We Begin at The End
By Chris Whitaker
We Begin at The End is a story of survival, tragedy, family and friendship. The Main characters are Sheriff Walker and 2 children, 13 year old Duchess Day Radley and her 6 year old brother Robin. The children’s mother, Star, can’t take care of herself or her children. She drinks and does everything she can to dull the pain of having lost her younger sister, Sissy, who was hit by a car when Star was supposed to be taking care of her. The driver of that car was Vincent King, Star’s boyfriend.
Thirty years after the accident, shortly after Vincent is released from prison, Star is murdered. All signs point to Vincent as the killer but Walk believes Vincent isn’t the killer.
Sheriff Walker has looked out for Star and the kids for years so after the murder he drives the children to Montana to the estranged grandfather they have never met. Duchess is convinced that there is an evil man from their neighborhood at home who is after them and is afraid that he will find them. Grandfather Hal is a very kind, caring and patient man who Robin takes to immediately while Duchess resists his attempts to befriend her, just as she resists friendship with everyone.
I listened to this as an audiobook. When I first started it, I wasn’t sure that I would like it because I thought the narrator’s voice was a bit flat. Fairly quickly it became all about the story and not the voice telling it.
This is a very compelling story that will draw you in and keep you reading/listening.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am disappointed. I went into this book with high expectations because of all the praising reviews, but for me, it didn’t catch my attention.

The story follows a police chef named Walk. He was a close friend of Vincent King, the guy who killed Sissy, Star’s sister, and is also the one who got Vincent sent to jail. But many years later, Star has two kids named Duchess and Robin. Star isn’t a mother to them, as she deals with her ever-growing problem of alcohol abuse. Walk tries his best to be there for everyone, Star, Duchess, and even Vincent. Vincent is released from jail, and Walk is right there when he is released to the world. The story follows another crime that ensues in the release of Vincent, and Duchess as she tries to fix her ever collapsing world.

I don’t know if it was just the person reading the audiobook, but it was difficult to stay focused on the book when I first started reading it. I read a lot of audiobooks and have no problem following along but the way the person spoke made me get very lost and let my mind wander. I also thought the reading didn’t have a lot of emotion and I would have liked to see a more defined change in voice for each person. The tone of the narrator was pretty similar throughout the whole book. Once I got my head wrapped around who the characters were and the plot of the story, I didn’t have trouble following along, but it did take a decent amount of time for that to happen.

I think it tugs at people’s hearts because Duchess has to take care of her younger brother as well as her drunk, basically hopeless mother. But I thought that the age of the characters wasn't well presented in the way they act. I understand that she might have grown up faster because of the situation she was in, which if so, the author does well at showing that. Duchess acts like she is 18 instead of 13. He talks back to every single adult and refuses to listen to anyone. Her sole focus is on protecting her brother, no matter the outcome her action results in. But I just think that for both Duchess and her brother they acted a lot older than what they are supposed to be. I also really didn’t enjoy how this 13-year-old girl curses and just the way she spoke. I think the author wanted to show how fed up she was and how she was strong-willed, making her point clear to everyone, not afraid of people, and not afraid to stand up to people, but I also found it very annoying how sassy and rude she is. For most of the book, she is this way but as the book continues, we do see a gradual shift in how she acts and thinks. I think the book did well in showing how Duchess’s new situation and the people who are in her life change who she is. Dare I say she even becomes a little soft, especially to one very helpful young boy who never gives up on her.

I think the plot itself was good and I like that the story had that strong background about the past of Star, Vincent, and Walk. But I was also kind of disappointed that the murderer is basically given to you from the start. The main focus of the book really isn’t figuring out who did it, it’s figuring out how to show he did it. But the book was action-packed. There were a lot of shocking twists, not in revelations but just in events that happened.

Overall, it was okay, but I don’t think it wowed me as much as I would have liked. It wasn’t bad but it also was world-changing.

''The eroding cliffs ran a twisting mile before the road swept the bay and vanished into the tall oaks of Clearwater Cove.''

This story begins in this small town on the California coast, where Duchess Day Radley has seen a lot in her thirteen years. She is the feisty, determined protector of her younger brother, Robin. Their mother, Star, is a beautiful woman, but she is damaged, she has never been able to accept the death of Sissy, her sister. In order to dull the pain that has never gone away, Star has turned to drugs. Their lives are in chaos, and both Robin and Duchess are the object of scorn and ridicule at school since their mother’s neglect is obvious from the clothes they wear to the lack of care they are given by anyone.

Walker, or Walk as he goes by, is the local police chief, has a soft spot for their mother, and for Duchess and Robin and tries to help them out as much as he possibly can, but eventually it is out of his hands.

Duchess Day Radley calls herself ’the outlaw Duchess Day Radley’ and is a bit reminiscent of True Grit’s Mattie Ross in spirit, combined with a bit of To Kill a Mockingbird’s Scout Finch’s inquisitive nature and determination to get to the root of things. She is feisty, with a wall built around herself and her brother to protect them both, but you know if it comes down to it, she’d do anything she felt she had to in order to protect him. It is her determination to keep his innocence alive that fuels her, her need to see him have as normal a childhood as possible, despite everything they have to face. She doesn’t need you to root for her, because she doesn’t think she needs anybody - but you’ll root for her anyway. She is perfectly capable of taking care of them all by herself if it comes down to it.

'A girl on her way to right a lifetime of wrongs.'

There are moments of tension, and darkness that permeate this story. Moments that wring out every ounce of compassion in you, and moments that will break your heart.

For me this was more thrilling than thriller. While there are moments of tension, at its core, this is really more of a love story. You can’t help but fall in love Duchess, and hope that life will offer her more love to heal her broken heart.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while reading this one, which made for a wonderful experience. George Newbern narrates this with a subtle finesse.


Published: 02 Mar 2021

Many thanks for the ARCs provided by Macmillan Audio / Henry Holt & Company / Henry Holt and Co.

There have been a ton of glowing reviews for this book, so don’t let me discourage you if you’re interested, but I found it to be
rather boring.

There was even a few murders and I still could not get into it. I kept thinking about what I want to read next when the audio ends so I could listen or read something different. Literally daydreaming about the freedom of a new book.

The story isn’t a feel good one, which is fine, but it isn’t twisty or frightening enough to be engaging in that sense either...so I just felt meh.

There was some intrigue in the mystery component of the novel and I also felt sorrow for the cards some of the characters were dealt. By the end I felt a slight tug on my heart strings but not enough to fully care.

I think my lack of interest was partly because the characters were mostly unconvincing to me. The storyline was also redundant and it felt like it went in circles. We get it...all the men love Star, and Duchess is a 13 year old “outlaw.” I understood the purpose of this, but could have done without the incessant reminders. (I promise I didn’t forget between the top and the bottom of the page)

The narrator wasn’t bad and was doing all he could to breathe life into the characters. It wasn’t his fault for my lack of investment, I think it was just me and my inability to click with the story. At around 70% in I started to enjoy it slightly more, and that gave it an extra half star, boosting it from a 2.5 to a 3⭐️ but this isn’t one I would want to read again.

The narrator of this book was great! Overall this book is well written. While tragic at times it is a beautiful story of Duchess and Robin and Walker. All of these characters just couldn't get anything going for them, yet it was so well done.

After listening to this book on audio, I decided to research Chris Whitaker. From the story and the choice of narrator, I expected the author was American and from either the midwest or the west coast of the United States. I was completely taken aback when the first video began and Chris Whitaker was clearly not American.

He lives in the UK, but sets his (crime) books in the United States for very practical reasons, the liberal gun laws and the independent police forces. In addition, growing up and even into his early adult life, writing fiction was not part of any career plan for himself. After finding himself in some unusual / difficult circumstances in his life, writing became a form therapy for Chris. His first book, Tall Oaks, was written on his honeymoon in Spain (working very quickly to meet a deadline) and was a huge success, This is now his 3rd book. Although his books center around a crime, they do not easily fit exactly into the genre, and could easily also be categorized as adventure and or literary fiction. This can lead to a bit of confusion as to exactly what type of story readers can expect when they first come across Chris Whitaker's books.

We Begin at the end is a character driven novel, set in Cape Haven, a made up town. Walker, known to all his friends as Walk, is the police chief, and lives for Cape Haven. The book begins with a flashback to a crime committed 30 years ago, where a young girl is found murdered. Walker testified in the trial that sent Vincent King to jail, for 10 years, (which became 30 years after committing a homicide while incarcerated). As the book begins, Vincent is finally being released.

Duchess the Outlaw (Radley), is a 13 yo girl, who has grown up in Cape Haven, with a mother (Star) who is struggling to get by, and a 6 yo brother, Robin. Duchess takes on all the responsibilities of keeping her family going, with support from Walker.

The whole town is on edge about Vincent's return. He's been gone for 30 years ... is he still the same person he was at 15 years old - just a boy when he was sentenced to live behind bars with adult hard criminals?

A fire at The Eight (a strip bar) ... is what sends the town of Cape Haven into a spiral, and especially, the life of the Radley family, and Duchess the Outlaw. Duchess' "adventure" is set in motion. What happens to her? What happens with Vincent? What happens to Cape Haven? .....

It took a bit to get into the story (just listening to the audiobook), but I did nor give up! George Newbern does a great job! Thank you @Macmillanaudio and #netgalley for my complimentary audiobook in return for my review. #5stars.

This was such a wonderful book. The storytelling is impeccable and left me wanting more. I had so many emotions throughout the story and the ending...ugh! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good cry.

The narrator of the story added depth to each character and I’m not sure if I would have been able to get through some parts without the narrator reading me the story.

Thank you to Netgalley & Chris Whitaker, for my audio copy of , We Begin at the End, for an honest review. A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company. Set in a tiny, costal Ca town, we meet a group of people, who can’t escape their own lives, let alone the town. Cape Haven, should be an ideal town, yet for Walk the police chief it is not. He is haunted by a crime, that happened 30 years ago. His friend, that is getting ready to come out of jail, after 30 years.. brings up so many memories of the past. He can’t help but keep an eye on a single mom, Star Radley, who’s life is spinning out of control. He also can’t help but watch out for Star’s kids, Duchess & Robin. But Walk is tired, he can’t keep the pace he used to. He can’t make all the wrongs, right. When Duchess crosses Dickie Dark, all hell breaks loose. Walker’s friend, comes out of jail after 30 years & almost immediately gets arrested for a new crime.. Duchess gets in a world of trouble. There are more losses, than Duchess can take. The whole story was so well written. The story was so gripping, that I couldn’t put it down. I had to see what would happen next and how it would end. I love how the author had us in present day and brought us back 30 years. If you like a fast paced book, with so much heart and depth, this is the book for you. George Newbern, did a great job narrating. He kept a good pace and this was a 4 1/2 star listen for me. I have shared my thoughts on Instagram, as well as reviewed it on Barnes & Noble. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. Makes me want to read more books by Chris Whitaker.

Listening to We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker was a very pleasant experience and surprise. I will admit, I wasn’t digging the story at first, and was finding it hard to get into. But so many of my trusted bookstagrammers have been raving about this book, and leaving fantastic reviews. So, I kept going. Best decision ever because now here I am, raving about it. I’d describe this one as a slow-burning mystery/family drama with multiple layers, and highly character-driven. The characters were crafted with great precision, detail, and care. You can tell that the author spent a lot of time perfecting them. The young girl, Duchess was my very favorite, and I couldn’t help but root for her from start to finish. And oh boy, she made me laugh and laugh! A memorable character indeed. Oddly enough, the ending was my very favorite part of the novel. Yes, it was disappointing to say good-bye to these well-developed characters, but the conclusion to this story was extremely well done. Probably one of the best I’ve read (or listened) to in a long time. First of all, it shocked my socks off. It stumped me in the strangest way because I really should have seen it coming. I actually felt like I total idiot for not predicting it on my own! Ha! I also liked how nicely it was tied up. A messy and rushed ending is my biggest pet peeve, but Whitaker really delivered in this department. It left me quite satisfied. Have you read this one yet? If not, what the heck are you waiting for? Pick up a copy now! I highly recommend We Begin at the End, and I give it 5/5 stars!

Decades ago Walk gave testimony that sent his best friend Vincent to jail. Now Vincent is finally getting out. Star grew up with the two boys, and is now a mother to Duchess and her younger brother Robin. Their clothes may be torn, and they may get made fun of in school, but Duchess is an outlaw and she won’t let anyone hold them back. Duchess and Walk may be far apart in age, but they both have learned that most people don’t stick around, and their similarities bring them together to help Vincent after his release.

This book was so dang good. My heart broke for poor Duchess, but she also had my cracking up with her outlaw ways. She is definitely a character that will be hard to forget! The love between Duchess and Robin was so strong, and I loved that she would do anything to protect her brother. She was a truly unique girl who carried the weight of her family on her shoulders at only 13. I will say I have had trouble with literally reads recently, and I kind of wish I had saved this one until I was in a better place because I think it would have easily been 5 stars if I was in the right headspace. I highly recommend everyone pick up this book!

Well it was bound to happen after my string of fantastic audiobooks lately...I REALLY hate to say this but I didn’t love this🙈 I had the highest expectations after loving Whitaker’s previous 2 books plus the bookstagram hype surrounding this is off the charts. I think, for me, this was a case of should’ve read vs listened to it.

This story of Duchess Dey Radley was a coming of age literary mystery which felt, at times, like it got bogged down in the literary wordplay. However, the character development was outstanding and I felt like every single one was a real person. So flawed but so real!! This made certain deaths really shocking and hard! Whitaker can also write setting so realistically, I felt like I was there. I wanted to know what happened and more importantly what would happen to Duchess and her brother. The ending was fantastic and although I did have it partly figured out, there was an unexpected surprise that I loved! I can’t even put my finger on what it was about listening that made this feel like a bit of a let down (maybe lack of suspense), so please check out the many other rave reviews out there and I say read vs listen to this one

On a scale from throw across the room to full embrace, I give this book a BIG HUG. Another book with characters so vivid I can see them on screen. Children and adolescents can be tricky to write and Whitaker took these characters and wrote them into my family.

Perfectly paced, page-turning mystery with a blend of heartwarming humor and sadness, we have a small town police chief and two damaged children, Dutchess the Outlaw and Robin stuck and surviving the crossfire of the adults in their lives. Stunning, just stunning. Read it.

I was not feeling this one on audio. It was hard for me to follow and hard for me to get in to the storyline. I want to give this book a try by reading the hard copy. The audio was a dnf for me though.

This is a character driven book. Didn't grab me right away but the first part was a slow build up. The second part grabbed me and kept my interest.

What is there about books that focus on people who get a raw deal? They grab our attention, pull at our heartstrings and often break our hearts. Some characters are broken by the harshness of their lives and some manage to maintain dignity and don’t cave to the pressure put upon them. Whitaker has written a book with just such situations. He brilliantly weaves a mystery around the death of a woman who was barely managing to survive and the impact of her life and death on her two children.

The novel is set in a small town where people know each other and have long memories. They all seem to harken back to high school relationships, even decades later. Star, Vincent and Walker were good friends since growing up. Their close bond changed dramatically when Star’s sister died a tragic death. It’s been 30 years since Vincent was sent to jail for the death of Star’s sister and now that he’s being released, Walker wonders how Star will react to his presence in the town.

Star’s children Duchess and Robin already have tremendous issues to deal with. They are among the most sympathetic characters, true victims of circumstance. Fifteen-year-old Duchess is rude, crude and full of anger. Six-year-old Robin is sweet and tender and Duchess does everything in her power to keep him that way.

Walker, Walk to his friends, has devoted his entire life to looking out for his two friends and also for Star’s kids. He is a policeman with a big heart. His sense of responsibility and of enduring loyalty makes him a true champion. Vincent is the unknown in the equation. His guilt, his plans and his loyalties are part of the seductive allure of the book.

The mystery of the death of Star and the refusal of Vincent to answer any questions will gnaw at readers who are stymied at the silence surrounding the murder. There are also the two fascinating children who are vibrant and who will demand readers follow the twists and turns to get to the truth. Duchess is a self-proclaimed Outlaw, a child who has been forced to live by her wits and yet is selfless in her protective care of her little brother.

Walk will not give up on his friends or the kids and it’s his dogged determination that moves the plot forward. Whitaker’s strength is in his characters but the building suspense and the taut details of the mystery are riveting. Intriguing and moving – a powerful and sad tale of damaged people.

What a lovely accident! I had nothing to listen to and although the description didn’t really pique my interest, this was the only book that was available immediately and came even close. I’m so happy I decided to download it! I really love the story. Although I was able to guess some twists, there were enough to still surprise me. At times heartbreaking, at times frustrating, I found the plot creative and interesting, the characters endearing, and the ending tragically inevitable. I was drawn into the emotional arcs and bought into each of the (sometimes a bit of a stretch) moments and events.
The crime/drama/mystery elements would be of interest to some of my students, but the language (although perfectly appropriate for the characters and situations) would preclude me from recommending the book.
I’ve listened to other books with the same voice actor and I always have mixed feelings. The weird droning, monotone works at times, but not for all characters. His caricature woman’s voice is maddening - I have the urge to fast forward each time he employs it.
I read that this will be adapted into a movie and I think it’s a perfect choice. The story will easily translate to the medium and the characters are so well drawn that casting would be fun!

We Begin at The End is an emotional, heart-wrenching literary mystery novel about tragedy, hardship and the strength of love and devotion to protect and overcome.

Duchess Day Radley is a young teenage girl who has had a rough life, surviving by her own wits, cunning and perseverance. She’s taken on the burden and enormous responsibility of taking care of her addict mother and her young brother, to whom she is fiercely dedicated to, no matter the cost. Her method of coping with her dark and dismal world is to visualize herself as an outlaw in the Wild Wild West, but her rough ways often alienate others. Chief of Police “Walk” is the only one who is committed himself to protecting this trio despite his own personal hardships and heartbreak. . This story is intricate, layered and a family drama and character study as a mystery.

This story is set in small towns in both California and Montana and is predominantly a character-driven plot about loyalty, self-sacrifice, redemption and the strength and power of love. It’s a story that will long stay with you.

I listened to the audio of this book and though the narrator was clear and easy to understand, and audiobooks often set an atmospheric tone for a story, I didn’t personally enjoy his voice for this particular tale.

With thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio arc all opinions expressed here are my own.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker was an interesting read. We start looking for a missing child then jump 30 years ahead. I must say that transition wasn’t quite clear to me and was a little confusing, but from there it was fine.

We follow Walk, then 15 now a police officer and the way he cares for people in their small country town. His old friend Star (sister to the original missing girl) is murdered and he takes it on himself to figure out what happened to her and make sure her two children Duchess and Robin are kept safe.

This would have just been an average read for me except for the character of Duchess. I loved her! The way she introduces herself to everyone as an outlaw. Her potty mouth. How protective she is of her brother. You forget she’s only 13 and a very broken child herself.

That author has done well with the writing and characters. The narrator has done a good job bringing the characters to life. Overall a 4 star read.

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A well-plotted crime fiction thriller with characters that are hard to forget.


BRIEF REVIEW: For me this isn't an easy book to review but the story is amazing. As the title seems to suggest, this story did not really "begin at the end." It does involve an accident that killed Sissy Radley, just seven years old at the time. Sissy was killed 30 years earlier when Vincent King was just 15 years old. He spent three decades in prison and is scheduled to be released. Vincent was the best friend of now Cape Haven Police Chief Walker (Walk), and Walk has never given up on his friend even though he testified against him. The death of Sissy all those years ago deeply affected her older sister Star and messed up for life. Star was the girlfriend of Vincent at the time. Now Star, mother of Dutchess Day thirteen, and Robin six, is unable to function due to her depression and addiction issues. Dutchess "Outlaw" Radley becomes the protector and mother figure to her young brother Robin. She's also bent on revenge for all who have done her and her family wrong.

Dutchess and Police Chief Walk are the primary characters of the novel but, there are several others who play a role in the story. Walk is a good man and loyal to many. Dutchess, is tough, foul-mouthed and fearless on the outside yet soft and compassionate when it comes to her young brother Robin. Sadly, she has been denied the opportunity to be a child herself. SHE is clearly the strength of this story, an unforgettable character and, my heart went out to her and her situation.

A slow moving and intricate story, it is one where you really get a chance to know each character. I loved the descriptiveness of the small town and the sense of community. Some of the characters are so caring and others frightening. Most of the characters were broken in some way or seriously flawed but, they came across as genuine as well. Told in multiple POV, both in the past and present, at times I wished that I had the print edition instead of the audio. George Newbern, did a decent job as narrator but, a few times I wondered who was speaking. This is a story that will stick with me for a long while, likely to make my 2021 tops list as well.

RATING: 4.5/5 stars

MEMORABLE QUOTES: There are two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first book I've read/listened to by Chris Whitaker and it will certainly not be the last. It was also one of my anticipated reads for the month and I'm so happy to say this emotionally charged, complex story totally delivers on all levels and then some!

This is one of those reviews where I know I will not be able to do justice to the book...but I will certainly try. My emotions were all over the place with this one...I was laughing one minute and then tearing up the next. I absolutely fell in love with Duchess - how could you not? A thirteen-year-old that calls herself an outlaw? This girl has seen more and had to do more in her young life than she should have to have...and she totally won me over. She is such a little spitfire, wise beyond her years and yet all I wanted to do was give her one big hug. I loved how protective she was of her brother, Robin and how important it was for her to keep her family together.

Walk was an interesting character. I had a hard time making heads or tails of him at first but then he grew on me. He made a choice when he was a teenager that haunts him to this day involving his best friend, Vincent King, and now that Vincent King is in trouble again, Walk will do everything in his power to set things right.

There is a murder mystery that kept me engaged but I really loved the explorations of the relationships between the characters. To me...that is really what drove this book. I was rooting for them and hoping against hope that they would all end up on the right side of ok...however that might look.

This book is about family...the one you are born into and the ones we create. It is about doing right by those we love and protecting them no matter what. Sometimes there are repercussions for those actions but there is always love behind those actions. This is definitely going to be a book I will not be forgetting anytime soon and I highly recommend it!

Audio thoughts: I enjoyed this audiobook. It was the first time I have listened to George Newbern and I thought he did a good job narrating. His pacing was just right and I found he infused just the right amount of emotion and tension when needed.