Can you envision a different or better ending?Ĩ.

Or does the ending come out of the blue, feeling forced or tacked-on?.

Is it organic, growing out of clues previously laid out by the author ( see Question 3)?.

Is the conclusion probable or believable?.

A good ending is essential in any mystery or crime thriller: it should ease up on tension, answer questions, and tidy up loose ends. Does the author ratchet up the suspense? Did you find yourself anxious-quickly turning pages to learn what happened? A what point does the suspense start to build? Where does it climax.then perhaps start rising again?ħ.

Do they feel forced and gratuitous-inserted merely to extend the story?Ħ.

Do they enhance the story, add complexity, and build suspense?.

Talk about the twists & turns-those surprising plot developments that throw everything you think you've figured out into disarray. Good crime writers also tease us with red-herrings-false clues-to purposely lead readers astray? Does your author try to throw you off track? If so, were you tripped up?ĥ. How skillful was the author in burying them?Ĥ. Did you pick them out, or were you.clueless? Once you've finished the book, go back to locate the clues hidden in plain sight. Good crime writers embed hidden clues in plain sight, slipping them in casually, almost in passing. What do you know.and when do you know it? At what point in the book do you begin to piece together what happened?ģ.

Are they fully developed and emotionally complex? Or are they flat, one-dimensional heroes and villains?Ģ. Describe their personalities and motivations. Talk about the characters, both good and bad. In the meantime, use our generic mystery questions.ġ. We'll add specific questions if and when they're made available by the publisher.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris