The End of Her: A Novel
Author: Shari Lapena
Category: Mystery
Published: 2020
Series:
View: 378
Read OnlineThe 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?
Review
Praise for The End of Her:“The fast pace will keep those fond of mischief and murder in suburbia turning the pages.”—Publishers Weekly"The queen of the one-sit read." —Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch"I read the cracking The End of Her in one sitting. All hail the Mistress of the Page Turner." —Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect"I absolutely adore Shari Lapena's compulsive thrillers and her new novel is her best yet. More twists than a roller coaster." —John Boyne, New York Times bestselling author of My Brother's Name is Jessica"I tore through it. It kept me on my toes throughout and the ending was just fantastic. Really tense!" —Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange "The End of Her is a slippery eel of a novel – just when you think you have it in your grasp, it slithers away on a new current. I consumed it in a day. . . . Unputdownable." —Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House "Shari Lapena is one of the best thriller writers in the business."—Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen"Gripping, compelling, thoroughly entertaining and devilishly clever." —Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Lying in Wait "Another unputdownable suburban thriller with the finest love-to-hate characters and a wickedly paced mystery." —Elizabeth Kay, author of Seven LiesPraise for Someone We Know:“Poised and chilling.” —Wall Street Journal“Clever.” —USA Today“No-one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena—this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end.”—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key“Slyly plotted . . . Lapena skillfully maximizes suspense with her dual story lines that eventually collide, as well as some deft misdirection . . . many fans of domestic suspense will be satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly“Highly suspenseful . . . Sure to delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise Candlish.”—Booklist“This book is non-stop twists and turns. Shari Lapena will leave your head spinning as you try and make sense of the lies surrounding the families in this neighborhood. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’re probably wrong. Absolutely recommend!”—Suspense Magazine“Someone We Know is a tour de force of thriller writing. Shari Lapena proves yet again that she is the mistress of the pacy plot, cliff edge tension and menacing suburban claustrophobia. Fans will be delighted and if you haven’t read her books yet, then why on earth not?” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The NannyPraise for An Unwanted Guest:“A gripping mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie.” —Good Housekeeping“Proving that time periods may change but people do not, Lapena delivers a solid whodunit with an ending that would make Dame Christie proud.” —USA Today“Another nail-biter perfect for an all-nighter.” —Entertainment Weekly“A new thriller that will give you serious Agatha Christie vibes . . . if you’re one of the many people who counts [And Then There Were None] among their favorite books, you will love An Unwanted Guest. . . . A deftly crafted and expertly paced thriller that will keep readers guessing (and terrified) until the very end.” —Bustle“This compelling and realistic modern take on the country-house mystery will gain new fans for the author and is definitely one to hand to devotees of Agatha Christie (and her modern interpreter, Sophie Hannah).”—Booklist“An intriguing cast, an isolated location, a raging storm and the threat of death in every dark corner: An Unwanted Guest reads like Agatha Christie with a shot of adrenalin. Clear your desk before you start it because you won’t want to put it down.” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know“Lapena has written a great whodunit, with a delicious Christie-like vibe. Fans of the author's first novel will want this, and anyone who savors a well-crafted murder mystery will gobble it up!” —Library Journal (starred review)Praise for A Stranger in the House:“Lapena’s A Stranger in the House will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks.” —Bustle“Smart and suspenseful . . . you'll never see the ending coming.” —PureWow “So much suspense. So many twists. Good luck sleeping tonight.” —HelloGiggles“So many dizzying twists you'd better not drive after reading!” —Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Parting Shot “Smart, twisty and compulsive. Suspense and suspicion accumulate relentlessly, toying with your expectations and your emotions right up until the packs-a-punch ending. Don’t miss it, and don’t expect to be able to put it down.” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know“A diverting page-turner."—Publishers Weekly"Great suspense and lots of twists." —The Toronto Star"Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end . . . memorable." —Associated PressPraise for The Couple Next Door:“Meticulously crafted and razor sharp. The Couple Next Door lingers long after you turn the final page.” —Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fool Me Once“The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages.” —People“Provocative and shocking. One crime, an entire neighborhood of suspects, secrets, and lies. How well do we ever know those around us? The Couple Next Door will keep you glued to the pages in search of the answer. Even then, you’ll never guess the truth . . . until it's too late.” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Find Her“I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the story line. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!” —Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author of Y is for Yesterday“Real men read women writers—because of books like this. Trust me.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Me“A twisty, utterly riveting tale that will send readers on a wild roller-coaster ride of emotions. Shocking revelations kept me turning the pages like a madwoman.” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Playing with Fire“Expertly paced and finely crafted, The Couple Next Door is a gripping thriller of the highest order. I couldn’t put it down.” —A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor“Gripped me from the very beginning to the very end!” —Becky Masterman, author of Rage Against the Dying“Brilliant! This utterly riveting psychological thriller hurtles along at breakneck speed, never giving you the opportunity to catch your breath. Twisty, turny, and unputdownable.” —C. L. Taylor, bestselling author of The Lie“Exquisitely torturous tension.” —NPR.org“Where did that baby go! It’s hard not to read to the end to find out, and the twists waiting there are gratifyingly clever.”—USA Today“The many never-saw-them-coming twists and questionable characters . . . will keep you on the edge of your seat. First-time novelist Lapena’s writing is spare and tense, and it makes The Couple Next Door a compulsive read. The last line is absolutely a killer.” —Good Housekeeping“[A] well-sculpted domestic thriller . . . highly suspenseful . . . Twists are subtly revealed with aplomb, taking the story to increasingly unpredictable levels.” —Associated Press
About the Author
Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of the thrillers The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, and Someone We Know, which have all been New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers. Her books have been sold in thirty-five territories around the world. She lives in Toronto.
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?
Review
Praise for The End of Her:“The fast pace will keep those fond of mischief and murder in suburbia turning the pages.”—Publishers Weekly"The queen of the one-sit read." —Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch"I read the cracking The End of Her in one sitting. All hail the Mistress of the Page Turner." —Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect"I absolutely adore Shari Lapena's compulsive thrillers and her new novel is her best yet. More twists than a roller coaster." —John Boyne, New York Times bestselling author of My Brother's Name is Jessica"I tore through it. It kept me on my toes throughout and the ending was just fantastic. Really tense!" —Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange "The End of Her is a slippery eel of a novel – just when you think you have it in your grasp, it slithers away on a new current. I consumed it in a day. . . . Unputdownable." —Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House "Shari Lapena is one of the best thriller writers in the business."—Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen"Gripping, compelling, thoroughly entertaining and devilishly clever." —Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Lying in Wait "Another unputdownable suburban thriller with the finest love-to-hate characters and a wickedly paced mystery." —Elizabeth Kay, author of Seven LiesPraise for Someone We Know:“Poised and chilling.” —Wall Street Journal“Clever.” —USA Today“No-one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena—this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end.”—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key“Slyly plotted . . . Lapena skillfully maximizes suspense with her dual story lines that eventually collide, as well as some deft misdirection . . . many fans of domestic suspense will be satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly“Highly suspenseful . . . Sure to delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise Candlish.”—Booklist“This book is non-stop twists and turns. Shari Lapena will leave your head spinning as you try and make sense of the lies surrounding the families in this neighborhood. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’re probably wrong. Absolutely recommend!”—Suspense Magazine“Someone We Know is a tour de force of thriller writing. Shari Lapena proves yet again that she is the mistress of the pacy plot, cliff edge tension and menacing suburban claustrophobia. Fans will be delighted and if you haven’t read her books yet, then why on earth not?” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The NannyPraise for An Unwanted Guest:“A gripping mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie.” —Good Housekeeping“Proving that time periods may change but people do not, Lapena delivers a solid whodunit with an ending that would make Dame Christie proud.” —USA Today“Another nail-biter perfect for an all-nighter.” —Entertainment Weekly“A new thriller that will give you serious Agatha Christie vibes . . . if you’re one of the many people who counts [And Then There Were None] among their favorite books, you will love An Unwanted Guest. . . . A deftly crafted and expertly paced thriller that will keep readers guessing (and terrified) until the very end.” —Bustle“This compelling and realistic modern take on the country-house mystery will gain new fans for the author and is definitely one to hand to devotees of Agatha Christie (and her modern interpreter, Sophie Hannah).”—Booklist“An intriguing cast, an isolated location, a raging storm and the threat of death in every dark corner: An Unwanted Guest reads like Agatha Christie with a shot of adrenalin. Clear your desk before you start it because you won’t want to put it down.” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know“Lapena has written a great whodunit, with a delicious Christie-like vibe. Fans of the author's first novel will want this, and anyone who savors a well-crafted murder mystery will gobble it up!” —Library Journal (starred review)Praise for A Stranger in the House:“Lapena’s A Stranger in the House will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks.” —Bustle“Smart and suspenseful . . . you'll never see the ending coming.” —PureWow “So much suspense. So many twists. Good luck sleeping tonight.” —HelloGiggles“So many dizzying twists you'd better not drive after reading!” —Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Parting Shot “Smart, twisty and compulsive. Suspense and suspicion accumulate relentlessly, toying with your expectations and your emotions right up until the packs-a-punch ending. Don’t miss it, and don’t expect to be able to put it down.” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know“A diverting page-turner."—Publishers Weekly"Great suspense and lots of twists." —The Toronto Star"Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end . . . memorable." —Associated PressPraise for The Couple Next Door:“Meticulously crafted and razor sharp. The Couple Next Door lingers long after you turn the final page.” —Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fool Me Once“The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages.” —People“Provocative and shocking. One crime, an entire neighborhood of suspects, secrets, and lies. How well do we ever know those around us? The Couple Next Door will keep you glued to the pages in search of the answer. Even then, you’ll never guess the truth . . . until it's too late.” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Find Her“I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the story line. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!” —Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author of Y is for Yesterday“Real men read women writers—because of books like this. Trust me.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Me“A twisty, utterly riveting tale that will send readers on a wild roller-coaster ride of emotions. Shocking revelations kept me turning the pages like a madwoman.” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Playing with Fire“Expertly paced and finely crafted, The Couple Next Door is a gripping thriller of the highest order. I couldn’t put it down.” —A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor“Gripped me from the very beginning to the very end!” —Becky Masterman, author of Rage Against the Dying“Brilliant! This utterly riveting psychological thriller hurtles along at breakneck speed, never giving you the opportunity to catch your breath. Twisty, turny, and unputdownable.” —C. L. Taylor, bestselling author of The Lie“Exquisitely torturous tension.” —NPR.org“Where did that baby go! It’s hard not to read to the end to find out, and the twists waiting there are gratifyingly clever.”—USA Today“The many never-saw-them-coming twists and questionable characters . . . will keep you on the edge of your seat. First-time novelist Lapena’s writing is spare and tense, and it makes The Couple Next Door a compulsive read. The last line is absolutely a killer.” —Good Housekeeping“[A] well-sculpted domestic thriller . . . highly suspenseful . . . Twists are subtly revealed with aplomb, taking the story to increasingly unpredictable levels.” —Associated Press
About the Author
Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of the thrillers The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, and Someone We Know, which have all been New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers. Her books have been sold in thirty-five territories around the world. She lives in Toronto.