Photographer Molly is an older hardcore activist/anarchist and Ella, a student protester and blogger who wants to help change the world is her young protege.
When Ella finds the body of a man, Molly fears them both being implicated in his death and together they conceal the body. But as time passes Molly finds herself questioning what really happened on that night before her arrival on the scene. As the truth is slowly revealed Molly finds that her trust and friendships have been compromised...
This is How it Ends is a dark crime novel set in inner city London, against a backdrop of gentrification. Events play out in the soon to be demolished tower block where Molly and a dwindling handful of hangers on remain. The setting is superbly drawn and adds much to the ambiance of the tale not to mention the unease that the characters find themselves in. Each chapter is told in turns from either Molly or Ella's point of view and both are strong female characters. Molly is likeable, Ella less so.
It's a very well crafted novel with a good plot and Ella's story cleverly reverses through time so that her story gradually reveals the truth at the heart of the story. The ending of the book is both shocking and superb.
The story isn't fast paced but it has a lot of depth and touches on many subjects relevant to the story such as class, poverty, the changing face of inner cities and the abuses of power found across the board of the establishment. It is a very English book in terms of language and situation which may be off putting for non English readers but I thoroughly enjoyed this expertly constructed, if far from upbeat, tale.
Recommended.
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