I expected a run of the mill whodunit, but what I got was anything but. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, the author veered off in a completely new direction. With so many books following the same formulaic structure, We Begin At The End was a refreshing change of pace.
It is very character driven, and Whitaker gives us two compelling leads to follow. Walk is a complex character with sometimes questionable motivations who I couldn't help but pity towards the end of the novel. He has lived his life in a shadow for thirty years and it has taken its toll. Although Walk is interesting in himself, it is Duchess who truly shines in this story. Never before have I read a teenage lead so unique and with so much fire. Her character arc was phenomenal, and her love for her brother felt raw and real on the page.
That said, there were a few hiccups in writing, and some of the dialogue felt unrealistic and flat. Walk's almost unwavering belief in his friend and the lengths he went to in order to exonerate him bordered on unbelievable at points. Despite these few nagging issues, I still really enjoyed the novel.
Chris Whitaker is an author I will be keeping an eye out for in the future, as I can only see him getting better.
It is very character driven, and Whitaker gives us two compelling leads to follow. Walk is a complex character with sometimes questionable motivations who I couldn't help but pity towards the end of the novel. He has lived his life in a shadow for thirty years and it has taken its toll. Although Walk is interesting in himself, it is Duchess who truly shines in this story. Never before have I read a teenage lead so unique and with so much fire. Her character arc was phenomenal, and her love for her brother felt raw and real on the page.
That said, there were a few hiccups in writing, and some of the dialogue felt unrealistic and flat. Walk's almost unwavering belief in his friend and the lengths he went to in order to exonerate him bordered on unbelievable at points. Despite these few nagging issues, I still really enjoyed the novel.
Chris Whitaker is an author I will be keeping an eye out for in the future, as I can only see him getting better.