Worst Ever Ending to a Book

WillieMcIntyre · 03-27-2011, 03:05 PM

Never good to discuss book endings but if it stops people from smashing their ebook reader in sheer annoyance maybe it would be good to have some cautionary tales about books that really suck because of their endings. I have two examples: one is by James Patterson (or whoever wrote it for him). It is so bad I have expunged the title from my brain but it concerns the mass-kidnapping of some VIP's who are attending a wedding in a cathedral in Manhattan. The perps all escape by a most ingenious method and it seems like they have committed the perfect crime, leaving the hero stumped as to who they were - that is until the final chapter which someone has bolted on in a sort of 'crime doesn't pay' way. I'll say no more but - sheesh.

The other is by Lynda La Plante. Again I've forgotten the title but it centres around a serial killer (yawn) who is always one step ahead of the law. He's suave, sophisticated, enjoys toying with the cops and everytime they think they have him cornered, he thwarts their plans. As we near the end of the book it seems impossible that the heroine, a young detective, will collar the killer - until, that is, she tracks down an old car the killer once owned and finds in it a single sequin from a T-shirt, like one from a T-shirt his last victim wore on the night she was murdered. Okay, so I've been a criminal defence lawyer for twenty-five years but my office cat could get the guy off on evidence that weak - but what does Mr Previously oh-so Cool do on the last page? Yup he confesses to everything. "It was me what done it Guv." The end. I was reading the last few pages while waiting for a train and nearly threw myself under the Glasgow/Edinburgh express.

I hope I haven't spoiled a read for anyone but, honestly, if famous authors are going to take our money by writing supposedly realsitic crime fiction at least give us a believeable ending. Rant over.

covingtoncat73 · 03-27-2011, 03:14 PM

I hear you. I run into a lot of endings where I feel like there should have been more but not too many truly awful ones. One I do remember as being awful was another crime/thriller one. The protagonist was female and it was set in Miami. It has been awhile and I don't remember the title or author. Anyway, a main character gets offed AFTER the crime the book is about gets solved in a totally unrelated incident.

mr ploppy · 03-27-2011, 03:15 PM

The way A Clockwork Orange ended always annoyed me. The whole idea that people reach the age of 21 and then suddenly start thinking how great it would be if they settled down and had a baby, gave up all their childhood ideals.

Krad · 03-27-2011, 03:54 PM

I really disliked the ending to I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. Enjoyed everything up til the last 12 pages or so when they tried to pull it off as a 'big brother' effect.

Frida Fantastic · 03-27-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

The way A Clockwork Orange ended always annoyed me. The whole idea that people reach the age of 21 and then suddenly start thinking how great it would be if they settled down and had a baby, gave up all their childhood ideals.

Seconded. It was ridiculous for the guy to go from an out of control criminal to the perfect domesticated daddy. It also cheapened his previous actions and what he did to his victims. Really bad ending.

Another bad ending would be China Mieville's Perdido Street Station. I don't want to spoil, but everyone I know who finished it did a facepalm. Apparently that's true for all of Mieville's novels. It's so disappointing because the rest of the book is so good!

kjk · 03-27-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krad

I really disliked the ending to I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. Enjoyed everything up til the last 12 pages or so when they tried to pull it off as a 'big brother' effect.

The penultimate ending of that book would have been perfect.

mrsquash · 03-27-2011, 04:38 PM

Several Stephen King novels had REALLY bad endings back in his druggy days. "Needful Things" and "The Dark Half" were particularly ridiculous. He's never been strong on endings, anyway, but those were just pathetic.

I thought it was clever of King, in "The Stand", to continue the novel for another 25% or so beyond the deus ex machina disposition of the bad guy. Gave people time to recover from the apparent divine intervention (I think I'm being vague enough here). That helped get things back on track for a satisfying resolution of the other plotlines.

That said, I can generally forgive a bad ending if the journey to it was enjoyable.

Barty · 03-27-2011, 07:55 PM

If anyone is reading Harlan Corben's Tell No One, do NOT read the last few pages. The author felt compelled to throw in one final twist that unfortunately was one too many and nearly ruined the entire premise of the book.

Giggleton · 03-27-2011, 08:30 PM

Endings are obsolete.

Andrew H. · 03-27-2011, 08:48 PM

Books that end in a cliffhanger to get you to buy the next book in the series.

I don't find this as objectionable when the books in question are, basically, telling one story (i.e., LoTR, WoT), but I don't like it when books in a series that simply have the same characters do this.

The "Marla Mason" (an urban fantasy series) did this: the first 3 books were basically independent books with the same characters and universe, but were otherwise completely separate books (i.e., Hardy Boys style). The 4th book essentially began the same way, but when you arrived at the end, only one of the main plot threads had been resolved...the other was to be continued in the next book.

I haven't bought another book in that series.

Does no one read Aristotle anymore? I want catharsis! (And I want it now!)

wyndslash · 03-27-2011, 09:06 PM

i don't mind cliffhangers as long as i have already decided beforehand that i will be getting the whole series, and reading reviews have already warned me of cliffhangers.

one book that i read that had a bad ending was when the main conflict was resolved due simply to the main character having a "misunderstanding." that's it, bye bye problems

SlowRain · 03-28-2011, 01:22 AM

The last quarter or so of Ruchard Russo's Bridge of Sighs comes to mind. It took an otherwise brilliant novel completely off track. Unpredictable? Yes. Stupid? Definitely.

snipenekkid · 03-28-2011, 03:19 AM

endings, never read a good novel with a good ending. Read lots of series with the requisite "cliff hanger" endings to entice me to spend more cash.

I figure endings are what they are and try to overlook if the author just didn't have a clue how to end the book.

If I did have to pick an ending I just never have figured out, yeah I see a potential symbolic parallel for the ending but still I don't really get plus the whole final chapter felt like a bolt-on, that bad ending belonged to Stranger in a Strange Land. Of course Heinlein never did seem to want to end his stories. He could write people very well but end a book, not so much.

Neat thread.

FizzyWater · 03-28-2011, 04:04 AM

I have one friend at work who never forgave me entirely for recommending Shutter Island to her. She absolutely hated the way it ended.

Zetmolm · 03-28-2011, 04:18 AM

Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg.
Actually, I cannot say that the ending is bad. Rather, the ending is missing. It's a thriller, and in that genre you expect all mysteries to be resolved in the end. It's as if the author was afraid to make some choices, and just stopped writing rather than complete the plot.

03-27-2011, 03:05 PM	#1
WillieMcIntyre Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 30000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Scotland Device: Kindle	Worst Ever Ending to a Book Never good to discuss book endings but if it stops people from smashing their ebook reader in sheer annoyance maybe it would be good to have some cautionary tales about books that really suck because of their endings. I have two examples: one is by James Patterson (or whoever wrote it for him). It is so bad I have expunged the title from my brain but it concerns the mass-kidnapping of some VIP's who are attending a wedding in a cathedral in Manhattan. The perps all escape by a most ingenious method and it seems like they have committed the perfect crime, leaving the hero stumped as to who they were - that is until the final chapter which someone has bolted on in a sort of 'crime doesn't pay' way. I'll say no more but - sheesh. The other is by Lynda La Plante. Again I've forgotten the title but it centres around a serial killer (yawn) who is always one step ahead of the law. He's suave, sophisticated, enjoys toying with the cops and everytime they think they have him cornered, he thwarts their plans. As we near the end of the book it seems impossible that the heroine, a young detective, will collar the killer - until, that is, she tracks down an old car the killer once owned and finds in it a single sequin from a T-shirt, like one from a T-shirt his last victim wore on the night she was murdered. Okay, so I've been a criminal defence lawyer for twenty-five years but my office cat could get the guy off on evidence that weak - but what does Mr Previously oh-so Cool do on the last page? Yup he confesses to everything. "It was me what done it Guv." The end. I was reading the last few pages while waiting for a train and nearly threw myself under the Glasgow/Edinburgh express. I hope I haven't spoiled a read for anyone but, honestly, if famous authors are going to take our money by writing supposedly realsitic crime fiction at least give us a believeable ending. Rant over. Last edited by WillieMcIntyre; 03-27-2011 at 03:07 PM. Reason: typo

03-27-2011, 07:55 PM	#8
Barty doofus Posts: 2,555 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	If anyone is reading Harlan Corben's Tell No One, do NOT read the last few pages. The author felt compelled to throw in one final twist that unfortunately was one too many and nearly ruined the entire premise of the book. Last edited by Barty; 03-27-2011 at 07:59 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Never Ending	oldgoat	Which one should I buy?	4	09-01-2016 03:53 PM
Beginning or Ending?	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	3	01-12-2010 02:26 PM
Worst (& Best) Book Translations	mjh215	Lounge	3	11-24-2008 02:58 PM
Worst (& Best) book series finales	mjh215	Lounge	14	11-18-2008 08:53 AM
What is the Worst Book you have had to Edit?	andyafro	Sony Reader	2	12-01-2007 09:40 PM

03-27-2011, 03:14 PM	#2
covingtoncat73 Wizard Posts: 2,745 Karma: 83407757 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Lenovo Duet Chromebook, Moto e	I hear you. I run into a lot of endings where I feel like there should have been more but not too many truly awful ones. One I do remember as being awful was another crime/thriller one. The protagonist was female and it was set in Miami. It has been awhile and I don't remember the title or author. Anyway, a main character gets offed AFTER the crime the book is about gets solved in a totally unrelated incident.

03-27-2011, 03:15 PM	#3
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	The way A Clockwork Orange ended always annoyed me. The whole idea that people reach the age of 21 and then suddenly start thinking how great it would be if they settled down and had a baby, gave up all their childhood ideals.

03-27-2011, 03:54 PM	#4
Krad Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 58 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	I really disliked the ending to I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. Enjoyed everything up til the last 12 pages or so when they tried to pull it off as a 'big brother' effect.

03-27-2011, 04:38 PM	#7
mrsquash Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 648 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Device: K4-NT, Sony T1	Several Stephen King novels had REALLY bad endings back in his druggy days. "Needful Things" and "The Dark Half" were particularly ridiculous. He's never been strong on endings, anyway, but those were just pathetic. I thought it was clever of King, in "The Stand", to continue the novel for another 25% or so beyond the deus ex machina disposition of the bad guy. Gave people time to recover from the apparent divine intervention (I think I'm being vague enough here). That helped get things back on track for a satisfying resolution of the other plotlines. That said, I can generally forgive a bad ending if the journey to it was enjoyable.

03-27-2011, 08:30 PM	#9
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	Endings are obsolete.

03-27-2011, 08:48 PM	#10
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	Books that end in a cliffhanger to get you to buy the next book in the series. I don't find this as objectionable when the books in question are, basically, telling one story (i.e., LoTR, WoT), but I don't like it when books in a series that simply have the same characters do this. The "Marla Mason" (an urban fantasy series) did this: the first 3 books were basically independent books with the same characters and universe, but were otherwise completely separate books (i.e., Hardy Boys style). The 4th book essentially began the same way, but when you arrived at the end, only one of the main plot threads had been resolved...the other was to be continued in the next book. I haven't bought another book in that series. Does no one read Aristotle anymore? I want catharsis! (And I want it now!)

03-27-2011, 09:06 PM	#11
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	i don't mind cliffhangers as long as i have already decided beforehand that i will be getting the whole series, and reading reviews have already warned me of cliffhangers. one book that i read that had a bad ending was when the main conflict was resolved due simply to the main character having a "misunderstanding." that's it, bye bye problems

03-28-2011, 01:22 AM	#12
SlowRain Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 9553 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: a Canadian expat in Taiwan Device: HTC 10, Asus Phonepad	The last quarter or so of Ruchard Russo's Bridge of Sighs comes to mind. It took an otherwise brilliant novel completely off track. Unpredictable? Yes. Stupid? Definitely.

03-28-2011, 03:19 AM	#13
snipenekkid Banned Posts: 760 Karma: 51034 Join Date: Feb 2009	endings, never read a good novel with a good ending. Read lots of series with the requisite "cliff hanger" endings to entice me to spend more cash. I figure endings are what they are and try to overlook if the author just didn't have a clue how to end the book. If I did have to pick an ending I just never have figured out, yeah I see a potential symbolic parallel for the ending but still I don't really get plus the whole final chapter felt like a bolt-on, that bad ending belonged to Stranger in a Strange Land. Of course Heinlein never did seem to want to end his stories. He could write people very well but end a book, not so much. Neat thread.

03-28-2011, 04:04 AM	#14
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I have one friend at work who never forgave me entirely for recommending Shutter Island to her. She absolutely hated the way it ended.

03-28-2011, 04:18 AM	#15
Zetmolm Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 2362786 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: PocketBook Verse Pro Colour	Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg. Actually, I cannot say that the ending is bad. Rather, the ending is missing. It's a thriller, and in that genre you expect all mysteries to be resolved in the end. It's as if the author was afraid to make some choices, and just stopped writing rather than complete the plot.