2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3

It pains me to write this review as I genuinely had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it became a chore rather than a pleasure. I am genrally rather open-minded and can find something I like in most or at least some kind of message and understanding however sadly this audiobook really failed to keep my interest.

The beginning is really slow it takes time to get into the story then when it does it almost feels like it's simply an over zelus extended version of the synopsis ie parts that didn't need to be there. Had the book description been stuck to a little more with that structure, it really had the potential to be much higher rating. A shorter, more structured version of this audiobook would maybe have had me more intrigued.

This was well narrated which in this aspect did make it easy to listen to in that tones, pitch etc were all well executed sadly it was just too long drawn out before getting to the conclusion for me!

Thanks for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in return for an honest review to both Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Audio.

This title is something of a mixed bag. I listened to the audio version and the narration is great. Delivered at just the right pace and tone and I found it easy to listen to. The story centres on a dying reclusive author of mystery novels. But he has secrets of his own and when he calls in Nicky Hunter to help him write his memoirs, she’s drawn into something of a nightmare. His first wife and son disappeared over twenty years ago. What happened? Who was involved?

The setting is a mansion and there’s a definite darkness which is almost palpable. Finn, the author is rather theatrical and this is reflected in much of the dialogue. This is, in some way, at odds with the murder mystery scenario and at times seems a little forced. The pacing is slow, but on reflection, this allows sneaky clues to be dropped and (by me) missed….there are some cracking twists and turns and it didn’t turn out the way I expected. Overall, I enjoyed it, even though I had to rewind a couple of times to be clear about characters. Better than 3 bu5 not quite 4.

Sadly I felt this book was overly convoluted. I couldn’t tell where I was or which character we were with at times. Everything seemed to be designed to confuse and be something that I didn’t care about. All in all it was a struggle to care about the characters or where the plot was going.

For a book to be so divisive amongst readers isn’t uncommon. For a book to be this divisive amongst this one reader is actually bizarre. I want to give it 3 separate ratings 3 🌟 for the majority 2 🌟 from around 60-80 % and 4 🌟 from there til the end. So I’ve obviously given myself splinters and opted for 3!

Sebastian Trapp, renowned reclusive crime writer invites long term correspondent and fellow writer Nikki to his home in his final months to write his memoir.

The big question is will Nikki reach the truth of what happened to his first wife and son, is it possible that the king of crime has successfully hidden his own crime for all these years? The story is about to come out (I mean it takes its sweet time, but out it comes)

The first twist floored me, completely. I had no idea it was coming, but in hindsight it was all there, the second twist not so much, but both were very well
done. Perhaps if the middle had been trimmed a bit this would’ve been a sure fire 5🌟 we’ll never know.

There are lots and lots of references to other authors other crime stories which was nice, particularly Agatha Cristie and Sherlock Holmes, the atmosphere was a little Hitchcock like, and I could actually imagine it trimmed and ready to fit the big screen.

The narration was excellent,

So there we are a book that I loved loathed and felt indifferent to all in one, who knew?!

Life is hard, it kills us!

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title 🎧

I decided to DNF the book at 30% because I did not manage to engage with the action and plot. The synopsis sounded interesting but the pacing is too slow and the story did not manage to keep my interest.
Thank you HarperCollins UK Audio for providing this audiobook.

End of Story by A. J. Finn is a baffling and frustrating psychological thriller that never quite finds its footing. The novel centers around Nicky Hunter, a detective fiction expert, who is drawn into the mystery of Sebastian Trapp, a reclusive author whose family vanished two decades ago. Nicky’s investigation into their disappearance should be captivating, but the execution of the plot is weighed down by a multitude of issues, from its confusing writing style to its excruciatingly slow pace.

The biggest flaw in End of Story is its writing. The dialogue is overly witty, pretentious banter that often borders on incomprehensible. The result is a cast of characters who feel more like caricatures than real people. The narrative itself is frequently theatrical, sometimes reading more like a stage play than a novel, which detracts from the suspense.

Additionally, the book is painfully slow. Much of the first half feels like filler, with little action or forward momentum. By the time the twists arrive, it’s hard to care, especially when the revelations are predictable and ultimately unsatisfying. Despite some intriguing characters, such as Madeleine, the story never manages to rise above its many flaws.

For fans of Finn's The Woman in the Window, this one is a major disappointment—unnecessarily convoluted, tedious, and lacking the same level of intrigue. It's hard to recommend this to anyone unless you're willing to slog through its many shortcomings.