World famous author Arthur Fletch is dead and his final novel remains unfinished. His publisher has invited six midlist authors to his private residence in Scotland to present them with the opportunity of a lifetime, whoever writes the perfect ending to the book gets millions of dollars. With only a short amount of time and no access to the outside world, they just have to write, although starting is the hardest part. But getting to the end could be murder.

Ever since I heard about the Ending Writes Itself and the mysterious Evelyn Clarke, I have been so intrigued and excited to read! Not only is there plenty of mystery in the story but also around the identity of the two authors who are behind pseudonym Evelyn Clarke. Whoever the authors are it is clear they are exceptional writers and have merged together seamlessly, the writing flows perfectly.

I was invested as soon as I started the story, loving all the premise, creative devices and getting an insight into different genres. The chapters are told in the view of different characters and each were compelling in their own right, having their own unique voice. Even though there were quite a few characters introduced early on, I found it was never confusing and I could easily picture each of them individually.

The story has a focus on the publishing world, creating an awareness behind the realities of this industry and the difficulties authors can face. I found it hugely fascinating. The remote Scottish setting was atmospheric and creepy, helping to build the tension and suspense. With a clever, original narrative and plenty of red herrings I never knew if the authors were sending me up
The garden path or not. The only incredibly small niggle I had was it felt a tad long and a slow burn at times, however it worked well to help build up the storyline and anticipation.

This certainly ended up being a book that I will carry on thinking about and I can see this being a massive hit! It is definitely one that I will be talking about a lot and recommending. 4.5 stars. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Evelyn Clarke. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I’m not ashamed to admit I am an advertisers dream and I was super excited to read this after all the publisher hype on Instagram, especially given the authors are a mystery too I just had to give it a go. It’s not a bad book per se but it is a closed room thriller, along the lines of Then There Was None. I find this genre quite irritating and tedious. I probably should stay away from them! It’s not the worse of a closed room I’ve read hence the 4 stars and in the most part it is well written but there were bits that I found odd.

The book is set on a remote Scottish island, there’s a storm brewing along with a dead author and 7 wannabe author stars all vying to write an ending for the dead authors highly anticipated series ending. I mean what could possibly go wrong?!

I found this just took too long to get going and is very much a slow burner. I don’t always mind a slow burn but this was too much. I didn’t particularly like how the parts and chapters were set out but that’s more personal preference. I wanted to give this 3 stars but I do think that’s quite mean as once I was in the reading zone it did keep my attention, I just didn’t have the urge to want to pick it up to read.

So who is Evelyn Clarke? I might know one of them, but I’m wondering if the other could be AI? It’s a bit of a stretch but at times the writing didn’t make much sense and felt a little off. I hope I’m wrong but maybe it’s an experiment 🤷🏼‍♀️

All in all I’m glad I stuck with it but I was also relieved when I got to the end!

When a famous author dies, the final book has no ending so his publishing company decides to send six authors away to a private island for a big opportunity for finish the book, and if they win they get one million dollars and a three book contract, sounds exciting doesn't it? but there are rules and will everyone play fair, it is an in it to win it and who will come out victorious? it was a great story to follow along with, reading about the different authors interested me, working out who might win was the hardest part. I really liked the concept of this book and I found it different and unique but really enjoyed it overall. The twists have me gasping and the outcome was.... brilliant. A book that is going to get some great reviews. I loved it.

4.5

A really fun new take on the ‘And Then There Were None’ trapped on an island plot. Twisty and turny, and an excellent read.

Although, I will say that one character not having a POV chapter makes it fairly obvious who the murderer is!

I’m writing this review in August 2025, almost eight months before the novel is due for release – because it’s that clever. Once I had access to it, I knew I had to read it as quickly as possible. Six authors of varying genres have been invited to a private Scottish island. All midlist – not too bad, not too good – writers, their books have done ok, but haven’t reached the stratosphere of the likes of Arthur Fletch, world famous author who is now dead, leaving his final novel unfinished. Each midlist author has been tasked with finishing the novel, securing a worthy career (and cash) if they’re the winner. It’s just 72 hours between them and victory. Oh, and a murderer willing to do whatever they can to stop everyone else. And bad weather and no access to the outside world. A locked room mystery with a layer of cruel ways to die, and you’ve got a whodunnit that will pace along and you’re constantly switching your allegiances.

A rollercoaster read from start to finish.

The Ending Writes Itself utilises multiple perspectives to tell a story of six authors invited to write an ending to a book, as Arthur Fletch - a world famous author - has recently died and his final book is unfinished. Whichever author writes the best ending in 72-hours will receive one million dollars and a further one million dollars for a new three-book contract.

This was a fantastic read which believe will be hugely popular in 2026. It is fresh, unique and fun novel and I recommend it to all. The characters were all interesting; the writing was gripping with many twists and turns to keep readers intrigued.

World famous bestselling author, Arthur Fletch, is somewhat of a recluse. Despite millions of fans and astronomical book sales, Fletch prefers his solitude, only braving the wider world when needs must. To this end his escape is an impressive castle on a remote Scottish island, where he occasionally holds his famous ‘salons’ for a very select few.

When a selection of writers, of various genres and very midlist, each receive an invite to one of the coveted and exclusive salons, their thoughts run from excitement and enthusiasm, right through to anxiety and trepidation.

On their arrival to the island the writers are left to their own devices for a while, mainly to introduce themselves to each other. There is a fair amount of sussing out amongst them, each weighing up the others. The absence of their host is noted, but put down to, by some of the attendees, bad manners. Then they are all given an opportunity that takes their breath away, an opportunity possibly to die for!

Atmospheric and captivating, this is a proper whodunnit, up to date, but with all the backing of an old time mystery thriller. Castle, island, money and greed, it’s all there plus lots more.

Told from multiple POV, the delivery is a set of books within a book, with each character being given their own chapters.

Twisty and misleading, there are red herrings and DEAD ends galore! Some outcomes are inevitable, but others definitely not signposted. Sharp and calculated writing, very slick and well executed.

The stormy night, remote island and characters with back stories are very reminiscent of Agatha Christie, so fans of her will love this

As to the identity of Evelyn Clark 🤔. The blurb is that they are one bestseller, one not, both published for over a decade, not helpful but that adds to the appeal and anticipation. However, are there clues in the book? I think so! 😉.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ.

The Ending Writes Itself is a multi POV story where six authors are invited to a private island to write an ending to a book. Arthur Fletch is a world famous author who has recently died but his final book is unfinished. Merriweather Press who publishes Fletch’s books invites six midlist authors of different genres to a Scottish Island to write the ending to the book. Whoever writes the best ending will receive one million dollars and a further one million dollars for a new three-book contract. They have seventy-two hours to write with a typewriter and no access to the outside world but there are tensions within the group of writers and it could end in murder.

This was a really great read and I can see this being a huge hit in 2026. This is fresh, unique and fun. I’ve never read anything like this before and it was just plain enjoyable. The characters were all interesting in different ways. The writing was brilliant and there were so many twists. This whole book is about publishing, what it means to be published and how hard it is to get published in the first place. I’m not sure who this author duo is but parts of this did remind me of Janice Hallett but whoever they are they did a great job with this book. I really enjoyed this and I will be recommending this.

What an absolute rollercoaster of a read! Told through multiple POVs, this book is an unhinged and wild ride from start to finish. I was hooked almost instantly and tore through it in just two days—I honestly couldn’t put it down.

The structure, with shifting perspectives, made it feel so fast-paced and addictive. Each chapter ended in a way that left me desperate to keep going, and I loved how every character added something new to the story. It’s clever, twisty, and had me questioning everyone (and everything!) right until the end.

The balance between humour, chaos, and darker moments kept me on my toes, and Evelyn Clarke did such a brilliant job of keeping the tension alive without it ever feeling too heavy. By the time I reached the ending, I was emotionally unstable, side-eyeing everyone in my life, and wishing I could read it all over again for the first time.

It really is one of those books that keeps you talking about it long after you’ve closed the final page. Bold, funny, unpredictable, and so well-executed—it’s a masterpiece of a debut.

Huge thank you to the publisher for my proof copy -- This one is an easy recommendation if you love sharp writing, multiple perspectives, and a story that doesn’t just keep you guessing, but keeps you feeling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Released - April 2026

"This is a house of novelists, not murderers. You dream up crimes. You don’t commit them."

Thank you so much to @hqstories , @evelynclarkewrites & @netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced e-ARC of The Ending Writes Itself in exchange for honest feedback.

I've loved the hype surrounding this book &, wow, it definitely didn't disappoint! A great thriller that keeps you guessing & gives you the 'heebie jeebies' is hard to find....but The Ending Writes Itself kept me guessing AND gave me the 'heebie jeebies', multiple times, which is rare!! ✨️

I'm not normally a huge fan of third-person POV, but I really enjoyed the format of the chapters & hearing more about each of the characters. It's was almost like multiple mini books in one! The writing style kept me hooked and it was so easy to devour.

It's a great 'whodunnit' full of suspense & mystery. The biggest question is, who wrote it?! 👀 I have my suspiciouns for one author, but no idea on the second...

💭 Would you give up your mobile phone & lock it in a safe for 72 hours with no way of getting it out sooner?

First I need to start this review with a thank you to Hq & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for this honest review.

Without giving any spoilers away if you love thrillers you are going to love this book.

I have been reading this book for the last 10 days as I didn’t want to end , this book takes you on so many twist and turns I felt like I was on a rollercoaster going up and down, and the ending wow 😯

This book needs to either been made into a tv show or movie and shown on Netflix

I think I have worked out who 1 of the mystery authors is who wrote this book am I right ? Will I find out in April when this book is published if I am correct !

If you loved the Thursday murder. Luv you going to love this and I have already recommend this book to my neice

I found the first half very slow and because we were going through the same situations from several POVs, I found we weren't getting to know most of the characters deeply enough and we were getting a lot of repetition.

The second half definitely picked up though and I found the faster pace much more enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the different perspectives of the publishing industry and learning that it's not as glamorous as it appears. The ending was satisfying and I think it mostly made sense.

I'd give a 2 star for the first half and 4 for the second, and would rate a 3.5 overall.

I, like many avid book fans, have seen this book teased ever since it was announced. The pen name combined with the knowledge that two famous authors have combined their crafts to create this masterpiece without intention of revealing themselves was an immediate draw. As someone who’s grown up on mystery novels, I was elated to discover I’d kindly been given the opportunity to read and I’m going to say it as simple as this… I ADORE this book.

Egotistical to say, perhaps, but I’ve read so much mystery in my life since very young, that I often find myself bored with mystery novels these days as guessing the ending early on has become second nature. Trust me, it frustrates everyone in my life as they beg me to share my theories and when I turn out correct, I’m the one who ruined it (It’s happened at theatre shows, event nights, the cinema, and in novels). However, Evelyn Clarke has crafted a mystery that chapter to chapter I have ZERO clue what was coming next.

As you can imagine, this had me engrossed fairly early on. Throughout this novel, I guarantee whatever you theorise, you’ll be proven almost quite quickly to be incorrect. It graciously dances between genres, which parallels the genres the authors of the book write themselves, whilst keeping the thriller/mystery energy throughout. From romance to sci-fi to thriller to crime and everything in between, this may be the most fascinating attempt of genre bending I’ve ever read.

The characters are quick, sharp, and marvellously well thought out. Even outside of my writer friends, we ALL know these people, which is what makes this cast so enthralling. I could envision someone I know in all these roles, and the beauty of this was it led me astray also, which made me realise this was perhaps the point of this cast. By seeing characters we all can recognise in the day-to-day, we imagine how they would handle the situation, heading off on tangents that, when the book steers in a completely different direction, hits like the best reveal ever.

I refuse to give any more away because I know this book is going to be massively successful. Evelyn Clarke, whoever they are, are wonderful writers and potentially an even more phenomenal writing team as I could not have told you the book was written by two people, nor could I have guessed the ending from the beginning. By the time you get to the closing chapters, it’s so far removed from where you think it’ll go in the beginning, that you will not be able to put this down.

An absolute must-read for any adult readers in 2026, I HIGHLY recommend pre-ordering The Ending Writes Itself and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. I cannot tell the future, but I would hazard a guess this will be a book plenty of people take on their trips next summer and, much like the authors considering the opportunity before them, I wouldn’t want to be one of the people left out!

Thank you so much to HQ for an advanced copy of this one, what a surprise and what a read! The marketing hype around this book has been brilliant and I absolutely cannot wait to find out just who Evelyn Clarke is...

As for the book itself it has a proper whodunit vibe, but with a unique take. I totally didn't see some of the twists coming which was brilliant and a testament to the writing. Some real red herrings and hats here!

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, who honestly in the main weren't very likable, but that worked so well. As the story changed pov you found yourself annoyed with different characters, suspicious of them and your view on who's worthy, who's genuine and who's good is constantly changing.

The spotlight, and almost exposé on the writing and publishing industry was great. The range of types of authors and authors at differing points in their career even if all midlist gave a great insight and really honestly lays things out.

The ending and epilogue have the potential to be a bit cheesy, almost stepping into the "and then they all woke up and it was a dream" but instead it's so much more clever than that and almost ends with an anticlimactic mundane believable real life ending, which after a sensationalised and dramatic few chapters comes as shock....but works so perfectly!

If you enjoy a good whodunit mystery you'll enjoy this, but even if you've never read a mystery before definitely step outside of your comfort genres and give this a go. It's so much more than a mystery!

Books about books will always get a big yes from me. The premise of this one intrigued me from the get-go, so I was so happy to be selected to receive an e-ARC (a huge thank you to HQ! ♥️)

In The Ending Writes Itself, we follow a group of carefully handpicked authors who are tasked with competing to write the ending to the late Arthur Fletch's highly anticipated new novel. However, it soon becomes clear that there are some sinister things happening behind the scenes, and the story soon takes a deadly turn...

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Who is Evelyn Clarke, I hear you ask? There will be no spoilers from me on that front 🤫

I can't wait for it to take the bookish world by storm nezt year!

3.5✨

Firstly, I was so so excited to finally get my hands on a copy of this book. The publishers have put some WORK in for this, like honestly give the marketing team a raise. I cannot wait to find out who ‘Evelyn Clarke is’; aka who the two authors who have collaborated on this book are. I have seen a lot of impressive names being chucked around and the hype around this book is so well deserved.

The twists and turns were gripping and you were constantly left guessing around ‘who did it’ and the premise of the book is honestly genius.

I’m leaning toward one of the guesses of V.E.Schwab because I’ve only ever read one other book where I’ve thought ‘wow, this could be real life and we would never know’ and it was one of her books.

I think if you’re fans of the Thursday Murder Club series you’d absolutely devour this. I already know who I’d recommend this book to/buy this book for.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Stories for a copy of this arc.

I was very excited to read this, given the hype and mystery surrounding its release and the pre-publication press.

This is a good book - nothing more, nothing less. A solid, decent thriller, but nothing fresh and unlikely to be something I’ll think much about now that I’ve finished it. There were some decent twists although I guessed one of the main ones. The ending was unexpected and I enjoyed it. I was slightly disappointed by the fact I didn’t love this though, given the hype!

I will say that the writing is very good, and I’ll be interested to see who the mystery author(s) is/are.

When requesting this book, I did not know about the hype currently surrounding this one and the ongoing mystery of who the person (or persons should I say?) behind Evelyn Clarke really is.

All I know is whoever they are, they can write a hell of a thriller.

This is packaged as a mystery/thriller but also a satire on the publishing industry and, having read it, I can only be glad I'm a reader and not a writer. That does not sound like a good industry to be competing in!

The novel tells the story of the death of Arthur Fletch, famous, bestselling author who recently died having left the unfinished manuscript for his last novel. Determining that the book must be finished, 6 authors are invited to Arthur's remote island to compete for the honour of finishing his last novel. As the competition ramps up, so do the bodies and it's clear that someone would kill to finish off Arthur's last book.

First and foremost, this is a brilliant mystery, with red herrings, twists and turns galore. Just when you think you have it sussed, it's clear that you don't! But it also seems to be a great satire of the cutthroat nature of the publishing industry, of which I know next to nothing, but it seems like a very difficult industry to thrive in, although I'm sure many people love it.

All in all, a great novel and I can't wait until it's released next year to find out the real Evelyn Clarke!

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was a comfort read, loved all the characters from the start. The writing style was like I’d not read before, every character sort of has a mini book with 4ish chapters giving some back story and some present day, it gave you longer to connect to them before moving on. I loved how it showed the brutal reality of the publishing world too. I really enjoyed this book!

At the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival myself and 5 other book bloggers were lucky to be invited to brunch with HQ. Thankfully, unlike the book's invitation, we weren’t whisked off to a secluded island and none of us were murdered! Hopefully it doesn't mean they think we're midlist bloggers, like the authors in the book.

We were there to discuss 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘐𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, a novel co-written by 2 authors whose identities are still under wraps. But, as HQ told us, “secrets don’t stay secret for long in publishing”. A few clues have been dropped: both authors have been publishing for over a decade, one is a New York Times bestseller, they’re the same gender and one of them has written scripts before!

Gifted a coveted proof copy at the event, we decided to team up for a buddy read. Throughout, we were all on high alert for clues to Evelyn Clarke’s true identity. Personally, I’m convinced one of them is American—the formatting leans heavily on em dashes—and there's a moment where an English character is described as not much older than the legal drinking age, but she’s 22 and the legal age here is 18, not 21. I also suspect both authors are women due to the commentary within.

Anyway! Let’s get to the book itself, shall we?

The set-up is familiar: a remote location, characters picked off one by one. It felt a little slow to get going and it felt like there was lots to wrap up. But the last quarter delivers. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘐𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 is a fun, knowing romp with sharp jabs at the publishing world. By the time it’s released, the authors will likely have been unmasked, so readers can just enjoy the ride and save their sleuthing for the murder mystery. For those paying close attention, one line in particular offers a huge clue... 🔍