The End of Her by Shari Lapena

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Format: Print, Paperback
Pages: 352
Start Date: May 16, 2023
End Date: May 21, 2023

My Ratings
Overall: ★★★
Character Development: ★★★★
Ending: ★★★
Spice Level: 🌶
Suspense Level: 🔪
Tear Jerk-ability:
Pace: Medium
Recommend: Not really
Triggers:

Summary by Goodreads

     The new domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know In upstate New York, Stephanie and Patrick are adjusting to life with their colicky twin babies. The girls are a handful, but Stephanie doesn't mind being a stay-at-home mom, taking care of them while Patrick does the nine to five to pay the bills. When a woman from Patrick's past drops in on them unexpectedly, raising questions about his late first wife, Stephanie supports her husband wholeheartedly. She knows the car accident all those many years ago was just that--an accident. But Erica is persistent, and now she's threatening to go to the police. Patrick is afraid his job--and his reputation--will be at risk if he doesn't put an end to Erica's questioning immediately. And when the police start digging, Stephanie's trust in her husband begins to falter and Patrick is primed to lose everything he loves. As their marriage crumbles, Stephanie feels herself coming unglued, and soon she isn't sure what--or who--to believe. Now the most important thing is to protect her girls, but at what cost?

My Thoughts - Contains Spoilers, Continue at Your Own Risk

     This book started out with some hope, but by the end of it I was let down. I appreciated Stephanie sticking by Patrick's side for so long, expecially given how much Patrick lies to Stephanie from the beginning. I feel like what I didn't entirely care for in this book was that the characters changed so much from start to finish. They almost didn't end in the same way as they were built up to be in the beginning of the book.

     What I find odd is how quickly Lindsey's death was written off as an accident. If it was so cold and there was so much snow, why would anyone want to wait in the car? If the car was so buried how did she even get into the car? She was eight months pregnant, moving around doesn't come that easily, even if the weather conditions were excellent....which they weren't. Also, why would you risk slipping and falling if your car isn't even dug out? All of it seemed fishy.

     I also feel like it escalated pretty quickly from Stephanie struggling to cope, to her deciding to kill Patrick. Also, it seemed like the wheels she set into motion were all right before she killed him.... Wouldn't that have been suspicious to the police? She literally makes one comment to Hanna, visits an attorney, then BAM; suicide. Wouldn't there be enough people who knew Patrick who could attest to the fact he wasn't suicidal? Especially given he was just exonerated? Lastly, she was able to shoot Patrick while getting zero blood on her? Then she takes a shower and then calls 9-1-1.... no one attested to the delay from the gun shot to the 9-1-1 phone call? What about the fact that there was zero gun powder residue on Patrick's hand?

     I appreciated that the book ended with Erica being murdered. I feel like if you were as skeezy as she was, seems like you have that coming to you. Seems like eventually you would cross the wrong person. Personally, I feel like Stephanie killed her. She already killed Patrick, so you know she is capable of murder. Everyone else just seems to want to put their heads down and get on with their lives. 

I'm Curious

1. Do you think if you were Cheryl and Gary you would have let Erica blackmail you for a second time? How do you feel that substory added to your opinion of Erica?

2. Did you ever doubt Stephanie and her ease to write off the odd occurrences she was experiencing?

3. Do you think if you were Hanna, you could continue to be friends with Stephanie after Patrick was arrested? 

4. Did you find Nancy weak for how it appeare that she forgave Niall AGAIN for being unfaithful?

5. I got to know, who do you think killed Erica? 

Next Book: As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson