13-going-on-30 year old. She’s a jaded, potty mouth loner with a major chip on her shoulder. And she introduces herself at an “outlaw” to everyone she meets. She is very much on the outside-looking-in, having lived a sad and trauma-filled life. Not only does she play parent to her addicted mother, Star, she must protect her younger brother, Robin, at all costs.

As the book unfolds, there are several crimes to unpack. And to help us with the investigation is another central character, Walker. “Walk” is a childhood friend of Star, and serves as the chief of police of the small Cape Haven, California town. He goes into overdrive protecting Duchess and Robin as their mother slides deeper into self-destruction.

Duchess and Walk take us on an incredible journey as we meet their friends and families, and learn of their past betrayals. There are some thought-provoking surprises along the way.

Our narrator, George Newbern, does an incredible job with bringing these engaging and immersive characters to life. His pacing is fantastic, and he brings forth a bevy of emotions: humor, fear, loneliness, disappointment, guilt, shame, love and overwhelming sadness.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review.

We Begin at the End tells the story of a family that encounters trauma after trauma. This well-paced work of fiction was full of beautifully complicated characters and a plot with unpredictable twists and turns. The reader learns that people and events may not be as they appear.

The audiobook narrator did this novel justice. His great work in addition to the author’s gripping storytelling made this audiobook so binge-worthy that I finished it in two days!

I highly recommend this book and I am sure it will be very successful after publication. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the publisher, and the narrator for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

This is the first book that I have read by Chris Whitaker and I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The story is so well written and tight, that I was hooked almost right from the start. Mr. Whitaker's storytelling is concise, with no unnecessary details. The characters were well developed and believable. The narrator, George Newbern read the story perfectly. I really felt like I knew these characters, but I was still unable to predict what they would do, which is such a breath of fresh air. The family dynamics were as complex as they could be. Relationships between the characters were also very complicated, but understandable. This book will probably be considered crime fiction, but it goes so far beyond that, interweaving a tale spun so expertly that it can stand as a classic in my opinion. There are absolutely no loose ends. Obviously, I highly recommend this book and thank McMillan Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this wonderful book!

We begin at the end by Chris Whitaker will wreck you! Your heart will be broken so many times while reading/listening to this title that you will question whether or not you can even finish this book. Duchess and Robin, just 2 kids trying to survive. Duchess with her curse infused vocabulary and the stony heart she shows the world, are just a façade that hides a scared and hurting little girl. She calls herself an outlaw and she will handle any trouble that comes her way. In many ways she is wise beyond her years, but still young enough to never look past the current day. She can’t see the consequences that will come based on her choices and actions. The reader is immediately invested in these children. They understand their mother. They understand her choices and actions. They understand Walk and his choices and actions. They understand Vincent and his choices and actions. They understand Dark and his choices and actions. THE READER UNDERSTAND NOTHING! This book will wreck you and you will never be the same. The final part is aptly named “Heartbreaker”. The narrator read this beautifully. His steadfast narration brought Duchess’s world to life. This was a difficult book to put down. Be prepared to endure heavy emotions when you pick it up as I suggestion everyone should.

“….Nothing was inevitable. She had not chosen this way. It was her fate. It had been decided before she began.....She could only endure the unendurable.”
-Laurie Mathews

This was my first novel by this author and I was quite impressed. This was a story of loss. Things that could never be. I thought the narrator was really good. I hope to hear more of him.

I really liked the story and couldn’t wait to see how things ended. It reminded me of home. Of crazy. It was written well and pulled at me. I hoped that people would not be cruel. But life is often cruel, isn’t it? I’ll be thinking about this one for days.
This was mystery, crime, coming of age, realistic fiction and an audiobook. If you like any of those things, then I think you’ll like it. I do recommend it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A year after its March 2020 publication in print, "We Begin at the End" by Chris Whitaker finally gets the audiobook treatment in March 2021. Whichever format you prefer, this is a novel by an up-and-coming author that's not to be missed. Call it a thriller, a mystery, a crime drama, or a coming-of-age tale, it's undeniably a slow burn story with more than its fair share of surprises.

The plot is intricate, with many connected characters essentially dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy that took place 30 years prior. At its heart is a vividly-drawn young girl named Duchess, a self-proclaimed "outlaw," who does whatever is necessary to raise and protect her younger brother. Their life circumstances are heartbreaking and somewhat of a mystery. Misfortune seems to follow them, and you can't help but hope they'll eventually end up on solid, supportive ground.

This is a novel with four parts, and it wasn't until Part 2 when the setting and characters shift to small town Montana that I got sucked in. The other prominent setting is a small coastal California town. Both are equally atmospheric, but I sensed glimmers of hope in Montana compared to the dreary regret of the west.

The audiobook is confidently narrated by George Newbern (Scandal, Father of the Bride). His voice is familiar and comforting, but I can't help but think this is a book where you want to feel the weight of a hardback in your hands. For the audio format though, Newbern is always a reliable choice.

I would like to thank Macmillan Audio and the author for the opportunity to review an advanced copy via NetGalley.

We Begin At The End was one of the best books I have read this year. It was the first book by Chris Whitaker that I have read but by no means will it be my last . I was so impressed with his eloquent story telling and beautiful way he had with words that I will definitely seek out other books rhat he has written. We Begin at the End was most definitely a character driven book. The characters in this book were complex and very well developed. Some were more likable than others. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by George Newbern and ran for 10 hours and 30 minutes. I was drawn in immediately to this crime thriller that brilliantly focused on tragedy, accomplishments, friendships, trust, suspicions, justice, love, secrets, lies, protection and sacrifices. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker was powerful, emotional, engaging and above all captivating.

Some people are dealt the kind of hand in life that no one should have to accept but they do regardless. It was probably because they had no choice and because that was the only life they had ever known. Dutchess Day Radley, a thirteen year old girl, was one of those people. She proclaimed herself to be an “outlaw” and she acted and lived her life accordingly. Her mother, Star, a single mother, was not capable of caring for Dutchess or her younger brother Robin. Dutchess was forced to assume the role of caregiver for her mother and protector and mother for her brother. Dutchess was wise beyond her years. The children at school made fun of her and tormented her. It was not that Dutchess was a bad child but she was quick to react, defensive and then often regretted the mistakes she made because she reacted on impulse. She lived in the coastal town of Cape Haven, California. It was the kind of town where everyone knew one another. Her mother, Star, had grown up there and had never moved away. Among the locals, Chief Walker or Walk, as most people knew him, had also grown up there along with Star and Vincent King. Walk was now Chief of Police. Vincent King was being released from prison that day. There was history between Walk, Vincent and Star. Vincent had been accused of killing Star’s younger sister, Sissy, all those years ago. Walk still felt guilty for his part in Vincent’s arrest. Years ago, Walk and Vincent were best friends. Shortly after Vincent’s release, Star was discovered murdered in her own home. All evidence pointed to Vincent but could he have killed Star, the woman he once loved and possibly still did?

The rest of We Begin at the End followed the investigation of Star’s murder and Vincent’s arrest for her murder. Dutchess and Robin were transported to Montana, to a life with a grandfather, Hal, they had never met nor known. Unfortunately, Dutchess’s life took many unfortunate and unforeseen twists and turns over the next several years. Life was not kind nor fair to her. The ending was touching, sorrowful, emotional and yet hopeful and it uplifted my spirits. I did not want this book to end. I was so emotionally invested in Dutchess’s and Walk’s characters. This is a book that will not disappoint. I highly recommend We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this spectacular audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

There's nothing more tragic than an elderly child and that is the plight of Duchess Day Radley. Duchess is the embodiment of sass despite being an extremely vulnerable teenager who has ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience) coming out of her ass. From the opening chapters, I had a strong sense that "We Begin At The End" was going to be something special. Chris Whitaker beautifully portrays the complexity of small town American life, in fictional Cape Haven, through languid pacing. The characters are well-drawn and multi-faceted. Thomas Noble was my favourite supporting character. Whitaker's writing is raw and honest, his plotting spectacular. You go into this book one person and come out changed. I felt completely undone when it ended. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook which is brilliantly narrated by George Newbern. "We Begin At The End" is one of the best books I've ever read.

We Begin at the End, by Chris Whitaker, was a gut wrenching, often sad, emotional ride. The characters were well defined, and they displayed intense feelings. Even written as a book of fiction, it was easy for me to imagine the scenarios; there was such a sense of realism in the raw emotion mentally depicted and verbally spoken, especially as expressed by 13 yr old Duchess, and her 5 yr old brother, Robin. The relationship the siblings had with each other was extraordinary. The fierce protectiveness, along with the tender care Duchess exhibited towards Robin, touched my heart’s core.

The Audio version, narrated by George Newbern, was stellar. The voice definition between characters was not severe, but commendable, and Mr. Newbern is skilled in expressing dramatic emotional dialogue, without being overbearing. His pitch, pace, and power were on point.

My only criticism would be the abundant use of the F* bomb, from beginning to end - throughout the entire story. The F*bomb profanity was very overdone, and I wish the tough “outlaw” attitude and/or emotional outbursts could have been skillfully portrayed in another way, or at least with alternative words.

3.5 STARS

My thanks to NetGalley and MacMillion Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are expressly my own.

How good is this book?! I was expecting a light thriller, but this is so much more.

We Begin at the End is truly an unexpected gem for me. It's a character-driven novel which deals with human nature, guilt, and just what people are capable of doing to protect the people they love.

30 years ago, fifteen-year-old Thomas King was responsible for the death of Star's sister and became incarcerated as a result. Upon his release, his best friend and police chief Walk is still standing by his side. Next, Star used to be his girlfriend and now she has two children, the older of whom, a thirteen-year-old Dutchess, basically has to parent her mother. She is very smart and protective of her family, but her mistakes cause a ripple effect which brings down a storm on the whole family.

I've never read a thriller that made me so emotional. It's a wise, exploratory book about family relationships, crime and human instincts. Since I listened to the audiobook version of it, We Begin at the End hit even harder, which such well-developed setting and characters pulling me into the story. Excellent.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have heard so much buzz about this book and now I understand why. I think the character of Duchess will stay with me. It was a difficult read for Thanksgiving weekend, but well worth it. The audio was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Duchess Day Radley is a fierce 13 year old taking care of her five year old brother Robin and her irresponsible mother Star. A self proclaimed outlaw, she doesn’t take attitude from anyone.

30 years ago Star, Walt, Vincent and Martha are all best friends until Vincent goes to jail as a teenager. Now Walk is Chief of the Police in the town he grew up in. He keeps an eye on Star and the kids and romanticizes his relationship with Vincent.

I loved Star. A tough and whip-smart kid she is protective of her little brother and is in effect his mother. What those two kids are put through is heart breaking. The author tried to do a little too much with side characters and the bad guy but overall a very good audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job.