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The Undoing
On a bitter January evening, three people are found murdered in the isolated Blackbird hotel.
Best friends since childhood, Eric, Rory and Celia have always been inseparable. Together they've coped with broken homes and damaged families, clinging to each other as they've navigated their tenuous lives. Their bond is potent and passionate—and its intensity can be volatile.
When the trio decides to follow Celia's dream of buying and renovating the Blackbird, a dilapidated hotel that sits on the perilous cliffs of Jawbone Ridge, new jealousies arise and long-held suspicions start to unravel their relationship. Soon they find themselves pushed to the breaking point, where trust becomes doubt, longing becomes obsession, and someone will commit the ultimate betrayal.
An unflinching story of ambition, desire and envy, The Undoing traces the events leading to that fateful night, revealing the intimate connections, dark secrets and terrible lies that wove them together—and tore them apart.
Best friends since childhood, Eric, Rory and Celia have always been inseparable. Together they've coped with broken homes and damaged families, clinging to each other as they've navigated their tenuous lives. Their bond is potent and passionate—and its intensity can be volatile.
When the trio decides to follow Celia's dream of buying and renovating the Blackbird, a dilapidated hotel that sits on the perilous cliffs of Jawbone Ridge, new jealousies arise and long-held suspicions start to unravel their relationship. Soon they find themselves pushed to the breaking point, where trust becomes doubt, longing becomes obsession, and someone will commit the ultimate betrayal.
An unflinching story of ambition, desire and envy, The Undoing traces the events leading to that fateful night, revealing the intimate connections, dark secrets and terrible lies that wove them together—and tore them apart.
272 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2014
About the author
Averil Dean
4 books40 followersAveril Dean was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She left school at sixteen and went on to sell donuts, goldfish, and power tools before answering the call of the cubicle, where she spent the next twenty years building up her tolerance for burnt coffee and the dot-matrix printer. She left this dream life in 2012 when she moved with her husband and the youngest of their three kids to Lacey, Washington, and now devotes her time to writing, photography, and long walks in the forest with her little dog, Izzy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 27, 2015
I read this book twice and both times I was left with a physical heaviness upon completion. The structure lends itself to character development, as the end of this 'big romance' is the start of the book, and you begin to understand their relationship as you read. In the beginning, I experienced their deaths with little more connection to them than the featured characters on an episode of CSI. What I knew to be the end result of the relationship became more and more heartbreaking the further I read. The characters are flawed and endlessly interesting. Their backstory unraveled so naturally and I found the timeline easy to follow. These characters are very human with a very human relationship. They fuck up, say the wrong things, make the wrong decisions. And they carry on in a way that society views as gross or immoral. I was never uncomfortable with the mild incest or polyamory of it because it was all consensual. Dean did a fine job of navigating this ambitious structure and complex love triangle. And beside that, the woman has a way with words! Her physical descriptions of Celia and The Blackbird Hotel and Jawbone Ridge really set the scene and are enjoyable to read. Everything has its ugliness. The relationship at the center of this story is not one that most would understand. Neither is the hotel itself. Or the town. And, funnily enough, as it turns out, the person behind it all is the most conventionally attractive. Aside from the skilled crafting of this story, there isn't much better I can say for it than my visceral reaction. I was very affected by this romance gone wrong and I was hurt to know where it ended. I cried. Read this. Not kidding.
December 23, 2015
Received a copy of The Undoing by Averil Dean through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review
The story begins with a suicide, we later find out that three friends were murdered in a hotel with the whereabouts of the killer unknown five years and running. Odd circumstances, but when you dig a little deeper you find out that these odd circumstances may be all to common in and around the Blackbird Hotel. We know people die but we read to find out the events leading up to their tragic ending.
Eric Dillon, Celia Dark, and Rory McFarland have been best friends since childhood and have been more than friends since high-school. Isolating themselves from the rest of the high-school cliques and their infectious inevitability they rely on one another to get through their own independent problems. Eric has to deal with abuse and subsequent mental health problems, Celia has truly never experienced the feeling of family, and Rory, well Rory's problem is going to take some time and persuasion to find the answer. They have a strong bond, albeit a little strange and as time goes on their feelings for each other will be tested. Not really like-minded people except in their desire for family, friends, and sex. When high-school ends Eric decides to go to UNLV and enroll in the engineering program, Roy decides to work construction leaving Celia alone in the safe haven of Jawbone Ridge, Colorado.
After becoming owners of the Blackbird with the plan of turning it into a bed and breakfast, Celia, Rory, and Eric became the personification of the property. They embodied the state of the hotel by sharing a troubled past, periods of neglect, and having a warped perception that there was always someone watching your every move; just like in life outside the hotel. While they try and remedy the dilapidated state of the hotel and transform it into a rejuvenated property their relationship will begin to need some attention in order to persevere through the coming weeks. If not, the hotel as well as their relationship will fade into oblivion.
For the most part the story takes place during the winter season. A season that can be beautiful even if in some cases, if we are honest with ourselves that it is hauntingly so. A season that messes with perception, leads to more downtime, isolation, depression, lethargy and being lost with one's thoughts. Snow encased environs leading to a claustrophobic feeling lending itself as a mask to the true nature of the land. This book utilizes the elements well, to help invoke the feeling of uncertainty and an anticipation in what's lurking around the corner.
When love leads to obsession, obsession leads to paranoia, paranoia leads to irreversible death. The Undoing is a story about how a seemingly perfect relationship can turn on its head with one singular moment. Similarities can bring people together and jealousies can tear them apart. We learn that in some relationships sexuality can play an important role and when you throw a third person in the mix things can get messy in a hurry. Most men are identifiable with their insatiable appetite for sex, on the other hand, which has also been argued to be a great myth, is that women have a lower sex drive and are looking for more stable and committed relationships that develop into a profound love. What men seem to forget is although some women may not want it as much as we would like, they can't help but feel great knowing they still inspire that interest. When that interest wanes so does their psychological state, their own mental stability and sense of self or they just find someone else. The story demonstrates the safe as well as the dangerous nature of love.
Overall I thought this book was very well-done. It was twisted, it was passionate, it was playful, it was wicked, it was psychological. But most of all it was completely enthralling once you settled into the narrative and the construction of the story, very hypnotic. Many people may be put off by the idea of glamorizing an incestuous relationships which I can't defend the inclusion. However; after reading I can't deny that it adds a little extra intrigue to a story as it is all consensual even if not conventional. My only problem with the novel was that since we witness the characters age from high-school to twenty-something's they pretty much cover every cliché known for this age group. I've never read a book where you can have such contrasting opinions on each player in an ensemble cast of characters. Love hate with each character at the change of the chapter except one where dislike was the overwhelming feeling. Besides that it was a solid read.
The story begins with a suicide, we later find out that three friends were murdered in a hotel with the whereabouts of the killer unknown five years and running. Odd circumstances, but when you dig a little deeper you find out that these odd circumstances may be all to common in and around the Blackbird Hotel. We know people die but we read to find out the events leading up to their tragic ending.
Eric Dillon, Celia Dark, and Rory McFarland have been best friends since childhood and have been more than friends since high-school. Isolating themselves from the rest of the high-school cliques and their infectious inevitability they rely on one another to get through their own independent problems. Eric has to deal with abuse and subsequent mental health problems, Celia has truly never experienced the feeling of family, and Rory, well Rory's problem is going to take some time and persuasion to find the answer. They have a strong bond, albeit a little strange and as time goes on their feelings for each other will be tested. Not really like-minded people except in their desire for family, friends, and sex. When high-school ends Eric decides to go to UNLV and enroll in the engineering program, Roy decides to work construction leaving Celia alone in the safe haven of Jawbone Ridge, Colorado.
"Maybe it was the Blackbird, warping her perceptions. The hotel had been making Kate definitely twitchy. A warped, freaky little place, with that long row of doors and the gnarled staircase. Alone in the hotel, she had clung to a fragile bravado, fortified by hot swallows of brandy that seared her throat but seemed to freeze once the liquor reached her stomach. She couldn't trust herself, couldn't trust the walls almost, to stay upright, or the doors to stay closed. She'd more than once caught a flash of movement, a shadow pouring from the corner of her eye- Jesus. Here we go again. "
After becoming owners of the Blackbird with the plan of turning it into a bed and breakfast, Celia, Rory, and Eric became the personification of the property. They embodied the state of the hotel by sharing a troubled past, periods of neglect, and having a warped perception that there was always someone watching your every move; just like in life outside the hotel. While they try and remedy the dilapidated state of the hotel and transform it into a rejuvenated property their relationship will begin to need some attention in order to persevere through the coming weeks. If not, the hotel as well as their relationship will fade into oblivion.
For the most part the story takes place during the winter season. A season that can be beautiful even if in some cases, if we are honest with ourselves that it is hauntingly so. A season that messes with perception, leads to more downtime, isolation, depression, lethargy and being lost with one's thoughts. Snow encased environs leading to a claustrophobic feeling lending itself as a mask to the true nature of the land. This book utilizes the elements well, to help invoke the feeling of uncertainty and an anticipation in what's lurking around the corner.
" 'This look of thine will hurt my soul from heaven,' he said softly. 'You start to feel that woman belongs to you, and you get that fire...'
The shadows danced across the chessboard. Julian picked up the black king and set it down. 'Checkmate.' "
When love leads to obsession, obsession leads to paranoia, paranoia leads to irreversible death. The Undoing is a story about how a seemingly perfect relationship can turn on its head with one singular moment. Similarities can bring people together and jealousies can tear them apart. We learn that in some relationships sexuality can play an important role and when you throw a third person in the mix things can get messy in a hurry. Most men are identifiable with their insatiable appetite for sex, on the other hand, which has also been argued to be a great myth, is that women have a lower sex drive and are looking for more stable and committed relationships that develop into a profound love. What men seem to forget is although some women may not want it as much as we would like, they can't help but feel great knowing they still inspire that interest. When that interest wanes so does their psychological state, their own mental stability and sense of self or they just find someone else. The story demonstrates the safe as well as the dangerous nature of love.
"Or...maybe not beauty. On closer analysis, was this girl even pretty? The question teased at Julian as he watched her. What did she look like, really? Straight on, her face had a doll like fragility, the wide eyes and lips symmetrical and perfectly balanced. But her gapped and crooked front teeth, combined with the high Slavic line of her cheekbones, conspired at times to render her so flawed she could almost be called ugly. The effect was perplexing, mesmerizing, like turning a kaleidoscope. You got a different pattern every time. He turned away, aggravated."
Overall I thought this book was very well-done. It was twisted, it was passionate, it was playful, it was wicked, it was psychological. But most of all it was completely enthralling once you settled into the narrative and the construction of the story, very hypnotic. Many people may be put off by the idea of glamorizing an incestuous relationships which I can't defend the inclusion. However; after reading I can't deny that it adds a little extra intrigue to a story as it is all consensual even if not conventional. My only problem with the novel was that since we witness the characters age from high-school to twenty-something's they pretty much cover every cliché known for this age group. I've never read a book where you can have such contrasting opinions on each player in an ensemble cast of characters. Love hate with each character at the change of the chapter except one where dislike was the overwhelming feeling. Besides that it was a solid read.
"My age is three hundred and seventy-two,
And I think, with the deepest regret,
How I used to pick up and voraciously chew
The dear little boys whom I met.
I've eaten them raw, in their holiday suite;
I've eaten them curried with rice;
I've eaten them baked, in their jackets and boots,
And found them exceedingly nice.
But now that my jaws are too weak for such fare,
I think it exceedingly rude
To do such a thing, when I'm quite well aware
Little boys don't like to be chewed."
January 7, 2016
Thanks, first reads!
The Undoing is precisely the kind of book I'm drawn to. It's gritty, it's dark, the Blackbird seems to almost have a mind of its own. The characters are flawed and natural. It surrounds a poly amorous relationship between two men and one woman. Plus, the woman isn't even a traditional beauty which I loved. These three friends--lovers--have known each other all their lives. When they make the decision to jointly purchase the Blackbird and spruce it up it starts out fine, but it doesn't take very much time at all for their situation to violently implode. The unusual way of telling the story (starting with the end result and going backward in time) lent a bit more mystery to the plot than doing it traditionally would have. While it could be confusing at times (I had to reread bits to make sure I had my timeline right) it turned out to be a very useful tool for the author.
The characterization is what carries this novel. Each person was fully fleshed out; every single one felt like someone I could meet at a party or run into at a coffee shop. In my head Rory was the All-American Boy: athletic, brawny, always there with a quick smile. Eric was quintessential as the moody, brooding, sensitive half. And Celia: weird, flighty, old-lady-in-a-young-girl's body. When I think of her character, I think she would have been perfect as an oracle in ancient Greece. She was the antithesis to Rory and Eric. The most grounded one despite being the one with her head in the clouds.
But the side characters are what really shine. Julian, specifically. Julian, the older outsider who ingratiates himself into the trio's lives, for better or for worse. The man who barges his way in and drastically alters the way their lives unfold whether they know it or not.
Superbly done. The threesome's relationship--particularly the scene in the movie theater--was slightly erotic, which seemed out of place in a story like this. Not that it shouldn't have been included; if anything, I'd say the author did a fabulous job of smooshing it exactly where it needed to be to draw in a certain flair and catalyst. I'm definitely interested to see more from this author.
The Undoing is precisely the kind of book I'm drawn to. It's gritty, it's dark, the Blackbird seems to almost have a mind of its own. The characters are flawed and natural. It surrounds a poly amorous relationship between two men and one woman. Plus, the woman isn't even a traditional beauty which I loved. These three friends--lovers--have known each other all their lives. When they make the decision to jointly purchase the Blackbird and spruce it up it starts out fine, but it doesn't take very much time at all for their situation to violently implode. The unusual way of telling the story (starting with the end result and going backward in time) lent a bit more mystery to the plot than doing it traditionally would have. While it could be confusing at times (I had to reread bits to make sure I had my timeline right) it turned out to be a very useful tool for the author.
The characterization is what carries this novel. Each person was fully fleshed out; every single one felt like someone I could meet at a party or run into at a coffee shop. In my head Rory was the All-American Boy: athletic, brawny, always there with a quick smile. Eric was quintessential as the moody, brooding, sensitive half. And Celia: weird, flighty, old-lady-in-a-young-girl's body. When I think of her character, I think she would have been perfect as an oracle in ancient Greece. She was the antithesis to Rory and Eric. The most grounded one despite being the one with her head in the clouds.
But the side characters are what really shine. Julian, specifically. Julian, the older outsider who ingratiates himself into the trio's lives, for better or for worse. The man who barges his way in and drastically alters the way their lives unfold whether they know it or not.
Superbly done. The threesome's relationship--particularly the scene in the movie theater--was slightly erotic, which seemed out of place in a story like this. Not that it shouldn't have been included; if anything, I'd say the author did a fabulous job of smooshing it exactly where it needed to be to draw in a certain flair and catalyst. I'm definitely interested to see more from this author.
March 22, 2016
You stole my happy, you made me cry, you took the lonely and took me for a ride..And I wanna un un un do it it. You had my heart now I want it back.. I'm starting to see everything you lack.. I wanna un un un un do it!
Basically this is how I felt about this book, initially I was happy reading this. After reading this, I want to undo everything that I thought I liked about this book. The writing style was not the strongest, neither was the forgettable characters. The plot seemed intriguing, yet the quality of the book did not match at all.
I wanted to undo everything I read from this book.
Laughable, cringe worthy and forgettable.
I wanna un un un un UNDO IT!
NEXT!
Basically this is how I felt about this book, initially I was happy reading this. After reading this, I want to undo everything that I thought I liked about this book. The writing style was not the strongest, neither was the forgettable characters. The plot seemed intriguing, yet the quality of the book did not match at all.
I wanted to undo everything I read from this book.
Laughable, cringe worthy and forgettable.
I wanna un un un un UNDO IT!
NEXT!
December 16, 2017
Five years ago Celia, Eric and Rory -- a young menage a trois who'd bought the old Blackbird Hotel in dying small town Jawbone Ridge, planning to renovate and reopen it -- were found shot to death. Now, five years after the tragedy, Julian, a onetime Olympic skier who got to know the trio and found himself aching for Celia, returns to Jawbone Ridge to find that his old girlfriend, Kate, has become the proprietor of the Blackbird. His response to the reawakening of his memories is to burn the place down and throw himself off a cliff.
So what really happened five years ago?
Although the Lee Child cover quote claims this as a thriller, it isn't. It does, however, have many of the attributes of a thriller, in particular the fact that -- for me at least -- it offered an utterly absorbing read. Dean opts for a non-chronological narrative, beginning with Julian's suicide and then proceeding with usually shortish chapters that are each set earlier than their predecessor until close to the book's end, where we rejoin events just prior to the triple shooting. It seems growingly clear to us that Julian, because of his desire for Celia, engineered the discord between the three lovers.
There's a great deal of sex in the book, some of it fairly graphic, but in context it doesn't seem gratuitous. And the quality of Dean's writing, which I thought quite beautiful, meant that for me the sexuality never seemed coarse or cheap: she's exploring the characters of her three protagonists, and their sexuality is a part of this.
My only real criticism of the novel concerns its ending, which seemed to me to offer, so to speak, a denouement too far -- an extra twist, a too-clever wheeze that would, I think, have been better discarded. Otherwise this was an affectingly splendid piece of work, one that I found easy to cherish.
So what really happened five years ago?
Although the Lee Child cover quote claims this as a thriller, it isn't. It does, however, have many of the attributes of a thriller, in particular the fact that -- for me at least -- it offered an utterly absorbing read. Dean opts for a non-chronological narrative, beginning with Julian's suicide and then proceeding with usually shortish chapters that are each set earlier than their predecessor until close to the book's end, where we rejoin events just prior to the triple shooting. It seems growingly clear to us that Julian, because of his desire for Celia, engineered the discord between the three lovers.
There's a great deal of sex in the book, some of it fairly graphic, but in context it doesn't seem gratuitous. And the quality of Dean's writing, which I thought quite beautiful, meant that for me the sexuality never seemed coarse or cheap: she's exploring the characters of her three protagonists, and their sexuality is a part of this.
My only real criticism of the novel concerns its ending, which seemed to me to offer, so to speak, a denouement too far -- an extra twist, a too-clever wheeze that would, I think, have been better discarded. Otherwise this was an affectingly splendid piece of work, one that I found easy to cherish.
December 8, 2015
Um, where to start? I chose this because of its theme: three friends buy an old hotel to renovate but die in some sort of murder instead. Intriguing, huh? Also, two authors whom I like give it thumbs up on the jacket cover. As you can tell by the two stars, I didn't give it any thumb up. It's supposedly about forbidden love, but what I read sounded more like depravity than any sort of sad, romantic love between people whose circumstances try to keep them apart. The story is overshot with sex and the characters, far from being utterly absorbing, as I saw them described somewhere, were utterly unlikable. And the structure also put me off. It begins in August, 2014. Next chapter is One Day Earlier, then January 11, 2009, then One Day Earlier. Every time I got to a new chapter, I had to refer to the beginning of the last to regain some sort of perspective of time. Okay, then, read it if you think it sounds like something you'd like!
March 17, 2016
At the beginning of this book, I really felt like I was reading Flowers In the Attic again. Incest in the same, simply written style. I didn't want to like it - just like I didn't want to like Flowers in the Attic back in the day (though I read 3 or 4 in the series because I must have liked it, sick kid that I was!).
But then!! WHAM!!!! Where did the question of womanhood come in? How in the world did the author sneak in real world gender issues? And OMG is Averil Dean making me question relationships? Holy shite, mental health too? I love, love, love when an author sneaks the questions in there so stealthily and before you know it, what you thought would be a simple read ends up hitting you deeply and making you think. Fantastic job, Averil Dean!
I also really liked the direction of the book. It starts currently and goes mostly backwards, then switches forward again. It felt like getting to know someone. You make your quick judgments, and if you keep them around, the background gets filled in and you have a (or you should if you're not a lazy friend) good picture of who this person is and why they think the things they think. This was a great tool for giving the characters depth.
This isn't a new favorite book. I'll never re-read it. But I had to rate it high, because the writing is sooooo impeccable. I look forward to seeing what else Dean has written.
But then!! WHAM!!!! Where did the question of womanhood come in? How in the world did the author sneak in real world gender issues? And OMG is Averil Dean making me question relationships? Holy shite, mental health too? I love, love, love when an author sneaks the questions in there so stealthily and before you know it, what you thought would be a simple read ends up hitting you deeply and making you think. Fantastic job, Averil Dean!
I also really liked the direction of the book. It starts currently and goes mostly backwards, then switches forward again. It felt like getting to know someone. You make your quick judgments, and if you keep them around, the background gets filled in and you have a (or you should if you're not a lazy friend) good picture of who this person is and why they think the things they think. This was a great tool for giving the characters depth.
This isn't a new favorite book. I'll never re-read it. But I had to rate it high, because the writing is sooooo impeccable. I look forward to seeing what else Dean has written.
March 12, 2016
Not as good as her first novel. This just felt to be one of those pointless stories…..characters you do not care about, so that by the time they are all killed off, you are really just rather relieved….
June 19, 2023
This is almost a 1 for me. I couldn’t follow this horrible timeline for the life of me - so unorganized. I guess it worked backwards, but for what?
Why did all of these guys obsess over Celia? Why have I read so many books lately that involve a romance between step siblings?
Julian seemed so inconsequential to this story. Honestly, all of the characters did. The plot was practically nonexistent. Everyone loved Celia, everyone died. They’re in a hotel for some reason. Everyone had a terrible father. Everyone had a sordid childhood.
I love a creepy book, but this wasn’t even that. There wasn’t a single moment of “uh oh something is about to happen”.
This is what I get for grabbing a book from a “free” rack at the local library.
Why did all of these guys obsess over Celia? Why have I read so many books lately that involve a romance between step siblings?
Julian seemed so inconsequential to this story. Honestly, all of the characters did. The plot was practically nonexistent. Everyone loved Celia, everyone died. They’re in a hotel for some reason. Everyone had a terrible father. Everyone had a sordid childhood.
I love a creepy book, but this wasn’t even that. There wasn’t a single moment of “uh oh something is about to happen”.
This is what I get for grabbing a book from a “free” rack at the local library.
June 18, 2018
An interesting concept, but I am not a huge fan of reverse chronology, and even less a fan of graphic sex scenes.
December 24, 2015
With an unusual premise and a somewhat taboo relationship, The Undoing by Averil Dean is an engrossing psychological thriller. Told from multiple points of view, the novel begins in the present then works its way backward in time only to circle back to the shocking events that occurred at the story's beginning.
Celia Dark, Rory McFarlane and Eric Dillon are childhood friends whose relationship took a rather unorthodox turn in their late teens. As adults, they purchased then began renovating the Blackbird Hotel, a decrepit and ramshackle part of local history. Just as they are on the verge of realizing Celia's dream of re-opening the hotel as a bed and breakfast, a tempestuous and heated confrontation culminates in a stunning murder/suicide. What transpired between them has remained a mystery for five long years, but when their friend Kate Vaughn re-opens the hotel, the shocking truth about what happened that day will eventually be revealed.
Celia, Rory and Eric have very different personalities and their relationship is quite unconventional. A bit of an eccentric, Celia is a free-spirit who does her own thing. She does not care what other people think of her but she still manages to captivate and charm anyone who crosses her path. She is rather laidback, content to go with the flow and avoids confrontation. Rory is Celia's stepbrother and he is quite protective of her. He is gregarious, fearless and always up for an adventure. Growing up with an abusive father, Eric is somewhat troubled with deep seated insecurities.. Although he has been stable for several years now, in the weeks leading up to their deaths, he is slowly beginning to unravel.
Secondary characters Kate Vaughn and Julian Moss are also prominent players in the unfolding drama. Kate is a local whose friendship with Celia spans several years. Julian is an Olympic bronze medal skier who is much older than everyone else. He also has a hint of a dark past but it is his obsessive fascination with Celia that takes a somewhat sinister turn when she rebuffs his advances. His manipulations sow the seeds of mistrust but he pays a heavy price for his actions.
The narrative is interesting but becomes a little convoluted as the story progresses. Beginning in 2014 with the re-opening of the Blackbird Hotel, the novel then moves back in time. Some of the shifts are just a day or two, while others span several years. The jumps in years are easy enough to follow but the "day before" flashbacks are a little confusing. Each of the chapters are from a different time period and present key information and insight about the various characters. Some of these chapters end abruptly and feel incomplete as the story then switches to another stretch of time and/or characters' perspective.
The Undoing by Averil Dean is a riveting and suspenseful thriller with plenty of startling twists and turns. Secrets, jealousy and obsession are slowly revealed as the novel wends its way to a rather shocking and completely unexpected conclusion.
Celia Dark, Rory McFarlane and Eric Dillon are childhood friends whose relationship took a rather unorthodox turn in their late teens. As adults, they purchased then began renovating the Blackbird Hotel, a decrepit and ramshackle part of local history. Just as they are on the verge of realizing Celia's dream of re-opening the hotel as a bed and breakfast, a tempestuous and heated confrontation culminates in a stunning murder/suicide. What transpired between them has remained a mystery for five long years, but when their friend Kate Vaughn re-opens the hotel, the shocking truth about what happened that day will eventually be revealed.
Celia, Rory and Eric have very different personalities and their relationship is quite unconventional. A bit of an eccentric, Celia is a free-spirit who does her own thing. She does not care what other people think of her but she still manages to captivate and charm anyone who crosses her path. She is rather laidback, content to go with the flow and avoids confrontation. Rory is Celia's stepbrother and he is quite protective of her. He is gregarious, fearless and always up for an adventure. Growing up with an abusive father, Eric is somewhat troubled with deep seated insecurities.. Although he has been stable for several years now, in the weeks leading up to their deaths, he is slowly beginning to unravel.
Secondary characters Kate Vaughn and Julian Moss are also prominent players in the unfolding drama. Kate is a local whose friendship with Celia spans several years. Julian is an Olympic bronze medal skier who is much older than everyone else. He also has a hint of a dark past but it is his obsessive fascination with Celia that takes a somewhat sinister turn when she rebuffs his advances. His manipulations sow the seeds of mistrust but he pays a heavy price for his actions.
The narrative is interesting but becomes a little convoluted as the story progresses. Beginning in 2014 with the re-opening of the Blackbird Hotel, the novel then moves back in time. Some of the shifts are just a day or two, while others span several years. The jumps in years are easy enough to follow but the "day before" flashbacks are a little confusing. Each of the chapters are from a different time period and present key information and insight about the various characters. Some of these chapters end abruptly and feel incomplete as the story then switches to another stretch of time and/or characters' perspective.
The Undoing by Averil Dean is a riveting and suspenseful thriller with plenty of startling twists and turns. Secrets, jealousy and obsession are slowly revealed as the novel wends its way to a rather shocking and completely unexpected conclusion.
December 1, 2015
When Julian returns to the Blackbird Hotel 5 years after a tragedy, he is forced to confront the terrible past. His three friends, Celia, Eric, and Rory, were in the process of renovating the old hotel when the unthinkable happened. As the story worked its way backwards from that fateful day, it became somewhat convoluted. I enjoyed the initial momentum, but it petered out and the second half of the novel wasn’t as engaging as the first. The narrative structure was interesting as the story unfolded further and further into the past, but I didn’t think it delivered what it promised. The more I learned about the characters, the less I liked them. Eric, Rory, and Celia were all so needy and codependent on each other that they were blind to anything beyond their twisted little threesome. So it didn’t come as a surprise to me that they met their end as they did. There wasn’t enough psychological tension, which would have made this more intriguing. The premise was decent and the plot had potential, but I was left wanting more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
August 8, 2017
I would rate this 0 stars if possible. This was one of the worst books I've ever finished. I'm actually surprised I finished it. I think I was hoping it might get better, but it became increasingly worse. The characters were bland with an extremely weak storyline. The climax of the story was very anticlimactic. Added to that was the chronocological set up of the chapters. Each chapter descended a couple months or years. I kept having to backtrack in order to figure out what was going on. Simply--don't waste your time on this one.
March 24, 2024
if anyone ever recommends this book to you for any reason, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!
this book sucked so much i can't even put it into words. i thought i'd be getting into a murder mystery but instead we have "read about a threesome and incest!" which is NOT a vibe!
wow i really thought this book wouldn't get worse but then it did with every page. nothing even happened!!! i thought this would be interesting! how do you make a murder mystery boring as fuck?!
the whole "going backwards through time" wasn't even done well either. genuine fraud is a way better book to experience this sort of thing.
actually, if you think this book sounds interesting, do yourself a favor and read genuine fraud instead! this isn't something anyone should ever have to read for any reason at all!
i can't believe i found a book worse than the atlas six in just a month or two! so glad i could experience such genuine shit writing to really appreciate the books i like even more :D
this book sucked so much i can't even put it into words. i thought i'd be getting into a murder mystery but instead we have "read about a threesome and incest!" which is NOT a vibe!
wow i really thought this book wouldn't get worse but then it did with every page. nothing even happened!!! i thought this would be interesting! how do you make a murder mystery boring as fuck?!
the whole "going backwards through time" wasn't even done well either. genuine fraud is a way better book to experience this sort of thing.
actually, if you think this book sounds interesting, do yourself a favor and read genuine fraud instead! this isn't something anyone should ever have to read for any reason at all!
i can't believe i found a book worse than the atlas six in just a month or two! so glad i could experience such genuine shit writing to really appreciate the books i like even more :D
June 24, 2021
An interesting premise but final execution is lacking as the tension peters out in the last pages (and why the focus on Julian? Why even the Julian character?). The novel starts well with a slight "Secret History" vibe ( within fusional group of young people, passion, betrayals and sexual jealousy lead to tragedy), though the East Coast college decor is here replaced by a remote motel in the mountains and and original ski-lodge atmosphere. The plot is built on a love triangle, described in a series of intimate scenes, quite unusual for a psychological thriller. The effect is an increasingly "racy" (kind of) read as we are plunged into the description of the protagonists' bedroom exploits and the side "mystery" of why the heroine's father left her as a child. Psychological depth is however quite non-existent - or simply not the point- as every male character is reduced to his inexplicable and insatiable desire for the heroine (who herself is a submissive cypher)...reads a little too much like wish-fulfillment. As for the reverse chronology narration, it feels gimmicky and does not bring much to the story, creating a feeeling of anti-climax as the build-up to the last scene falls flat. However the novel taken as a whole is relatively enjoyable and suspenseful despite its flaws.
January 13, 2024
Okay so that was a wild ride and i was technically right about the ending. The Genuine Fraud vibes were active and both mysterious leads are named Jules. Celia is living a dream summer vacay Unfortunately she let it drag into fall and the icy jealousy sunk in too deep for her to keep up with. Eric was best when medicated. Rory got lost on his way to a Colleen Hoover thriller and no he won't be missed. Kate stayed in the background playing the long game but didn't anticipate interference. Julian had a good plan but fell to the trappings of his obsession and was a dick.
Worth the read and space your bookshelf for the twist and reverse structure.
Worth the read and space your bookshelf for the twist and reverse structure.
September 14, 2023
I read this awhile ago and can't remember the ending! Too many books read since. But it begins by telling you what has happened and goes back in time to build on the why and the how. I feel like I got sucked into liking it as Dean is an excellent writer although this novel has many "forbidden" type topics - suicide and incest to name a few. It was a dark story filled with flawed and broken characters and I just couldn't put it down!
February 12, 2017
I won this uncorrected proof from Goodreads giveaway.
Three young people are found killed in an old hotel that they had been refurbishing. The book reflects back into their lives and describes the obsession they had with each other. It is a sad study of damaged childhoods and unfulfilled dreams. I enjoyed parts of the book and found parts a little dry.
Three young people are found killed in an old hotel that they had been refurbishing. The book reflects back into their lives and describes the obsession they had with each other. It is a sad study of damaged childhoods and unfulfilled dreams. I enjoyed parts of the book and found parts a little dry.
January 2, 2018
I would probably up the rating to 3.5 stars if possible, I really enjoyed the story and the non-chronological pace of it. Trying to stay spoiler free here so I'm going to be rather vague about my only complaint - I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the first ending and the secondary ending felt unnecessary and didn't make as much sense.
August 14, 2017
Very good, sometimes hard to read, but once I started it, I couldn't stop! Keeps you guessing until the end!
March 27, 2018
Thought this was going to be a good one, but just wasn't for me. Characters could have been so much more rich, but just missed the mark.
April 11, 2018
A threesome thriller ! I love the character julian moss as the joker but he dont know the truth behind the murders that been set up from the start by kate. Overall a good book !
May 28, 2018
Memorizing story of the connection between 3 friends becomes unraveled when others come into their lives. Hard to put down.
September 2, 2018
No doubt there is a story in there, somewhere, perhaps even a good story; but between the chronological mess and the continual graphic sex scenes it was not worth it to me to find the story.
November 2, 2018
Damn! It sucks you in from the start and you cannot put it down!
January 15, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It's not quite what you'd picture from the summary or dustjacket, but it 's intriguing and pulls you in from the beginning.
February 10, 2019
The backwards plotting threw me off a little, but it was an engrossing read. I went back and read the beginning again now that I have the context of the end.
August 13, 2019
None of the characters had any redeeming qualities and it was not much of a thriller.
February 8, 2020
The book was O.K. It started really slow, but then it picked up. Then it took a nose dive! I thought the ending would have a twist, but it didn't. The ending was disappointing!
February 19, 2020
Read for shortest thriller on my TBR for thrillerathon. Now I can unhaul it.
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