Laura Phillips is an associate at a law firm in New York and in a new relationship with a colleague. She dreams of traveling, but having been a workaholic with a nearly nonexistent social life, she never had anyone to travel with. But when her boyfriend, Dave, suggests a short trip to the Bahamas, she can’t wait to go. Enjoying a romantic getaway, Laura notices a woman at the resort by herself. She’s instantly intrigued by this single female traveler, wondering why she is alone at a paradise meant for couples. Laura eventually befriends the woman, Diana, spending time with her and surprisingly sharing pieces of her past. When Diana goes missing, Laura seems to be the only person concerned. Soon she realizes that her interest in Diana appears suspicious. And she’s not sure if she can trust anyone in the investigation. The Ends of Things by Sandra Chwialkowska is a psychological suspense novel that explores how one woman’s suspicions spiral into events that will change Laura’s life forever.
Book
While Laura had expected to spend every moment with Dave, he has some brief business to attend to with one of his clients. So Laura uses those opportunities to spend with Diana. Soon she begins to share pieces of her past with the woman. Including a friendship that ended badly when she was a teenager. When Diana goes missing, Laura panics and searches the resort hoping to find her. Coming up short, Laura reports Diana’s disappearing to the authorities. But Dave becomes concerned with Laura’s preoccupation with the woman.
Laura and Dave’s relationship becomes strained, and she suspects that he might be hiding something. It doesn’t help that law enforcement continues to question Laura’s motives in this near stranger’s whereabouts. And she can’t seem to shake the thought that something nefarious has happened to the mysterious woman. Before she knows it, the situation spirals out of Laura’s control, and she isn’t prepared for the trajectory that follows.
Review
Chwialkowska displays her talent for suspenseful storytelling with The Ends of Things. Glimpses into Laura’s past gives readers insight as to her choices in her social life. Laura’s story offers commentary on how society views a woman’s role – the timeline on major milestones such as marriage and family, and how quickly women are judged regardless of their success. The author paces the story well, and it kept my attention up until the end.
Without giving much away, the ending was unconventional to a suspense/thriller – and a bit disappointing in that way. However, this could be attributed to how the book is marketed. If readers go into this story blind, they are likely to appreciate the bigger picture that the novel has to offer. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Sandra Chwialkowska joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to compare her experiences in television writing to publishing her first novel and plans for the future. Keep an ear out for the episode and pick up a copy of The Ends of Things, available now.
