{"id":244,"date":"2022-10-28T07:32:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T07:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialoguebooks.org\/?p=244"},"modified":"2023-07-03T16:36:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T16:36:59","slug":"we-begin-at-the-end-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialoguebooks.org\/we-begin-at-the-end-review\/","title":{"rendered":"We Begin At The End Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

British Author Chris Whitaker has enjoyed much success with his novels Tall Oaks, All the Wicked Girls, The Forevers (YA), and of course, We Begin at the End, which took the world of fictional crime lovers by storm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for your next intense and unforgettable read, We Begin at the End is here to remind you of the times you were so enthralled by a novel, you couldn\u2019t bear to put it down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Complex, intriguing, and profoundly intricate, we\u2019re here to review this exceptional tale of outlaws, hope, loss, and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Begin At The End: The Synopsis <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Duchess Radley is the main protagonist of this killer crime novel, and her tale is far from ordinary.\u00a0(see also: The Maid Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into the complexities of Duchess Radley, let\u2019s introduce some context – starting with Vincent King. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vincent King went to prison for the murder of a young girl. Thirty years later, he\u2019s released and back living in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the residents aren\u2019t welcoming of King, least of all Star Radley – Vincent’s ex-girlfriend and the sister of his victim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duchess Radley is the daughter of Star, and she has another sibling, Robin: Duchess, aged 13, is a fierce protector of her younger brother while simultaneously trying to comfort her mother and her troubled past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already, we can see that the Duchess has a LOT on her plate – far more than most typical 13-year-olds have to contend with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of this, Walk (Chief of Police and family friend) is haunted by King’s past – Walk and King once shared an unbreakable friendship; however, it was ripped apart in an instant when King became a killer, and Walk gave the testimony that sent his once best friend to prison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The likes of Duchess, Star and Robin were left to fend for themselves, and Walk went into overdrive trying to protect them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he became an integral part of their family unit, his efforts to protect the family seemed futile, as Duchess and her mother seemed to descend further into madness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family has been dealt a truly awful hand, and each part of their lives is affected by King and his senseless killing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duchess struggles at school – with her messy hair and ripped clothing, she becomes a prime target for the relentless bullies who set out to make her life miserable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duchess is an admirable character, though, and far stronger than her circumstances would lead you to believe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the family is at the heart of this novel, we also have a crime beneath it all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gives way to We Begin at the End\u2019s classification as a crime novel – however, we\u2019d argue that this element sits on the back burner of the book for most of it, instead giving way to a much more complex tale – the family behind the trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Begin At The End: Complex Characters <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fictional characters who have experienced a myriad of trauma are notoriously complex, in the same way that real individuals are when they\u2019ve lived through exceptional circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in the fictional world, the writer must BECOME the traumatized individuals, creeping into their skin and molding them so that they become the product of their environments and experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we have characters as complex as Duchess and Star, who have undoubtedly lived through immense trauma, it can be difficult to pull off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we were left in awe at the ways that Whitaker managed to tell their stories so eloquently while maintaining such multidimensional and intriguing characters throughout the novel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duchess<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Duchess is the first complex character we meet. She is compelling, admirable, and courageous. As we learn more about her life and the abundance of tragedies that live with her, we also see her grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her character development is exceptional; she begins as an angry young girl, whose anger is, of course, entirely justified, to a calmer, stronger girl who does not let her experiences define her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her desire to love and protect her family shines through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times, it\u2019s difficult to witness – a young child carrying such a weight on their shoulders is heart-wrenching, even in the fictional world, but we know from the outset that Duchess has the character to come through it stronger than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duchess is a prime example of a parentified child, and this will no doubt strike a chord with readers who have ever found themselves in a similar position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even those without a relatable lived experience will find ways to relate to Duchess – it\u2019s almost impossible not to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Walk (who we\u2019ve only briefly discussed) is another complex character in this story. Walk is the Sheriff and now Chief of Police, and he has his own set of trauma and guilt to deal with (If you want to read stories with themes like this, also check out What Happened To You?<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is all still related to Vincent King, and Walk’s experiences offer a different perspective from the families, showing us just how complex and far-reaching King’s actions have been. <\/p>\n\n\n