EXCERPT: Bleak House Tuesday, June 23

In a moment they'll find her.
Find her where she floats, fingers splayed wide in the marbling water, hair spread like a Japanese fan. Fish glide beneath it, push through it; skate along the line of her body. The filter hums. The pond simmers, shimmers. She trembles on the surface. Fog prowled the ground earlier this morning - San Francisco swirl, velvet- thick and chill - but now the last of it burns off, and the courtyard basks in light: paving stones, sundial, a chorus line of daffodils. And near the pond, that perfect circle sunk near the wall of the house, with its glowing fish, its lily pads like stars.
In a moment a scream will crack the air.
Until then, all is silent and all is still, except for the shiver of the water . . .

ABOUT 'END OF STORY': “I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.”

So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective fever.”

“You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.”

Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenaged son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past?

“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”

As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.

MY THOUGHTS: I can do no better than provide a (slightly) abridged quote from End of Story - This is a story without heroes. Perhaps without villains as well. A story where identities are slippery. Where the mystery and the violence are mostly within you, and where the clues almost ineluctably lead you someplace you don't want to go. We're all in that story. Life is a thriller. The ending is fatal and the conclusion is final.

AJ Finn sucked me right into the narrative of this story then, at the end, spat me out, probably with a self-satisfied smile on his face. And he should be self-satisfied. End of Story is a blinder. I felt like I was living it along with Nicky. I agonised over what had happened to Cole and Hope, where they had gone and, if they were indeed still alive, who they could possibly be.

The characters - what can I say about the characters? Elegant. Charming. Enigmatic - definitely. Damaged also. They give the impression of a bevvy of swans gliding serenely about, but underneath . . . they are completely different people, struggling to keep afloat, to stay on an even keel.

I can't praise End of Story enough. It is atmospheric, enchanting, absorbing, twisty, exciting, entertaining and shocking. The ending is unexpected. It is brilliant. At various times during reading I cried, I exploded with laughter (the bon mots are unparalleled), forgot to breathe, cried out 'No,no,no,no - don't do this!', and bit the soft flesh between index finger and thumb go relieve the tension.

End of Story is not simply a book - it is an experience, one I am going to partake of again, slowly this time, savoring every nuance, every word, rather than gorging on it like a box of favorite chocolates, as I have just done.

It has been a long stretch between books, Mr Finn, but End of Story was worth the wait.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#EndOfStory #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: A.J. Finn, pseudonym for Daniel Mallory, has written for numerous publications. A native of New York, Finn lived in England for ten years as a book editor before returning to New York City.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of End of Story by AJ Finn for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.

End of Story is due for publication 29 February 2024.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is 29th Feb not long 2 go! This book was a slower burner in a good way with lots of twists and turns I devoured this book within a matter of hours and read well into the night it was totally worth it!

I’d highly recommend everyone to read this book the ending was a shocker as I didn’t see it coming nor did I guess it correctly which I thought I did!

A mystery writer at the end of his life invites a young writer to interview him, but not everything in his house and amongst his family is as it seems... I wanted to like this considering it's a guaranteed bestseller due to the author's profile, but the writing is pretentious and smug. Trope after trope has been harvested from other stories, such as Knives Out, Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler, much like Finn's first book The Woman in the Window was an amalgamation of various other thrillers. Not one for me.

Utterly unexpected and immensely satisfying. It felt like doing a jigsaw puzzle without the reference picture, at times it was really confusing but I put my trust in the process and this author did not disappoint.
There was so much darkness beneath the surface, which made a great hiding place for the red herrings. There were also lots of references to classic noir fiction, book and film.
If you loved Woman In The Window, you will love this.

I was so excited to see that there was a second book written by A.J. Finn. I loved The Woman In The Window, I remember reading it so clearly, and the details of the book are still so vivid in my mind; therefore I was shocked when I saw that it was six years ago that I read that book, it feels like only a couple of years ago!
I am delighted that End Of Story is as good as, or even better, than Woman In The Window. There are are a real mixed bag of characters, so many twists and turns, I changed my mind about the way I thought the plot would progress so many times, and was still surprised! I would imagine that the author has been working on this for a long time, and it shows; their efforts have paid off, it is a great mystery/ thriller.
Highly recommend for anyone who enjoyed Woman In The Window or is new to the work of A.J. Finn, you’re in for a real treat.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun romp from AJ Finn - I found this a touch more confusing than THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, but once I got the lay of the land about the family, I was hooked!

Thank you, Harper Collins for a copy End of story by A. J. Finn. I had mixed feelings about the authors previous novel ‘The woman in the window’ and I thought I will give this book a go. Although this book is written to the great crime writers that we know and love. I thought that the author squeezed so many characters and information into the story that I just couldn’t connect to it and I just got confused. 3 stars from me.

After thoroughly enjoying The Woman in the Window, I was excited to see this new book. Unfortunately it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat as mentioned in the blurb and it took me many times of picking it up and putting it down to finish it.

I can definitely see what the author is trying to do and certainly enjoyed all the 'nods' to the great classic crime writers of the past, but I personally just found it a little overly complicated and couldn't warm to many of the characters.

Having said that, I know many people who will like this, and I will certainly read future books by this author as not every book by the same author is going to appeal to the same reader constantly. We all have favourites.

Reading so many books this year has really made me into a jaded book reviewer, and reader in general. This book was a let down for me. There was so much build up to the actual 'mystery' and then it's just a mediocre reveal I'm over unreliable narrators who withhold SO much information. Can we stop calling the most obvious things AND information that has never been revealed/discussed or even alluded to, a twist?

I requested an ARC of End of Story by A.J. Finn because I enjoyed The Woman in the Window. Unfortunately the same could not be said for End of Story. Set around a dying writer whose wife and child disappeared 20 years ago in mysterious circumstances, it contains a lot of aspects I normally enjoy (atmospheric scenery, short and punchy chapters, a dual narrative) but in this case they do not outweigh the negatives. The dual narrative is not clearly marked and can be confusing, there are too many characters set up as red herrings, the nods to previous crime fiction make it all feel like a bad comedy sketch (particularly the detective B.B and the house with the temperamental lift), and I personally didn’t care about any of the characters or even about the final reveal. It feels like it was trying to be a novel version of the Knives Out franchise and perhaps would work better on screen than as a novel. I honestly struggled to finish it.

Sebastian Trapp, the esteemed mystery novelist, reaches out to his longtime fan, Nicky Hunter, inviting them to his ancestral family home in the heart of San Francisco. The Trapp family has seen its fair share of troubles, and Sebastian's wife and daughter are both intrigued and a tad uneasy about what secrets this detective fiction connoisseur will uncover. Nicky's mission is to document their time together, but what they end up finding is not just a subject for a memoir, but rather a fascinating community of individuals who are deeply invested in Sebastian's enigmatic legacy. Will Sebastian finally shed light on the vanishing of his first wife and son? And what mysteries lie behind the body in the tranquil koi pond? Some secrets are just too restless to stay buried.

Ah, "End Of Story" by A. J. Finn, is a delightful homage to the timeless genre of classic detective fiction. Throughout the narrative, the air is filled with subtle whispers of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, and Dorothy L. Sayers, as if our two main protagonists engage in a spirited literary duel, eager to best one another. The grand, multi-level house that serves as the backdrop for this thrilling tale - complete with an attic and a clandestine chamber concealed behind a bookcase - exudes the essence of an archetypal detective story, where death lurks around every corner. And let us not forget the unpredictable San Francisco weather, with its frequent rain showers and pockets of mist, which only adds to the evocative atmosphere.

Now, as much as I relish a slow-burn story, I must confess that this one may have tested even my unwavering patience. Alas, while traversing the pages, I found myself unable to truly connect with any of the characters, and at times, the transitions between Madeline and Nicky left me a tad bewildered. The intricate plot never quite managed to strike the right balance, and the characters, regrettably, seemed to lack depth. To my dismay, it became rather apparent early on in the tale what the grand reveals had in store, making the reading experience somewhat of an arduous task. Too many boxes were ticked, and the plot, though ambitious, ventured into the realm of implausibility, leaving me yearning for a more fulfilling literary escapade.

In summary, "End Of Story" falls somewhat short of its potential, as it strives to encapsulate the essence of classic detective fiction. While it does pay homage and establishes an immersive atmosphere, the lack of character depth and the predictability of the narrative hindered my overall enjoyment.

Nonetheless, for those seeking a nostalgia-tinged exploration of the genre, this homage may still offer a few pleasant surprises along the way.

Having read Woman in the Window and raved about it, I was looking forward to A.J. Finn's follow up novel. End of Story deals with a dying crime author whose first wife and son went missing 20 years previously, he invites a would be writer to his home to write a piece on himself.

This is supposed to be a homage to the great detective novels/film plots which have gone before, in fact the opening paragraphs are lifted straight from the great Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, and throughout the novel there are references to Christie, Conan Doyle and nods to Chandler. However, End of Story does not hold it's own against the greats of the crime genre. The plotting is over complicated, the characters seem 2 dimensional and I worked out the reveals from just about the outset of the novel and it just felt like a chore to read sadly. Too much box ticking and an implausible plot doesn't make for a great reading experience.

Successful mystery writer Sebastian Trapp’s wife and son disappeared twenty years ago. The bodies have never been found and many people believe Trapp murdered them. With only months to live Trapp invites a young writer, Nicky Hunter, to his home to write a book based on his memories before he dies. Nicky hopes that she will gain some insight into what happened twenty years ago.

End Of Story by A. J. Finn is a homage to classic detective fiction. Many of the greats such as Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler and Dorothy L. Sayers are referenced. In fact, the two main protagonists regularly quote these authors as if in some kind of duel, trying to outdo each other. The setting also adds to the feel of classic detective fiction. A large house spread over many floors, including an attic and a room hidden behind a bookcase; death seems to be constantly lurking. Set in San Francisco, the erratic weather also adds to the mood with frequent rain and fog.

San Francisco society, of which the Trapp family are prominent members, has always doubted Sebastian’s claims of innocence in the disappearance of his wife, Hope, and son, Cole. Trapp’s refusal to discuss what happened extends beyond the general public, the topic is never discussed between the remaining members of the family. This repressed, taciturn behaviour adds another layer of secretiveness to the mystery.

Nicky Hunter, the young writer tasked with writing a memory book, is a strange character. She is a strong, intelligent woman who leads a full life in New York but is happy to leave it behind and travel across the country to spend time with the Trapp family where she is constantly manipulated by various members of the family. Nicky has long been a fan of Sebastian Trapp and you can only assume that it is her awe of the author that allows people to control her. By being submissive she no doubt hopes that she will gain people’s confidence and they will share secrets with her.

There are a number of enigmatic characters, and many of them may know more about the mysterious disappearances than they claim. None of these characters come across as unlikeable, however, I constantly felt suspicious of their behaviour and motives.

I did struggle reading End Of Story, I found the writing style difficult to get to grips with. Short, sharp sentences and regular changes of character point of view meant that I had to re-read parts to fully understand the flow of the storyline. By the end, I was fully invested in finding out what had happened twenty years ago but that was probably down to the amount of time I’d invested. I’m glad I did persevere thanks to a suitably twisty conclusion.

I loved ' the women in the window' in fact, it's in my top 5 books ever.

I was looking forward to reading this book and have to say, I was disappointed. The story was interesting, but I felt it was overly complicated and because of that, for me, wasn't as easy to read as the previous title from this author.

Perhaps because I enjoyed the previous book, my expectations were skewed. As a stand along, this was a good book, but just didn't make the mark for me.

“Life is hard. After all, it kills you”

Sebastian Trapp, a mystery author, is dying. He invites his long term fan, and pen pal, Nicky, to come and write his life story.
Sebastian’s first wife and son, disappeared. His second wife winds up dead. Can Nicky help solve this real life mystery?

This is a real slow burn story. I think a little too slow for me. It doesn’t really pick up the pace until the last 10% where it unravels (which I did enjoy). The ending was a surprise, and not something I could have guessed, which was nice.
Unfortunately, I didn’t warm to any of the characters though, and I found it confusing in places with the switching between Madeline and Nicky.
I enjoyed the little bits of humour that were peppered in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my advanced copy.

Many thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving this ARC in exchange my opinion.

This book is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author used the short, fast-paced chapters also adds to the suspense, making it difficult to put the book down. One of the most intriguing aspects is the way the story is structured. I was constantly questioning what is real and what is imagined, making for an unsettling and thought-provoking read. Overall, it is a well-crafted and engrossing thriller that will keep me hooked until the final twist. The writing is sharp and evocative, immersing me in a world that is equal parts captivating and chilling. I think this book is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.

A slow burn but boy does it keep you captivated! Very cleverly written and some amazing twists thrown in. It feels a lot more old school than most kf todays thrillers which made a nice change of pace. Its got so many layers that are slowly unpeeled as the story progresses. The characters are well written, complex humans with humour. I really enjoyed it and it definitely stands apart from most other current thrillers

A lugubrious taxi driver takes Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction, through the San Francisco fog to Pacific Heights and the spectacular property of reclusive mystery author, Sebastian Trapp. The two have been corresponding old school style for five years, and she is now at his home to help draft his much anticipated memoir. Why now? Well, apart from anything else, Sebastian doesn’t have long to live. However, the big story surrounding him is that 20 years ago on New Year’s Eve 1999, his wife Hope and son Cole vanish from different locations and are never seen again. Nicky becomes obsessed with discovering the truth and then finds herself caught up in yet another dramatic family mystery. This is a novel about the past, inevitably it gets dredged up mostly because it’s unfinished business and therefore the past is far from being done.

I love the way the author has chosen to tell this remarkable story, which cleverly changes as situations become weirder or deteriorate. The start feels old school but in the best possible way as it’s like an updated golden age detective mystery, particularly as Sebastian and Nikki trade literary quotes and titles at each other such as Sherlock Holmes. The tone here is funny, witty, ironic and self-deprecating, and definitely raises a smile or two. There are occasions in the first half where I feel as if I’ve strayed into a play from a bygone era as the dialogues bat back and forth. Then things change, get a little strange and we get a fairytale vibe and I’m not talking Disney, obviously. Towards the end of the book, it becomes pure thriller as things teeter on the brink. This is such an effective way to tell this tale and somehow makes it more compelling.

The characters are obviously centre stage to what unfolds and there right slap bang in the middle with the spotlight fixed firmly on him, is Sebastian. He’s magnetic, mysterious, enigmatic, highly intelligent, and sees much more than he says. His daughter, Madeleine is fascinating, damaged and very much in his thrall. I’ll say little about Nicky as that story is a real journey in itself.

The whole novel is packed full of atmosphere, courtesy of the eccentric Trapp house which feels alive at times, and of course there are San Francisco locations which are used masterfully in the ensuing drama.

You start in one place and finishing another with this book. There’s a building unsettling vibe and as the pace rises and then falls, when you learn something crucial, it seems to pop out at you, almost in neon signs! Things start to fall apart, behaviour is off kilter and becomes alarming. At moments of tension or when exciting revelations are forthcoming, short, sharp sentences heighten the effect. It escalates to an excellent, unpredictable finale, and that an ingenious final sentence… So good.

Overall, this is one smart novel which I enjoy very much indeed. A terrific cover entices you into the contents, too, so appropriate.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for granting my wish for this arc, which is greatly appreciated.

Really interesting and entertaining story! I was very pleasantly surprised. The author shows real skill in his storytelling that makes you feel you are reading a classis mystery. Not the most original story in the world but would definitely say its worth a read!

First of all, a massive thank you to Harper Collins UK for granting my wish on NetGalley to read this book. A new AJ Finn book.. how exciting! It might not be out until the end of February but I dove straight in. This book has been a very long time coming and for me, the wait was absolutely worth it

Sebastian Trapp is a famous mystery writer with a mysterious past of his own. And he is dying. He invites his long time penpal and fan, Nicky Hunter, to come stay with him and his family in his San Francisco home and write a personal memoir for him, for only his families eyes. How could she say no? Will he finally talk about his wife and son who disappeared 20 years earlier, never to be seen again? The house holds many secrets, and those who surround Sebastian have plenty of their own.

This was a slower burning thriller, but one with so much atmosphere and promise. There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming and the ending was superb. I found myself turning pages late into the night on a school night so that tells you something. I just had to know how it would end.

A very clever book, with plenty of literary references. So much fun to read. Get your hands on this February 29th. You can thank me later.