We begin at the end is a powerful book which tells the story of a small town and it’s inhabitants. Thirty years ago Vincent King was jailed for killing Sissy Radley. Star, Sissy’s elder sister, has never quite recovered from this and the other horrors which have marred her life. She barely holds it together for her children and continually finds herself in desperate situations where her life is in danger. Her eldest, Duchess, has forgone a childhood in order to survive and keep her younger brother safe. She is angry and passionate and unafraid to stand up for herself and those she loves. In doing so she unwittingly sets off a chain of events that impact upon her town in an unpredictable fashion. This is a slow burner of a book brimming with tragedy, mistrust and hope. The pace is gentle but builds tension chapter by chapter. I found this to be an engrossing book with some very interesting characters which I warmed to as it went on