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The Ways
"I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story." This is the chilling invitation from Sebastian Trapp, renowned mystery novelist, to his long-time correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. Welcomed into his lavish San Francisco mansion, Nicky begins to unravel Trapp’s life story under the watchful eyes of his enigmatic wife and plainspoken daughter. But Sebastian Trapp is a mystery himself. And maybe – probably – a murderer. Two decades ago, his first wife and son vanished – the case never solved. Is the master of mystery playing a deadly game – and if so, who will be the loser? And when a body surfaces in the family's koi pond, they all realize the past isn't buried – it's waiting.
- GenresMystery Thriller
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2024
187 people are currently reading
1183 people want to read
About the author
Simon Brown
131 books9 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Simon Brown wrote his first science fiction story in 1966, read his first science fiction novel in 1968, and by 1970 had decided he wanted to be a science fiction writer more than anything else in the world.
His first professional sale was to Omega in 1981. Since then he has had several short stories appear in Omega, Aurealis and Eidolon.
His first novel, Privateer, was published by Harper Collins in April of 1996. His second novel, Winter, was published by Harper Collins in 1997. A collection of short stories, Cannibals of the Fine Light, was published by Ticonderoga Publications in 1998. A new novel, Inheritor, will be published by HarperCollins in late 2000.
Simon worked as a journalist with the University of Western Sydney, and is now a full-time writer.
Simon Brown wrote his first science fiction story in 1966, read his first science fiction novel in 1968, and by 1970 had decided he wanted to be a science fiction writer more than anything else in the world.
His first professional sale was to Omega in 1981. Since then he has had several short stories appear in Omega, Aurealis and Eidolon.
His first novel, Privateer, was published by Harper Collins in April of 1996. His second novel, Winter, was published by Harper Collins in 1997. A collection of short stories, Cannibals of the Fine Light, was published by Ticonderoga Publications in 1998. A new novel, Inheritor, will be published by HarperCollins in late 2000.
Simon worked as a journalist with the University of Western Sydney, and is now a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
hell-no
April 11, 2019Not enough people seem to be aware that this author is a terrible liar.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I will not support this kind of behavior. Ever.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I will not support this kind of behavior. Ever.
July 9, 2018
MORE, PLEASE, MORE!
Read
August 8, 2019Is this book by AJ Finn or Simon Brown?
March 29, 2024
#EndOfStory #NetGalley Great read. My only complaint is that the first half of the book takes too long to get the story going. I appreciate that the author is building a narrative but better editing is needed. I persevered because Liz Nugent had recommended this book and I love her novels so I knew this one must be good. Some of the descriptive passages also needed to be edited. I got very bored with the descriptions of the waves in one section, much more suited to a screenplay. The writing is beautiful but a thriller needs to keep pace to get the reader involved. Having said all that this is a very original story , with great characters and a very unexpected twist at the end. Often I have been disappointed by thrillers with rushed predictable endings or a ridiculous outcome that bore no relation to the previous information given. In this case the clues were there to be picked up on. There are hints of the older mystery writers Christie and the detective Holmes which fans of that genre should enjoy. I hadn't read either in years but appreciated the influences. I will definately be reading more of this author. Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
Reading so many books this year has really made me into a jaded book reviewer, and reader in general. This book was such a let down. So much build up to the actual 'mystery' and then it's just a lame reveal. I'm over unreliable narrators who withhold SO much information. It's just a cheap way to make a buck. Where is everyone with something new to read? Original ideas? This is a typical thriller marketed to people who love 'twists'. Can we stop calling the most obvious things AND information that has never been revealed/discussed or even alluded to, a twist? So, if you like mass market thrillers with your Law and Order: SVU, this book is for you.
February 4, 2025
I am very confused. According to Amazon I read “End of the Story”, a novel just released by A.J. Finn, celebrated author of The Woman in the Window. This says it was an old book by a different author. I couldn’t even finish the book and I always finish books. It was excessively verbose with a weak storyline. If this was some marketing ploy to pass off an old book I will be very annoyed.
February 29, 2024
Early on New Years Eve, twenty years ago, Cole (14) disappeared from his cousin’s home. His mother, Hope, vanished from her own home at the same time. Neither has been seen or heard of since then. Cole’s father (or Hope’s husband if you prefer) is Sebastian Trapp, famous author of a crime story series set in 1920’s England. The books echo the style and ambience of the early Golden Age of detective stories, although Sebastian and his family are all modern Americans based in San Fransisco. It is widely believed that Sebastian has murdered them and disposed of the bodies using his plotting skills to create a perfect crime. Although uxoricide is not uncommon in all levels of society, filicide is rare in upper class families, but Sebastian is known to have despised his son as a milk-sop, mummy’s boy, who prefers making origami butterflies to playing sports.
Suspicions are not proofs and Sebastian’s authorial life continued much as before, and his daughter Madeleine, late thirties, continues to live with him in the family home (a large gothic mansion) along with his second wife. Fifteen years after Hope’s disappearance and presumption of death, Sebastian married Diana, Hope’s former assistant, who had lost her own husband and child. But now Sebastian has been diagnosed with end stage kidney failure and has only three months to live. Over the last few years he has been corresponding with Nicky Hunter, a college lecturer on crime fiction, and now he invites her to come and live with the family and write his biography. Nicky leaps at the chance, hoping that she might be able to solve the mystery behind the disappearances. But her researches stir up old memories and animosities, and then origami butterflies start to appear, suggesting that Cole might be alive and in the vicinity. But after twenty years is it likely that the family members could recognise him? Various mid-thirties, blonde guys appear to be possible candidates. And, if Cole has returned, why has he done so, and what does he want? Reconciliation or Revenge?
The story is told mainly from Nicky’s or Sebastian’s point of view, although some aspects are seen only from Madeleine’s. The style reflects, but is not a pastiche of, the Golden Age, heightened by frequent allusions to and quotations from classic examples of the genre. At times, conversations between Sebastian and Nicky are verbal parrying matches, which reveal quite a lot about the two protagonists. Other characters are circling these two, each with their own idiosyncrasies. Madeleine, neurotic at the best of times, is particularly feeling the pressure, because she was closest to Cole before his disappearance and has missed him the most. The plot unfolds slowly at first, partly because there is a lot of exposition and partly because the author is enjoying playing with the literary language. He is also partial, perhaps over partial, to anthropomorphism and personification. It picks up gradually as more and more incidents occur and starts to speed up noticeably, and the tension increases, as we spiral towards the dénouement, in fact the triple dénouement since there are three great reveals. I did work out two of these but failed on the third, although the clues are all there subtly stitched in to what is a very twisted plot.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
Suspicions are not proofs and Sebastian’s authorial life continued much as before, and his daughter Madeleine, late thirties, continues to live with him in the family home (a large gothic mansion) along with his second wife. Fifteen years after Hope’s disappearance and presumption of death, Sebastian married Diana, Hope’s former assistant, who had lost her own husband and child. But now Sebastian has been diagnosed with end stage kidney failure and has only three months to live. Over the last few years he has been corresponding with Nicky Hunter, a college lecturer on crime fiction, and now he invites her to come and live with the family and write his biography. Nicky leaps at the chance, hoping that she might be able to solve the mystery behind the disappearances. But her researches stir up old memories and animosities, and then origami butterflies start to appear, suggesting that Cole might be alive and in the vicinity. But after twenty years is it likely that the family members could recognise him? Various mid-thirties, blonde guys appear to be possible candidates. And, if Cole has returned, why has he done so, and what does he want? Reconciliation or Revenge?
The story is told mainly from Nicky’s or Sebastian’s point of view, although some aspects are seen only from Madeleine’s. The style reflects, but is not a pastiche of, the Golden Age, heightened by frequent allusions to and quotations from classic examples of the genre. At times, conversations between Sebastian and Nicky are verbal parrying matches, which reveal quite a lot about the two protagonists. Other characters are circling these two, each with their own idiosyncrasies. Madeleine, neurotic at the best of times, is particularly feeling the pressure, because she was closest to Cole before his disappearance and has missed him the most. The plot unfolds slowly at first, partly because there is a lot of exposition and partly because the author is enjoying playing with the literary language. He is also partial, perhaps over partial, to anthropomorphism and personification. It picks up gradually as more and more incidents occur and starts to speed up noticeably, and the tension increases, as we spiral towards the dénouement, in fact the triple dénouement since there are three great reveals. I did work out two of these but failed on the third, although the clues are all there subtly stitched in to what is a very twisted plot.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
March 2, 2024
I'm aware that there's some controversy surrounding this author, although to be honest I haven't looked into it so am not qualified to judge, but what I can do is judge his writing and damn but the boy can write! The sentences fairly vibrate with Finn's joy in setting them down 'just so' and I thoroughly enjoyed his use of language, this is a writer who loves words, loves mysteries, and loves weaving the two together until the result is more than the sum of its parts! The plot is fairly complicated, and although an early clue got me wondering, there were sufficient red herrings and obfuscation that I couldn't be sure. For some reason, and it's probably just me & the result of a busy time, but I got a bit bogged down with some of the men's names, and had to keep reminding myself who was who. I've heard it described as a slow start, which I didn't feel, but then I was enjoying the fizz of the writing so much that perhaps that escaped me, and certainly in comparison to some later stages in the book which were at a cracking pace I guess this could be so, but your patience will definitely be rewarded. The story centres around a writer (something of a fangirl, and fellow expert in mystery writings) invited to document the memories of a famous author, Sebastian Trapp, with only months to live. In his past and overshadowing the family and the story is his unfortunate history of the disappearance of his wife and young son 20yrs previously, with most people believing that he was responsible and had gotten away with murder. The young writer, Nicky Hunter, receives a mixed welcome in the house - not everyone is comfortable with having their past raked over, after all. Trapp's beautiful new wife (also a character from the bygone days) and his sullen daughter engage with Nicky in varying degrees. The insightful and kind Nicky listens to everyone's stories, but after a particularly dramatic party we finally come to the death hinted at at the beginning of the book (& on the cover!) and Nicky begins to feel increasingly uncomfortable about her position in the house, but events are escalating and spiralling out of control and she can't drag herself away from trying to unravel the truth of both the past and the present. It was a great read, highly recommended, and many thanks go to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
March 2, 2024
"I would be grateful if you could come to San Francisco to write my life story, as I have only three months to live."
With this invitation, Nicky Hunter travels to San Francisco to meet the renowned and enigmatic author, Sebastian Trapp.
She has been in communication with him for five years after she pointed out an error in one of his novels.
Even more intriguing to her is the unsolved mystery surrounding him. On New Year's Eve 1999, his wife, Hope, and son, Cole, vanished from two different locations, never to be seen again.
Therefore, she finds herself in the mysterious house, ready to write a private biography, or as she calls it, a memoir book about the life of Sebastian Trapp.
What should be a captivating yet straightforward assignment turns into something far more complex.
Nicky also shares an undisclosed connection with the family...she was a pen pal with Cole, Sebastian's son who disappeared.
However, appearances can be deceiving, as everyone harbors a secret. Some secrets, though, are more significant than others.
"Life is a thriller. The ending is fatal and the conclusion is final."
If you are an admirer of Arthur Conan Doyle, this book is an absolute must-read, as it contains numerous references to his books.
The first chapter begins with a bang and is very descriptive and atmosphere, but do not anticipate a rapid pace. This is a gradual narrative where the tension steadily builds to a climactic conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the book, but after approximately 20%, my interest waned, and my attention occasionally drifted. However, at around 80%, the pace accelerated, and the ending was truly mind-blowing! I am so glad I persevered!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
With this invitation, Nicky Hunter travels to San Francisco to meet the renowned and enigmatic author, Sebastian Trapp.
She has been in communication with him for five years after she pointed out an error in one of his novels.
Even more intriguing to her is the unsolved mystery surrounding him. On New Year's Eve 1999, his wife, Hope, and son, Cole, vanished from two different locations, never to be seen again.
Therefore, she finds herself in the mysterious house, ready to write a private biography, or as she calls it, a memoir book about the life of Sebastian Trapp.
What should be a captivating yet straightforward assignment turns into something far more complex.
Nicky also shares an undisclosed connection with the family...she was a pen pal with Cole, Sebastian's son who disappeared.
However, appearances can be deceiving, as everyone harbors a secret. Some secrets, though, are more significant than others.
"Life is a thriller. The ending is fatal and the conclusion is final."
If you are an admirer of Arthur Conan Doyle, this book is an absolute must-read, as it contains numerous references to his books.
The first chapter begins with a bang and is very descriptive and atmosphere, but do not anticipate a rapid pace. This is a gradual narrative where the tension steadily builds to a climactic conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the book, but after approximately 20%, my interest waned, and my attention occasionally drifted. However, at around 80%, the pace accelerated, and the ending was truly mind-blowing! I am so glad I persevered!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 23, 2024
#EndOfStory #NetGalley
Enjoyable.
I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.” So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . while living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective-fever.”
“You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.” Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenage son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past?
“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”
As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.
Loved it. Although I didn't like the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.
Enjoyable.
I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.” So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . while living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective-fever.”
“You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.” Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenage son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past?
“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”
As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.
Loved it. Although I didn't like the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.
February 25, 2024
Sebastian Trapp, esteemed author with a mysterious past, is not long for this world. For his final couple of months he wants to lay down his life in book form for his nearest and dearest. Rather than write it himself, he asks Nicky Hunter, a would be author with whom he has been in correspondence to do the honours. When Nicky arrives at the Trapp mansion, she can’t believe her luck and eagerly sets to with the project.
This is a hard one for me to review, and I appreciate I am in the minority. I really liked The Woman in the Window, and from the blurb I thought this one would be a good read. Sadly I struggled with it right from the start and it only became interesting at the last few chapters, The clues are all there for the reader to get to the denouement well before its execution.
At times the writing format was odd, just seemed to be a notebook of jottings and ideas for a book rather than any plot. The switching between character dialogues was very confusing. All in all a bit self righteous and wordy, rather smug. Much depended on the charisma and glamour of the crime writing greats rather than anything original.
Not a book I enjoyed, sorry.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins.
This is a hard one for me to review, and I appreciate I am in the minority. I really liked The Woman in the Window, and from the blurb I thought this one would be a good read. Sadly I struggled with it right from the start and it only became interesting at the last few chapters, The clues are all there for the reader to get to the denouement well before its execution.
At times the writing format was odd, just seemed to be a notebook of jottings and ideas for a book rather than any plot. The switching between character dialogues was very confusing. All in all a bit self righteous and wordy, rather smug. Much depended on the charisma and glamour of the crime writing greats rather than anything original.
Not a book I enjoyed, sorry.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins.
December 18, 2023
Having read Woman in the Window and raved about it, I was looking forward to A.J. Finn's follow up novel. End of Story deals with a dying crime author whose first wife and son went missing 20 years previously, he invites a would be writer to his home to write a piece on himself.
This is supposed to be a homage to the great detective novels/film plots which have gone before, in fact the opening paragraphs are lifted straight from the great Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, and throughout the novel there are references to Christie, Conan Doyle and nods to Chandler. However, End of Story does not hold it's own against the greats of the crime genre. The plotting is over complicated, the characters seem 2 dimensional and I worked out the reveals from just about the outset of the novel and it just felt like a chore to read sadly. Too much box ticking and an implausible plot doesn't make for a great reading experience.
This is supposed to be a homage to the great detective novels/film plots which have gone before, in fact the opening paragraphs are lifted straight from the great Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, and throughout the novel there are references to Christie, Conan Doyle and nods to Chandler. However, End of Story does not hold it's own against the greats of the crime genre. The plotting is over complicated, the characters seem 2 dimensional and I worked out the reveals from just about the outset of the novel and it just felt like a chore to read sadly. Too much box ticking and an implausible plot doesn't make for a great reading experience.
December 29, 2023
I requested an ARC of End of Story by A.J. Finn because I enjoyed The Woman in the Window. Unfortunately the same could not be said for End of Story. Set around a dying writer whose wife and child disappeared 20 years ago in mysterious circumstances, it contains a lot of aspects I normally enjoy (atmospheric scenery, short and punchy chapters, a dual narrative) but in this case they do not outweigh the negatives. The dual narrative is not clearly marked and can be confusing, there are too many characters set up as red herrings, the nods to previous crime fiction make it all feel like a bad comedy sketch (particularly the detective B.B and the house with the temperamental lift), and I personally didn’t care about any of the characters or even about the final reveal. It feels like it was trying to be a novel version of the Knives Out franchise and perhaps would work better on screen than as a novel. I honestly struggled to finish it.
March 10, 2024
When Nicky befriends the now infamous author Sebastian Trapp by being pen pals she never would’ve thought she would get to meet him in person. Never mind stay at his home with his wife Diana and daughter Madeline. However Sebastian is terminally ill and has asked Nicky to document his life as a gift to leave behind for his loved ones.
Nicky is also curious about his 1st wife and son who mysteriously disappeared. Are they alive or dead? Is Sebastian responsible for their disappearance and will Nicky get the truth out of him. Everyone in the family seems to have secrets so who can Nicky trust?
The story is fairly slow paced but I enjoyed that as there are a lot of characters so it gives you a chance to get to know each one. The use of famous authors quotes between the two is a great addition to the story as they try to outsmart each other. A story full of twists and turns with an unexpected big reveal. This felt like a classic mystery/crime novel which I really enjoyed.
Nicky is also curious about his 1st wife and son who mysteriously disappeared. Are they alive or dead? Is Sebastian responsible for their disappearance and will Nicky get the truth out of him. Everyone in the family seems to have secrets so who can Nicky trust?
The story is fairly slow paced but I enjoyed that as there are a lot of characters so it gives you a chance to get to know each one. The use of famous authors quotes between the two is a great addition to the story as they try to outsmart each other. A story full of twists and turns with an unexpected big reveal. This felt like a classic mystery/crime novel which I really enjoyed.
February 27, 2024
I enjoyed this book, it is a slow burner in pace, but the story does grab you.
Nicky Hunter goes to stay with famed author Sebastian Trapp to ghostwrite his “family memory book” as he is dying. Sebastian is as famous for being a detective author and having his own mystery, the disappearance of his wife and young son twenty years earlier.
Nicky is excited to work with him and hope he reveals the truth about what happened to his family two decades earlier before his death.
I liked the main characters of Nicky and Sebastian. Freddy, Diana, and all the other characters had their parts to play too.
Now halfway I suspected I had guessed the end (the big reveal, revealed that I had guessed correctly) but I was ok with that
as I wanted to see what would happen after the reveal and it was very satisfactory. Give it a read!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
Nicky Hunter goes to stay with famed author Sebastian Trapp to ghostwrite his “family memory book” as he is dying. Sebastian is as famous for being a detective author and having his own mystery, the disappearance of his wife and young son twenty years earlier.
Nicky is excited to work with him and hope he reveals the truth about what happened to his family two decades earlier before his death.
I liked the main characters of Nicky and Sebastian. Freddy, Diana, and all the other characters had their parts to play too.
Now halfway I suspected I had guessed the end (the big reveal, revealed that I had guessed correctly) but I was ok with that
as I wanted to see what would happen after the reveal and it was very satisfactory. Give it a read!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
January 12, 2024
After thoroughly enjoying The Woman in the Window, I was excited to see this new book. Unfortunately it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat as mentioned in the blurb and it took me many times of picking it up and putting it down to finish it.
I can definitely see what the author is trying to do and certainly enjoyed all the 'nods' to the great classic crime writers of the past, but I personally just found it a little overly complicated and couldn't warm to many of the characters.
Having said that, I know many people who will like this, and I will certainly read future books by this author as not every book by the same author is going to appeal to the same reader constantly. We all have favourites.
I can definitely see what the author is trying to do and certainly enjoyed all the 'nods' to the great classic crime writers of the past, but I personally just found it a little overly complicated and couldn't warm to many of the characters.
Having said that, I know many people who will like this, and I will certainly read future books by this author as not every book by the same author is going to appeal to the same reader constantly. We all have favourites.
February 26, 2024
The past isn’t gone, it’s just waiting.
When famous writer Sebastian Trapp is given months to live he invites Nicky Hunter to finish his life story. This story is as intriguing as some of the novels he has written and as Nicky moves in with the family she soon discovers this is some story she is going to have to tell.
Sadly this book wasn’t for me, I found it hard work to read and it seemed to take me forever. The writing just didn’t seem to flow for me. I did like the end (not just because I got to the end) but how everything tied up. Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and good luck to the author on its release.
Publication Date - 29/02/2024
⭐️⭐️
#EndOfStory
#AJFinn
When famous writer Sebastian Trapp is given months to live he invites Nicky Hunter to finish his life story. This story is as intriguing as some of the novels he has written and as Nicky moves in with the family she soon discovers this is some story she is going to have to tell.
Sadly this book wasn’t for me, I found it hard work to read and it seemed to take me forever. The writing just didn’t seem to flow for me. I did like the end (not just because I got to the end) but how everything tied up. Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and good luck to the author on its release.
Publication Date - 29/02/2024
⭐️⭐️
#EndOfStory
#AJFinn
March 22, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for my copy
Okay, here it is. The book is good. I may have shouted 'I KNEW IT' aloud once the twists were revealed but I enjoy being right. I like the story but I hated the narration. Yes, we know Nicky and Sebastian are superduperuber intelligent and they love 19th century detectives but how exactly does someone enter the room blondly? The language was absurd at times and it took me twice as long to read as I would usually as I had to stop and eye roll at least once every page. There were just too many words used that could have been simplified. That would have improved the flow immensely.
Okay, here it is. The book is good. I may have shouted 'I KNEW IT' aloud once the twists were revealed but I enjoy being right. I like the story but I hated the narration. Yes, we know Nicky and Sebastian are superduperuber intelligent and they love 19th century detectives but how exactly does someone enter the room blondly? The language was absurd at times and it took me twice as long to read as I would usually as I had to stop and eye roll at least once every page. There were just too many words used that could have been simplified. That would have improved the flow immensely.
February 25, 2024
The premise of this book was such that I was really looking forward to reading it. Sadly though the reality was that I didn't enjoy it. I found the writing style hard going, particularly some of the dialogue, and what should have been the Gothic horror trope of the house didn't feel exploited well enough. The whole narrative felt quite confusing and I'm sorry to say I gave up before the end. I'm obviously in the minority and I'm sure many readers will really enjoy it.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book.
February 29, 2024
I was intrigued by the concept of this book, I wanted to know what had happened to Sebastian's wife and son. It found it interesting but a bit confusing, this could be because the ARC copy I had was not properly formatted. There were no paragraph breaks so scenes ran into each other and it was hard to tell when the author had switched from one character to another.
I also found I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I definitely did not see that ending coming, I love a good twist. But that wasn't enough to make this a 5 star book. I'd say it was a high 3 stars.
I also found I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I definitely did not see that ending coming, I love a good twist. But that wasn't enough to make this a 5 star book. I'd say it was a high 3 stars.
November 27, 2023
A slow burn but boy does it keep you captivated! Very cleverly written and some amazing twists thrown in. It feels a lot more old school than most kf todays thrillers which made a nice change of pace. Its got so many layers that are slowly unpeeled as the story progresses. The characters are well written, complex humans with humour. I really enjoyed it and it definitely stands apart from most other current thrillers
February 26, 2024
I’m sure many readers will love this book, but I didn’t. It was the writing style more than anything that I just couldn’t deal with – short sentences that aren’t actually sentences drive me nuts. Is this creative writing? I ended up feeling confused and disappointed. You can’t please everyone can you? Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this and I’m sorry that I can’t recommend it.
March 14, 2024
I’m really sorry but I could not finish this book. I loved The Woman in the Window but I just could not get into this at all. It wasnt gripping me and i couldn’t take to any of the characters of which there wer a lot and I was getting confused, which I know is down to me but this just wasn’t for me, maybe just down to the way im feeling right now so thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance of this early copy anyway.
March 21, 2024
This is a fascinating story as it's a modern thriller but there's some element that brought me back to 40s noir and thriller.
It kept me on the edge and reading. I was surprised and kept guessing.
Found it a bit slow at the beginning but it always kept my attention
Excellent storytelling and plot/character development
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It kept me on the edge and reading. I was surprised and kept guessing.
Found it a bit slow at the beginning but it always kept my attention
Excellent storytelling and plot/character development
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 11, 2024
Nicky Hunter has a bit of an obsession with author Sebastian Trapp and has been writing to him for five years
Sebastian invites Nicky to his San Francisco mansion to help him write the story of his life before he dies
His wife and son disappeared years ago, did he murder them? The bodies were never found.
Intriguing mystery develops with another murder/suicide at a house party
Sebastian invites Nicky to his San Francisco mansion to help him write the story of his life before he dies
His wife and son disappeared years ago, did he murder them? The bodies were never found.
Intriguing mystery develops with another murder/suicide at a house party
March 16, 2024
A book full of suspense. Kept me guessing right till the very end. A great read.
5 ⭐️ review
Loved the setting of this book and the style of the writing. A true murder mystery that o couldn’t put down to find out who done it. Lots of plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat which meant I couldn’t wait to finish reading it.
Highly recommend!
5 ⭐️ review
Loved the setting of this book and the style of the writing. A true murder mystery that o couldn’t put down to find out who done it. Lots of plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat which meant I couldn’t wait to finish reading it.
Highly recommend!
February 27, 2024
The premise of this novel was such that I expected to love it. The gothic horror and nods to classic crime fiction make this a modern take on a classic crime novel. However, it wasn't for me. I found the pace slow and the dialogue contrived.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
February 23, 2024
Absolutely brilliant! Well worth waiting for! I found it so riveting and gripping, reminiscent of a gothic novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
March 8, 2024
I wanted to love this book as it’s very well written and the plot is unique. However. I found it a bit of a struggle to engage with.
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