I decided to DNF the book at 30% because I did not manage to engage with the action and plot. The synopsis sounded interesting but the pacing is too slow and the story did not manage to keep my interest.
Thank you HarperCollins UK Audio for providing this audiobook.

End of Story by A. J. Finn is a baffling and frustrating psychological thriller that never quite finds its footing. The novel centers around Nicky Hunter, a detective fiction expert, who is drawn into the mystery of Sebastian Trapp, a reclusive author whose family vanished two decades ago. Nicky’s investigation into their disappearance should be captivating, but the execution of the plot is weighed down by a multitude of issues, from its confusing writing style to its excruciatingly slow pace.

The biggest flaw in End of Story is its writing. The dialogue is overly witty, pretentious banter that often borders on incomprehensible. The result is a cast of characters who feel more like caricatures than real people. The narrative itself is frequently theatrical, sometimes reading more like a stage play than a novel, which detracts from the suspense.

Additionally, the book is painfully slow. Much of the first half feels like filler, with little action or forward momentum. By the time the twists arrive, it’s hard to care, especially when the revelations are predictable and ultimately unsatisfying. Despite some intriguing characters, such as Madeleine, the story never manages to rise above its many flaws.

For fans of Finn's The Woman in the Window, this one is a major disappointment—unnecessarily convoluted, tedious, and lacking the same level of intrigue. It's hard to recommend this to anyone unless you're willing to slog through its many shortcomings.