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.
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…
- Kensington
- Hardcover
- July 2016
- 320 Pages
- 9781496705983
Buy the Book
$25.00
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?