The conclusion of a thriller novel is one of the most important parts of the book. It’s the last chance to leave a lasting impression on readers and ensure they’ll return for more.
The key elements are: to keep it short and sweet, make it impactful, and leave the reader wanting more. This blog will give you tips for writing a killer conclusion!
Tie up loose ends
All plot threads should be neatly resolved by the time you conclude. This will give readers a sense of satisfaction and closure. While you don’t have to reveal every detail about what happened afterward, give readers enough information so that they feel satisfied with how the story ended. This might include a brief epilogue or a few sentences of reflection from one of the characters.
Create a sense of suspense
The best way to create suspense is to keep the reader guessing until the end. So keep it suspenseful. The best way to end a thriller is with a cliffhanger or twist that leaves readers dying to know what happens next. The last sentence is your last chance to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, so make it count! Be creative! There are endless possibilities when writing a great conclusion, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box and create something unique that will wow your readers.
Build up the tension
As you get closer to the end of the novel, ramp up the tension so that it reaches its peak at the climax. This will leave readers feeling breathless and eager to see how everything resolves itself. Leave a cliffhanger. Use your concluding sentences to tease what’s to come in the next book or installment. Use cliffhangers wisely. They can be an excellent way to keep readers hooked until the end of your novel; however, be careful not to overuse them, or you risk frustrating or losing your reader entirely!
Keep it short and sweet
A good rule of thumb is to keep your concluding sentences more concise than the rest of your paragraph. This will help create a sense of urgency and excitement for the reader. Also, stick to your theme; whatever theme you choose for your novel is still in the conclusion paragraph. This will give your ending a sense of closure and ensure it ties back into what came before it.
Make it impactful and memorable
Your concluding sentence should be memorable and leave a lasting impression on the reader. Try to end on a solid note that will stick with the reader long after they finish reading your novel. For example, complete with a powerful quote, an unforgettable image, or other impactful elements.
Consider using transition words for conclusion sentences, including: ‘Therefore,’ ‘In conclusion,’ ‘Finally,’ ‘To sum up,’ ‘At last,’ ‘Overall,’ and ‘Hence.’
Finally, remember to be creative when writing your conclusion, and have fun! Your conclusion is an opportunity to create something unique that will leave readers wanting more. With careful thought and effort, you can create a beautiful ending to your story that will stay with readers for a long time.
Here are a few examples of effective conclusion starters:
– One way to begin a conclusion sentence is with “In the end” or “At long last.” This help set up that final moment when all questions are answered, or all loose ends are tied together in the climax.
– You could also create an ambiguity by saying something like “All was not as it seemed” for an unexpected twist at the end of your thrilling story.
– Other possibilities include words such as “consequently,” “in summary,” or “as a result,” which are great for summarizing points made earlier in the story or drawing connections between various parts of your plot.
Here are some examples of great concluding sentences from popular thriller novels:
“And that’s when I knew I was going to die.” – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
“The horror was upon me.” – The Shining by Stephen King
“I had finally found my family.” – Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
“And then there was only silence.” – Misery by Stephen King
“He opened his eyes minutes later to see Voldemort gone; he was back again on Hogwarts’ grounds. He had survived… Though there were many losses that day, it overall marked a triumph for good over evil.” – Concluding paragraph passage from JK Rowling’s novel Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
“It was he who had killed Megan, and it was he who Rachel had seen that day on the train.” – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. This is an excellent example of a concluding sentence from a thriller because it is genuinely unexpected and satisfies the reader.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” – The final line of Stephen King’s The Shining. This chilling phrase leaves readers unease and foreboding, perfectly matching the novel’s tone.
“She was right – finding out who she was would be difficult. But she had started and would finish.”- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is an excellent example of a thriller with a closing sentence that will leave you hooked.
“The reasons why we do what we do can never be fully explained.” This final line from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo perfectly encapsulates the book’s themes of loyalty, betrayal, and morality, leaving readers with plenty to think about long after reading.
“In the end, there were none.” The final sentence of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel And Then There Were None is absolutely chilling. Just perfect.
“Every story has an end, but in life, every ending is just a new beginning.” – Anonymous
Conclusion
To summarize, all the loose ends have been tied up, and the tension has mounted throughout this blog post. But instead of letting that tension dissipate from its peak, we’ve left off with an air of suspense. In just a few lines, we’ve gone from one point to another, never quite finishing any one topic in complete accuracy but instead leaving readers with something to ponder. And with that, our blog post has come to a memorable conclusion!
Thank you for taking the time to read my article! May you find success and joy in all that you create.
If you’re working on your first novel and are looking for more help with your writing process, please check out my other articles at https://ullahakanson.com/blog/
All the best,
Ulla