Shari Lapena’s fifth psychological thriller, “The End of Her,” delivers another masterclass in domestic suspense that will have readers questioning everything they think they know about love, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. Published in 2020, this novel continues Lapena’s impressive streak of crafting page-turners that expose the dark underbelly of seemingly perfect suburban lives.
A Perfect Life Unraveling
The story centers on Stephanie and Patrick Kilgour, a seemingly content couple navigating the chaotic early months of parenthood with newborn twins Jackie and Emma. Stephanie, wealthy from her inheritance, appears to have everything she’s ever wanted – a loving husband, beautiful babies, and financial security. Their peaceful existence in the quiet neighborhood of Aylesford, New York, shatters when a woman from Patrick’s past arrives with explosive accusations.
Enter Erica Voss, a manipulative and calculating woman who claims Patrick murdered his first wife, Lindsey, nine years earlier in Colorado. What was previously ruled an accidental death from carbon monoxide poisoning in a snow-blocked car suddenly becomes the center of a disturbing blackmail scheme that threatens to destroy Patrick and Stephanie’s carefully constructed life.
Masterful Character Development
Lapena excels at creating deeply flawed, complex characters who feel disturbingly real. Stephanie emerges as a compelling protagonist – a sleep-deprived new mother whose exhaustion and vulnerability make her susceptible to doubt and paranoia. Her internal struggle between trusting her husband and confronting mounting evidence against him creates genuine psychological tension.
Patrick proves to be a fascinating study in moral ambiguity. Lapena skillfully maintains uncertainty about his innocence throughout the narrative, revealing his capacity for deception and selfishness while stopping short of confirming his guilt. His admission to cheating on his pregnant wife, though he minimizes the extent of the affair, immediately establishes him as morally compromised.
Erica Voss stands out as one of Lapena’s most chilling antagonists. Unlike traditional villains, she operates in shades of gray – her accusations may be motivated by genuine grief and a desire for justice, or they could be elaborate manipulations designed for personal gain. Her ability to maintain plausible emotional authenticity while potentially orchestrating an elaborate con makes her particularly unsettling.
Psychological Depth and Realism
What elevates “The End of Her” above standard domestic thrillers is Lapena’s nuanced exploration of sleep deprivation’s psychological effects. Stephanie’s experience with colicky twins creates an authentic backdrop of exhaustion and mental fog that makes her vulnerable to manipulation and self-doubt. The author captures the claustrophobic nature of new parenthood with uncomfortable accuracy, from the endless cycle of feeding and changing to the isolation that comes with being housebound with demanding infants.
The novel also examines themes of class, privilege, and financial security. Stephanie’s inherited wealth creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities – it attracts Patrick initially and later becomes a target for Erica’s schemes. Lapena explores how financial inequality affects relationships and motivations with subtle but effective detail.
Plot Mechanics and Pacing
The narrative structure employs alternating perspectives and timelines, moving between present-day Aylesford and flashbacks to 2009 Colorado. This technique allows Lapena to gradually reveal crucial information while maintaining suspense. However, some readers may find the frequent perspective shifts occasionally disruptive to the flow, particularly during high-tension sequences.
The pacing builds effectively toward the inquest into Lindsey’s death, which serves as the novel’s climactic set piece. The courtroom sequences, while dramatically engaging, occasionally feel procedurally rushed. The legal proceedings move with thriller-appropriate speed rather than realistic judicial pacing, which may disappoint readers seeking authentic legal detail.
Atmospheric Writing and Setting
Lapena demonstrates her mastery of domestic psychological suspense through careful attention to setting and atmosphere. The contrast between the cozy suburban streets of Aylesford and the isolated mountain town of Creemore, Colorado, effectively mirrors the novel’s thematic tensions between safety and danger, known and unknown.
The author’s prose remains accessible and engaging throughout, though it occasionally lacks the literary flourishes that might elevate it from good commercial fiction to exceptional literature. Her dialogue feels natural and character-appropriate, particularly in capturing the exhausted interactions between overwhelmed new parents.
Critical Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Brilliantly
- Authentic Parental Experience: The portrayal of early parenthood feels genuine and unromanticized, creating relatable stress and vulnerability
- Moral Complexity: No character is entirely sympathetic or wholly villainous, creating realistic psychological depth
- Sustained Suspense: The central question of Patrick’s guilt remains genuinely uncertain until the final chapters
- Female Relationships: The friendship between Stephanie and neighbor Hanna provides emotional grounding and contrast to the main conflict
Areas for Improvement
- Pacing Inconsistencies: Some plot developments feel rushed while others drag, particularly in the middle section
- Coincidence Reliance: Certain plot points depend heavily on convenient timing and coincidental encounters
- Resolution Ambiguity: While the shocking ending provides dramatic impact, some readers may find it unsatisfying in terms of closure
Comparison to Previous Works
“The End of Her” shares DNA with Lapena’s earlier novels, particularly “The Couple Next Door” and “A Stranger in the House,” in its exploration of domestic deception and the fragility of suburban security. However, this novel demonstrates greater psychological sophistication in its character development and more complex moral terrain.
The book’s focus on new parenthood and maternal vulnerability echoes themes from “Someone We Know,” but with deeper emotional resonance. Lapena has clearly evolved as a writer, showing increased confidence in exploring morally ambiguous territory without providing easy answers.
The Shocking Conclusion
Without revealing spoilers, the novel’s ending delivers genuine surprise while remaining logically consistent with established character motivations. Lapena subverts reader expectations in a way that feels earned rather than manipulative, though the final revelation may divide readers in their satisfaction with the resolution.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who enjoy “The End of Her” should consider:
- “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty – For its exploration of motherhood, domestic secrets, and female friendship
- “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins – For unreliable narration and moral ambiguity
- “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn – For its complex marriage dynamics and shocking twists
- “Behind Closed Doors” by B.A. Paris – For psychological manipulation within domestic settings
- “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn – For its exploration of isolation and questionable perceptions
Final Verdict
“The End of Her” succeeds as both an engaging page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of trust, deception, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love. While it may not achieve the literary heights of the very best psychological thrillers, it demonstrates Lapena’s continued growth as a writer and her understanding of what makes domestic suspense compelling.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers or clear moral distinctions. In a genre often populated by obvious victims and villains, Lapena creates a world where everyone harbors secrets and no one emerges entirely innocent. This moral complexity, combined with authentic emotional stakes and sustained suspense, makes “The End of Her” a worthy addition to any thriller lover’s library.
For fans of domestic psychological suspense seeking a book that will keep them guessing until the final pages while exploring the dark complexities of marriage, parenthood, and trust, “The End of Her” delivers exactly what it promises – a gripping, unsettling journey into the heart of domestic deception that will linger in readers’ minds long after the shocking conclusion.
