**I received a review copy of this book from Goodreads giveaways**

This wasn't a bad murder mystery, though I found several things made it difficult to really enjoy the book. It follows the modern trends in mystery characterization--all the main characters are "broken" people, cynical and self-hating (some more, some less), much you'll see on Law & Order, CSI, or any of the variety of police procedural on television. The one character who is not a hardened cynic suffers from some form of developmental disability (Autism spectrum? It isn't made clear, which I found rather silly given that our generation doesn't have the same taboos against talking about disabilities as previous ones) which makes her dis contact with other people, so it's hard to relate to her, too.

The structure of the novel doesn't help matters, as the first-person perspective from which the story is told changes with each chapter. This made it hard to lose myself in the story, being jarred every few pages by a new narrator.7 s Bookread2day2,398 63

This story is set in the beautiful Cambridge. The police have a new task ahead of them. A a body of a young teenage girl is discovered in the water that is connected to the river Nene near Peterborough. The police question the motive. How did she drown? did she fall in alive and drown? or was she murdered and her corpse dumped into the water? or was the young girl put into a dry ditch that later got dislodged by the flood?. The police had no idea who this young girl was or how long she had been in the water.
This story just gets better adding a few more characters with little twist. This is a fascinating psychological thriller.6 s Eliza GrahamAuthor 23 books224

Emily Winslow's second novel is a kaleidoscope of characters and motive which starts, or appears to, with the discovery of a young woman's body in a Fenland sluice. But in The Start of Everything names and identities are protean. Characters may believe they have witnessed one event, but time will prove them mistaken.

Into this confusion come detective team Chloe Frohmann and Morris Keene, themselves dragging past guilts and confusions along with them into the investigation. Just as the murder victim's body blocks the drainage system, their misconceptions about both the exact nature of the crime and themselves threaten to block the crime investigation.

Frohmann and Keene eventually untangle threads sufficiently to realize that key to the mystery is Deeping House, a snowed-in, claustrophobic converted country mansion that is home to a collection of strangely assembled households. The clues needed to unblock the detecting sluice are all there among the spoiled wives, the au pair girls Grace and Katya, the visiting novelist and the stepfather, but the reader needs their wits about them. We glimpse characters and seem to start to understand them but then the author rotates the kaleidoscope and the images we see in the mirrors are altered, even though their constituents remain the same.

The Start of Everything is a novel for readers who enjoy suspense and psychological thrillers/detective novels such as those written by Nicci French and Barbara Vine. Its winter release is perfectly timed: this is a novel to read on a day when you really don't want to leave your warm house and go out into the cold. Read it when you want an intelligent teaser of a novel that raises some serious questions about identity.4 s Rob Slaven480 65

As usual I received this book from GoodReads as part of a giveaway. Also as usual, despite the very kind and generous consideration of getting a free book, I give my candid opinions below.

The story of today's little gem is a tangled and complex mystery told from the viewpoints of several of the key players. During the course of the winding tale we hear narratives alternately from the investigators on the case, the victims and even the perpetrators themselves. Each fairly short chapter indicates the point of view represented as well as the time frame. In the end, the story closes with a satisfying click but wends wonderfully on the way getting there.

Winslow's writing style is good but not especially exceptional. The majority of the time her point is made but there are a few times at which things become a bit confused. This isn't entirely surprising considering the sheer number of threads on her literary loom, but it can be distracting. Her story is set at the UK's prestigious Cambridge university and is clearly written for a British audience. As a Anglophile I pride myself on knowing my fair share of Englishisms but I'll admit that at times I found myself a bit perplexed by some of the locally-specific references. It adds wonderful color but does send the reader off to Google from time to time which might be irritating to some readers.

Pondering the next person to whom to pass my own copy, I am left with a bit of a conundrum. The arc of the story is complex enough that those who prefer more straightforward drama may be put off. It is without doubt that any lover of the mystery genre will adore the novel but these are in fairly limited local supply.

In summary, Winslow's story is a wonderfully dramatic example of British crime drama. Her investigators are very flawed and human but still manage to end up in the right spot. No super-humanity here, just results. I'd also classify this as one of those delicious novels in which the reader thinks repeatedly that they have untangled the thread of the ending only to find out as pages pass that they had it wrong all along. Winslow takes her reader on a wonderfully unexpected journey that leads to a satisfying and solid conclusion. first-reads mystery2 s Mj522 69

This is an interesting who-done-it. Was I expecting more? Yes, based on the ratings, write-ups and I’d seen. I usually do a lot of research before choosing a book to read; hence my ratings usually average 4 stars (very good) plus a bit.

The Start of Everything is told in the first person narrative by five different people – Chloe, Morris, Mathilde, Grace and George. These same five people introduced about a multitude of other characters. There were about 50 other people in total that were weaved into the story, along with the campus of Cambridge University where much of the story takes place. Though the speaker of the first person narratives was noted in the chapter headings, in many cases there were only 2 pages devoted to their point of view and experiences, before the author moved on to someone else – not a whole lot of time for character development. In my opinion, the 50 extra people just made the whole book way too complicated. I felt I almost needed a genealogy- family or people tree to understand where everyone fit it or who was connected to whom.

The author did well to get the story and plot organized and to weave the various stories together. Her writing style kept the story moving. While I wouldn’t say her writing was particularly descriptive or word smithy, the character development for some of the characters wasn’t bad. (I happen to look for character development in every genre of book that I read.) Oftentimes however, the characters weren’t as developed as much as I would have d – I think primarily due to the over abundance of characters rather than the author’s skill.

I think the author bit off way too much in this book and tried to put too much information into one story. As a result, based on the plot twists and turns (which weren’t bad) and the final revelation of who really did do it, I rated the book 3 stars (which for me mean average). It could have been a lot more but it really didn’t live up to the hype or my expectations.
2013 female-author fiction ...more2 s Christy25 11

I received this book through a Firstreads giveaway.

It is a murder mystery and physiological thriller set in Cambridge England narrated by several characters. It was an interesting technique that for purposes of this story worked well.

Overall I enjoyed the mystery. Although I found that it ended too abruptly as if the author ran out of time and skipped ahead to the ending. George's issues should have been further explored. I found his story got a bit muddled. I would have preferred if Dr. Oliver and his daughter would have not been cast aside and almost forgotten. There are several conflicts between characters that the background is never fully explained or if it is, are never resolved. I expect the authors intent is to keep you guessing which she has accomplished. Specifically in the case if Dru and Mr Bennett you are quite obviously led to certain conclusions that are contrary to the 'official' story. It is all very interesting and intriguing in the "heat of the moment" but the conclusions don't stand up to scrutiny as the more plausible scenario and you are left with more questions. I found it similar to a fast paced triller movie that seems good while watching but falls short after the fact when you analyze it.

All in all it is a short fun read with great potential. 2 s Samantha371 39

A big fan of the "ensemble academic mystery/thriller," I had high hopes for this novel! Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations on several fronts:
- None of the characters were particularly easy to , and the constantly shifting narrative/cast of characters made it difficult to become involved with any of their stories. The book would have definitely benefitted from less voices; each chapter changes time/person and it becomes very confusing to follow the thread of events.
- The whole story tied together much too nicely: what are the odds that the brother of the detective involved with the case happens to somehow be tied to the other concurrent plot lines? Everything seemed a bit contrived, particularly at the end.
- The book drags. The first two thirds are spent following the different players around as they drive here and there, etc. but the real meat of the story is raced through very quickly. Again the narrative breaks up the story in a way that prevents a sense of urgency/conclusion which is disappointing. This was honestly a very easy book to put down and not want to pick up again...


Overall I'd recommend that fans that are into Tana French and UK detective mysteries skip this one. 2013-books winter-reading-2012-20132 s Kristen231 40

I wanted to this book.

It started strong, and I felt really immersed in the setting, which was nice since I spent a summer in Cambridge six years ago. I'm uncertain if the prose would be as evocative for someone who never lived there, but it worked for me.

This book hums right along until a twist removes a point of view character from the story completely. It's a bold move, and I was applauding it at the time, but after, the book loses focus. A new point of view character appears. There are more twists, but they start to tax the suspension of disbelief...until the final scene of the book, which robs the book of any sort of emotional satisfaction that the reader might have had with the untidy ending before that. I felt cheated and angry at the last scenes, which I think exposes a failure of the author to imbue her intended result with the proper emotional stakes.

I wanted to it, and in the end, I guess I d it enough for two stars. I expected to give it four, after I read the big twist...and three before I read the last scene.

I can't really recommend it.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewread-20132 s Ella K7 1 follower

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book.

You know a book is great when it feels regular life – things feeding yourself and sleeping -- is intervening on your ability to read it. Emily Winslow’s THE START OF EVERYTHING is just such an addictive find. It is layer upon layer of mystery – what happened, whodunnit and why-- that grabbed me from page one, when an autistic-type person decided to track down a mysterious girl. The amateur sleuth becomes a crime victim. A murder investigation brings up testimony that can’t possibly be true, except it’s no lie. Circumstances and assumptions cascaded in constant, unexpected ways. Every revelation leads to another twist – and, inevitably, heartache – right until the end.

THE START OF EVERYTHING is both a finely-woven, ever-expanding mystery and an unflinchingly insightful look at the tragedy of everyday life. And it is not to be missed.
2 s Patricia Lane513 5

From all the hype this book sounded great but I was disappointed. Part of this might be because it's written in the first person present tense, which for some reason annoys me no end!

It was partly because of this that I had a hard time with the multiple points of view as well. Normally I this conceit but here I didn't feel that the voices were sufficiently different. That, coupled with the lack of dates for each chapter, became unnecessarily confusing; I spent too much time wondering if certain story threads were happening in the present or the past and this impinged upon my enjoyment of the plot. I did the revelation about the past of the murderer, which unfolded gradually and was unexpected. The ending was weak and did not leave me wanting to read the first book or continue with this series. mystery2 s Julie1,274

The first book (The Whole World) seemed a little disjointed to me, but this one hung together better. The detectives, Frohmann and Keene, jelled despite their differences and their confusion about how to relate in their new roles, given Frohmann's promotion and Keene's disability. I love the Cambridge setting and the way Winslow crafts her plots. She also has a knack for character; the only drawback is that there seem to be a few too many characters, which adds to my readerly confusion (in a book that already involves mistaken identity, is it deliberate and purposeful, designed to further flummox the reader, or is it flawed editing?). At any rate, it all fitted together nicely at the end, and the writing was tighter and more cohesive than in The Whole World. Will definitely continue reading this series; I her detective pair and also appreciate the insightful, intuitive way she writes adolescent and slightly post-adolescent characters in the first two books.british british-mystery british-police-procedural ...more1 Tricia1,739 21

When I read this book I thought it would be something I really would enjoy, but the book didn't really keep my attention. There were some bits that were good but others that seemed to drag on a bit. 2022-reading-challenges2 s Joy588 29

Emily Winslow’s first novel has been on my “to read” list for a while, so when I won this through Goodreads First Reads I was pleased to get it. The Start of Everything is a complex murder mystery. The story follows detectives Frohmann and Keene as they investigate the murder of an unknown girl whose body washes up in the fens. The keys to solve the mystery lie at Deeping House, a converted country manor with many residents.

Winslow’s use of multiple narrators is suspenseful and generally effective. Just when you think you have part of the story figured out the next narrator throws everything into question. One problem I have with the structure is that it never allows you to become fully immersed in the story. While the characters voices are distinct, I found it hard to connect with most of them because of the constantly changing perspective.

There are a lot of secrets and the way all the characters stories connect by the end feels a little contrived. Even with its faults, The Start of Everything is a smart, psychological thriller that kept me guessing.

3.5 stars.
2012-reads fiction first-reads-giveaways1 Sheri1,267

So this book started as a four star and ended as a two star..the three is a bad average. I really d Mathilde's voice. It was one of the best autistic first person narratives that I've read in a while. I also really d the opening and the way that Winslow layers on several crimes.

However, she commits one of the most common stupid mistakes of authors (in my not always so humble) which is to make all the characters related in some way and to limit the city to essentially 6 people. I mean really, EVERYONE is connected in many ways. And not only because it is a murder mystery and the links connect them; Mathilde has multiple connections and George has multiple connections and Tobias finds the watch (which has nothing to do with anything) that sets George off on a separate murdering spree. It's all just a bit too intertwined.

I thought her tongue in cheek comment about "real life imitating American TV" to be funny considering this was British literature imitating American TV.

Overall it was an entertaining page turner. Things turned out pretty much as expected and not completely neatly. 1 Jen1,886 65

The Start of Everything, an ARC from Delacorte Press Hardcover, is set in Cambridge. When the body of a teenage girl is discovered during a flood, DI Chloe Frohman and partner Morris Keene are on the case.

Told from multiple points of view, from each detective to a young woman with Asperger's , from victims to those who have committed the crimes--the novel is full of complications, connections, and coincidences.

None of the characters are terribly likable, and I found the novel a bit slow. For some reason, the novel (plots, subplots, and characters) didn't really resonate with me. The relationship between Chloe Frohman and Morris Keene bothered me, and the twin characters and their mother didn't ring true. Oh, well, it just wasn't a novel that appealed to me, although I read some very positive .

Mystery/Detective. 2013. 254 pages.mystery1 Lynda5 8

The book didn't seem finished to me. When I read it I wasn't satisfied and still had a lot of questions on my mind. My biggest question was: How did George Harth-Fraser's alleged murder relate to the murder of Grace Rhys?

The story took too long to pick up. It's rated as a psychological thriller, but by chapter seven i was still waiting for the thrill. This book could be considered a mystery novel, but definitely not a thriller.

I d the way the story was told, how it shifted from character to character, and also how it shifted from past to present. i thought that was unique, creative and intelligent.

Other than that however,i was unsatisfied with the book. I feel the author should take the book back and complete it. Or at least produce a part two...1 Terri769 9

Every now and then you come across a book you wish you would have read sooner. This book has been on my "to read" list for at least a year and I finished it in 24 hours. One of the best books ever. I loved it. I loved the character development and tense psychological thrill. This book takes place in Cambridge, UK. I really enjoy reading detective stories set in this area. Told from different points of view through out it kept me guessing all the way to the end of the story, which for those who know me know that this never happens since I am prone to reading the end first. That did not help me at all in this book. I hope to see more from this author very soon!!!1 Suzanne1,670 98

2.5 stars. The book started slow, then seemed to speed and slow, speed and slow. I eventually did get caught up in the mystery, but didn't warm up to Chloe Frohmann or her partner Morris Keane. Sometimes I really chapters coming from different points of view, but the different POV's seemed disjointed in this novel. This really wasn't a bad read, just not a great read.mysteries outside-us-england1 Karen121

I won this first reads book. What a great mystery. I'm off to get her second book immediately. The blurb of this compares her to Tanya French. But I find Emily's writing easier to follow. Can't wait to pass this on to my book friends.

1 Suzanne76 14

Took till the half way point before I felt engaged and even so, my connection was tenuous. The constantly changing narrator thing doesn't work well for me.1 Lisa1,215 8

It took til about half way through the book to get into it. The book was way too confusing. Too many people, too many narratives very hard to follow1 Susan437

Interesting read, interesting premise, but here is too much going on. Too many subplots. You meet a character, and before you know it he or she is gone, or worse, dead.1 Sue47

An appropriately twisty detective story, solving the mystery of whose body has been found in the receding waters of the fens while building, or maybe dismantling, the relationship between the detectives that must have begun in book one. Both these characters were carrying personal worries as is generally the way with detectives in novels.
The book is written so that each chapter is written by one of the characters in the first person which I found confusing at times if I stopped paying full attention. Timings also shifted backwards and forwards un expectedly. I found myself wondering whether the whole Mathilde storyline added anything to the story. I think it could have been left out with no loss to the story and given that Mathilde was neurologically divergent ( autistic, i imagine) she felt a box ticking exercise although well written. Should have saved her for a different book. Lonestar46

This was very readable, and I especially d the fact that there was more than one murder going on. I didn't the shift in attitude by Chloe towards her partner, and didn't understand why she was ready to throw him under the bridge, so to speak. They were both very critical of each other. I also didn't understand why, since she was so proud of being a good officer, that she was seemingly open to letting Dru off the hook. Still, all in all a good read though it takes a bit of effort keeping the characters and their motivations and interrelationships straight. Mary Lou324 1 follower

I found this book interesting and frustrating. Frustrating in the sense that it took me some time to get into the cadence of the writing. Interesting in that, un the usual mystery, this one had layers and offshoots of other mysteries. I found that the characters became more real as the mystery continued. I definitely will read this author again. Deb960

This was a difficult read for me because I did not any of the characters in the book. Usually when this occurs, I stop reading and move onto another book, but I was intrigued by the intricate plot and where it was headed and where it would end. I was surprised at the ending. By the end of the book my opinion of the characters did not change. Dave393 1 follower

More twists than a serpent, investigation story, told from multiple viewpoints. Some good characterisations. The autistic character at the beginning is at times stereotypically drawn but not a caricature (often the case). Interesting plot developed to end of book, and so lots to second guess. Dani2

There was a while lot going on and occasionally I would get lost in all the characters running around and involved in all the aspects of the story. It did end up all tied up in a bow. I just felt I needed to take notes to keep up. However, I enjoyed the story.autism Joan Vincent61

I almost gave up on it but because it jumps around too much. hard to keep track of who is doing what? Graham168 1 follower

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