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REVIEW. First published December 1, 2024 (Booklist)

The Ends of Things
By Sandra Chwialkowska
Jan. 2025. 246p. Blackstone, $26.99 (9798212985277); paper, $16.99 (9798874746711)

After the missing-person investigation, Laura thinks back to when everything changed: it was the day Dave started working with her at the law firm. Before their hastily booked, picture-perfect couples vacation at the Pink Sands Resort on the island of Eleuthera and certainly before they befriended the mysterious woman traveling alone named Diana. Past and present collide as Laura's new friendship with Diana becomes reminiscent of a previous relationship that ended bitterly, and Laura begins to question if she has been living her life or is simply a spectator in it. When Diana vanishes while the two are on an impromptu scenic hike, Laura is determined to find Diana and clear her own name before it's too late. Chwialkowska's page-turning thriller in a dreamy island setting eventually tapers off into a social commentary detailing the intricacies and bonds of female friendships. While a plot twist is very unexpected, it is sure to leave readers contemplating Laura’s mother’s philosophy that the world is built for couples. A unique mystery/thriller debut.

— Kristen Shaw