DNF @ 44%
This was such a slow burn and it just couldn't hold my attention. I tried switching to audio but honestly to get through the whole second half after battlingvthe first, I just couldn't do it. It did have an atmospheric feel but I personally prefer books that grab from the start and don't let go!

If you prefer your murder mysteries fast-paced and direct, this one might not be for you. Instead, it’s a slow-burning thriller that meticulously builds suspense, adding layers of tension and intrigue with each twist in the story.

Atmospheric, elegantly written and with plenty of plot twists, it's a fascinating character driven novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

End of Story by A. J. Finn was a very slow burner and took me a while to read and get into. Some parts of this book was WoW excellent and then some of them where so long to get to into. End of Story was a book I felt had too many characters and I got lost on who was at the beginning. . . . . . and became a head spinner! So notes had to be taken!
But, bear with it. . . . . . . It all comes together in the end and ended up a good book.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my ARC.

The Woman in the Window still to this day stands out for me as a book that I absolutely loved so when I saw that A.J. Finn had a new book being published I was super excited to get my hands on it.

Firstly, this was definitely a slow burn story. There were some sections that I questioned their relevance and maybe it could have been slimmed down, but on reflection, I do think it went someway towards misdirection. It certainly kept me guessing on when/what the plot twist was going to be.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere created in this book. It was very old school, classic mystery and I loved that. I'm not entirely sure that the locations were visualised in my mind how they were supposed to be, but I set the vibe for myself right from the beginning and I ran with it.

There were lots of characters in this book, but I felt like there were only a few that I got to know closely. That was fine though, I wasn't too angry about that and the book was definitely more plot than character driven in my opinion.

This book didn't quite live up to The Woman in the Window for me, however I did have a good time with it and although it was a slow burn, I flew through it. Enjoyable experience and I will continue to read from this author.

Another fabulous read by this writer. It starts off suspenseful and doesn’t give up. To me, this is a classic whodunnit and I think it’s been done in the most brilliant way. Classic and suspenseful. You will be turning page after page as you race to find out what happened and you won’t be disappointed. Strong 5/5.

Like many others, I was really excited to read End of Story, especially after loving The Woman in the Window. The premise sounded fantastic—an aging mystery writer, a biographer with secrets of her own, and a decades-old disappearance? It had all the makings of a gripping thriller.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept. The pacing was slow—so slow that I found myself losing interest early on. The writing style also felt a bit overworked, like it was trying too hard to be atmospheric and mysterious, which made it confusing at times. There were moments where I wasn’t sure who was narrating or which character was being referenced.

The mystery around Sebastian Trapp’s missing wife and son kept me reading, and while the twist wasn’t my favorite, I will say it caught me off guard. The ending was satisfying, but I still felt like the book could have been about 100 pages shorter—too many unnecessary descriptions and side-plots bogged it down.

Overall, End of Story had potential but didn’t fully deliver for me. If you don’t mind a slow burn and enjoy layered, literary-style mysteries, you might enjoy this one. But if you’re looking for something as gripping as The Woman in the Window, you may be a little disappointed.

The premise is excellent: A dying murder mystery writer invites a young writer to his home to record his memories—and hopefully solve a decades-old mystery. Twenty years ago, his wife and son vanished on New Year’s Eve, and suspicion has followed him ever since.

I confess I struggled with the first few chapters. The writing style isn’t what I’m used to—it often felt a bit pretentious and confusing, with passages I had to re-read to fully grasp who or what they were referring to. At times, it read like stage directions and other times like vague interior thoughts. But eventually, I adjusted, and once I did, I eagerly devoured most of it—helped along by the many Agatha Christie references and the intriguing plot.

One of the major mysteries became obvious to me early on, and while I didn’t guess the other twists, I was so focused on that first one that they didn’t hit as hard.

So, would I recommend this book? It’s a slow burn but an intense one, with a fantastic plot. The references to classic murder mystery fiction were a delight. However, the writing style might be a hurdle for some readers. If you can adjust to its rhythm, though, you’re in for a compelling ride.

I’m sorry but I didn’t finish this book. I found it too slow going with characters who didn’t appeal and at times it was very confusing as to who was narrating, who they were referring to and quite frankly the story bored me. I’m sure AJ Finn is a good writer as I enjoyed his previous book but this one fell short for me - which is ironic in that this is a very long book.

I real enjoyed the authors first book so was looking forward to reading this one. Sadly it just didn’t deliver it was slow and I found it hard to engage with any of the characters.
For me it was a disappointment but I really hope that other readers will enjoy more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK fir the Arc.

Like many, I loved The Woman in the Window, so I was really excited to read Finn’s new thriller. Sadly, this one just didn’t have the same kind of ‘wow’ factor his first novel did. It was a really slow start, and the writing style felt like the author was trying too hard to create a mysterious, foreboding atmosphere. It felt a bit contrived to me. I also didn’t feel connected to anyone in this novel the way I did to Anna in WITW.

Once it got going, I was definitely hooked. Especially towards the last third of the book, I couldn’t put it down and spent a couple nights reading much too late. I needed to know what happened to Sebastian’s first wife and his son. While the twist in this book was not one of my favourite twists ever, I will say that I had no idea it was coming and the solution to the mystery was satisfying.

I would have enjoyed this book more if it had been about 100 pages shorter (the version I had was 440 pages). It felt like a lot of time was spent on little side-bars and descriptions that didn’t bring the plot forward. I also felt that there were way too many characters – I’m sure this was done deliberately, to muddy the waters and create more possibilities for the who dunnit, but the effect was lost under a flood of “which one was he again?”

Thank you to @netgalley @harpercollinsuk for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

End Of Story is an ambitious multi layered exploration of decades old cold case involving a famous mystery writer who is dying of renal failure. Sebastian Trapp agrees to have Nicky Hunter, his longtime pen pal to help document his life, and in the process help uncover the 1999 disappearances of his first wife Hope and son Cole .While staying in the rambling and eccentric San Francisco mansion, Nicky soon discovers some secrets that are best kept buried.

Read this if you like:
-multi layered stories with complex characters
-atmospheric and gothic vibes of creepy San Francisco mansion that is both sprawling yet claustrophobic
-dysfunctional families hiding many secrets and lies
-slow burn with descriptive prose
-multiple POVs with unreliable narrators
-historic cold case involving disappearances
-many literary and movie references of the great mystery and suspense writers such as Christie, Chandler, Sayers, Doyle and Hitchcock
-red herrings and twists
-huge twisty ending that was unexpected and highly satisfying that is worth the slow paced middle section of the book

My rating: 4 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Harper Fiction for this eARC that will be published February 2024.

A. J. Finn returns with End of Story, a psychological mystery steeped in literary intrigue, dark secrets, and the shadow of a decades-old disappearance. The novel follows Nicky Hunter, a bookish writer invited to pen the memoirs of famed mystery author Sebastian Trapp, whose life has been marked by the unresolved vanishing of his first wife and son twenty years prior. As Nicky delves deeper into Trapp’s past, the lines between truth and deception blur, culminating in a tale that is equal parts character study and gripping whodunit.

Finn’s prose is atmospheric and layered, with Trapp’s San Francisco mansion providing a perfect backdrop—a gothic stage brimming with eerie charm and symbolic weight. The narrative interweaves past and present masterfully, with plenty of literary allusions to thrill genre enthusiasts. Trapp himself is a magnetic presence, his sharp wit and enigmatic personality anchoring the story as secrets are gradually revealed.

However, the book’s pacing may divide readers. The slow burn allows for a rich exploration of the characters and setting but can sometimes test patience, particularly in the middle chapters. The dialogue, though sharp, occasionally blurs the distinct voices of the characters, making it harder to track who is speaking in pivotal moments. Despite these flaws, the final act rewards persistent readers with a cascade of revelations and twists, some genuinely unexpected.

End of Story offers a compelling blend of mystery, suspense, and literary homage. While it may lack the breakneck pacing of The Woman in the Window, its intricate storytelling and memorable characters make it a worthwhile read for fans of atmospheric, character-driven mysteries.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many elements that I enjoyed, the mystery kept me gripped and I absolutely loved the ending.

I found this extremely tricky to follow. I am disappointed as I really enjoyed The Woman in the Window so this was something to look forward to.

The idea of the novel is strong but on the page and in audio it was very confusing and did not make much sense. It was extremely slow and I found it took ages for things to happen.

End of Story follows Nicky, a passionate book lover and aspiring author, as she embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write the memoirs of Sebastian Trapp, a renowned and enigmatic crime writer. For years, Nicky has corresponded with Sebastian, captivated by both his literary talent and the dark mystery that shrouds his life. Decades earlier, his first wife and son mysteriously disappeared, with persistent rumours hinting at his involvement. Nicky's time at his secluded estate offers the promise of uncovering long-hidden truths—both about Sebastian’s past and the man himself.

The novel’s premise holds intrigue, but its slow pacing and a plethora of erratic, interrelated characters can make for a challenging read. Readers may find it difficult to track who is speaking at times, particularly toward the novel’s climax, where the narrative becomes more complex and less structured. Despite these stylistic hurdles, End of Story delivers a solid mystery that keeps readers engaged, even if the resolution proves somewhat predictable. Fans of atmospheric, character-driven mysteries may appreciate its layered storytelling, but those seeking a tightly plotted, fast-paced thriller might find it less satisfying.

In summary, End of Story offers intrigue and suspense but stumbles in clarity and momentum.

I loved AJ Finns first book, but I just could not get into this book unfortunately. I was really looking forward to it but I just lost interest in it.

I read this when it first came out in hardback and loved it. A J Finn is back with a second novel just as propulsive as his first. PICK IT UP!

This book wasn’t for me at all. I felt rather disappointed after reading it and wished I had given up long before. Really surprising for this author not to deliver.

End Of Story is an atmospheric, dark mystery that is very slow paced, and I did put it down afew times and go back to it. I'm so glad I did and that I pushed through as the ending was fantastic when everything was pieced together.
We follow Nicky, who's going to stay temporarily at Mystery Author Sebastian Trapps home with what's left of his family. Twenty years ago, his wife and youngest child disappeared from two separate locations at the same time, and the case remains unsolved. After exchanging letters for several years, Sebastian invited Nicky (a fellow writer) to stay with him with an offer of writing his memories into a book for his family as he is dying. I honestly couldn't have guessed at the ending in this book and was constantly changing my mind with every chapter as to what had happened to Hope and Cole and who the culprit was.
If you pick this up and struggle to get into it, do push on until the halfway mark as if you're a mystery fan, you'll not be disappointed.

This wasn't really the book for me, I didnt connect to the story or the characters in any way, and was close to DNFing it Im afraid. Thanks for letting me read it and Im sure others will love it.