Cover Image: Unnatural Ends

Unnatural Ends

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4 stars for a mystery with family secrets. It starts when the three adopted children of Lawrence Linwood are notified that he has been murdered. His face has been bludgeoned beyond recognition. Then the will is read and the child who solves the murder receives the entire estate. They set about trying to solve the murder and discover terrible buried secrets. I suspected the killer about two thirds of the way in. However, there were many false clues. The book is set in England and alternates between two time periods, after the murder and during the childhood years of the three children.
Thanks to Inkshares for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

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This book draws upon a very golden age classic mystery mood while dealing with modern themes with some depth. I appreciated the richly described setting, I could really feel myself there, wandering the hallways and stairways and of course, I enjoyed the twisty mystery.

As I was reading it, I kept thinking how this would be such a great book for a book club discussion.
I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher, Inkshares, for the opportunity to read this one and share my thoughts.

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This is a solid historical fiction/thriller/mystery. I truly loved the early premise of the book. About a third of the way in, I was loving it and recommended it to multiple friends. But as the book went on, I liked it less and less. That is not really the author's fault, but rather my own personal preferences. Adopted children in adulthood discovering their personal origins while solving a murder mystery in 1920's English countryside? Love it. Some of what those discoveries were and where the mystery led? Not so much.

That said, I figured out "whodunnit" less than 2/3 of the way through the book. The big reveal didn't happen until about 90% of the way through. So although the book was a good, fun read... Agatha Christie the author is not.




I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This in no way effected my scoring of the book of any of the contents above.

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While it took me a while to finally pick this book up and a little to get into the book, I really enjoyed it as soon as I got used to the writing style. I am pretty bad with history except for german medieval age and Japanese history (premodern and modern). At first I got quite confused and a bit bored by Alan's pov since he talks a looot about history. But as soon as they included the Meiji restoration and Japanese history I got quite involved. I mainly review Japanese literature and am a Japanese studies major at university, so as soon as Japan played a role and I was able to follow the book easily. I enjoyed the different Pov's a lot as well and my favourite ended up being Alan, even though at first I struggled with the amount of historical knowledge and comparissons he was giving. And with that I got more used to the writing style and got absorbed in the story. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a more slow and intellectual historical fiction. I seldomly read historical fiction and enjoyed it a lot.

4/5

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You might think for a minute that "Unnatural Ends" is a classic English manor house mystery, but it is much more. Christopher Huang sets his story in 1921, when the agony of WWI is still very fresh in everyone's brain and nerves.

At Linwood Hall, Sir Lawrence Linwood has been murdered. His three adopted children gather to support their spectral mother and do what they can to help in the investigation. Alan, the oldest, is an archeologist who moved to Peru right after surviving the war. Roger is an engineer, fascinated by aircraft, and engaged to young woman with a surprising past. Caroline lives in Paris, working for a newspaper. At the reading of the will they learn that their father left his estate to whoever solves his murder. Sir Lawrence was a terrible father; cruel, overbearing, manipulative, and his children have done their best to stay away from him as adults. At first, Caroline, Alan, and Roger don't want to play, before long they're all doing their own sleuthing. They share their discoveries but new information begins to set them at odds.

The crisp style of
Huang's novel is a perfect fit for the book's time and place. There are plenty of surprises and no whitewashing of the nastiness beneath. He's good, but the novel is too long and concentration may waver at crucial points. Or is that a strategy?

Many thanks to Inkshares and NetGalley for sharing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

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After growing apart from one another over the last several years, siblings Alan, Roger, and Caroline are reunited at the funeral of their intimidating and powerful father, but they soon find that the circumstances of his death are much stranger than they first appear. When they learn that his will asks them to solve his murder in exchange for sole control over his estate, it triggers a series of revelations that change how they see themselves and their father.

This is a twisty one. It took me a little while to get into it, what with the shifting perspectives and timelines, but I am glad I stuck it out. It is very detailed in its plotting, with several red herrings and revelations that shift how the reader understands what is going on and why. Though it takes a while for the reader to see the whole picture and grasp the horror of what exactly has been going on for the last 30 years, there are enough hints of it that you're left with a feeling of unease and disgust that is entirely well placed on the story's villain, who is truly evil. Huang does a good job creating setting and atmosphere that is appropriate and engaging.

Thank you to Inkshares and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Unnatural Ends early.

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This was my first book from this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It sounded like a very intriguing story to me as I tend to love mystery stories with a historical/classic feel to them. Unfortunately, I couldn't get very engaged in this story. I think the main reason was I was finding the writing style stuffy to get through, which prevented me from enjoying the story.

It didn't work out for me, but I'm sure others would really like this story. I might check out more from this author in the future depending on what their next book is like.

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This is an intricate mystery with lots of twists and turns and secrets! The three adopted Linwood siblings have all gone their separate was and followed their own career paths. The story explores ways in which privilege can go hand in hand with unhappiness. It some ways, it reminded me of The Westing Game or an Agatha Christie novel.

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I was very excited about the prospect of a historical fiction novel set around/adjacent to a World War other than WWII, however I had to DNF this one. Characters felt dry, and I couldn't muster much interest in finding out more about the mystery.

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Unnatural Ends is a well written historical locked room murder mystery by Christopher Huang. Due out 20th June 2023 from Inkshares, it's 402 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

This is a terrifically creepy and atmospheric locked room murder mystery set in the early interwar period in Yorkshire. Three siblings are drawn home from far away to attend their father's funeral after his bludgeoning murder. The family estate is isolated and the attendant village obsequious but the whole setup is odd and off-kilter.

To add to the bizarre situation, the deceased man has left a will saying "In
the event that my death should be due to unnatural causes, I charge my children with the task of identifying my killer.". Thus follows alternating chapters of narrative from the PoV of the principal players.

The pacing in the first half of the book is glacial, and is noteworthy for the deliciously lyrical (but unrelentingly creepy) writing. The tension ratchets up and it takes a while before readers have more than the vaguest glimpse of anything happening under the surface. The book does move along much more quickly in the second half and there's quite a lot of psychological horror involved in the denouement and resolution.

Quite a significant portion of the mystery is way out there. Readers should bring a healthy suspension of disbelief. That being said, however, the prose is luminous and quite often sublime.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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When forbidding patriarch Sir Lawrence Linwood is murdered, his three adopted children are tasked with solving the crime if they are to inherit his wealthy estate, in the North York Moors. But, only one of them will gain the ultimate prize.

There's plot twists aplenty is this engaging and readable murder-mystery thriller.

The narrative flagged a bit in the middle, for me, once the children's real ancestry had been uncovered; and, the final denouement was rather abrupt.

The setting in and around Malton in Yorkshire feels authentic; the author knows the area well and/or has done his research.

All in all, an enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I was drawn into this story from the first chapter and it never failed in its promise of a great story. It is an absorbing well-crafted story and I felt I was there with the characters in their surroundings.

It is a brilliantly written historical murder mystery with diverse characters.

I am looking forward to future books from Christopher Huang.

Siblings, Alan, Roger, and Caroline are called back to their childhood home, Linwood Hall in Yorkshire, following the murder of their father, Sir Linwood.

When his will is read, they learn that the one successful in solving his murder will inherit his entire estate.

Sir Linwood had been a domineering, controlling, and often cruel father. His life lessons for the children included strength of character to the extent of insensitivity and indifference. He expects these traits to dominate and for the siblings to each follow their course of investigation without sharing their knowledge.

But he underestimates his children.

All three siblings were adopted as babies and two are of mixed race. After their initial individual enquiries, they soon share information, combine their knowledge and work together.

Their research and interviews reveal dark secrets in their past and their father’s mysterious life.

The siblings are the three main characters. Alan is an archaeologist, Roger an engineer, and Caroline a journalist (that is as far as her father knew who also believed she was certain to become a politician)

Other key characters include Iris Morgan (Roger’s fiancé), Giles Brewster (innkeeper), Detective Inspector Mowbray, and Lady Linwood (wife of the deceased).

In addition to the people, and due to Huang’s skilful writing and descriptions, Linwood Hall is an imposing and ominous character itself that dominates the landscape.

All characters (including the minor ones) were interesting, well developed, and (most of them) likeable.

The story of the siblings is so fascinating the ‘murder mystery’ takes a back seat to the gradual revelations of the past. Huang achieved this through varying POVs. Each character has a distinct ‘voice’ and reveals their past through flashbacks, but the storyline doesn’t get bogged down.

The author skilfully uses language to set the mood and the time. I felt I was right there in the mansion, shivering from the cold and morbidity. I wish I could write with the beauty and turn of phrase used in this book.

The story deals with sensitive issues including psychological and physical abuse but I felt it was not too graphic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkshares & Christopher Huang for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

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I was very impressed by how well written this book is. The setting was really well chosen and all of the strings of the murder-mystery were wrapped-up perfectly. I really liked the exploration of this family through the novel and discovering more and more of their secrets. Seriously, I don't have anything negative to say about this book, that's how good it was.

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Enjoyable period mystery with plenty of suspects, including the dead at times. Setting is well-described, you can easily picture yourself there. Very unusual premise for a murder mystery. Made for an interesting book.
Read/reviewed for Net Galley.

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Alan, Roger and Caroline, the children of Sir Lawrence Linwood, meet again at their father's funeral. His will states that the one child who solves his murder will inherit the estate.
But how did he know he would be murdered?
Unnatural Ends is a well crafted mystery set in the 1920's. With flashbacks to each child's earlier years, we experience one crooked man's version of life as a stage and the power of deception.
A fast paced read in easy accessible language full of interesting twists and turns. Well rounded colorful characters make the grey scenery come alive.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkshares for the ARC.

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I really enjoyed reading about the Linwood family. I found them fascinating and honestly I kept reading more to find out about them more than to discover who might have killed the family’s patriarch.

Speaking of which, the book is actually about a murder but it doesn’t really read like a typical mystery. At least, it didn’t for me. It had a more family drama vibe which I loved.

Roger, Caroline, and Alan have all come home for their father’s funeral. It isn’t until they arrive they’re told he was murdered. During the reading of the Will they discover the entire estate is to be sold off and the profits split between them…unless one of them manages to find out who did the deed and caused their fathers death. Whoever solves the murder gets the entire estate.

This is more than a simple Whodunit or why murder mystery though. And it got more and more intriguing as the story went on and body’s kept dropping. So while the beginning took me a while to get into, I was hooked by the end. Recommend this one as worth the read!!!

***I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions and thoughts are all my own.

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Sir Linwood has died and his three adopted adult children return for the funeral. Only upon their arrival do the find that their father has been murdered. Upon the reading of the will it is learned that instead of the inheritance being split between the three of them, Alan, Roger and Caroline, it will be given instead to whomever solves their father’s murder. Working alone and together many twists are discovered having to do with their adoptions. Secrets are revealed and more than one murder is solved. I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher, Inkshares. This review is my honest opinion of this interesting historical mystery.

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This book was a lot of fun. It was a who done it with the body already discovered at the beginning of participants, had to figure out how it has been done in order to inherit.

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This book had an excellent premise and I was really excited to read it, but unfortunately something fell flat for me. I'm not sure whether it was the plot or writing, but I ended up getting bored for most of the book.

Thank you to Inkshares and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

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What an interesting concept this book revolved around. The story concerned an aristocrat who had died, and his will left to his children the possibility that if they were to find his murderer, the entire estate would be theirs. He left behind three children, but that was just the beginning. The mystery of who killed Sir Lawrence is the main one, but there are all sorts of trails off into different side plots. The characters were interesting and fun and well developed and the plot itself was original and very unique. I greatly enjoyed the time period as well, because it gave a great sense of ambiance to the story that something that took place in contemporary times or after the 1950s would not have been as fun I think. I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy Agatha Christie, because in the same vein, this was a whodunit with some interesting twists.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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