Nobody writes about small time America or damaged vulnerable human beings like Chris Whitaker. I’ve read all his books to date, but this is by far and away the best. I loved this book, although it broke my heart, and it has stayed with me long after finishing it!

There was nothing about this powerful book I did not love. How to describe it? A character driven murder mystery is probably the best I can come up with, but that does not do it justice because it’s so much more. It is a story of loss, love, murder, revenge, sacrifice and the meaning of family.

The story takes place in Cape Haven and, following an initial flashback, begins as Vincent King is due to leave prison. Vincent’s release, after 30 years of imprisonment, has repercussions for many members of the local community, not least of all Walk, who has been King’s closest friend since their youth and Star, the troubled mother of Duchess and Robin. The town has more than its share of strange characters, all with their own secrets and heartaches.

As I read, I felt I personally knew and cared about these characters, especially Walk and Duchess, aka the Outlaw Duchess Day Radley the tough, feisty teenager who is as fiercely protective of her little brother Robin as any doting mother.

I can’t praise this book enough and will be recommending it to everybody.

Whitaker does a great job of writing a thriller that reaches for the heights of American novella, the dual narrative structure of each chapter which takes us into the point of view of wither Walk (Chief Walker), the local sheriff who seeks to find answers to another murder in Cape Haven and the other side of the coin is the story of Duchess being displaced in Montana following the murder of her mother, Star.

Walk is one of those great American idealists like Atticus Finch and others, someone who seeks to do the hard work but overshadowed by past errors and the ill health that is befalling him at this vital stage of his investigation.

Duchess is written as a tough cookie of a young girl, who will not take any rubbish from anyone to fight her corner and protect her brother Robin, like her Mum, Star, did for them.

This book was a pleasant one to read, the swiftness and nimbleness of the plot pays off dividends once the action is ramped up. The utilisation of Montana and the grandfather, Hal, who portrays the stillness of that landscape in contrast to the mayhem of California.

Whitaker paints a world that is both of now and from a timeless period - the Montana scenes read like something from a Richard Ford novel while the murkiness of California reads like a Michael Connolly story. All the more staggering considering that Whitaker was born in London, he writes of America as good as any author I can recall.

Recommended for those who require to be whisked away from this mad mad world.

Another amazing book from this author. Fantastic. Dark and suspenseful. Loved it. Highly recommended xx

This is a crime fiction that is set in Cape Haven, a fictional American town in California.

The story centers around several characters namely Vincent King, Chief Walker and Duchess Radley.

Murderer of 7 year old Sissy Radley, Vincent King had been sentenced to imprisonment for 30 years.

Chief Walker is a friend to Vincent who was told to look after his ex-girlfriend Star Radley as a result he looked out for her children too.

Duchess Radley 'Outlaw' is Star's 13 year old daughter who is fearless and predominantly looks after both her mother and younger brother Robin.

Things go wrong for them when their life stories overlap, which happens when Vincent King is released back into the town of Cape Haven and not everyone are as welcoming to his return.

The author has written this book in 4 parts. He has given interesting descriptions and dialogues to create suspense for his readers.

We Begin at the End was so much more than I expected. The writing was beautiful, from beginning to end, and it left me wanting more. The story itself gripped me from the start, the characters real and fully formed, allowing me to connect to the story.

I’m excited to see what this author writes next and I’ll be checking out his previous books for sure.

A reviewsrevues.com favourite and former author interviewee is back with his third novel. Chris Whitaker's 2016 debut "Tall Oaks" was very strong and critically applauded but I think he got even better with his 5* 2017 offering "All The Wicked Girls". With this, his third novel Whitaker proves there's few better at creating small town America all done with vivid and vibrant characterisation. Thing is, Chris Whitaker is British.

In Cape Haven the impending release of a prisoner whose crime tore the community apart is causing much anxiety for those directly involved including ailing Police Chief Walker, a troubled mother, Star, and her two children Duchess and Robin. A solid plot develops as the historic crime overlaps into a present day one but once again what Whitaker does best is characterisation, especially with quirky youngsters. In "Tall Oaks" we had gangster wannabe Manny, a great comic creation, who really made the debut sparkle, in "Wicked Girls" it was teenage crime-solver Noah and his crew. Here we have a choice of two with main character Duchess who copes with a miserable life by adopting the guise of an outlaw (I think the author could have made more of this perhaps even referencing it in the book's title) and maybe even more so the adorably loyal Thomas Noble, a short-sighted black boy with a withered hand whose devotion to the not always appealing Duchess is unquestionable.

I found myself really caring for the characters and found myself enjoying the book most when it focused on these and took a step back from the crime plot.

It feels like a more substantial novel than what has gone before and there is no doubt that Whitaker has matured as a writer. For sheer reading pleasure I would give "All Thee Wicked Girls" the edge and I'm still not sure why it wasn't amongst the big sellers of 2017 but this is still very good and should further enhance his reputation. He is one of those writers that I am absolutely fascinated to see what he will do next. Will he continue to recreate the intensity, prejudices and obsessions of small town America or have a go at setting fiction in his homeland? Will the crime aspect take more of a back seat? I feel that Chris Whitaker could, should he desire, have a good crack at producing The Great American Novel but I would also like to know how his writing would work within a British framework.

We Begin At The End will be published in hardback by Zaffre on 2nd April 2020. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

This is a beautifully written novel. It is the story of Walk, a local sheriff, who tries to prevent his old friend, Vincent, from getting the death penalty for the murder of Star. Vincent has already served a sentence for killing Star's little sister, Sissy, years ago. Star has two children, Duchess, fierce and protective, and Robin, who may have witnessed the killing of his mother. The villain of the novel appears to be Darke, a rich local man who is trying to buy up property in the area in order to develop it. So it is basically detective story but it is really about relationships. The relationships are revealed to be even more entangled by the end of the novel as the truth is revealed.. All of the characters are strong and complex and show love, loyalty and strength. Superb!

This book has given me sleepless nights. Not because it is gruesome or scary. Not even because I was compelled to read into the small hours to finish it. If anything I took my time, reading it over several evenings in the end because I wanted to savour it. No. This book gave me sleepless nights because when I finally did finish it my mind was so awash with all the things I wanted to say about it, all the words that weren't going to be enough, that I spent half of the night switching my lights back on so that I could make notes as soon as something came to mind. I am not a person who makes notes. I am a wing it and see kind of reviewer. This is quite the departure for me ...

This book, perhaps ironically, doesn't begin at the end at all. Not really. It begins thirty years prior to the main story, focusing the reader on the event which is to prove to be the catalyst for all that is to come. It is a relatively unassuming opener, no quick action, no scenes to make the reader jump or unnecessarily anxious, and yet it still packs a punch, the final lines setting the tone for novel. It is a short but effective chapter which tells you all you need to know about the tone of the book, the pace, and that gives you just the hint of all you are about to experience.

This is, when all is said and done, a murder mystery. One of the key characters is killed, the murderer seemingly apparent, but the circumstances clouded by all that has gone one before. In reality, whilst the investigators truly believe they have their man, a slam dunk case with a defendant who will neither confess to the deed, nor defend himself against the charge, as a reader you know that it is not as simple as it appears, a conviction held by town Sheriff , Walk, also best friend of the key suspect, Vincent King.

But this book is so much more than just a murder investigation. It is a brilliant portrayal of life in a small American town. Of the residents who make up the community of Cape Haven and how the years have meant things staying the same for some and causing immeasurable damage to others. For a very English guy from Hertfordshire, Chris Whitaker has an amazing ability to create a truly authentic American voice, capturing the very essence of that style which put me very much in mind of authors such as John Hart. A kind of melancholic resignation about what is happening. His ability to put you in the heart of the action, to create such a sense of place, is perfect and as a reader it makes you feel you are there, alongside Walk as he tries his damnedest to get to the truth.

If you are looking for a fast action murder mystery, this is absolutely not the book for you. That is not where this particular author excels. What you can expect when you pick this book up is a novel full of such deep emotion and pain that it seeps from every page. And, as I have come to expect from Mr Whitaker, he not only captures the voice, the sense of place, perfectly, he creates characters who are authentic. From Walk, to Star Radley, a young mother so broken by her past that it has devastating consequences for her present, to the neighbours who range from the nosy parker to the former jock to the creepy and dangerous landlord - you have them all. Skin crawling to sympathetic, struggling in many different ways, both mentally and physically.

Now in every Chris Whitaker novel you get that one character who steals your heart. In We Begin At The End, that honour falls fairly and squarely at the feet of 'The Outlaw' Duchess Day Radley. Barely a teenager, she has more responsibility than any child should, acting as caregiver for her younger brother Robin, while also looking out for her mother, Star. Duchess has a tenacity and level of bravado that is way beyond her years, a spiky nature that is driven by circumstance. A defence mechanism, tinged with a cynicism that is sad to see in one so young. At times it is easy to forget that she is still only a child, making those moments when you remember all the more poignant. Duchess has been faced with a childhood far darker than she deserves, and with more disappointment than any child should have to go through. Her actions and reactions are understandable, gutsy and believable, able to make you smile and weep simultaneously. She is tough to a point of almost perfect isolation, but those moments when she lets someone else in, when she forgets herself and acts as any child should, are heartwarming and emotional.

Walk is the other central character in the novel. A very staid man, he prefers the status quo trying to stave off the inevitable change that is all around him, affecting him on a far more personal level than he is willing to admit. Certain of his friend's innocence, he guides the reader between past and present, investigating a case that the state believes is closed and looking out for Star, Duchess and Robin in a way that is totally endearing and believable. You can feel the regret that emanates from him, the blame he takes for how events pan out, making his need to set things right completely understandable. He is someone that I was happy to go on the journey with, whose dedication and determination was both tragic and commendable.

This is a book about secrets and lies. About the lengths that people will go to to protect those that they love - about the ultimate sacrifices that they are willing to make for one another. About the unassailable bond between friends, family and lovers that spans decades and shapes a lifetime of hurt. Of how one single decision can change everything. Whilst I may have guessed in part how the story was going to play out, I still wasn't prepared for the emotional impact I felt when the truth was finally revealed. It is an ending that is both full of sorrow and yet tinged with hope for the future, this is a very classy piece of fiction, with a stunning narrative packed with vivid description, that I am certain is going to be a huge success.

The award winning Chris Whitaker's latest novel is a stellar, intense and beautifully written novel, a study of small town America, set in Cape Haven, California and Copper Falls, Montana. This character driven book gives us the unforgettable, fierce and mesmerising 13 year old Duchess Day Radley, a girl that life has dealt the lousiest of hands, living hand to mouth, surviving by her wits, denied a childhood, all responsibilities and consequences, no friends, doing her best to look after her troubled single mother, Star, to all intents and purposes the sole carer for her beloved 6 year old brother, Robin, there is nothing she will not do to protect him. Often her own worst enemy, she copes with the adversity and trauma that comes their way by imagining and living with the persona of a Wild West outlaw, an enduring part of American history, an unassailable national myth and legend. This ensures, more often than not, that others fear and avoid her, and triggering from the best of intentions, a set of actions and decisions which bring with them the deadliest of repercussions.

30 years ago, as a 15 year old, Thomas King was responsible for the death of 7 year old Sissy, the sister of Star, this resulted in his incarceration in prison for all those years. He is now being released, and he is returning to Cape Haven, and his home, now a prime target for developers, particularly the sinister giant of a man, Dickie Darke. Chief of Police Walk was the closest childhood friend of King, he loves King unconditionally, he is a man of integrity believing in King's essential goodness. Popping pills to get through the day, his ill health is threatening his ability to do his job. Through the years Walk has done all that he can do to keep an eye on Star and Duchess, so when tragedy strikes, he goes out of his way to drive Duchess and Robin to their estranged grandfather, Hal, in Montana, only for the horrors of Cape Haven and Duchess's actions to follow them.

Whitaker's hard hitting storytelling will leave an indelible mark on the reader, emotionally heartbreaking, of broken people, of history repeating itself, of love, sacrifice, secrets, family, compassion, murder, revenge and retribution. It speaks of the search for absolution and redemption, and the impossibility of trying to saving someone who doesn't want to be saved. It illustrates how far people will go to protect those they love, with a willingness to compromise their integrity. The undoubted highlight of the novel is the creation and development of the indomitable Duchess, emotionally damaged, vulnerable, delving into the long empty branches of her family tree, willing to put Robin best interests above her own needs and desires. There are elements of small town America here that have echoes and elements that remind me of the wonderful Michael Farris Smith. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bonnier Books for an ARC.

Absolutely loved We Begin At The End. It is dark, compelling and an excellent story. I found myself thinking about it when not reading it, and the characters were so well written. Duchess is perfection as a character. She’s going to stay with me for a long time.

When I finished reading this I would have dearly liked to have the time to go back to the start and read it again. Duchess Day Radley is an extraordinary character and impossible not to love. This is a book that I can’t wait for friends to read so I can discuss it with them. Brilliant, heartbreaking and had me in tears. Highly recommended.

Welcome to Cape Haven - the fictional setting of Chris Whittaker's third novel. Vincent King is a murderer and he's returning here so just as well it isn't real. Welcome to small town americana. There's lots to like here with the cast of fascinating characters and the ones who just do anything to protect the ones they love against lifes little and rather big obstacles.

Cape Haven is a small Californian town beset by tragedy. There's a rich cast of characters such as Duchess who is a kind of outlaw in comparison to the Chief of Police whose story merges with hers. Duchess will protect her family to the very end. Enter strip club owner Darke and his plans to speculate on the land around the town. Oh it's a town with secrets, lies and problems. Vincent King comes back and he wants revenge.

The sign outside the town should read "'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." 

The sign of a very skilled writer and a unique piece of americana. It should be on your shelf with a big neon arrow pointing at it, the juke box music playing too.

Beautifully written, poetical in places, brutally real in others. This is Chris Whittaker's 3rd novel and it's a magnificent work. The author perfectly captures the atmosphere of life in a small American town that's seen much better days and characters who demand we care about them.
Chief among them is Duchess Radley, a strong willed, feisty teenage girl who is old beyond her years. Duchess is fiercely protective of her younger brother, Robin and her mother Star whose sister Sissy was killed 30 years ago.
Now, Vincent King, the man convicted of killing her, has been released from jail and returned to his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Walk is the nickname of the town's Chief of Police who picks up Vincent King on his release from prison. Walk was a childhood friend of Vincent and still can't understand what happened on the night of Sissy's death. But, despite decades in prison, Vincent refuses to talk about the past.
Duchess, who tells everyone that she's an outlaw, seems one of the few in Cape Haven who's unworried by King's return home. Instead, she's been trying to deal with Darke, a threatening figure who looms large in her mother's troubled life.
The plot unfolds slowly, almost painfully, until Duchess, in trying to protect her mother, commits an impulsive crime and events spiral out of control.
At times in the story, one is reminded of the saying: "'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." Throughout there is an air of menace alleviated by the innocence of the relationship between Duchess and her brother and the decency of Walk.
The only way I can sum up my feelings about this book is to say that it's like a very dark version of John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row". I love that book and I love this one and I hope that comparison makes sense.. Another stunning story from Chris Whittaker - a writer who just gets better and better.

My thanks to the publishers Bonnier Books UK Zaffre and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

A wonderful, brilliant read!!
As soon as I saw the name Chris Whitaker on this book I knew I had to read read it as I had read Tall Oaks and had loved it so it was a no brainer that I was going to love this one and oh boy it was even better than I expected. It’s a story of so many things full of some of the most wonderful characters, some flawed, some vulnerable and some so loveable you just want to give them a massive hug.
The writing is superb but I knew this would be the case as this author had the knack of getting it just right and the the words flow like poetry at times. An emotional, compassionate read that at times is painfully sad but also has humour and the characters make it feel like you are there with them, rooting for them especially Duchess whose love for her brother Robin was so beautiful and her will to survive took my breath away.
So please read this stunning book it has everything you would wanting a perfect story and it’s read that is hard to forget and deserving of more that 5 stars, many thanks to Chris Whitaker for an outstanding book.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bonnier Books U.K., Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read a lot of good things about this book. Too many.
Yet,not surprisingly,they are all true,and I find myself giving a full 5 stars to a book for the first time in years (possibly since all the wicked girls))
Whitaker writes so beautifully of broken damaged people,who despite everything will still do anything for those they love.
This book was full of characters I wished we could read more about,to hear the back stories and the future stories in more detail.
When I got to the end I was a little bit broken by it.
The best read. The best.