‘The End of Us’ by Olivia Kiernan

Published by Riverrun,
22 June 2023.
ISBN: 978-1-52942200-9 (HB)

When three outwardly successful and glamourous couples, all of whose marriages are in various states of disarray, end up living next door to each other in a small, select development in Wimbledon, what could possibly go wrong? 

The End of Us wastes little time on casting light - or rather dark - on the matter.  With consummate skill Olivia Kiernan exploits the dark side of human nature to illustrate just how terrible life can become once you are prepared to consider the unthinkable.

GP Myles Butler and his wife Lana allow their neighbours, surgeon Gabriel and his wife Holly Wright to suggest a highly unusual solution to their financial problems. Such is the accumulation of horrible, twisted surprises that arise as Gabriel lays the foundations for the solution to his own and the Butler’s troubles, that the whole book becomes a masterpiece of how to deceive and trap those who are willing to consider committing the ultimate crime. Once started down the crooked path, the perpetrators become sucked in deeper and deeper. And just when it seems that crime might actually pay, a third, completely innocent couple, Dan and Charlotte look set to get dragged into the whole sorry mess. 

Detective Hunter provides dogged and welcome suspicion. One can only live in hope that he keeps plodding on and doesn’t allow himself to be sidetracked by his charming, clever and affluent suspects.

If the terms creepy, disturbing and ominous appeal you will enjoy this book.
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Reviewer: Angela Crowther

Olivia Kiernan is an Irish writer living in the UK and author of crime thriller, Too Close To Breathe. She was born and raised in County Meath, near the famed heritage town of Kells and holds an MA in Creative Writing awarded by the University of Sussex.

 

 

 

Angela Crowtheris a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.