Book Review: This Does Not End Well by Adrian J. Walker
Title: This Does Not End Well
Author: Adrian J. Walker
Release date: June 13th, 2025
*Huge thanks to Adrian & Last Dog Books for a digital ARC of this one!*
JFC.
What. The. Hell. Did. I. Read.
Ok, let me back up.
Recently, I was perusing the interwebs, and thought – ‘wait a minute, what’s Adrian J. Walker’s next book?’ So, as one does, I sought out his website to see. A number of years ago, friend and fellow reviewer, Tony Jones, insisted I read Adrian’s ‘The End of the World Running Club.’ When Tony tells you to read a book, you listen. And I did. And it was marvelous. At the time of writing this, I still haven’t read the sequel, simply because there was no Kindle edition here in Canada (and I read purely ebooks these days). Saying that, I just had a lightbulb moment and realized I can get it direct from his website. Palm meet forehead. (Edited to add – the link leads to the Amazon UK page to buy the ebook, so I still can’t buy it. Wump. Wump.) But anyways, back then, I decided to explore Adrian’s bibliography and while I really liked ‘The End…’ I absolutely LOVED ‘The Human Son.’ In fact, that book is one of my all-time favorites.
When I found Adrian’s new website, I discovered that he was going the route Adam Nevill has gone, in that he’s taking back control of most, if not all of his books, and I greatly admire that. I bought a few ebooks, signed up for his newsletter, clicked the ‘support my writing’ button and supported, and was excited for his next book – ‘This Does Not End Well.’ When Adrian’s newsletter sent out an email about potential digital ARC’s available, I signed up immediately. So, huge thanks to Adrian for sending one.
Now, I’ve rambled on long enough about how this book ended up on my Kindle. Let’s talk about the book.
And JESUS. CHRIST. The BOOK.
Recently, I read Michael Wehunt’s upcoming novel, ‘The October Film Haunt,’ and that truly messed with me. Gave me nightmares – which is very, very rare for books to do – and it threw me for a loop.
At the same time as starting that book, I started this one. And I had to pause this one. From the very beginning – even from the ominous cover of this book – I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle reading both of those books at the same time. This book has a dirt to its prose. Its dirty. Once you start reading it, you’ll smell mildew and wonder if the corners of your rooms are moving or decaying.
This book.
Jesus.
What I liked: The story follows Adam – husband and father, who is dealing with some difficult things in life. His father has early onset Alzheimer’s, which seems to be progressing. His son was ruthlessly bullied at school. And he’s had a bit of a mental break, destroying Christmas. All these things lead to him and his wife, Roisin, making the decision, that for his sake and the family’s wellbeing, they’ll leave London and move to France.
Adam goes ahead to find a place, and after he locates the perfect family home for them, he’s getting ready to leave when the realtor suggests he look at one more place. A bit remote, amply land, and quiet.
Yes, dear reader, this is the moment where we all collectively scream – DON’T LOOK AT IT! But, as you all already know, he does. And Adam is immediately spellbound. The land is wonderful, the trees are pristine and the house – though old and in need of major work – is just what they’re looking for.
From this point on, the book grows darker. It’s as though Walker managed to weave his fingers into my Kindle settings and dim the light ever so slightly. Adam, along with his father and son, go ahead to the home, to prepare it for his wife and daughter’s arrival in a few weeks. They’ll set up the furniture, get the hot water going and stock the fridge with food. Except that doesn’t happen. Upon arrival, they learn the furniture is delayed, the drive is in such poor condition they can’t get oil delivered to get hot water and every single local refuses to make eye contact with them – those who bought that house.
Throughout, we see a spiral. Or rather, we experience it. And, if this had been an author not as seasoned and experienced as Walker, I could see how it would all fall apart. But it doesn’t. Christ, it doesn’t. And honestly, that’s what makes me the most frustrated about this whole thing. I wanted it to fall apart. I didn’t want to go along for the ride, see how the house and the land withered and clutched these three. I wanted to get to the end and scoff and say – ‘Ah, too bad, if only the ending hadn’t ruined it for me.’ Because the ending didn’t ruin anything. It made the book all the better and all that worse. Because this book consistently and thoroughly breaks the fourth wall. Just when you’re least expecting it – BAM – Adam speaks directly to you, and it’s that element that ruthlessly twists how this book reads.
The final quarter of this book is borderline schizophrenic. But pristine. Written with a full-throttle mental anxiety element that is only heightened by the journal-aspect of how this is written. And no, this isn’t epistolary, not in the traditional sense. But the way it’s written and told to the reader works so very well to unsettle and unnerve.
And like I mentioned, the ending of this is heartbreaking and fantastic and seriously phenomenally deranged.
What I didn’t like: While I did love the journal aspect, I did miss the traditional formatting of Chapter One, Chapter Two etc. etc. But even then, the journal formatting allowed for this book to unravel in a way it couldn’t have if it had chapters, so maybe just ignore what I said, ha!
Why you should buy this: Of the thousand of so books I’ve read in the last decade, very few books have effected me the way this one has. In fact, I could probably list maybe ten (?) maybe, that unnerved me to the level that this one did, but also emotionally effected me in the same way. The title isn’t misleading. It isn’t a ‘gotcha’ phrase or twisty take, the title is exactly what you’ll get. But Walker decides to absolutely mess with you, take you by the neck and hold you against the wall while you look into your own eyes and all the while you’ll be questioning whether any of that is happening or not. Because it isn’t. Because it is.
A novel that will force you to take a long, hot shower once done, this one also forces you to want to return right to the start and re-read it immediately upon finishing it. Because it’ll take hold of you. By the neck. With your own hand. And won’t let go. Or maybe it will. Or maybe it won’t.
Outstanding.
JFC.
Snag it at his website here;
https://www.adrianjwalker.com/books/detail/this-does-not-end-well
