There was a feeling of restraint about this novel, set on a remote Scottish island with few inhabitants. Events are handled with understatement, where a trashier novel might have sensationalised them. Maureen's relationship with the Environmental Health guy was a case in point. I also thought the chapter written from the point of view of a dementia sufferer was a bold experiment that worked very well. I enjoyed the insight into life on an island with hardly any neighbours - the nuts and bolts of how it all worked. On the other hand, there was a tendency to allow characters to drop out of the story with little in the way of update on their condition, and the character Trevor never really had his personality filled out. A novel with many good points but which somehow didn't work as a rounded whole. ( )

Truly beautiful family saga about the diminishing life of a fictional Hebrides island. The writing is pitch-perfect and the characters rich and memorable. Each member of the family gets his or her section, though the final chapter, which belongs to the father, is as devastating as it is lovely. I'm so glad I found this gem!
http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2015/07/review-what-ends-by-andrew-ladd.html ( )

Goede en prettig lezende debuutroman over een eiland, Eilean Fior (niet bestaand), in de Hebriden dat langzamerhand ontvolkt raakt. Een familie, McCloud's, probeert krampacht hun manier van leven in stand te houden, maar ook de drie kinderen kunnen niet verhinderen dat er een einde komt aan hun leven en bestaan op dit prachtige maar ontoegankelijke Schotse eiland. ( )