We Begin at the End

By: Chris Whitaker

Narrated by: George Newbern

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

“A vibrant, engrossing, unputdownable thriller that packs a serious emotional punch. One of those rare books that surprise you along the way and then linger in your mind long after you have finished it.”
—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds

Right. Wrong. Life is lived somewhere in between.

Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids.

Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and Star grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he’s still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. And he's in overdrive protecting Duchess and her brother.

Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released. And Duchess and Walk must face the trouble that comes with his return. We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families—the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

"Heartbreaking, unexpected, and hopeful, this audiobook is a must-listen. Narrator George Newbern's nuanced delivery engages listeners and helps the layers of the story unfold." -- AudioFile Magazine

Great Story

I loved the book
In the reading of it the narrator did not pause from one character to the next, so I often had to rewind and figure out that there was a transition to another character
Loved the narrators voice though

would read again

Narrator was decent, not the best. I do love the story, beautifully tragic. Well written.

Hal was probably my favorite character.

"We're just a collection of the best and worst things we've done " favorite line.

heart wrenching story

loved this book. I was smitten with the small town and the characters relationships- pure and true but troubled all the same. I kept wanting a good resolution and appreciated the authors completion of the story even though it may not have been as good as desired. I couldn't stop listening to it. didn't want it to end. my only complaint in narration was that the transitions within the chapters were too quick. in less than a breath he jumped from one scene to another with different characters. I wanted a greater pause, just to absorb what had transpired but had to push forward.

So much depth!

I'm so sick of books that have obvious and shallow endings...I really enjoyed this story....Thanks!!!

Great Story that Needed Just A Bit More

At half a dozen or so points in the story, I had to rewind the Audible to understand what was going on. At maybe two spots I had to do it 3 or 4 times. The author created a great story with great characters, but he took the writing maxim of ‘show, don’t tell’ a little too literally. At some point, the writer does have to tell SOME things - especially the big, important moments. Maybe some of it was differences between reading and listening, but after 1000 Audibles I tend to discount that possibility. A little discussion is not only needed but helpful to the reader. Dissecting the big moments provides both clarity and allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions to the points the author is trying to make. It was almost as if the author was ‘yada, yada, yada’ing’ some of the critical points of the story.