AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A PROPULSIVE DEBUT MYSTERY FROM EVELYN CLARKE, THE BRILLIANT AND DIABOLICAL CREATION OF CAT CLARKE AND V.E. SCHWAB Six authors. One private island. Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives. Named one of the Most Anticipated Mysteries of 2026 by GoodReads, Marie Claire , and Page Six . “In the running for the best mystery of 2026. With a trove of tropes that mystery lovers will love, it will remind you, in the best way, of Agatha Christie.”—Stephen King Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished. Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter––for a mind-boggling sum––they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus. It’s the perfect plot. All it needs is a killer ending. "In the running for the best mystery of 2026. With a trove of tropes that mystery lovers will love, it will remind you, in the best way, of Agatha Christie." - Stephen King "This captivating thriller is a must for every library and a great choice for book clubs." — Library Journal (starred review) "The result is nothing short of dazzling." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “ The Ending Writes Itself is great fun—chilling, thrilling, satisfyingly pulpy and smart—that will appeal to mystery fans, and to anyone who has ever attempted to publish a book.” — The New York Times "High-concept and highly entertaining." — Kirkus Reviews "Prolific fantasy writer V.E. Schwab and YA author-turned-screenwriter Cat Clarke teamed up to create the Evelyn Clarke persona. Their first novel under the pseudonym is a mystery—and a send-up of the publishing industry itself—in which six authors are summoned to a private island and tasked with writing the ending to the final book from a bestselling author after his untimely death. As you can expect, this sets up a delightfully twisty locked-room mystery full of quirky characters." — Marie Claire "Six writers are brought to a remote Scottish island to finish a beloved mystery novelist’s final book—but not all is what it seems! And there’s a ticking clock! The premise alone sounds delightful but when you learn that Evelyn Clarke is the pen-name for the duo of V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke, you’re more or less guaranteed a page-turning treat." — Lit Hub “HarperCollins’ highly-hyped The Ending Writes Itself is actually written by a mystery duo under the pen name Evelyn Clarke, and that in itself intrigues me enough to want to read it. It’s also about writers, who are invited to a private island to complete an unfinished book—with just 72 hours to spare—by its deceased author. Sparing synopses of the book provide a tantalizing glimpse into what promises to be a killer mystery novel.” — Page Six “ The Ending Writes Itself is at once a great many things. As satire it is decidedly wicked. As mystery/thriller it never fails to challenge and often to perplex. The glee it takes in skewering predictable literary tropes offers ongoing amusement. Evelyn Clarke’s debut novel is an absolute treasure." — The Anniston Star "What a ride! Oh, the way I soaked up every single minute of this book!" — The Gloss "Fans of Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries and modern tales like Knives Out will fall for The Ending Writes Itself , which masterfully blends classic mystery elements with genre-bending tropes. Crafted with razor-sharp wit and a meta twist, this satirical take on the publishing world ensures readers will hang on every word, right up to its breathtaking finale." — The Nerd Daily "This is the debut novel from author Evelyn Clarke, and it’s a good thriller, with lots of twists and turns and backstories on most of the characters. More novels like this, and she will be a force in the industry." — Red Carpet Crash “Smart, original, and completely addictive… The Ending Writes Itself is both a great locked-room thriller and a brilliant satire on the publishing industry. An absolute must-read” - Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Why We Lied and After That Night "The most fun I've had with a book in a very, very long time." — A. J. Finn, New York Times bestselling author of End of Story and The Woman in the Window “Fiendishly clever and compulsively readable, The Ending Writes Itself is both a page turning locked room mystery and a gimlet-eyed look at the busines