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The Final Chapter
Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 22:25:01
100 copies available
U.S. only
A novel of death and identity where C. B. Everett himself is under suspicion. A beguiling thriller about writing and writers. For fans of Anthony Horowitz and Janice Hallett.
Ten years ago, the bestselling and critically acclaimed literary author Jonathan Durward disappeared without a trace . . . and without a final novel. Now, that missing manuscript has surfaced, but it’s not another genius work of literary fiction, but an espionage novel full of all-too-stereotypical spy craft and James Bond-like twists.
His former publisher has asked the author’s best friend - and fellow author - C.B. Everett, to annotate the novel with details from real life to give the novel context. But as C.B. reads, he finds the espionage thriller is filled with references to events and people who feel a little too familiar, and soon he’s wondering if the novel might in fact be a key to his missing friend’s disappearance. There’s text and subtext aplenty, and C.B. is determined to learn once and for all what happened to Jonathan through solving the mystery woven into the pages. But the final chapter may hold secrets darker and more threatening than anyone anticipated.
An unputdownable, twisty thriller, The Final Chapter asks how well do we really know our closest friends? And how well do we know ourselves?
Ten years ago, the bestselling and critically acclaimed literary author Jonathan Durward disappeared without a trace . . . and without a final novel. Now, that missing manuscript has surfaced, but it’s not another genius work of literary fiction, but an espionage novel full of all-too-stereotypical spy craft and James Bond-like twists.
His former publisher has asked the author’s best friend - and fellow author - C.B. Everett, to annotate the novel with details from real life to give the novel context. But as C.B. reads, he finds the espionage thriller is filled with references to events and people who feel a little too familiar, and soon he’s wondering if the novel might in fact be a key to his missing friend’s disappearance. There’s text and subtext aplenty, and C.B. is determined to learn once and for all what happened to Jonathan through solving the mystery woven into the pages. But the final chapter may hold secrets darker and more threatening than anyone anticipated.
An unputdownable, twisty thriller, The Final Chapter asks how well do we really know our closest friends? And how well do we know ourselves?
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
About the author
C.B. Everett
4 books53 followersC.B. Everett is the pen name for author Martyn Waites. He trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama and worked as an actor for many years before becoming a writer. His novels include the critically acclaimed Joe Donovan series, The Old Religion, and The White Room. In 2013, he was chosen to write Angel of Death, the official sequel to Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, and in 2014 won the Grand Prix Roman Etranger for Born Under Punches. He has been nominated for every major British and French crime fiction award and has also enjoyed international commercial success with eight novels written under the name Tania Carver.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 384 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Atria Books (ARC via NetGalley)
Here's the thing about The Final Chapter. It nearly lost me. Not once, not twice, but on multiple occasions in the first forty percent of the book, I set it down and strongly considered sending it back to the DNF pile with a polite but firm "it's not you, it's me." The meta-thriller premise is genuinely clever: a novelist tasked with annotating a dead friend's strange espionage manuscript, hunting for clues hidden in the fiction. Novel within a novel, author within an author. If that concept makes your bookworm heart skip a beat, I understand. Mine did too. But C.B. Everett drops you directly into the deep end without floaties. Both authors' lives unspool simultaneously, the spy narrative cuts in and out, and without any emotional grounding, the early chapters feel more like a briefing document than a book you're supposed to fall into.
And then, somewhere around the halfway mark, the floor drops out and suddenly I'm reading with the kind of focus usually reserved for when someone knocks on the bathroom door mid-chapter. The background fills in, the emotional stakes crystallize, and the pace shifts from "reluctant jog" to full sprint. The character arcs in the second half are genuinely impressive, particularly the way C.B. Everett (the fictional one) becomes a subject of scrutiny alongside the missing friend. The twists land hard. The thriller mechanics click into place like a lock you didn't know was broken. And the meta-fictional layer (the author as character, the book as confession, the novel as code) delivers exactly the kind of layered, literary thrill that fans of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series will recognize and love, albeit considerably darker in tone. Fair warning: there are spy torture scenes that may be a trigger for some readers.
By the final chapter (yes, that one) I had completely forgiven the slow start and was sitting in the slightly stunned aftermath of a book that earns its own title. The Final Chapter is a thriller about the stories we tell, the secrets we keep inside them, and the people we think we know until we really, truly don't. It asks unsettling questions and doesn't entirely let you off the hook. By the end, I had to physically step back and remind myself this was just a book. It felt that real.
Also worth noting: this one leans darker than your typical meta mystery. Think less playful puzzle, more psychological spiral, with some intense spy torture scenes that may not work for everyone.
Would I recommend it?
If you can push through a slow-burn first half and trust that the payoff is coming, absolutely yes. The second half of The Final Chapter is a masterclass in meta-thriller pacing, and C.B. Everett builds something genuinely unsettling and emotionally resonant by the end. For fans of literary puzzle-box mysteries, this one will stay with you.
📃 384 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Atria Books (ARC via NetGalley)
Here's the thing about The Final Chapter. It nearly lost me. Not once, not twice, but on multiple occasions in the first forty percent of the book, I set it down and strongly considered sending it back to the DNF pile with a polite but firm "it's not you, it's me." The meta-thriller premise is genuinely clever: a novelist tasked with annotating a dead friend's strange espionage manuscript, hunting for clues hidden in the fiction. Novel within a novel, author within an author. If that concept makes your bookworm heart skip a beat, I understand. Mine did too. But C.B. Everett drops you directly into the deep end without floaties. Both authors' lives unspool simultaneously, the spy narrative cuts in and out, and without any emotional grounding, the early chapters feel more like a briefing document than a book you're supposed to fall into.
And then, somewhere around the halfway mark, the floor drops out and suddenly I'm reading with the kind of focus usually reserved for when someone knocks on the bathroom door mid-chapter. The background fills in, the emotional stakes crystallize, and the pace shifts from "reluctant jog" to full sprint. The character arcs in the second half are genuinely impressive, particularly the way C.B. Everett (the fictional one) becomes a subject of scrutiny alongside the missing friend. The twists land hard. The thriller mechanics click into place like a lock you didn't know was broken. And the meta-fictional layer (the author as character, the book as confession, the novel as code) delivers exactly the kind of layered, literary thrill that fans of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series will recognize and love, albeit considerably darker in tone. Fair warning: there are spy torture scenes that may be a trigger for some readers.
By the final chapter (yes, that one) I had completely forgiven the slow start and was sitting in the slightly stunned aftermath of a book that earns its own title. The Final Chapter is a thriller about the stories we tell, the secrets we keep inside them, and the people we think we know until we really, truly don't. It asks unsettling questions and doesn't entirely let you off the hook. By the end, I had to physically step back and remind myself this was just a book. It felt that real.
Also worth noting: this one leans darker than your typical meta mystery. Think less playful puzzle, more psychological spiral, with some intense spy torture scenes that may not work for everyone.
Would I recommend it?
If you can push through a slow-burn first half and trust that the payoff is coming, absolutely yes. The second half of The Final Chapter is a masterclass in meta-thriller pacing, and C.B. Everett builds something genuinely unsettling and emotionally resonant by the end. For fans of literary puzzle-box mysteries, this one will stay with you.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
For Fans Of: Anthony Horowitz, Kristen Perrin
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥🔥
TW: gaslighting, talk of domestic abuse
Premise: A new novel appears 10 years after its author’s disappearance. His friend C.B., asked to edit & annotate it, alleges the book is laced with easter eggs & hints to the author’s whereabouts meant for C.B’s eyes. What is the real story?
Thoughts: I’m a sucker for a book-within-a-book & plots working on multiple levels. Making me the key demo for this meta exploration of genre, word craft & the publishing world. There’s a lot to love here. C.B’s comments grow more ranty & self-focused as the novel proceeds, leaving the reader wondering how much is true. His role as editor validates a connection to the novel’s author, but were they as close as C.B. asserts? These questions—as well as increasing stakes in both the spy story and C.B’s devolving life—kept me hooked. In speeding through the novel, I predicted a few possible denouements though hoped for 1 I hadn’t considered. While the ending didn’t entirely surprise me, it was nicely executed, and my ability to land upon the possibility speaks to Everett’s skill in laying the groundwork. The book’s structure is not so much an alternating timeline as an interwoven one, with C.B’s annotations threaded into the spycraft story—sometimes relevant to its plot & other times mere biography. Thus it demands some focus on the reader’s part. The novel’s final 2 pages are perfection, the ideal resolution to character C.B’s storyline. Please don’t be one of those readers who skips to the end: you’ll want to earn it.
Thanks to Atria for gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥🔥
TW: gaslighting, talk of domestic abuse
Premise: A new novel appears 10 years after its author’s disappearance. His friend C.B., asked to edit & annotate it, alleges the book is laced with easter eggs & hints to the author’s whereabouts meant for C.B’s eyes. What is the real story?
Thoughts: I’m a sucker for a book-within-a-book & plots working on multiple levels. Making me the key demo for this meta exploration of genre, word craft & the publishing world. There’s a lot to love here. C.B’s comments grow more ranty & self-focused as the novel proceeds, leaving the reader wondering how much is true. His role as editor validates a connection to the novel’s author, but were they as close as C.B. asserts? These questions—as well as increasing stakes in both the spy story and C.B’s devolving life—kept me hooked. In speeding through the novel, I predicted a few possible denouements though hoped for 1 I hadn’t considered. While the ending didn’t entirely surprise me, it was nicely executed, and my ability to land upon the possibility speaks to Everett’s skill in laying the groundwork. The book’s structure is not so much an alternating timeline as an interwoven one, with C.B’s annotations threaded into the spycraft story—sometimes relevant to its plot & other times mere biography. Thus it demands some focus on the reader’s part. The novel’s final 2 pages are perfection, the ideal resolution to character C.B’s storyline. Please don’t be one of those readers who skips to the end: you’ll want to earn it.
Thanks to Atria for gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC for review. To be published June 2, 2026.
3 stars
This book was a bit meta in that it is, obviously a book. About a published book. That is about a book.
It starts off with a note from an editor stating that it’s the work of a famous writer who disappeared years ago, now this new manuscript had appeared with instructions that the missing writer’s former best friend, a novelist who wrote under the name C.B. Everett (which wasn’t his name then and isn’t now,) write the notes for the newly discovered manuscript.
The new book is nothing like anything the missing author wrote previously. He used to write literary fiction, but this is a James Bond-like story involving a spy. And it seems to contain clues directed specifically at C.B. which, perhaps, hint at the missing writer’s location.
So, all of the above sounds GREAT to me and I loved everything about this idea, even though spy thrillers aren’t really my thing. But clues in the book that only “Everett” would get? And, for some reason, “Everett” is supposed to write notes before publication? Sounds delicious.
However, while I really didn’t mind the spy book within the book, RUSSIAN DOLLS, the rest of the execution wasn’t that great. Clues? I don’t want to spoil, so I’ll just say all of that was an enormous disappointment, and that was all really the gear of the mystery, the, ultimately, the book fails too. I’m actually being generous with three stars but the book was well-written, I loved all the animosity and the general idea was creative. I hope someone picks it up and runs with it.
3 stars
This book was a bit meta in that it is, obviously a book. About a published book. That is about a book.
It starts off with a note from an editor stating that it’s the work of a famous writer who disappeared years ago, now this new manuscript had appeared with instructions that the missing writer’s former best friend, a novelist who wrote under the name C.B. Everett (which wasn’t his name then and isn’t now,) write the notes for the newly discovered manuscript.
The new book is nothing like anything the missing author wrote previously. He used to write literary fiction, but this is a James Bond-like story involving a spy. And it seems to contain clues directed specifically at C.B. which, perhaps, hint at the missing writer’s location.
So, all of the above sounds GREAT to me and I loved everything about this idea, even though spy thrillers aren’t really my thing. But clues in the book that only “Everett” would get? And, for some reason, “Everett” is supposed to write notes before publication? Sounds delicious.
However, while I really didn’t mind the spy book within the book, RUSSIAN DOLLS, the rest of the execution wasn’t that great. Clues? I don’t want to spoil, so I’ll just say all of that was an enormous disappointment, and that was all really the gear of the mystery, the, ultimately, the book fails too. I’m actually being generous with three stars but the book was well-written, I loved all the animosity and the general idea was creative. I hope someone picks it up and runs with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of those book-within-a-book stories that can get a little confusing when it switches between the main story and the story inside of the story. The main story is about a missing author, Jon Durward, whose last manuscript mysteriously surfaces years after he disappeared. It’s nothing like his typical great literary works, but his publishers believe it’s really his. They ask his friend, another author named C.B. Everett (the author of this actual book, how meta), to edit it and add some notes for context. I guess this makes sense? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to because there’s an ulterior motive.
After a while, it became harder to separate the fiction of the book from the non-fiction of the author doing the editing, and that’s the point. C.B. sees all sorts of hints throughout the book referencing his life and his relationships with Jon and others. After each chapter he reads, he makes his notes and then tells the reader more about his past and how it relates to what he read in Jon’s book.
But then towards the end, there’s the final chapter, the ‘real’ final chapter, the notes on the ‘fake’ final chapter, publisher’s notes… It gets pretty exhausting. But the author really made an effort with this whole concept, so I have to respect that. However, given the chance to read another story like this, I would pass. It’s not my thing, but it’s a thing this author does well.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
After a while, it became harder to separate the fiction of the book from the non-fiction of the author doing the editing, and that’s the point. C.B. sees all sorts of hints throughout the book referencing his life and his relationships with Jon and others. After each chapter he reads, he makes his notes and then tells the reader more about his past and how it relates to what he read in Jon’s book.
But then towards the end, there’s the final chapter, the ‘real’ final chapter, the notes on the ‘fake’ final chapter, publisher’s notes… It gets pretty exhausting. But the author really made an effort with this whole concept, so I have to respect that. However, given the chance to read another story like this, I would pass. It’s not my thing, but it’s a thing this author does well.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced copy of The Final Chapter from NetGalley, and since this was my first read by C.B. Everett, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this author. What I got was a twisty, metaleaning thriller that plays with authorship, friendship, and the stories we tell about the people we think we know. The setup hooked me right away being a famous literary author vanished a decade ago, leaving behind a missing final manuscript that has suddenly resurfaced except it’s not the kind of book he was known for. Instead, it’s a full on espionage thriller, complete with spycraft, doublecrosses, and James Bondish‑style flair. Everett (the character, not the author) is asked to annotate this strange manuscript, and that’s where things get really really fun. As he reads, he starts noticing details that feel a little too close to real life like references to people, events, and secrets that shouldn’t be there. The line between fiction and truth blurs in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night, especially as Everett begins to suspect the manuscript might be more than a novel. The tension builds slowly but steadily, and the “story within a story” structure adds a clever layer of intrigue. I will read more books from this author! #NETGALLEY #THEFINALCHAPTER
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I'm going to be honest. The beginning of the book was a slog to me. I almost DNF'd it quite a number of times because it didn't seem to be living up to the description. I forced myself to go back and continue it several times.
I hate to DNF any book. I don't feel like it's fair to the author who has created, built and put a lot of love into the pages of the story they have to tell. But some make it harder than others.
I will say this: push through. Continue on and force yourself to go back and keep reading. It will be worth it. At about the halfway point, the storyline wakes up and leaves a trail of smoke behind it! It starts moving at a blazing speed and becomes the page turner you've been expecting. If you can maintain the commitment to reading halfway, I promise you'll be pleasantly surprised and greatly rewarded in the latter half and ending.
As always this is just my opinion.
You may have a different experience/point of view, with any book I review. Please judge for yourself.
Thank you for reading!
*I gratefully received this book from the publisher and author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I hate to DNF any book. I don't feel like it's fair to the author who has created, built and put a lot of love into the pages of the story they have to tell. But some make it harder than others.
I will say this: push through. Continue on and force yourself to go back and keep reading. It will be worth it. At about the halfway point, the storyline wakes up and leaves a trail of smoke behind it! It starts moving at a blazing speed and becomes the page turner you've been expecting. If you can maintain the commitment to reading halfway, I promise you'll be pleasantly surprised and greatly rewarded in the latter half and ending.
As always this is just my opinion.
You may have a different experience/point of view, with any book I review. Please judge for yourself.
Thank you for reading!
*I gratefully received this book from the publisher and author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is inventive. I love that the author tried something different.
There is a book within a book (not new), but the author writes notes at the end of every chapter for you to get their perspective of what the writer was truly writing about.
The book that is being commented on is a spy novel. It is interesting, however, there are several times you will be pretty sure that it is tongue-in-cheek, poking fun of the spy genre. All of this is being done to find the missing author. The biggest question for the reader should be, “What would happen if someone cracked the code in the book and actually finds the author?”
The biggest question for you, reading this review, is, “Does the premise work?” The answer is yes. But with an asterisk by it. It took some time for me to get the rhythm of this book. Instead, the numbered notes at the end did distract early on.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read. The ending was really good. Definitely worth taking your time to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
There is a book within a book (not new), but the author writes notes at the end of every chapter for you to get their perspective of what the writer was truly writing about.
The book that is being commented on is a spy novel. It is interesting, however, there are several times you will be pretty sure that it is tongue-in-cheek, poking fun of the spy genre. All of this is being done to find the missing author. The biggest question for the reader should be, “What would happen if someone cracked the code in the book and actually finds the author?”
The biggest question for you, reading this review, is, “Does the premise work?” The answer is yes. But with an asterisk by it. It took some time for me to get the rhythm of this book. Instead, the numbered notes at the end did distract early on.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read. The ending was really good. Definitely worth taking your time to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
May 7, 2026
This is different to anything I've ever read and the concept is very clever. The start was very slow and almost painfully dull, but I persevered and I'm so glad I did as the pace picked up very quickly.
The main plot is based around a manuscript that is found, belonging to a missing author, with instruction for it to be edited, ready for publication, by his former friend, C. B. Everett.
The chapters alternate between the discovered book and C. B. Everett's editorial notes, which also tell the story of the soured friendship between the two men and his realisation that the book is leaving him a trail of breadcrumbs that he can use to find where the missing author is hiding.
The story in the manuscript is excellent; an MI6 assassin plot with some unexpected twists. As the two stories collide, further twists lead to the solving of both mysteries. A clever and intriguing read.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, C. B. Everett and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book.
The main plot is based around a manuscript that is found, belonging to a missing author, with instruction for it to be edited, ready for publication, by his former friend, C. B. Everett.
The chapters alternate between the discovered book and C. B. Everett's editorial notes, which also tell the story of the soured friendship between the two men and his realisation that the book is leaving him a trail of breadcrumbs that he can use to find where the missing author is hiding.
The story in the manuscript is excellent; an MI6 assassin plot with some unexpected twists. As the two stories collide, further twists lead to the solving of both mysteries. A clever and intriguing read.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, C. B. Everett and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m not sure if this is an author for me, but I’d be willing to try another one of their books in the future. I like how the author tried to do something original. This book had a novel within a novel approach. That’s such a difficult trope to execute in a way that’s pleasing to the reader. It’s jarring to go from the actual novel to the one within that I got confused many times. This book took a lot of concentration to follow. The plot overall was decent, but the writing style was so dense that it took me out of it quite a bit. I would recommend this book to fans of dense mysteries. It was written well, you can tell this author knows what they’re doing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to listen to this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to listen to this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The concept of this book had me intrigued from the outset. Very meta, often confusing, but fun nonetheless. I thought the start was slow, and it was a bit tiring going back and forth between the two narratives - one a spy thriller, one a friend looking for answers.
Eventually, things become more twisted, doubt is sown, and you begin to question everything. I was coming up with my own theories all the while and none of them were even remotely correct.
While I liked the ending, there were some things that felt a little unsatisfactory and rushed about the resolution. Despite this, it was well written and entertaining and kept me up into the wee hours of the night!
Eventually, things become more twisted, doubt is sown, and you begin to question everything. I was coming up with my own theories all the while and none of them were even remotely correct.
While I liked the ending, there were some things that felt a little unsatisfactory and rushed about the resolution. Despite this, it was well written and entertaining and kept me up into the wee hours of the night!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3⭐️ I liked the idea of this book more than the actual book. A book within a book also with a missing persons mystery sounded right up my alley but unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me. The story within the story was a spy mystery and I felt like it was overly descriptive and wordy and found myself skimming those parts. The main story I found more interesting but I still felt like until the last 10% it was kind of slow and not much happening and then the final 10% felt rushed. The twist at the end wasn’t bad but overall I just don’t think this was for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this author does a great job setting the scene for this book and the Publisher's Note at the beginning is highly intriguing. However, I think the writing is very much like a 007 book. The writing is very sophisticated. I think I just thought this book would be a bit different, and books like this are not books that I can easily get into, so I DNF. I think this would be a good read for audiences who love 007 type things, and I bet it's an awesome read, just not for me. Thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This one was somewhat confusing as it has a book within a book. There are basically two books in one and at times it grew tiresome going back and forth. I found myself enjoying the spy novel within this and just wanting to read that part. The second part was a manuscript left behind that had clues of where the author was and notes by old friend was difficult to stay engaged in as it seemed to drag on. The spy part was full of action and intrigue and I loved that part.
The ending just left me confused and I wished I could phone a friend right away to discuss.
The ending just left me confused and I wished I could phone a friend right away to discuss.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
CB Everett is tasked with annotating a recently discovered manuscript, believed to be the final novel by his friend and fellow author Jonathon Durward. Jonathon Durward was at the height of his fame, both critical and popular, when he disappeared without trace., now this manuscript has surfaced.
The story is full of twists as it develops and the present and the manuscript blur. I must admit it took me a while to get into this book and did actually put it aside for a while, but once I did it was worth it.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
The story is full of twists as it develops and the present and the manuscript blur. I must admit it took me a while to get into this book and did actually put it aside for a while, but once I did it was worth it.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I got pretty into the concept of this one. I don't read a lot of spy thrillers, but the book-within-a-book hit the spot. It most reminded me of the Bourne movies, but my family had just watched Indiana Jones and this felt like a fun continuation of it. I also enjoyed the meta commentary, both about the publishing industry and C.B. Everett slowly losing his mind. I did feel like it went on a little too long. I was ready for the titular final chapter! Once we got there, it was satisfyingly complex. I had to read it twice to figure it all out.
May 21, 2026
Thank you Atria for the gifted ARC.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Man, I am so bummed how much of a miss this one was. This was a book within a book, and they both fell flat. The endings of each story left a lot to be desired for me. I had a really hard time with the male narrator who was telling the "real" story outside of the novel.
The book does have some good pacing, and it was interesting enough that I wanted to finish to see how everything wrapped up. In the end, with both stories, I felt almost cheated by the conclusions. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoiling.
Regardless, I won't hesitate to pick this author up again. The Final Chapter pub date is June 2.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Man, I am so bummed how much of a miss this one was. This was a book within a book, and they both fell flat. The endings of each story left a lot to be desired for me. I had a really hard time with the male narrator who was telling the "real" story outside of the novel.
The book does have some good pacing, and it was interesting enough that I wanted to finish to see how everything wrapped up. In the end, with both stories, I felt almost cheated by the conclusions. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoiling.
Regardless, I won't hesitate to pick this author up again. The Final Chapter pub date is June 2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I will round up to 3.5. Everett had an interesting premise and a few genuinely gripping moments, but it didn’t fully live up to its potential for me. The pacing started strong, and I enjoyed the dark atmosphere and layered mystery, but the middle sections dragged and some of the character development felt underwritten. The ending tied things together reasonably well, though a few twists felt predictable by that point. Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read with solid suspense, and the book within a book concept was entertaining.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
2026
Goodreads giveaway winner
Okay so it starts off with a main story and each chapter is followed by notes from a separate author. I'll admit in the beginning I was annoyed with the interruptions to the story and didn't enthusiastically read the notes. But that eventually switched to where I was annoyed with the main story and eagerly anticipated the notes section. And then I couldn't help but devour both sections. And that ending! Absolutely a twist that I didn't see coming!!
Goodreads giveaway winner
Okay so it starts off with a main story and each chapter is followed by notes from a separate author. I'll admit in the beginning I was annoyed with the interruptions to the story and didn't enthusiastically read the notes. But that eventually switched to where I was annoyed with the main story and eagerly anticipated the notes section. And then I couldn't help but devour both sections. And that ending! Absolutely a twist that I didn't see coming!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for the opportunity to preview the Final chapter.
I read a previous novel by this author which I loved. This new novel is about a missing manuscript and a new author rewriting and finding a way to rewrite and complete this story.
Although it is a mystery I was somewhat confused by the book. The writing is good and plot is interesting.
Recommend and take your time reading it as there is a lot to be found and learned with the final chapter. 3.5 stars
I read a previous novel by this author which I loved. This new novel is about a missing manuscript and a new author rewriting and finding a way to rewrite and complete this story.
Although it is a mystery I was somewhat confused by the book. The writing is good and plot is interesting.
Recommend and take your time reading it as there is a lot to be found and learned with the final chapter. 3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
It was a pretty good mystery, but the novel within a novel concept was a little much. It was an ARC, so there were publishing errors. I didn't like the set-up, so I wouldn't recommend this to everyone.
Want to Read
April 6, 2026I want to thank the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
April 19, 2026
I really wanted to like this one but it just wasn’t for me. The way in it was written was hard for me to connect with it. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Twisty thriller. A book within a book plus all the outside story going on. Enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Don't believe everything you read. Don't believe anything you read!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Review to follow.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a very unexpected book. I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and I liked the concept of two stories in one. The execution of it is not perfect but the ending convinced me.
Jonathan Durward has been missing for 10 years when his publisher anonymously receives his last manuscript, an espionage novel. C.B Everett, a writer and a former friend of Jon is tasked with editing this manuscript. Each chapter starts with Jon’s novel and then C.B Everett notes on the chapter. As the story unravels, C.B starts to wonder whether this story was written as a message for him, and looks back on his friendship with Jon. My issue with this style is that it was not as gripping as I wanted it to be because the main story was always stopped with Everett’s notes. It did take some time before I felt like I was fully into both stories.
My favorite part was the ending because it felt very unexpected. I didn’t know which version of the story to trust. I always enjoy being surprised !
Overall, it’s definitely a different kind of book and storytelling. I don’t think this is the most gripping thriller ever, but there were many plot twists that I didn’t expect which made this book satisfying !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
Jonathan Durward has been missing for 10 years when his publisher anonymously receives his last manuscript, an espionage novel. C.B Everett, a writer and a former friend of Jon is tasked with editing this manuscript. Each chapter starts with Jon’s novel and then C.B Everett notes on the chapter. As the story unravels, C.B starts to wonder whether this story was written as a message for him, and looks back on his friendship with Jon. My issue with this style is that it was not as gripping as I wanted it to be because the main story was always stopped with Everett’s notes. It did take some time before I felt like I was fully into both stories.
My favorite part was the ending because it felt very unexpected. I didn’t know which version of the story to trust. I always enjoy being surprised !
Overall, it’s definitely a different kind of book and storytelling. I don’t think this is the most gripping thriller ever, but there were many plot twists that I didn’t expect which made this book satisfying !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It took me a bit to get into this, but once I did, I really enjoy this! A book within a book, with lots of shady characters, espionage and an insider’s look into the publishing world.
I received an early copy through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.
I received an early copy through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.
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