Chris Whitaker, translated by Megumi Suzuki, 'We Begin at the End' Review: Watching Over Duchess, the 'God Sister'
Because she is a rough-and-tumble tomboy who evokes the image of a mafia don, it seems Akiko Wada was nicknamed 'God Sister'.
Duchess, who calls herself an outlaw says, "What is an outlaw?" "Someone who doesn't let people push them around." "I don't let anyone make a fool of me. I don't let anyone laugh at me. I fight for you..."
A strong and tough 13-year-old 'God Sister' Duchess, who threatens to cut the throats of those who mess with her younger brother Robin and doesn't hesitate to break the teeth of those who bully him.
Duchess doesn't seem like someone who lives a half-hearted life, but...
♬ The town is now asleep / You are the one who sets that shop on fire / Everyone is in loneliness / You are the one who sets that shop on fire ♬ (From a parody of 'You Are the One Who Rings That Bell'~)
Is it a book that leaves you unable to shake the feeling that the root cause of everything that happens is an arson incident that went too far!?
【Winner of the 2023 Japan Booksellers' Award, Translation Category】
Cape Haven, a coastal town in California, USA. The incident 30 years ago where a young girl lost her life still casts a dark shadow over the town.
Duchess, a girl who calls herself an outlaw, was living her days desperately fighting against the injustices of the world along with her mother, who has never recovered from the incident 30 years ago, and her young brother.
Walk, the town's police chief, still regrets the testimony he gave in the past incident that led to the arrest of his best friend Vincent, and has lived trapped in the past.
Vincent, having finished his prison sentence, returns to their town.
His return disturbs the temporary peace and drags Duchess and Walk into it. And then, a new tragedy... What is the deeply sorrowful truth they reach while being tossed about by a harsh fate?
Duchess decided to become a 'God Sister' to protect her helpless younger brother and her mother, who is a hopeless alcoholic and also dabbles in drugs.
Walk, the town's police chief, still regrets the testimony he gave in the past incident that led to the arrest of his best friend, and lives trapped in the past.
The story revolves around these two, who are prepared to risk their lives to protect the people they hold dear.
As expected of a Gold Dagger Award winner that also swept the year-end mystery rankings, it was an interesting read both as a human drama and a mystery. I liked how the clumsy grandfather Hal, whom she should have hated, and the equally clumsy Duchess gradually opened up to each other, but there were developments (stories) that made me think, 'Is that really okay?', and I felt uneasy.
The emotional nuances of the main characters, If only I hadn't done that back then---!
are heartbreaking, and I can really relate to them...
Honestly, I was irritated that everyone, just everyone, wouldn't say the important things.
And is the Duchess family's neighbor conveniently a pervert!?
What---! The secret of the Duchess & Robin siblings' birth (who is the father?) is a story of devoted, pure love, but, but... is that how American prisons are?
Once I started wondering, I couldn't stop (;'∀')
👧👦
People start again from the end.
I couldn't help but feel true kindness and love in the decision Duchess made for her brother, she who had been so strong, saying she didn't need anyone as long as she had him.
Duchess and Robin, I hope you both find happiness from now on.