Initially, I was expecting this to be a cozy mystery based on the first chapter. However, very soon it became apparent that there was a lot more to it than that with a darker storyline, complex relationships and detailed history that all came together very carefully by the end of the book. The pace of the unravelling of the story is perfect and I really enjoyed it. A great character-led mystery so I'll definitely be looking out for more of the author's books.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3/5

thank you to netgalley and inkshares for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unnatural Ends is murder mystery thriller set in the 1920s England and follows three siblings as return home after having learnt that their father, Sir Lawrence Linwood, has been bludgeoned to death by a medieval malice. There they learn an important clause in their father’s will- whosoever will find his killer will be the sole inheritor of the entire estate, the sprawling Linwood Hall.

The characters are what made the story truly enjoyable for me, and I was left turning pages in order to find out what each of the Linwood siblings fate was. Each character is well fleshed out, the siblings and majority of the side ones so the single povs toward the end truly add more allure to the story. although you might confuse or forget a very minor character because of many of them but each hold their own place.

Alan, Roger and Caroline Linwoods past and present are laid out for the reader, threading along secrets and memories. Their manipulative, ruthless, arrogant and wrathful father influences every decision and move on their part despite being out of their lives. The siblings realization that they were victims too along with their Mother, and the only respite in their childhood was the watchtower of Linwood hall which they called Camelot, and where they return even as adults after discovering something deeply jarring.

Huang’s style of writing is precise, and easy to read though sometimes the descriptions of old England buildings tend to blend together a bit. The book’s pacing is relatively slow in first 30% but after that it starts picking up, and soon the twists and turns have you clinging to your seat. You *might* see the major plot twist coming, but it is still satisfying to sit back and enjoy it. The ending did felt a bit anti-climatic to me, but I also see no other way how it might have ended.

The only real complain I have of this book is the the number of times south asian features are described as “exotic” and even Japanese once. I had to check out the author and he was born in Singapore so idk. i mean it’s 2022, i feel like could be worded better. i mean this is one of the quotes:

“tall, soldierly Roger Linwood with that queer, exotic something about him that was not quite Chinese, not quite Indian, and certainly not entirely English.”
His unknown origin is part of the mystery though.

I loved the dynamic between the three siblings, how they still cared for each other and put eachother before Linwood Hall, despite having been taught the opposite. Iris Morgan was particularly interesting for me, and I loved her alot. I mean where would they have been without her help?

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did! What really pulled me in wasn't the mystery itself but the characters. Alan, Greg, and Caroline came across as very distinct characters who jumped off the page. I enjoyed following their respective stories/backstories. The mystery itself wasn't too hard to guess but enjoyable all the same.

Sir Lawrence Linwood, a very wealthy man, has been savagely beaten to death in his own home by a medieval mace. Upon this discovery, his three grown children return home. Alan is an archeologist, Roger is an engineer and Carolyn is a journalist. Their mother has taken to her room and doesn’t speak with anyone. It’s clear that the grown children have intentionally stayed away and they don’t seem to have a good relationship with either parent. During the reading of the will, a “find my killer” clause is revealed. It is shared that in the event of an unnatural death, whomever can solve the mystery will inherit the estate. As we get to know each character, we see that even in death, the father is manipulating his children. The mother has very little to say about anything and remains a shadowy figure in the home.

This character-driven mystery is set in 1920’s England. We quickly find out that all three children are adopted. The story is told from different perspectives so we get to see how each child has reacted to the news and more importantly, to each other. Sir Lawrence had a very strict method of raising his children and didn’t believe in any emotion even toward family. As we learn more about each character, we see that things aren’t always as they seem.

This was a good mystery, although I felt it bogged down in the middle. And while this was a character-driven plot, I didn’t feel that I learned enough about all the characters, especially the mother. Overall, this was a good story and I would read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The three adopted Linwood children are called back home after the death of their adoptive father. They are then pit against each other to solve the murder- the prize, being the sole inheritor of the estate.

This book showed a lot of promise, a sort of gothic mystery.
But I struggled with it. The writing didn’t flow as I’d expected and because of the style of it also, it just was hard to follow. I’m not saying it was bad, not at all, just not for me I’m afraid.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my arc.

Unnatural Ends is a cleverly constructed mystery, with a great many red herrings. When Sir Lawrence is murdered, the suspects are numerous. It seems that far more people either wanted him dead or wanted to be the one to murder him, but unfortunately, he can only be murdered once. There are a plethora of fascinating characters to consider, including his three adopted children, his wife, and friends from his past. The secrets are multilayered, numerous, and cleverly disguised. No one and nothing is what it seems.

Unnatural Ends was a fun book, and thus, I really hated for it to end. The characters were so well defined that I felt I was there, helping them solve so many different crimes. This is a book in which the reader becomes so involved that it is tough to put down. Peeling back the layers of Sir Lawrence's life is rather like peeling an onion, only more pungent. This cruel sadist man emerges in remembrances past, in which his children recount their childhoods. Sir Lawrence was such an evil man, that his murder appears impossible. Such evil cannot possibly cease to exist, but dead he is, and the crime needs to be solved.. The end of the novel and solving of the crime is a terrific and perfect ending. Now I want to go back and reread Unnatural Ends.

This is the first Christopher Huang book that I had read, I will certainly want to read more of his work. I want to thank both the author and the publisher, Inkshares Press, for providing this ARC. This was such a fun and entertaining book that writing a positive review is the only way I can possibly describe Unnatural Ends. Thank you also to NetGalley for introducing me to another wonderful author.

Overall this was a very clever plot with excellent character development. The twists and turns were realistic enough and the story runs along smoothly. I do not read this type of genre much and I am glad I did. I usually like more historical connections but the mystery kept me engaged and entertained. I absolutely recommend this book to all types of fiction readers. After finishing, I wanted to go grab an Agatha Christie novel for comparison....that alone seems to justify a 4-star plus rating.

I like the family plot twist, but I had figured it out before the reveal. The book held my attention adn I think it is a good read for an adult.

This really was not what I expected. I would categorize it as a gothic-murder mystery. I was initially taken aback by the brutal muder of Sir Lawrence Linwood, which I wasn't expecting-a bit graphic for my tastes.
The 3 siblings are charged with determining who killed Sir Lawrence Linwood, and whoever solves the mystery, inherits the mansion, Linwood Hall.
I found the writing at times to be quite verbose, complicated and could you please, get to the point?
At times, i felt like I was trudging through it.
I could not relate to the characters-et al. I did not find any of them, particularly engaging but, again, this really was not my cup of tea. I prefer a more straight forward mystery without the gothic, Yorkshire Moors 1920 premise.
I had to work to finish it.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkshares for the opportunity to read and review this book.

jb/https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

A truly promising debut novel, with a thrilling mystery element in a small town, and it deals with sensitive topics. This did seem to drag a little but it worth it when the story comes together.

Christopher Huang’s “Unnatural Ends” is excellently written. The characters personalities and lives suck you into this story. The plots twists and turns keep you riveted. Several times throughout the book I thought I had the mystery solved only to find out I was very wrong. I highly recommend this fast paced book!

*Many thanks to Christopher Huang, Inkshares, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
If it is a debut, it is a truly promising one. Apart from the mystery which is rather complicated, the book offers gradual unravelling of the three main characters, the victim's adopted children which is always what I like. Their stories and what they learn about themselves and each other in the due course is like adding another piece of a big puzzle which, when completed, surprises the reader. The ambiance of the place and the feel of the period is perfect.

🧳🧳🧳 / 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me early access to the ARC!

I liked some elements of this book, but not enough, unfortunately. The writing was spot on for the time period in which the novel takes place, and the mystery and plot twists were intriguing; however, the story was so long and drawn out that it was difficult to stick with it. I wanted to like this one more because the premise was so captivating, but it just wasn’t it for me. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this one though, especially if you enjoy classic mysteries.

This book will certainly keep you reading until the very end to know where it will all leads to after all the countless twists and turns it gave you!

Annoyed that it took me too long to read this book but ended up loving it. Read it and it's worth your time!

“𝑰𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 […] 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

What business do I have reviewing a book that doesn’t come out until January 2023 when I have others to prioritize?! I am super glad I did though - Unnatural Ends was EXCELLENT.

I love a good mystery, and this has all the makings of one; it especially felt like an homage to an Agatha Christie novel, one that she could’ve easily written herself. There was the imposing father figure, the country house mansion, the post-WWI timeline, and the amateur detectives in the three siblings. Iris and Roger reminded me a bit of Tommy and Tuppence investigating and the adopted siblings reminded me of the family from Ordeal by Innocence. There was even a revolving bookcase to the servants’ passage that felt like a nod to the secret passageways in Clue! This story kicked off with a murder and a mysterious will and kept up the pace as each sibling tried to piece together what may have happened, especially as they dove into the connections surrounding their birth parents. Christopher Huang’s writing is sharp, with some really good twists and reveals, alongside making connections later in the book to things that seemed irrelevant at the beginning. The story also explores prejudice and racism, which gives it a different angle than just a regular whodunnit. There were a few spots that dragged, and if you are familiar with Christie, you may see the ending coming, but overall the story was incredibly engaging and I loved seeing how Huang connected all the puzzle pieces.

Unnatural Ends is a story about family, chosen and bloodline, the strength in siblings, and the trauma we face. It is perfect for readers who love the Golden Age of detective fiction and makes a worthy addition to a mystery lover’s bookshelf. A big thank you to Inkshares and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book felt overly convoluted and drawn out. I felt there were too many jumps followed by intricate descriptions they had just happened to work out or notice off page.

This one was too slow paced for me. I tried to pick it up a few times in between other books hoping it would pick up. Unfortunately, it did not Unnatural Ends became a DNF for me.

3.8 stars
1903 – A tower named Camelot, a play place for three adopted siblings. ‘I knew a man who began by worshipping with others before the altar, but who grew fond of high and lonely places to pray from…’ GK Chesteron; this quote alone sets the stage for the death of Sir Lawrence Linwood (1921) and the return of his three children to solve what turns out to be a murder and resolve their upbringing.

Filled with plot twists and surprises it is a who-done-it that kept me engaged till the final pages. The descriptions of Alan, Roger and Caroline were detailed and vivid enough that you felt that you knew them, but each as well had their hidden sides. They were of course raised by Linwood and their mother, Rebecca.

A telling of a less than ideal family, about manipulation, deceipt, mores of the times, and uncensored ego.

I recommend this book as a quick read, filled with interesting characters, but do pay attention to the quotes that front the chapters, they are gold.

Favourite lines: “Alan had an idea that Father’s atheism had more to do with pride, an unwillingness to place any being higher than himself, than with any real theological conviction.”

My thanks to #NetGalley and #Inkshares for this early copy and my unbiased review.

Unnatural Ends is set in the 1920s where Alan (an archeologist), Roger (an engineer), and Caroline (a journalist) – the three Linwood Hall siblings, return to their family estate in Yorkshire for their adoptive father’s funeral. After they are all summoned to the reading of Sir Lawrence Lindwood's will, they are surprised to find out that their father has been murdered. And that his estate shall go to the heir who solves his murder.

This story is being told in multi POV's and narrative shifts between past and present. There were parts that I wish were cut shorter, but I guess the author wanted to cover all ''what if's''. Pacing was moderate and plot was interesting. You will get to experience some shocking twists and get to uncover many hidden truths. Everything in typical murder mystery. But not quite typical, am I right?

What I liked, is how in depth author told us about the Linwood children life's, how well scenic atmosphere was described and how clever, the events around the murder plot, was done.

Thank you to Christopher Huang, Inkshares and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.