Think way back into the late 1990s when M. Night Shyamalan made The Sixth Sense and everyone got creeped out and was wowed by the surprise ending. In my mind, when someone says, “plot twist” that’s what I think of. Which brings us to the next question in the 30 Days of Books list:
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Of course, The Sixth Sense was a movie*, so that’s not really an option here, but thinking on how Shyamalan’s career started and peaked with that movie (I liked Unbreakable and parts of Signs, but let’s face it, everything afterwards was pretty dreadful), made me think of an author that followed sort of a similar career arc – though I’m afraid we’ll have to use the Wayback Machine for even a little longer to get to him.
Scott Turow’s first book, Presumed Innocent, was a first-rate murder mystery and legal thriller. Published in 1987, the story revolves around prosecutor Rusty Sabich who is implicated in the murder of his colleague (and former lover) Carolyn Polhemus. The book is a good page-turner and as a reader you’re fairly-but-not-completely sure that Rusty is being falsely accused. Finding out what really happened was one of those great “no way!” moments and was skillfully executed.
Sadly, like Shyamalan, Turow followed that up with a pretty good effort, The Burden of Proof, and then descended into mostly forgettable courtroom potboilers. Still, even neither of them can manage to reach the heights of their early successes, they’ll still have a place in my heart. Because, really, one of the great joys of reading a mystery is trying to try and figure out what’s going to come — and that joy and surprise of being skillfully out-witted is all too rare.
*and we can’t use tv either, which means that I also have to forego the best one of the last decade: “We have to go back, Kate! WE HAVE TO GO BACK!”
Stevil 
Oh cool, my boyfriend would love this. Not exactly my style of book, but if it was ever made into a movie…… ;)
I have a hard time watching the movie because of Harrison Ford’s bad haircut.
Now you have me. I’ve never read any Scott Turow. I’ve watched plenty of movies made about his books, but haven’t actually read them. Does this make me a Scott Turow virgin? Is this something I should worry about, like I’m missing the YouTube video that everyone else has seen?
HG — I wouldn’t worry. I really do think he was like M-Night — a couple of good ones and then steady decline. I haven’t re-read this book, so my opinion is 20 years (!) in memory. I wonder how dated it would seem now?
Erm…what’s your reference at the end to TV from, yo? Some of us are pop-illiterate.
It’s from “Lost”. :)
Another one from the movies is, of course, The Crying Game. And who can forget the one from The Usual Suspects.
As for books, I’m not sure. I read Presumed Innocence, but to be honest, I don’t really remember much. I think the Red Wedding from Storm Of Swords is probably the most recent “Wow”.
I think Usual Suspects might be my favorite plot twist of all time. :D
It’s definitely mine! Favorite movie, too.
Yes — the Usual Suspects might just be better than The Sixth Sense for finale plot twists. That’s a great choice.
For books, you could also argue the shock, surprise and horror at Ned’s — errr — passing was even more shocking.
I don’t normally go for courtroom dramas but Presumed Innocent was an excellent read. The legal stuff, the political stuff and the interpersonal stuff. And the twist. It was all compelling me to get to that next page.
Me neither that much with the courtroom drama, but I thought too that this book was very well balanced and executed.