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Original poster

What's the book with the best twist you've ever read?

77 replies

jayne10b · 10/05/2011 19:04

Well that's the question really!!

My personal favourites for any other twist lovers are:

Fingersmith
An instance of the fingerpost
The murder of Roger Ackroyd

TIA

Jayne

OP posts:
DottyDot · 10/05/2011 19:06

Not so much a twist, but the most shocking ending I've read:

We Need to Talk about Kevin

Fantastic book, inspired a book group amongst our friends and I still remember the horror/fascination as I was reading it...Shock Grin

aStarInStrangeways · 10/05/2011 19:09

This thread is going to end up spoilertastic, you do know that don't you Grin

For me: The Insult by Rupert Thomson.

RupertTheBear · 10/05/2011 19:13

I was just going to say fingersmith - I gasped out loud I think!

Brices · 10/05/2011 19:18

the wasp factory - Banks, took me by surprise

squashedfly · 10/05/2011 20:59

Yup - fingersmith for me too. Def gasped out loud!!

sonearsofar · 10/05/2011 21:35

Another Fingersmith - I just sat there thunderstruck - I also didn't see the lesbian relationship coming. Affinity, also by Sarah Waters, has another good twist as well.

DirtyMartini · 10/05/2011 21:38

This is hilarious - I clicked on this hoping to be the first to mention Fingersmith and about eight posts in it's been mentioned as many times Grin

I LOVE that book. It stands up well to a second reading, too.

MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellymelly · 10/05/2011 21:41

Another yes for fingersmith.

TurtlesAreRetroRight · 10/05/2011 21:49

We Really Don't Need To Talk About Kevin, turgid load of crap. I'm really surprised when people don't see it coming. Forgive me, I despise that book.

The Wasp Factory surprised me in the same way as The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler many, many years previously.

MarionCole · 10/05/2011 21:50

Looks like I need to read Fingersmith.

DON'T SPOIL IT FOR ME

Itsjustafleshwound · 10/05/2011 21:51

Fingersmith

Some of Roald Dahl adult short stories - unusual endings and are often rehashed

hellymelly · 10/05/2011 21:52

I agree with turtles on Kevin.I utterly loathed that book and saw the ending coming a mile off.I only finished it as I couldn't believe it could be as bad and it would get better...it didn't.

AnyFucker · 10/05/2011 21:59

could someone please pm me the twist in Fingersmith...I have read the book but have forgotten it !

it's really bugging me

Plumm · 10/05/2011 22:03

what's the twist in Kevin - I couldn't be bothered to read the book but am intrigued now.

PandaG · 10/05/2011 22:03

loved Tyke Tyler - didn't read it as a child but a teacher!

maybe I ought to read fingersmith?

I tend to read a lot of thrillers, so lots of twists and turns.

MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

warthog · 10/05/2011 22:05

wasp factory

notapizzaeater · 10/05/2011 22:06

By reason of Insanity - Shane Stevens - one of the best books I have ever read

superdollyfragilistic · 10/05/2011 22:29

Thank you for this thread, was just looking for somthing to read, and have downloaded Fingersmith to my reader. Will come back and see how much I gasp, though obv forewarned!

SerapisBey · 10/05/2011 22:32

Life of Pi has a good twist as does Half of a Yellow Sun.

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 10/05/2011 22:34

I hated Fingersmith - am clearly in a minority of one (oh and a colleague hated it too but she's not here!).

I like Dahl's Lamb To The Slaughter, although yes, it's probably a bit of a cliche now but I think he got there first. And the end of King's The dark Tower series is both maddeningly awful and astonishingly right in equal measure.

Vintagepommery · 11/05/2011 09:42

Rough Music by Patrick Gale has a really good twist near the start of the book - and it's a really good book as a whole.

mrsbabookaloo · 11/05/2011 09:46

Another vote for fingersmith. I gasped, and was so satifying to be sitting next to DH when he read it after me and see him gasp too!

TechLovingDad · 11/05/2011 09:47

The Bible, had me gripped til the end. Who could have seen that coming?

Sorry, not helpful.