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End of Story: A Psychological Thriller About a Writer Lured by a Prisoner's Dangerous Talent into Darkness
Aspiring author Ivy Seidel accepts a part-time position teaching writing to a group of convicted criminals hoping the experience will add depth and darkness to her own work. But in the haunting writings of charismatic inmate Vance Harrow she discovers a talent possibly greater than her own. And in the startling, disturbing stories Harrow has to tell, Ivy finds a dangerous new purpose—and a terrifying temptation that lures her into an inescapable world of shadows.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
37 people are currently reading
827 people want to read
About the author
Peter Abrahams
117 books419 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.
Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).
Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.
Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
August 7, 2025
Ivy is an aspiring writer, working as a waitress and dreaming dreams of literary glory. When a writer friend hits a jackpot he offers her a chance to take over a teaching job he had been doing, teaching a writing class at a state penitentiary in upstate New York. Although it is a frightening experience, it is also stimulating. There is one inmate who captures her interest with the richness of his writing, and Ivy feels that he can have a future as a real writer. From details in the stories he submits, she begins to question his guilt. She does some investigation and comes to believe that there is no way he was present at the robbery and felony murder for which he is serving a 25-year sentence.
Peter Abrahams - from his site
One thing I learned in a writing class many years back is that in a story involving investigation, the protagonist must have some actual authority to go around asking people questions. Ivy’s was paper thin. The main focus of the novel is writing, what makes it good, what inspires it, how one gets published. It is a book that anyone with literary aspirations will enjoy. I was rather dashing through it, so I cannot say to a certainty that the details of her research hold up, but I did enjoy the route. I would recommend this book, particularly to anyone who spends a lot of time word processing their own material.
PS - Abrahams also writes under the name Spencer Quinn
Peter Abrahams - from his site
One thing I learned in a writing class many years back is that in a story involving investigation, the protagonist must have some actual authority to go around asking people questions. Ivy’s was paper thin. The main focus of the novel is writing, what makes it good, what inspires it, how one gets published. It is a book that anyone with literary aspirations will enjoy. I was rather dashing through it, so I cannot say to a certainty that the details of her research hold up, but I did enjoy the route. I would recommend this book, particularly to anyone who spends a lot of time word processing their own material.
PS - Abrahams also writes under the name Spencer Quinn
March 4, 2016
This book is about a struggling author who is offered a part time job teaching writing in a men's prison. She becomes interested in the case of one of the prisoners in her class and thinks he is innocent of the crime he was prosecuted for. She investigates and gets in WAY over her head.
I thought the book was o.k. A good thing was that I wanted to find out how everything would end. Another good thing; at just past the halfway mark I thought I had the ending all figured out. (I thought it would be the predictable, obvious ending). Nope, I was wrong. Didn't see the end coming. A bad thing; the main female character was an idiot. So because of her a 2.5 rating from me rather than a 3.
I thought the book was o.k. A good thing was that I wanted to find out how everything would end. Another good thing; at just past the halfway mark I thought I had the ending all figured out. (I thought it would be the predictable, obvious ending). Nope, I was wrong. Didn't see the end coming. A bad thing; the main female character was an idiot. So because of her a 2.5 rating from me rather than a 3.
August 11, 2013
Ivy, MFA, young naive New York bartender and aspiring writer, takes a job teaching writing to murderous, psychopathic male prisoners. This is A BIG MISTAKE. And, alas, it is such an obvious mistake to the the reader that he begins to wonder about the praise given to this writer and this book. It is almost enough to cause one to lose faith in Stephen King, who calls the author his "favorite American suspense novelist." Could this be true?
Or the Chicago Tribune, who called this not just "astonishing" or "exciting," but "astonishingly exciting." And of course I like "literate, suspenseful fun" -- an oxymoron? -- as much as the Washington Post Book World, you know, but I also hope for some suspenseful respect for my literate fun-loving brain.
So, not to write this off as a total loss, let me suggest some two-star lessons.
Lesson one. If you must take a job teaching writing to prisoners, do not believe everything the prisoners will tell you. There are many indications that they are not part of a culture of honesty.
Lesson two. Before you try to teach anyone anything about writing in the prison, it might be wise to look up the words "amoral," "manipulative," and the phrase "murderous psychopath." Reflect briefly on them. Then re-read Lesson one. Also, re-read something by Stephen King. Continue to reflect.
Lesson three. For a writing teacher, sudden but overpoweringly consensual sex with a prisoner is really YET ANOTHER MISTAKE, but perhaps it is ...
Lesson four. ... just a bit less worse than the WORST MISTAKE, involving a ladder and a pair of bolt-cutters. Never do this, although I have found a good pair of bolt-cutters to be a surprisingly useful tool, even outside prison.
So if you take these lessons to heart, reading this book will not have been a waste of time, but if you re-read Lessons one through four, above, you might be able to use the time in other ways.
Or the Chicago Tribune, who called this not just "astonishing" or "exciting," but "astonishingly exciting." And of course I like "literate, suspenseful fun" -- an oxymoron? -- as much as the Washington Post Book World, you know, but I also hope for some suspenseful respect for my literate fun-loving brain.
So, not to write this off as a total loss, let me suggest some two-star lessons.
Lesson one. If you must take a job teaching writing to prisoners, do not believe everything the prisoners will tell you. There are many indications that they are not part of a culture of honesty.
Lesson two. Before you try to teach anyone anything about writing in the prison, it might be wise to look up the words "amoral," "manipulative," and the phrase "murderous psychopath." Reflect briefly on them. Then re-read Lesson one. Also, re-read something by Stephen King. Continue to reflect.
Lesson three. For a writing teacher, sudden but overpoweringly consensual sex with a prisoner is really YET ANOTHER MISTAKE, but perhaps it is ...
Lesson four. ... just a bit less worse than the WORST MISTAKE, involving a ladder and a pair of bolt-cutters. Never do this, although I have found a good pair of bolt-cutters to be a surprisingly useful tool, even outside prison.
So if you take these lessons to heart, reading this book will not have been a waste of time, but if you re-read Lessons one through four, above, you might be able to use the time in other ways.
January 10, 2008
I got such a kick out of this book.
Ivy Seidel is a writer. And honestly, we quickly realize she's not very good. In fact, she's not all that smart. But Abrahams lets us come to both conclusions on our own.
Still, though, she's likable. And even though you can see her disastrous decisions coming from the instant she starts teaching at a prison -- but not so far in advance as to be annoying -- you want her to take the wrong path. Because it's a hell of a lot more interesting than the right one.
Ivy Seidel is a writer. And honestly, we quickly realize she's not very good. In fact, she's not all that smart. But Abrahams lets us come to both conclusions on our own.
Still, though, she's likable. And even though you can see her disastrous decisions coming from the instant she starts teaching at a prison -- but not so far in advance as to be annoying -- you want her to take the wrong path. Because it's a hell of a lot more interesting than the right one.
September 30, 2009
Though this was somewhat of a slow read ... the ending sure made up for it. I love it when an author actually surprises me and doesn't take the easy way out, tying up all loose ends and "saving" the main character.
Characters were believable ... especially Ivy who just can't seem to make the right decision.
Characters were believable ... especially Ivy who just can't seem to make the right decision.
May 5, 2025
I do like when a main character turns out to be just straight up batshit crazy.
March 29, 2020
Not always believable, but that's fiction. I rarely "believe" that a work of fiction could actually happen. If that were the yardstick, SALEM'S LOT wouldn't stand a chance. Edgar Rice Burroughs would have had to drive a truck. My novels would turn into doorstops. Okay, so this one didn't read like nonfiction. So what? I read four or five one-star reviews on Amazon. Sheesh, what a bunch of whiners.
December 13, 2020
Wow! Peter Abrahams delivers yet another lean, mean, hairpin-corner thrill ride ... and does it again with ordinary people in ordinary settings.
The latter is the key to making suspense novels like "End Of Story" take off for the reader, who can relate to characters like barkeep/aspiring author Ivy Seidel and small-town ne'er-do-well Vance Harrow much more than they can to New York socialites or foreign intelligence operatives, for example. Main character Ivy is an everywoman, not especially idealized, a person who isn't dumb but does some dumb things for smart reasons.
That's one key, actually. The other is the crisp confidence with which Abrahams writes. There's no self-conscious prose here, no slowing down the story for even a second to explain things. As in his other novels, Abrahams simply grabs you by the arm, takes you on a fifth-gear wild ride through the city and country, and explains things as he goes — and if you're fast enough to keep up, you will. If you're not, you won't. As Ivy comes to learn in her own growth as a writer, the reader never feels like he or she is going uphill in this book. One read of "End Of Story," or almost any other Abrahams book, will make clear exactly what that means.
It also helps that the plotting in Abrahams' book is airtight. Everything makes perfect sense as it unfolds, even as key elements to every revelation are kept tucked back in the shadows as later surprises. The reader comes to see, as Ivy does, how Vance Harrow could be innocent of the upstate New York casino holdup that kills a security guard and two cohorts. And the smart reader is also allowed to see how there could be a little more to the story than a simple frame-up. Or even a lot more. And how Ivy may not know what she thinks she knows, even if she knows most of it. The moral of this story: Nobody knows as much as they think they do. And thinking otherwise could damn well get you killed.
I'm dinging this book a half-star, because I've read just three Abrahams books, and in two of them he employs the same surprise device of making the innocent person a lot less innocent than he or she appears to be at the very end. Because I'd read another Abrahams book with a similar character, I found myself expecting the same surprise, hoping it wouldn't happen ... and being disappointed when it did.
But that was a small imperfection in an otherwise perfect all-meat, no-fat story. A lot of genre authors, too obsessed with establishing their voices or following the dictates of their craft, forget to lend equal measures of speed and soul to their suspense tales. Not Abrahams, who rips with calm confidence through a ripping yarn that cheerfully tosses overboard anything that isn't pure exhilarating story.
I can't wait to work my way through the rest of Abrahams' considerable oeuvre.
The latter is the key to making suspense novels like "End Of Story" take off for the reader, who can relate to characters like barkeep/aspiring author Ivy Seidel and small-town ne'er-do-well Vance Harrow much more than they can to New York socialites or foreign intelligence operatives, for example. Main character Ivy is an everywoman, not especially idealized, a person who isn't dumb but does some dumb things for smart reasons.
That's one key, actually. The other is the crisp confidence with which Abrahams writes. There's no self-conscious prose here, no slowing down the story for even a second to explain things. As in his other novels, Abrahams simply grabs you by the arm, takes you on a fifth-gear wild ride through the city and country, and explains things as he goes — and if you're fast enough to keep up, you will. If you're not, you won't. As Ivy comes to learn in her own growth as a writer, the reader never feels like he or she is going uphill in this book. One read of "End Of Story," or almost any other Abrahams book, will make clear exactly what that means.
It also helps that the plotting in Abrahams' book is airtight. Everything makes perfect sense as it unfolds, even as key elements to every revelation are kept tucked back in the shadows as later surprises. The reader comes to see, as Ivy does, how Vance Harrow could be innocent of the upstate New York casino holdup that kills a security guard and two cohorts. And the smart reader is also allowed to see how there could be a little more to the story than a simple frame-up. Or even a lot more. And how Ivy may not know what she thinks she knows, even if she knows most of it. The moral of this story: Nobody knows as much as they think they do. And thinking otherwise could damn well get you killed.
I'm dinging this book a half-star, because I've read just three Abrahams books, and in two of them he employs the same surprise device of making the innocent person a lot less innocent than he or she appears to be at the very end. Because I'd read another Abrahams book with a similar character, I found myself expecting the same surprise, hoping it wouldn't happen ... and being disappointed when it did.
But that was a small imperfection in an otherwise perfect all-meat, no-fat story. A lot of genre authors, too obsessed with establishing their voices or following the dictates of their craft, forget to lend equal measures of speed and soul to their suspense tales. Not Abrahams, who rips with calm confidence through a ripping yarn that cheerfully tosses overboard anything that isn't pure exhilarating story.
I can't wait to work my way through the rest of Abrahams' considerable oeuvre.
October 23, 2011
Per other reviews, many readers have identifies this novel as having a weak main character that seems to lose credibility as the plot continues. I found it intriguing for a completely different reason. As a former teacher with students exhibiting severe behavioral challenges I continually identified with the inmates in the novel and saw terrifying connections between them and my struggling students. It refocused me on how I worked with them and for that reason I chose 4 stars. Fiction has a way of changing lives in unintentional manners.
April 1, 2017
A young girl named Ivy was trudging along in life, trying to become a writer. When Ivy was within sight of her destination, she heard a rustle at her feet. The rustle was a snake named Vince Harlow.
Harlow spoke to Ivy. He said, "I am suffering, I am innocent. Please help me, get me out of here and take me with you."
"No," replied the Ivy. "I know your kind. If I help you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous."
"No, no," said the Harlow. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."
Ivy thought for a moment. Then Ivy looked at the beautiful poetry and writings Harlow had written and she had to admit he was talented, smart and in need of her help. Ivy said, "I believe you. I will help you. All human beings deserve to be treated with kindness."
Ivy reached out and proceeded toward freedom with Harlow.
Within hours, she felt a sharp pain in her side. Harlow the snake had bitten her.
"How could you do this to me?" Ivy cried. "You said you loved me, I thought you were innocent and I trusted you!"
Harlow replied, "You knew what I was when you picked me up,"
Harlow spoke to Ivy. He said, "I am suffering, I am innocent. Please help me, get me out of here and take me with you."
"No," replied the Ivy. "I know your kind. If I help you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous."
"No, no," said the Harlow. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."
Ivy thought for a moment. Then Ivy looked at the beautiful poetry and writings Harlow had written and she had to admit he was talented, smart and in need of her help. Ivy said, "I believe you. I will help you. All human beings deserve to be treated with kindness."
Ivy reached out and proceeded toward freedom with Harlow.
Within hours, she felt a sharp pain in her side. Harlow the snake had bitten her.
"How could you do this to me?" Ivy cried. "You said you loved me, I thought you were innocent and I trusted you!"
Harlow replied, "You knew what I was when you picked me up,"
February 16, 2013
This book came as a recommendation from my library's book club. I've always enjoyed reading suspense novels and I appreciated that this one featured a female lead character.
Then, I read it.
The entire book has a strange, duck-footed pacing (just like one of the characters) that I found completely off-putting. The author also chooses to insert strangely worded sentences into the book in such a way that feels forced and pretentious.
To call this novel suspenseful would be doing suspense as a genre a discredit. From the heroine's first visit to Dannemora, the intelligent reader can gain a grasp on where the author is going. There are too many coincidences, too many obviously fallacies. The only surprise was the very, very end, but it was far too little, too late.
This is the second "innocent prisoner" book I have read this year, and the other, The Woodcutter, is so far superior as to be in a completely different universe.
Then, I read it.
The entire book has a strange, duck-footed pacing (just like one of the characters) that I found completely off-putting. The author also chooses to insert strangely worded sentences into the book in such a way that feels forced and pretentious.
To call this novel suspenseful would be doing suspense as a genre a discredit. From the heroine's first visit to Dannemora, the intelligent reader can gain a grasp on where the author is going. There are too many coincidences, too many obviously fallacies. The only surprise was the very, very end, but it was far too little, too late.
This is the second "innocent prisoner" book I have read this year, and the other, The Woodcutter, is so far superior as to be in a completely different universe.
February 19, 2015
A good suspense novel, full of ambition, bold moves, and a hunger for more.
"End of Story" was my first Peter Abrahams novel, and I couldn't help but notice that this particular author has a Stephen King stamp of approval. I was interested right from the start, partially because of the story itself, but partly because the novel is so well-written the reader cannot help but jump right in. "Always leave them wanting more" would be the tagline on the poster if this gem was ever made into a film, because while the reader is given plenty of information in order to become fully involved in the story, there is just so much we do no know. I wish that I could say this book is the start of the series, because the end of the book has as much suspense as the middle, and I'm dying to know what happens at the end. I believe, though, that the best authors do that, make you think long after the book is over, wondering what happened after all.
"End of Story" was my first Peter Abrahams novel, and I couldn't help but notice that this particular author has a Stephen King stamp of approval. I was interested right from the start, partially because of the story itself, but partly because the novel is so well-written the reader cannot help but jump right in. "Always leave them wanting more" would be the tagline on the poster if this gem was ever made into a film, because while the reader is given plenty of information in order to become fully involved in the story, there is just so much we do no know. I wish that I could say this book is the start of the series, because the end of the book has as much suspense as the middle, and I'm dying to know what happens at the end. I believe, though, that the best authors do that, make you think long after the book is over, wondering what happened after all.
October 19, 2008
Peter Abrahams' plots are the opposite of "high-concept." End of Story takes a real-world situation-- a young, struggling writer inherits a friend's teaching gig at a prison writer's workshop--and tracks it as, one misunderstanding, bad judgment call, and unconscious wish fulfillment at a time, it spins out of control.
Abrahams' characters--his minor characters as well as the protagonists--are vivid, memorable, and utterly believable. You know these people, and may be uncomfortably like them. He is especially adept at evoking a milieu--the violence and paranoia of prison life, the shabby working-class towns in New York State's North Country--with a few deft strokes. Abrahams' prose is careful and spare--not self-consciously "minimalist," but pared down to what is precisely necessary.
Highest recommendation.
Abrahams' characters--his minor characters as well as the protagonists--are vivid, memorable, and utterly believable. You know these people, and may be uncomfortably like them. He is especially adept at evoking a milieu--the violence and paranoia of prison life, the shabby working-class towns in New York State's North Country--with a few deft strokes. Abrahams' prose is careful and spare--not self-consciously "minimalist," but pared down to what is precisely necessary.
Highest recommendation.
January 13, 2013
Okay, so I like mysteries/suspense, and I liked that the main character in this one is a woman. Sure, she was a little direction-less, but she was smart and independent, and not your typical damsel in distress type. And it was a little first-season-of-Prison-Break-esque (cue Michael Scofield fantasies). All good things.
So I loved the first 3/4 of the book. Then Yeah. Lame.
All in all, can't say I'd recommend this one. Totally frustrating, because I really was enjoying it up until the last fourth of the book.
So I loved the first 3/4 of the book. Then Yeah. Lame.
All in all, can't say I'd recommend this one. Totally frustrating, because I really was enjoying it up until the last fourth of the book.
August 19, 2020
Whoa. Again I am in the minority, but I thought this was a helluva read. It has a bleak noir feeling to it. Some of the readers gave low ratings, citing the idiocy of the female protagonist. I see this differently. I see the desperation of someone with a Masters degree working in a bar to make a living until she can get her writing published. Rejection after rejection begins to affect her self esteem, therefore making her more vulnerable, and this sets her up to make impulsive decisions. The author was careful not to give much in the way of background on this character—we learn much more about the male main character. I don’t remember any reference to HER life, her family, her past, so in a way, she is a true blank slate to the reader. I found that interesting.
January 25, 2018
Now THIS is a damned good Abrahams book!
I fell in love with Peter Abrahams about 15 years ago. Each book was better than the last.
Somewhere along the way, I lost track of him. When I started to catch up, the newer books just weren’t doing it for me. And at some point he started writing for kids.
I still dig up his older books when I can, & I came across this one in a used book store a few months ago. And I’m so glad I did. It’s classic Abrahams: modern noir, with twists just out of your periphery, leading up to a crash. I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes suspense.
I fell in love with Peter Abrahams about 15 years ago. Each book was better than the last.
Somewhere along the way, I lost track of him. When I started to catch up, the newer books just weren’t doing it for me. And at some point he started writing for kids.
I still dig up his older books when I can, & I came across this one in a used book store a few months ago. And I’m so glad I did. It’s classic Abrahams: modern noir, with twists just out of your periphery, leading up to a crash. I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes suspense.
October 2, 2021
Funny story: My book club selection for our last meeting was We Begin at the End. I even wrote the title down on my phone calendar so I would know which book to check out when I went to the library. When I showed up at the book club meeting last week, I had brought (and read!) the wrong book: End of Story. We all got a good laugh out of that.
Anyway.
Years ago, during the '90s, I was a teacher at an adult school where we offered GED , ABE, and ESL instruction as well as a high school diploma program. At one point, the school and the local correctional facility (otherwise known as the county jail) decided to bring an educational program to the jail, and I was the first teacher hired. It was a great gig. I was very aware of being allowed into a space the general public never experiences. Not that most people would want to be in jail, but maybe some are a little curious. I also got to know some VERY interesting people, and more than one had stories to tell that I most likely would not have heard anywhere else.
So in some ways, the protagonist of End of Story, Ivy, and I have things in common. I also had visions of being a writer, and, even more sobering, I have made misjudgments of people's character, probably based on what I would think or do rather than on what people are actually capable of. I did not, however, become involved with any prisoner in the same way Ivy did!
About the book itself I have mixed feelings. I had read about half when the book club met (we were only supposed to have read half of We Begin at the End), and I told the other members that I was really enjoying it. There was even a brief discussion of whether to read it next. I didn't know that it would fit the group, so I didn't recommend it, and eventually we decided on something else. I'm so glad! Because even though the first half was really good, intriguing, and making my brain zing, the last fourth was not what I wanted, in so many ways. I did like the writing; it seemed to me that it was written in a "telling" manner, but the way the telling was done ended up "showing" even better than some richly written stories. If you know what I mean. It was my book of choice for a few days (I tend to read more than one book at a time), and I looked forward to it. However, after chapter twenty-six, I wondered if I was going to end up throwing the book across the room at some point. Talk about a negative turn! Anyway, I didn't throw the book, but I did sigh a lot.
As for Ivy, I don't think she was stupid. I think she was young and she was overwhelmed by intense feelings. It happens. It can especially happen in a teacher/student relationship, and a prison atmosphere is highly charged. Combined, these two things can confuse someone young, naive, and inexperienced.
Finally, I just now discovered that Peter Abrahams is also Spencer Quinn! I love Spencer Quinn!! I wonder if I'll eventually love Peter Abrahams as well...
Anyway.
Years ago, during the '90s, I was a teacher at an adult school where we offered GED , ABE, and ESL instruction as well as a high school diploma program. At one point, the school and the local correctional facility (otherwise known as the county jail) decided to bring an educational program to the jail, and I was the first teacher hired. It was a great gig. I was very aware of being allowed into a space the general public never experiences. Not that most people would want to be in jail, but maybe some are a little curious. I also got to know some VERY interesting people, and more than one had stories to tell that I most likely would not have heard anywhere else.
So in some ways, the protagonist of End of Story, Ivy, and I have things in common. I also had visions of being a writer, and, even more sobering, I have made misjudgments of people's character, probably based on what I would think or do rather than on what people are actually capable of. I did not, however, become involved with any prisoner in the same way Ivy did!
About the book itself I have mixed feelings. I had read about half when the book club met (we were only supposed to have read half of We Begin at the End), and I told the other members that I was really enjoying it. There was even a brief discussion of whether to read it next. I didn't know that it would fit the group, so I didn't recommend it, and eventually we decided on something else. I'm so glad! Because even though the first half was really good, intriguing, and making my brain zing, the last fourth was not what I wanted, in so many ways. I did like the writing; it seemed to me that it was written in a "telling" manner, but the way the telling was done ended up "showing" even better than some richly written stories. If you know what I mean. It was my book of choice for a few days (I tend to read more than one book at a time), and I looked forward to it. However, after chapter twenty-six, I wondered if I was going to end up throwing the book across the room at some point. Talk about a negative turn! Anyway, I didn't throw the book, but I did sigh a lot.
As for Ivy, I don't think she was stupid. I think she was young and she was overwhelmed by intense feelings. It happens. It can especially happen in a teacher/student relationship, and a prison atmosphere is highly charged. Combined, these two things can confuse someone young, naive, and inexperienced.
Finally, I just now discovered that Peter Abrahams is also Spencer Quinn! I love Spencer Quinn!! I wonder if I'll eventually love Peter Abrahams as well...
April 1, 2025
This might be a generous 3 stars. It’s probably more like 2.5. I have read and enjoyed PAs books in the past so when I found one I hadn’t read at a library book sale I snatched it up.
You know, it started off strong - struggling writer gets a gig teaching writing in a prison - what could go wrong? Hopefully something good!
Well, things do go wrong but unfortunately so does the story. It just becomes largely unbelievable to me. I can’t say much more without spoilers but I will say that some of Ivy’s sleuthing seems overly fortuitous. And her decision making is suspect.
Not one of PAs best.
You know, it started off strong - struggling writer gets a gig teaching writing in a prison - what could go wrong? Hopefully something good!
Well, things do go wrong but unfortunately so does the story. It just becomes largely unbelievable to me. I can’t say much more without spoilers but I will say that some of Ivy’s sleuthing seems overly fortuitous. And her decision making is suspect.
Not one of PAs best.
June 10, 2023
Pretty good... Naive heroine in a slightly predictable storyline. Progression jumps a bit in a couple of places. I couldn't help but think "this would need more development for these characters to be making these choices", but overall a good read. Nicely paced and engaging.
January 31, 2018
At first, I was a bit skeptical about this book. I had chosen it as an experiment to see how borrowing e-books worked from my local library and how to get them on my Kindle. I went to the last page of e-book selections, and this was the first one on the last page. With that alone, I was thinking that maybe this book wasn't going to be the best. Why else would it be on the last page of e-books? Nevertheless, it was categorized as a mystery/thriller and I love those books. So I decided to actually read the book that I was using to learn the ropes of borrowing books.
First off, it was hard for me to get a read on the main character, Ivy. At moments, she seemed very smart and capable, if not just lacking some real confidence in herself and her ability. But towards the end of the book, I couldn't help but think that maybe she had hit her head, and had brain damage because her actions just made absolutely no sense. Overall, it seemed that Ivy was lost. That is in no way a bad thing, but I do think it helped contribute to her VERY questionable actions towards the latter third of the book. (Although I'm still not ruling out some kind of head trauma that happened that we didn't know about).
I really was enjoying this book for the first two-thirds of it. There were a few sentences, that I did have to read a couple of times because the wording confused me, but overall, it was an easy read. We were introduced to a lot of interesting characters, that did keep you guessing about their motives and actions. There was Danny, the guy from the bar, who knew more than he was letting on about the prison. Then there were the characters from the prison writing group that had a great dynamic together and made me want to know more about them (and more importantly, what their crimes were).
The last third of the book, truly just made everything unbelievable to me. Obviously, with fiction, you often have to be willing to suspend disbelief, in order for the story to move forward. This was not the case to me. The actions were so out of place, that the entire story became completely unbelievable and pretty much unlikeable. Really, what person thinks it's a smart idea to track down a criminal, who not only evaded arrest but also Federal Marshalls from the Witness Protection program? And then once you have located him, instead of going to the authorities, like the one involved in the original case, who was very friendly and mostly cooperative to your questioning and research in the case you decide to handle things yourself. But that's not all, Ivy then decided that the only way to clear Harrow's name, would be to break him out of prison (or technically the hospital). Did she not realize that by potentially clearing him of one crime, she'd be getting him charged with another crime and herself, by breaking him out of jail? It was very clear that she really wasn't thinking at all, which again leads me to believe that there was some kind of head trauma that occurred that impaired her judgment.
Also, I'm unsure of when this book took place, I wasn't paying as close attention as I probably should have in the beginning, but I do feel like a lot of Ivy's questions and research could've been done from the safety of her laptop. Although I guess that wouldn't have made for much of a story.
First off, it was hard for me to get a read on the main character, Ivy. At moments, she seemed very smart and capable, if not just lacking some real confidence in herself and her ability. But towards the end of the book, I couldn't help but think that maybe she had hit her head, and had brain damage because her actions just made absolutely no sense. Overall, it seemed that Ivy was lost. That is in no way a bad thing, but I do think it helped contribute to her VERY questionable actions towards the latter third of the book. (Although I'm still not ruling out some kind of head trauma that happened that we didn't know about).
I really was enjoying this book for the first two-thirds of it. There were a few sentences, that I did have to read a couple of times because the wording confused me, but overall, it was an easy read. We were introduced to a lot of interesting characters, that did keep you guessing about their motives and actions. There was Danny, the guy from the bar, who knew more than he was letting on about the prison. Then there were the characters from the prison writing group that had a great dynamic together and made me want to know more about them (and more importantly, what their crimes were).
The last third of the book, truly just made everything unbelievable to me. Obviously, with fiction, you often have to be willing to suspend disbelief, in order for the story to move forward. This was not the case to me. The actions were so out of place, that the entire story became completely unbelievable and pretty much unlikeable. Really, what person thinks it's a smart idea to track down a criminal, who not only evaded arrest but also Federal Marshalls from the Witness Protection program? And then once you have located him, instead of going to the authorities, like the one involved in the original case, who was very friendly and mostly cooperative to your questioning and research in the case you decide to handle things yourself. But that's not all, Ivy then decided that the only way to clear Harrow's name, would be to break him out of prison (or technically the hospital). Did she not realize that by potentially clearing him of one crime, she'd be getting him charged with another crime and herself, by breaking him out of jail? It was very clear that she really wasn't thinking at all, which again leads me to believe that there was some kind of head trauma that occurred that impaired her judgment.
Also, I'm unsure of when this book took place, I wasn't paying as close attention as I probably should have in the beginning, but I do feel like a lot of Ivy's questions and research could've been done from the safety of her laptop. Although I guess that wouldn't have made for much of a story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2022
This was an almost book for me. It was almost good. The set-up was intriguing, but it just couldn't stick the landing. The last quarter is silly, unlikely, far-fetched, a bit confusing, and completely drags down the book. Getting there was fun, but the ending was so disappointing it just tainted everything that came before it.
Ivy Seidel is a struggling writer desperate for a short story to get published by The New York Times. Circumstances see her taking over the job of a writer friend who has just struck it big in Hollywood. The job is teaching writing to a handful of prison inmates. Ivy is particularly impressed by the work of one inmate, Evan Vance Harrow. She can't believe someone with his sort of background could be so naturally good at writing.
Ivy becomes a little obsessed, and learns that Vance is in prison for his involvement in a casino robbery where several people wound up dead. But through talking to many (many, many, many) people involved in the investigation and arrest, Ivy becomes convinced that Vance is innocent of the crime that got him incarcerated. Trying to prove his innocence gets her in over her head.
There's no doubt that this story kept me involved. Ivy likely needed to have her head examined over her obsession with proving Vance's innocence, but I was intrigued by the notion that a lot of it was driven by Ivy's jealousy that someone from an unprivileged, tough background could actually be a better writer than her, who had actually studied the form. And could she simply be attracted to the notion of the "bad boy" ideal? That undercurrent certainly kept me interested. Also, author Peter Abrahams has a simple, crisp style that conveys information succinctly.
However, it just didn't completely work as a whole! It got a bit repetitive, with Ivy meeting a neverending parade of people to question them either about Vance, or the casino robbery. The book often felt like it was in a bit of a holding pattern. It also stretched credibility that Ivy was not able to locate all these people so easily, but that all of them were completely willing and happy to talk to her, despite her flimsiest of cover stories.
That credibility gets stretched beyond breaking point in the last quarter of the book. The ending was also confusing. A bit of reflection after finishing the book, and some re-reading enabled me to mostly put it all together and figure out what everyone did and why, but some extra clarity would have been nice! This is a case where the dreaded "killer monologue" would have helped things a great deal!
I'm disappointed I can't give this more than 2 stars, since it's been a lacklustre reading year for me so far, and this really had promise. But this was too repetitive, a bit too slow-paced, and the home stretch just pushed credibility and believability way too far for me to be satisfied.
Ivy Seidel is a struggling writer desperate for a short story to get published by The New York Times. Circumstances see her taking over the job of a writer friend who has just struck it big in Hollywood. The job is teaching writing to a handful of prison inmates. Ivy is particularly impressed by the work of one inmate, Evan Vance Harrow. She can't believe someone with his sort of background could be so naturally good at writing.
Ivy becomes a little obsessed, and learns that Vance is in prison for his involvement in a casino robbery where several people wound up dead. But through talking to many (many, many, many) people involved in the investigation and arrest, Ivy becomes convinced that Vance is innocent of the crime that got him incarcerated. Trying to prove his innocence gets her in over her head.
There's no doubt that this story kept me involved. Ivy likely needed to have her head examined over her obsession with proving Vance's innocence, but I was intrigued by the notion that a lot of it was driven by Ivy's jealousy that someone from an unprivileged, tough background could actually be a better writer than her, who had actually studied the form. And could she simply be attracted to the notion of the "bad boy" ideal? That undercurrent certainly kept me interested. Also, author Peter Abrahams has a simple, crisp style that conveys information succinctly.
However, it just didn't completely work as a whole! It got a bit repetitive, with Ivy meeting a neverending parade of people to question them either about Vance, or the casino robbery. The book often felt like it was in a bit of a holding pattern. It also stretched credibility that Ivy was not able to locate all these people so easily, but that all of them were completely willing and happy to talk to her, despite her flimsiest of cover stories.
That credibility gets stretched beyond breaking point in the last quarter of the book. The ending was also confusing. A bit of reflection after finishing the book, and some re-reading enabled me to mostly put it all together and figure out what everyone did and why, but some extra clarity would have been nice! This is a case where the dreaded "killer monologue" would have helped things a great deal!
I'm disappointed I can't give this more than 2 stars, since it's been a lacklustre reading year for me so far, and this really had promise. But this was too repetitive, a bit too slow-paced, and the home stretch just pushed credibility and believability way too far for me to be satisfied.
March 5, 2015
Eh, disappointing read for my twentieth this year, sigh where is my touch for finding the gems I need and love to read! So far a truly bleak start to my year-heads up friends I WILL read something great soon-but this wasn't it..I have read this author before with his novel The Tutor and I wasn't really the biggest fan of that book either after rereading that review LOL but I tried this one sight and review unseen and tried really tried to get into this but it got super unbelievable and I did not have a good time at all..So here is the story of Ivy Seidel a wannabe writer who has never been published, has nothing of note written and no qualifications to teach writing except for a Master's degree but nonetheless she gets a fluke job "teaching" inmates at a local prison when her friend leaves without an interview or anything and so she teaches a small class of felons despite her inexperience and inability to creatively write herself she reads the work of a Vince Harrow a criminal serving time for a casino robbery and she becomes intrigued..Now the real story would have been if she stole his work and passed it off as her own or if she did something else interesting instead she cant believe he wasn't college educated and attracted, curious and envious she decides to investigate him, the robbery he was locked up for and anybody who ever knew the guy from his high school football buddies to his girlfriend's sister..It was too much and what was crazier is everyone from the people she ran up and called on to the police went along with her, cooperated with information and indulged this silly girl with no writing experience with her made up reasons of writing a fiction novel..Not to diss her but really who was she that she got so close to everything and "solves" the robbery murder by herself..I don't know I lost the book and my interest waned after like page 100 but it started okay if you suspend your reality and go with her improbable job and insane fixation with this criminal who writes better than her..I don't know I did not enjoy and as this is my second foray in Abramson's works I may try again later later in life but eh not a favorite and not impressed with this at all.
February 2, 2011
I cut my teeth on mystery novels when I was about eight. Every gift-giving occasion, my uncle would give me two brand new Bobbsey Twin books- hard covers. I loved following Bert and Nan, Flossie and Freddie as they solved mysteries in and around their home town, Lakeport. My daughter has those books I managed to save through numerous moves.
Anyway - I still love a good mystery and I finished a new one this morning. Peter Abraham’s new book End of Story. I added this book to my ‘must read’ list when it appeared on Entertainment Weekly’s list of Best Books for 2006. End of Story is a great book…but not just because EW said so. (Or any of the other media outlets which have called it everything from “cunning…suspenseful…very scary” (New York Times Book Review) to “almost physically impossible to put down.” (Booklist) I’d have to agree with that last one; I read last night until my eyes were burning. This is a great book because it pays attention to details, transcends crime-story cliches and delivers characters that are cunning, charismatic, naive.
End of Story tells the compelling tale of Ivy Siedel, an aspiring writer, who takes a job teaching writing to a small group of inmates at Dannemora Prison, in Upstate New York. When one of her students, Vance Harrow, turns out to be a talented writer, Ivy decides to take a closer look at his history and discovers something about him that both shocks and excites her…and changes her life forever. Abrahams doesn’t waste any time - dumping the reader right into the middle of Ivy’s story-which barrels along as fast as you can turn the pages (and I was turning pretty fast. I read the book over the course of two days.) Obviously, since this is a mystery novel I can’t give you too much info. But I can say that the novel’s natural climax offers a surprising twist as Ivy works and reworks the details of Vance’s story. Along the way Abrahams makes some interesting observations about writing and the process of doing it.
Anyway - I still love a good mystery and I finished a new one this morning. Peter Abraham’s new book End of Story. I added this book to my ‘must read’ list when it appeared on Entertainment Weekly’s list of Best Books for 2006. End of Story is a great book…but not just because EW said so. (Or any of the other media outlets which have called it everything from “cunning…suspenseful…very scary” (New York Times Book Review) to “almost physically impossible to put down.” (Booklist) I’d have to agree with that last one; I read last night until my eyes were burning. This is a great book because it pays attention to details, transcends crime-story cliches and delivers characters that are cunning, charismatic, naive.
End of Story tells the compelling tale of Ivy Siedel, an aspiring writer, who takes a job teaching writing to a small group of inmates at Dannemora Prison, in Upstate New York. When one of her students, Vance Harrow, turns out to be a talented writer, Ivy decides to take a closer look at his history and discovers something about him that both shocks and excites her…and changes her life forever. Abrahams doesn’t waste any time - dumping the reader right into the middle of Ivy’s story-which barrels along as fast as you can turn the pages (and I was turning pretty fast. I read the book over the course of two days.) Obviously, since this is a mystery novel I can’t give you too much info. But I can say that the novel’s natural climax offers a surprising twist as Ivy works and reworks the details of Vance’s story. Along the way Abrahams makes some interesting observations about writing and the process of doing it.
November 15, 2014
I was some what disappointed with this book. The synopsis sucked me right in. I thought the idea of a young women going into a prison to teach criminals how to write was a interesting plot idea. I figured it would be the perfect backdrop for some mysterious, rather shady, well-written characters. I was wrong. The characters had about as much depth as the shallow end of a swimming pool made for ants. Having said that, it wasn't all bad. There was something that kept me intrigued; the charming and talented, Harrow. The more Ivy uncovered about him, the more I wanted to know.
February 28, 2010
I found this book very interesting. Specially because, from the very beginning Ivy - the main character - starts taking all the paths I would have never chosen to take. And I keep wondering: Will she be able to pull it off in the end? That feeling kept the pages easily turning.
The very end of the story came somewhat as a surprise but I'd say I enjoyed it, in twisted way...
I will give this author another try even though he is categorized as mystery writer, which is not my favorite genre ("End of Story" was not what I call a mystery)
The very end of the story came somewhat as a surprise but I'd say I enjoyed it, in twisted way...
I will give this author another try even though he is categorized as mystery writer, which is not my favorite genre ("End of Story" was not what I call a mystery)
July 26, 2016
End of Story.... "Always leave them wanting more," (Professor Smallian's advice to writers.) More is what I want at the end of this book but there is no more, it's the end of the story. This story follows Ivy's life, a boring, non-published bartender. When her best friend moves away he hands her his teaching job at the prison. Then Ivy's life takes off. She taking chances and doing things in order to free an innocent man...Or is she writing her own best seller. Peter Abrahams did a fantastic job weaving Ivy's story around the theme of writing.
July 17, 2010
Peter Abrahams is becoming my favorite author. This is the second book of his I have read (the first being,Oblivion ) and it is really hard to put down.
Whenever you sit and wonder why on earth women fall in love with conflicts, you can think about this story and, on some small level, understand.
This (like Oblivion) is a smart, sexy thriller that keeps you on the edge of the seat.
Whenever you sit and wonder why on earth women fall in love with conflicts, you can think about this story and, on some small level, understand.
This (like Oblivion) is a smart, sexy thriller that keeps you on the edge of the seat.
February 11, 2020
An aspiring author gets a chance to teach a writing class in a prison. No paper or pens allowed(?) She gets in way over her head when she comes to believe one of the inmates in her class is innocent. There are some very far fetched prison scenes I'm sure would never be allowed. All in all it was a good read.
September 7, 2008
I love Peter Abrahams and thought this was one of his best. It wasn't so much a mystery as a character study and I felt as if I really was Ivy believing in Harrow. I won't say anything else. If you like Peter Abrahams - you will love this.
March 19, 2019
I absolutely love everything Peter Abrahams does and this was no exception. Not my favorite of his, maybe because it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion where the engineer-protagonist does everything wrong but you still care desperately whether she gets to the next station.
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