Book Review: Unnatural Ends by Christopher Huang

My Rating:

4.5⭐

In April 1921, Alan, an archeologist, Roger, an engineer, and Caroline, a journalist – the three Linwood siblings return to their family estate in Yorkshire for their adoptive father’s funeral. Their father, the late Sir Lawrence Linwood, had been bludgeoned to death in his study with a medieval flanged mace by an unknown assailant.

Upon the reading of Sir Lawrence’s will, they are made aware of a “find my killer” clause wherein in the case of an unnatural death, the one who can solve his murder inherits his estate.

Their father's manipulation from beyond the grave does not come as a surprise as the three of them have spent their whole lives under the autocratic control of Sir Lawrence whose idea of nurturing competitive spirit involved pitting them against one another throughout their childhood. As adults, they still crave his approval at every juncture and strive to maintain the standards set by him and fulfill his expectations. Though none of them are particularly motivated to deprive the other two of their share of the inheritance, the siblings do venture out following different clues in search of who may be responsible for their father’s murder. As the narrative progresses, we see how their endeavors lead to the unearthing of long-buried family secrets and the siblings come to realize just how deep-rooted their father’s control and manipulation of those around him have been throughout their lives. 

The larger part of the third-person narrative switches between the perspectives of Alan, Roger and Caroline- their present lives and struggles and how their lives have been shaped by their childhood experiences and the authoritarian, often tyrannical behavior of Sir Lawrence towards them. Harsh discipline paired with strict academic schedules meant to fuel ambition and competitiveness among the siblings, with little to no intervention from Lady Linwood on their behalf made for a less than idyllic childhood. Their only respite was in the hours they spent with one another in their playroom in one of the towers of the old mansion- a room they dubbed 'Camelot'.

Unnatural Ends by Christopher Huang is a smartly crafted murder mystery set in 1920s England with an interesting and diverse cast of characters. Each of the main characters is well fleshed out, even the most unlikable ones. There are many supporting characters we meet throughout the narrative which can be confusing at times. The novel with its multiple threads does require a bit of patience on the part of the reader, but it is well –worth the effort. The author does a brilliant job in bringing all the characters and their stories together. Huang’s writing is elegant and the author's note at the end of the book indicates the research that went into framing the post-World War I period setting. This is a lengthy novel, written with meticulous attention to detail, in terms of the historical and physical setting of the story as well as descriptions of the dysfunctional dynamics within the Linwood family. The twists and turns as well as the character studies kept me hooked till the end. Though I could partially predict where the story was going I loved how the author got us there. Fans of Agatha Christie and Daphne Du Maurier might find this one quite intriguing!

I eagerly look forward to reading more from Christopher Huang.

Many thanks to Inkshares and NetGalley for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.