End of Story
Louise Swanson
Too much imagination can be a dangerous thing
It's the year 2035 and fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding? And who can be trusted?
It's the year 2035 and fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding? And who can be trusted?
GENRE
High-Concept; Thriller
UK PUBLICATION
January 2023
High-Concept; Thriller
UK PUBLICATION
January 2023
Praise
"A bewitching and heartbreaking story about motherhood, guilt, the power of fiction and redemption. Unlike anything else I've read - utterly breathtaking."
Catherine Cooper
"End of Story is unsettling, twisty, emotional, and so expertly written that you live every dark, discomforting moment with its protagonist. Not just a highlight of March, expect this book to be a highlight of the year."
Culturefly
"This dystopia is as disturbing as it is absorbing."
Best
"A beautifully written dystopian tale which had me enthralled from the start with its terrifying vision of a world without fiction. Hugely imaginative, original, and ultimately incredibly moving, End of Story is a wonderful book with a cast of fascinating characters. Loved it."
Amanda Jennings
"Absolutely engrossing from the first page, End of Story pulled me in and held me there like the best stories do. Utterly compelling, chilling, and heartbreaking, Louise Swanson has achieved something very rare and very special with this book, it'll stay with me for a long time. I loved it."
Beth Lewis
"Louise Swanson paints a terrifying portrait of a near future, where the arts have been devalued and nearly destroyed by our government. And yet, the spirit of storytelling lives on. Both thought-provoking and heartfelt, END OF STORY is a unique dystopian mystery about human connection amidst automation, renewal amidst defeat, and the power of writing."
Winnie M. Li
"Excellent ... A brilliantly terrifying premise that sent a shiver right down my spine. Don't miss it!"
BA Paris
"A sensationally startling dystopia. Unsettling - in the best possible sense! - the novel had me hooked from start to finish. Wonderfully original."
Susannah Wise
"Wow. Swanson gives us what few writers can— a thriller with heart. END OF STORY will undoubtedly be the hit of 2023!"
Christina Dalcher
"An unforgettable tour-de-force. Imaginative, terrifying, beautiful. Do not miss this one."
Chris Whitaker
"A story that shocks, enchants and terrifies, End of Story lures you in to its darkly captivating world then rips the rug out from under you and breaks your heart. Loved it. Bravo, Louise!"
Eve Smith
"End of Story is an infusion of dystopia and very real magic. It reaches straight for your heart, cast in a velvet glove and tears it out in an iron fist. Thunderous, devastating. I loved every minute of it."
Matt Wesolowski
"Intriguing, captivating and utterly heartbreaking."
Susi Holliday
"As much a ride as a read, this tense, paranoid thriller expands into something absolutely show-stopping. End of Story is a rare find indeed! Louise Swanson takes every expectation and defies it - to tell a breath-taking tale of humanity and redemption."
Janice Hallett
"Inventive, original, moving. END OF STORY has a unique premise and a heart-wrenching drop-the-book twist."
Tammy Cohen
"A chilling 1984-style dystopian thriller which is also moving and hopeful. Absolutely stunning twist too."
Mark Edwards
"Absolutely enthralling, incredibly clever, brutal and heartbreaking. This deserves to be the book everyone is talking about in 2023. I loved it."
C. J. Tudor
"A compelling novel with an intriguing premise and a genuine didn’t-see-it-coming twist. It made me think about how we tell stories, how we occupy them and how stories can ultimately change us."
Araminta Hall
"A propulsive and incredibly creepy dystopian premise - I was hooked from the outset, and every twist was perfectly executed. A fantastic thriller."
Heather Darwent
"Shocking, powerful, topical, and utterly compelling."
John Marrs
"An absolute masterpiece with a plot that relentlessly draws you in ... One of the most original & deeply-realised storylines I've read in ages."
Philippa East
"Gorgeously crazy and crazily gorgeous. Stories that do what this one does pitch perfectly, don't come along that often."
Lauren North
Catherine Cooper
"End of Story is unsettling, twisty, emotional, and so expertly written that you live every dark, discomforting moment with its protagonist. Not just a highlight of March, expect this book to be a highlight of the year."
Culturefly
"This dystopia is as disturbing as it is absorbing."
Best
"A beautifully written dystopian tale which had me enthralled from the start with its terrifying vision of a world without fiction. Hugely imaginative, original, and ultimately incredibly moving, End of Story is a wonderful book with a cast of fascinating characters. Loved it."
Amanda Jennings
"Absolutely engrossing from the first page, End of Story pulled me in and held me there like the best stories do. Utterly compelling, chilling, and heartbreaking, Louise Swanson has achieved something very rare and very special with this book, it'll stay with me for a long time. I loved it."
Beth Lewis
"Louise Swanson paints a terrifying portrait of a near future, where the arts have been devalued and nearly destroyed by our government. And yet, the spirit of storytelling lives on. Both thought-provoking and heartfelt, END OF STORY is a unique dystopian mystery about human connection amidst automation, renewal amidst defeat, and the power of writing."
Winnie M. Li
"Excellent ... A brilliantly terrifying premise that sent a shiver right down my spine. Don't miss it!"
BA Paris
"A sensationally startling dystopia. Unsettling - in the best possible sense! - the novel had me hooked from start to finish. Wonderfully original."
Susannah Wise
"Wow. Swanson gives us what few writers can— a thriller with heart. END OF STORY will undoubtedly be the hit of 2023!"
Christina Dalcher
"An unforgettable tour-de-force. Imaginative, terrifying, beautiful. Do not miss this one."
Chris Whitaker
"A story that shocks, enchants and terrifies, End of Story lures you in to its darkly captivating world then rips the rug out from under you and breaks your heart. Loved it. Bravo, Louise!"
Eve Smith
"End of Story is an infusion of dystopia and very real magic. It reaches straight for your heart, cast in a velvet glove and tears it out in an iron fist. Thunderous, devastating. I loved every minute of it."
Matt Wesolowski
"Intriguing, captivating and utterly heartbreaking."
Susi Holliday
"As much a ride as a read, this tense, paranoid thriller expands into something absolutely show-stopping. End of Story is a rare find indeed! Louise Swanson takes every expectation and defies it - to tell a breath-taking tale of humanity and redemption."
Janice Hallett
"Inventive, original, moving. END OF STORY has a unique premise and a heart-wrenching drop-the-book twist."
Tammy Cohen
"A chilling 1984-style dystopian thriller which is also moving and hopeful. Absolutely stunning twist too."
Mark Edwards
"Absolutely enthralling, incredibly clever, brutal and heartbreaking. This deserves to be the book everyone is talking about in 2023. I loved it."
C. J. Tudor
"A compelling novel with an intriguing premise and a genuine didn’t-see-it-coming twist. It made me think about how we tell stories, how we occupy them and how stories can ultimately change us."
Araminta Hall
"A propulsive and incredibly creepy dystopian premise - I was hooked from the outset, and every twist was perfectly executed. A fantastic thriller."
Heather Darwent
"Shocking, powerful, topical, and utterly compelling."
John Marrs
"An absolute masterpiece with a plot that relentlessly draws you in ... One of the most original & deeply-realised storylines I've read in ages."
Philippa East
"Gorgeously crazy and crazily gorgeous. Stories that do what this one does pitch perfectly, don't come along that often."
Lauren North
Also by Louise Swanson
As Louise Beech
Rights Sales for END OF STORY
Serbia: Laguna
UK & Commonwealth: Hodder & Stoughton
UK & Commonwealth: Hodder & Stoughton