THE BEAUTY OF THE END


From the acclaimed author of The Bones of

You comes a haunting and heartbreaking new

psychological thriller that is both a masterpiece of

suspense and a powerful rumination on lost love.

“I was fourteen when I fell in love with a goddess…”

So begins the testimony of Noah Calaway, an

ex-lawyer with a sideline in armchair criminal

psychology. Now living an aimless life in an

inherited cottage in the English countryside, Noah is haunted by the

memory of the beguiling young woman who left him at the altar sixteen

years earlier.

more …

From the acclaimed author of The Bones of

You comes a haunting and heartbreaking new

psychological thriller that is both a masterpiece of

suspense and a powerful rumination on lost love.

“I was fourteen when I fell in love with a goddess…”

So begins the testimony of Noah Calaway, an

ex-lawyer with a sideline in armchair criminal

psychology. Now living an aimless life in an

inherited cottage in the English countryside, Noah is haunted by the

memory of the beguiling young woman who left him at the altar sixteen

years earlier. Then one day he receives a troubling phone call. April, the

woman he once loved, lies in a coma, the victim of an apparent overdose—

and the lead suspect in the brutal murder of her stepfather. Deep in his

bones, Noah believes that April is innocent. Then again, he also believed

they would spend the rest of their lives together.

While Noah searches for evidence that will clear April’s name, a teenager

named Ella begins to sift through the secrets of her own painful family

history. The same age as April was when Noah first met her, Ella harbours

a revelation that could be the key to solving the murder. As the two stories

converge, there are shocking consequences when at last, the truth emerges.

Or so everyone believes…

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  • Kensington
  • Hardcover
  • July 2016
  • 320 Pages
  • 9781496705983

Buy the Book

$25.00

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About Debbie Howells

Debbie Howells is the author of The Bones of You,

her debut thriller which sold internationally for six-figures in several

countries. She lives in West Sussex with her family; visit her online at

DebbieHowells.com.

Praise

“Dynamic, haunting and complex…compared to The Lovely Bones.—Library Journal

“One of those books that captivates you from the first page and never lets go.

I savored every word. Truly brilliant!”—Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times

bestselling author

Discussion Questions

As the story opens, even with evidence to the contrary,

Noah is convinced of April’s innocence. As a reader,

do you agree with him? Can we ever be so sure about

someone, even when we know them very well?

Even as a young man, Will’s behavior could be seen as

self-interested. This is more apparent when you learn how he is as an

adult. Would you describe him as narcissistic? Is human behaviour

ever entirely unselfish?

Ella’s discovery of her past is extremely distressing for her. How better

could her parents have prepared her, or would it have been easier for

her never to have found out the truth?

Was Noah the best person to represent April? Did his belief in her help

or hinder his investigation? Would an outsider have been more able to

uncover the truth?

We often base our assessment of people on first impressions, and form

strong opinions about those we’ve known a long time. How easy is it

to discard such beliefs and consider what might seem unbelievable?

How do you think Noah’s personality influenced his investigation?

Did his relationship with Will affect his judgment?

Is Bea’s distrust of Noah justified? Has your own opinion of someone

ever been swayed—wrongly—by that of a convincing other?

Could Noah’s behaviour be seen as self-destructive, even if ultimately,

it led to him to change himself for the better?

A central theme of the story is the issue of assisted dying versus

preserving life at all costs. How did April’s actions affect other

characters on both sides of this issue?

Why do you think Noah never gave up on April? Can you relate that to

your own life in any way?