We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
At 15, they were the perfect quartet.
Vincent the delinquent and beautiful Star. Vincent's best friend Walk, and his girlfriend Martha.
However, their four glorious days were lost forever when Vincent, in a drunken state, caused a car accident that killed Star's younger sister.
The story begins 30 years later, when Vincent returns to his hometown after serving his sentence.
Despite being only 15 at the time, Vincent was sent to prison and served a long sentence due to incidents such as murder within the prison.
Walk has become the local police chief, and Star is also in the same town, a single mother of two children. Martha left the town and became a lawyer.
Star has been unable to recover from her sister's death and the subsequent collapse of her family, leading to a life of alcoholism and ruin.
Walk, who protects Star and looks after her children, hopes to rebuild a close connection with the returned Vincent and that they can all process the past and create a new, peaceful life, but...
*****
The story unfolds along two axes.
One protagonist is Walk, and his story is also a suspense thriller following a tragic incident that occurs shortly after Vincent's return.
Walk, who felt that "being useless was like a second skin," had spent his days living a mundane life as a small-town police officer who handled minor errands.
Living with Parkinson's disease and fearing its progression while hiding it from those around him, Walk's main concerns are Star, her children, and Vincent.
Stubborn yet deeply sincere, Walk relies only on Martha as he takes on a difficult case in solitude.
The tumultuous developments in the final act, where the story accelerates, are a must-see.
*****
And the other protagonist is Star's daughter, 13-year-old Duchess. It is the story of a solitary girl who lives strongly and resiliently while being tossed about by fate.
People cannot choose how they are born.
Duchess, who carried the tragedy of the past before she was even born, is one of those children dealt a losing hand.
Her catchphrase is "I'm an outlaw." Beautiful, foul-mouthed, and sharp-tongued, she uses her strength and intensity as armor to survive.
"Just say it like you used to, 'be a good girl' or something. Then you can move on, and I can move on. It's just a trivial story of ours, Chief Walker. It's sad, but it's a trivial story. Let's not pretend otherwise."
"Don't talk about tomorrow like it's real. Like I'll be here tomorrow, and we'll all be here."
Duchess's lines are hard-boiled. And that is how harsh her fate is.
Every time a glimmer of hope appears, it is cruelly shattered. The relentless, mean-spirited developments will likely make it painful to read.
However, despite the harsh developments, the story is not dark. Perhaps it is because Duchess's intensity keeps the darkness at bay, or because many kind-hearted people appear to reach out to the children.
Duchess's story also builds into a great swell toward the end, moving the reader to tears. The final scene where the outlaw girl stands tall is beautiful.
*****
When asked by Duchess why he goes to church, her grandfather Hal (a flavorful and important character) replies, "To understand what humans have done, and what they might do." This might be the theme the author has woven into this story.
While it is a substantial read in terms of volume, it is an entertainment novel, so it does not feel heavy.
It is a book I recommend when you are in the mood for an emotional, full-length novel that you can dive into without overthinking.
The Japanese title, which translates to "We Look at the Heavens from the Darkness," is also a wonderful translation of the original title, "We Begin at the End."