Winner:
2nd Ranked Book 2022;
Best Negative Character 2022 (Linda Hammett)

As the cliché goes, Never judge a book by it’s cover. The cover was precisely what drew me into A Tidy Ending to start with. A bright yellow, perfectly upholding the summer feel and ushering in a brightness, positivity and warmth. A little birdie perching on the daffodil frame, inviting you to come and read this one. If there ever was an award for the best designed cover, this book makes a vehement claim.

At times, some long accepted adages stand to be challenged. For, A Tidy Ending with it’s beautiful cover is even more beautiful with what lies inside it. Joanna Cannon has a winner at hand without question, one of the best books of 2022.

The story is centered around Linda, who works at a charity shop and has just moved in to a new house with her husband Terry. The beauty in writing is such that without actually being the focal point, Linda’s character is so magnificently built, just by her mannerisms and her habits. She comes across as an eccentric at times, sometimes funny but likable all the same. The initial part of the book just eases you into itself with such free flow writing and very commonplace observations that keep giving you an insight into Linda all the time.

There are various such incidents where Linda tries some weird ways to please and help people. But it more often than not leaves them further repelled. But she refuses to believe the dislike towards her and always manages to talk herself out of it with some reasoning to suit her thinking.

The hallmark of A Tidy Ending lies in the fact that this book is all about ‘observation‘. Probably eighty percent of this book is observation which makes it such a joyful read. It feels like you are reading small little nuances of daily life that you experience everyday unwittingly. You never ponder over them or give them significant thought. But each of these observations make such perfect sense. The character of buses, the supermarket and the sales assistants. Or the pictures in the catalogues and what they tell – these small details make this book such a compelling read.

While the story is about a series of murders taking place, this is not your typical murder mystery. It doesn’t go about solving a case or chasing a criminal. Rather, there is some sort of an undercurrent – a constant mention of a serial killer lurking around. It’s like no one is actually solving the mystery, but there is a constant build up to it.

Besides the killings, there are three sub stories running in parallel. One, of the mystery surrounding Linda’s father. The other about the day room and why Linda is there now. And lastly, the ever so elusive Rebecca Finch whom Linda is apparently so obsessed with. That constant feel of something not quite right about Rebecca. And the little spooky thing about what Linda had seen in the news – another small detail that keeps lurking around.

There are some sequences that are fully capable of causing a swirl of emotions – from anger to laughs! One such sequence being the dinner party at Rebecca’s when Linda goes prepared with a new dress, only to end up cleaning the house and being shoved away. You loath Rebecca for one and pity Linda only to be frustrated when she finds some apt reasoning for Rebecca’s outrageous behavior! What’s more, there are small little fun elements when Linda is taking home things from Rebecca’s house – which she calls ‘borrowing’ hah!

The book is truly unputdownable specially when the different stories start to converge and provides some thrilling revelations, surprises and exciting turns towards the end. I do not wish to mar the experience, and hence am putting a few things under spoilers below.

Conclusion:

A Tidy Ending has no shortcoming to speak of really. This is a book that dishes out suspense and thrill without the accompanying abhorrent and horrific details that one would associate with such a subject. It is talking of everything else but murder which ironically is the mainstay of this story. I loved every bit of this book. It makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. There are books that have their ups & downs. But A Tidy Ending maintains a constant high throughout and ends at it’s pinnacle.

Get it on Amazon A Tidy Ending

Looking for some more suspense stories? You might want to try The Book Of Cold Cases: My Covid Read!