Scandal in a western small town. I bet you know of or have lived in a town like Cape Haven, where generations of families make up the population, and everyone knows everyone’s business. While you can count on your neighbors looking out for your family, it is a hard place to make a fresh start, and a harder place to get away from.
Duchess Day Radley, 13, is a self proclaimed outlaw, caretaker for her 5 year old brother Robin, and her mother Star, who just can’t get ahead because of her past. And drugs. Star’s sister Sissy was murdered when they were younger, and Walk, now police chief, gave the testimony that put her killer and his best friend in jail. With the accused killer’s time in jail up, the town is on edge as they await his release. With a fire and another death, he returns to jail and Duchess and Robin end up on the run, and that is where this novel really takes off.
I liked this book, and found myself thinking about it when I was not reading. The plot is complex, it is cunning, and there are surprises along the way. The back stories for all of the characters are pretty miserable; they all have more than their share of sadness and tragedy. Some are resilient, some are not. There are kindnesses in unexpected places, and cruelties that prompt revenge. There are long buried secrets that need discovering. And most of all, there is a main character you will want to see to the very end. We Begin at the End is a modern To Kill A Mockingbird and was a solid read. If you are looking for a novel with substance, an intricate plot, and characters you would jump onto the pages of this book to help, We Begin at the End belongs in your TBR pile.
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