The Ending Writes Itself - by Evelyn Clarke (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A PROPULSIVE DEBUT MYSTERY FROM EVELYN CLARKE, THE BRILLIANT AND DIABOLICAL CREATION OF CAT CLARKE AND V.E. SCHWAB

Six authors.

One private island.

Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives.

"Smart, original and completely addictive. . . . The Ending Writes Itself is both a great locked-room thriller and a brilliant satire on the publishing industry. An absolute must-read."--Karin Slaughter

Arthur Fletch, one of the world's bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.

Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch's agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter--for a mind-boggling sum--they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch's magnum opus.

It's the perfect plot. All it needs is a killer ending.

Review Quotes

"In the running for the best mystery of 2026. With a trove of tropes that mystery lovers will love, it will remind you, in the best way, of Agatha Christie." - Stephen King
"Smart, original, and completely addictive...The Ending Writes Itself is both a great locked-room thriller and a brilliant satire on the publishing industry. An absolute must-read" - Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Why We Lied and After That Night
"Fiendishly clever and compulsively readable, The Ending Writes Itself is both a page turning locked room mystery and a gimlet-eyed look at the business of writing books. An absolute must read." - Ellery Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of The Club and The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
"Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None meets Yellowface, this is a quirky murder mystery full of quirky characters and satisfying twists. Great fun!" - Kate Mosse, internationally bestselling author of The Map of Bones and The Ghost Ship
"A cracking read." -- Val McDermid, internationally bestselling author of Silent Bones and Past Lying
"Full of twists and turns and mystery tropes, The Ending Writes Itself is a wonderful send-up of classic mysteries and a satire on modern publishing. A must-read for any mystery fan!" -- G.T. Karber, internationally bestselling author of Murdle
"A hugely entertaining and thrilling locked-room mystery, with a great cast of characters and an ever-evolving plot." -- B.A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of The Prisoner and The Therapist