What would you do if you knew the world was going to be destroyed by a huge asteroid in one month? The mesmerising YA debut from the winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel 2021 and the New York Times Bestselling author of We Begin at the End.
Chris Whitaker is the award-winning author of adult thrillers Tall
Oaks, All the Wicked Girls and We Begin at the End. All three books
were published to widespread critical acclaim, with Tall Oaks going
on to win the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award. An instant
New York Times bestseller, We Begin at the End was picked as a
Waterstones Thriller of the Month and won the CWA Gold Dagger Award
for Best Crime Novel.
When not writing, Chris works at his local library, where he gets
to surround himself with books. A huge fan of teen fiction, The
Forevers is his first novel for young adults. Chris lives in
Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.
Follow him on Twitter @WhittyAuthor
I LOVED it . . . so intricately, delicately written, with such care
and affection for all the characters. I adored all the
relationships and ALL the characters without exception . . . 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 *
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
*
Chris Whitaker's third novel, We Begin at the End, is the kind of
breakout book that publishers dream about. Rich with character and
story, conflict and tension, humor, tragedy and raw, unadulterated
guts, this one has it all. Throw in the most compelling young
protagonist I've read in at least a decade, and you have a deep and
meaningful story that is an absolute delight from first page to
last. Nicely done, Mr. Whitaker! * John Hart *
Stunning, intoxicating, heart-breaking - without a doubt one of my
favourite books of the year. A compelling story, beautifully-drawn
characters and writing that leaps off the page: We Begin at the End
is in a class of its own * T M Logan *
A stunning and heartbreaking book - will keep you gripped until the
last moving page * Claire McGowan, #1 bestselling author of What
You Did *
An exceptionally beautiful and accomplished crime novel. I fell
head over heels into its big black heart and will carry the
characters with me for a long time to come yet. Duchess and Thomas
Noble forever * Ali Land *
Chris Whitaker takes crime writing to new levels in this evocative
and lyrical novel, which is not only beautifully written but
cleverly plotted, with a climax you'll never guess * Mark Edwards
*
If ever there is a book that deserves all the prizes, this is it.
So layered and nuanced, and brimming with characters so full of
depth they breathe on the page. So heartbreakingly evocative of
small town life and the secrets buried under the weight of old
friendships and tangled loyalties. Stunning writing, both poetic
and compelling. A damn near perfect crime novel * Fiona Cummins
*
We Begin at the End is the most beautifully written book I have
read this year . . . with characters that will tug at your
heartstrings, an incredible sense of place and a cleverly plotted
mystery, Chris Whitaker is proving himself to be one of the most
talented writers around * Lisa Hall *
What a novel! Such a remarkable achievement. So wonderful in so
many ways, with writing that is Booker Prize good. I kept having to
stop and go back and re-read bits because I wanted to experience
them again. I enjoyed it so much and the characters now have a
place in my heart, I'm sad not to be able to spend any more time
with them (Duchess especially). Wow. There is no f**king justice if
this book is not a smash hit * Deborah O'Connor *
We Begin At The End is as perfect a novel as you'll read all year.
Devastating and hopeful in equal measure, with pitch-perfect
characters you'll root for at each jaw-dropping turn - Duchess, in
particular, deserves a fast-track pass to the literary hall of
fame. A sophisticated, utterly absorbing read * Caz Frear *
A triumph. I couldn't read it fast enough, while still appreciating
the absolute beauty and depth to it. I don't know where to begin -
the total satisfaction of the plot, the absorbing story, the cast
of unbelievably incredible characters, the sheer taste of America
on the page. So, I'll begin at the end, and the fact I cried
straight through those last few chapters. Duchess, Robin, they
killed me. It's an absolute masterclass in crime writing and
story-telling * Jo Spain *
Chris Whitaker excels in muscular small town American Noir. In We
Begin at the End, we see that fascination with the gnarly American
heartland reach new heights. Whitaker displays his mastery over
style; his unique flair and eye for telling detail is comparable to
a form of literary method acting. The story unwinds to a peak of
tension and ends with a series of revelations that hit like a
flurry of punches to the gut. It is a fabulous read. A sparse,
muscular novel with a unique sense of style. A cross between crime
and literary fiction in the Cormac McCarthy tradition. A sense of
tragedy infuses the story and this, more than anything, makes it
one of the year's best crime reads * Vaseem Khan *
Breathtaking, heart-wrenching, heart-warming and laugh-out-loud
funny, We Begin At The End is simply astonishing. Easily the best
book I've read this year * M.W. Craven, CWA Gold Dagger winner
*
An absolute belter of a book. Superb, heart-breaking, astounding
and gripping. Chris Whitaker has totally nailed it * Gytha Lodge
*
Sometimes a book finds its way to you when you need it most, and
teaches you a lesson you didn't even know needed teaching. We Begin
at the End is one of those books, and it truly is a masterpiece *
Isabelle Broom *
A sensational book. Addictive, beautifully-written and immersive.
So many layers. So many fascinating characters. Chris Whitaker is
an immensely talented writer * Will Dean *
Emotionally wrung out after reading We Begin at the End. Chris
Whitaker is one of the few authors who can genuinely make me cry.
Rock on Duchess and Thomas Noble . . . this may be my book of the
year * C J Carver *
Astoundingly beautiful. No other writer can pull you in quite so
well as Chris Whitaker. The writing is pure and sharp, the
characters perfectly drawn, the story unforgettable * Rebecca
Tinnelly *
We Begin At The End is stunning - thrilling, moving, beautifully
written * Paul Burston *
Gasp-enduring drama and laugh-out-loud humour, Duchess Day Radley
is now my favourite character in fiction by far * Tom Wood *
Hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. In my life.
There's a bit at the end which is so overwhelmingly sad I can
barely breathe just thinking about it. An absolutely astonishing
novel and the writing is breathtaking * Rebecca Thornton *
A heart-rending, gut-punching, nail-biting masterpiece. I'm sure I
could hear echoes of Harper Lee coming through in the skilfully
crafted prose. It's surely rare that a British author should pen an
American classic, but I think Chris has * Marnie Riches *
Chris Whitaker has written a rare gem of a novel - by turns
thrilling, moving and heartbreaking, it takes the reader on a
gut-wrenching journey from hope to despair and back again. Chris's
previous novels demonstrated his gift for creating complex, fragile
and all-too-believable characters, but somehow he has topped
himself here, introducing us to a cast of heroes and villains so
intimately-drawn, they could be your family and friends. The kind
of book that makes you fall in love with reading again * Rod
Reynolds *
Crime may feature at the heart of We Begin at the End but it is the
heart itself that dominates this stunning crime novel. Beautiful,
evocative & heartbreaking from beginning to end * Off-the-Shelf
blog *
Beautiful writing, characters that live on in your memory long
after you've turned the last page. Excellent * Mason Cross *
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