My latest book recommendation is 'The End of Us' by Olivia Kiernan. It is a tense and gripping story about greed, betrayal and the lengths to which a desperate man will go to survive.

The End of Us

By Olivia Kiernan

(Published by Riverrun)

'The End of Us' is published by Riverrun and is available in ebook, paper and hardback, and audiobook format from Amazon. It is also available in paper and hardback from Waterstones and Foyles.

Olivia Kiernan is a writer of crime thrillers and suspense fiction. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and her novels have been published in multiple territories. 'The End of Us' is her latest novel and first standalone thriller after the critically acclaimed Detective Frankie Sheehan series. LA based Freedom Films and actor/producer Victoria Smurfit have optioned the Frankie Sheehan series for TV. Kiernan's fourth novel, 'The Murder Box', sees Detective Frankie Sheehan receive a murder mystery game only to discover that the fictional victim at the game's centre bears a striking resemblance to a missing woman. Olivia's work has been longlisted for the Bath and Fish Short Story Awards, the Bath Children's Novel Award, shortlisted for the BBC Writersroom, highly commended for the Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award 2023 and shortlisted for the An Post Short Story Award 2023.

THE AUTHOR

PLOTLINE  

Dr Myles Butler and his wife Lana live on a gorgeous new gated development just outside Wimbledon Village, supported by a mortgage that is just within their budget. Unfortunately, when one of Myles' investments fails, they suddenly find themselves about to lose everything. Then Gabriel and Holly Wright move in next door and an unexpected opportunity presents itself.

The Wrights are sophisticated, ambitious and apparently very wealthy. At an after-dinner drink with their new neighbours, Myles and Lana decide to share their worries and a solution is suggested between the couples ... life insurance fraud. For a cut of the pay out, the Wrights offer to help them pull it off.

At first, Giles does not take the offer seriously. Nor does he believe they would ever go through with their suggestion. He certainly does not expect it to involve murder. Then, one night, Lana fails to come home.

MY REVIEW

'The End of Us' is a dark and cleverly written thriller with several twists and turns. The characters are well defined and the storyline totally engrossing. Although it is difficult to empathise with such self-serving people, I found it hard not to feel sorry for Miles, as he gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble. However, no one is entirely honourable and as Miles endeavours to salvage what's left of his reputation, his actions not only spiral out of control but set off a chain of events which expose everyone's true colours. The chilling finale will leave you reeling.