![]() ![]() "I'm not saying I would've ever taken things that far," he reassured me. I couldn't answer that I could barely breathe. Here's the extract (p481 of 511 in the UK hardback): And it's what that whole bleak(ish) ending hinges around. By the end of the book, we're left with almost no unfilled gaps in Toby's memory - except for this one. But the reason for the snap is unexplained, and to me it almost felt like it came out of nowhere. So - Toby essentially snaps, wrecking even what remains of his life, leading to rather a grim ending. Looking online, it seems this is a common view. So I had a major problem with the direction the book took near the end, after the big whodunnit reveal. If you haven't read the book, but may do at some point, please stop reading now. Reviews generally agree that the book's main flaw is that it's too long - one section in particular, which is the subject of this post. ![]() ![]() It's extremely immersive, and being a 34-year-old guy with a chronic illness, I found the lead character completely plausible, relatable and well-written, if not necessarily 100% likeable. ![]() This is going to be super-spoilery discussion of The Wych Elm (Witch Elm in America), which is a crime story in which the protagonist (a civilian, not law enforcement) has his cushy life gradually broken down by disability, PTSD, family trouble and an intense criminal investigation. ![]()
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