According to my not-so-relentless research (not-so-relentless was kind of a surprise when describing research, right!?), the first literary work known to have a plot twist was “The Tale of the Three Apples” in One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights. And we, as a part of the human species, have been hooked since then. After all, who doesn’t love a surprise ending? There’s nothing like a good dopamine rush from a shocking “I can’t believe that happened!” moment in a book or movie. The plot twists are extra good when they change the meaning of the entire story. Let’s take a look at some works with great plot twists that can be found at the Salina Public Library. They may just grab your attention.
I start with a book containing what I consider to be one of the best plot twists ever – Shutter Island by Dennis Lahane. In this 2003 bestseller, U.S. Marshall “Teddy” Daniels investigates the disappearance of an inmate from Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Due to an incoming storm, he and his new, not-sure-whether-you-can-quite-trust-him-or-not partner are stuck at the facility which is located on the infamous Shutter Island. Mysteries arise and, well, I can’t tell you the rest. You’ll have to read the book to find out. But you can trust me when I say, the ending is so good!
Stunned and a bit confused – that is how I felt when I first read the classic The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The more I thought about the book, however, the more I came to love it. It’s just genius. The Turn of the Screw is a gothic novella that follows a young governess who is hired to care for and teach the niece and nephew of a mysterious stranger who the governess never sees and with whom she is never to communicate. Problems arise. Mysteries run deep. The reader is left wondering whether… Well again, you will just have to read it and see what the reader is left wondering. (I am kind of in the mood to read this one again now).
Psychological thriller is not my go-to genre. However, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins had me hooked from the beginning. Rachel Watson has had a tough time due to alcoholism. She blacks out and does not remember inappropriate and often embarrassing behavior. This has even cost her her marriage. Her ex-husband, Tom, has moved on and now has a beautiful new family, and Rachel is kind of – well – obsessed, not only with Tom but also with a couple she views on her daily train ride. And then a disappearance occurs – and Rachel, who has a difficult time differentiating between fantasy and reality, may be a witness. If only she can convince the police of what she knows. If you are a fan of such novels, give this one a try. I totally did not see the twist coming.
The first time I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I was flabbergasted by its beauty. Wilde was a proponent of the Aesthetic Movement or art for art’s sake and beauty for beauty’s sake. This movement was originally a response to the ugliness of the industrialism that was prominent in the nineteenth century. However, the beauty of the writing is not the only thing that stuns in this work, which has been described as everything from gothic to decadent to moral fantasy. The protagonist’s progression from innocent boy to a non-aging reprobate is powerful. But that does not even begin to explore that plot twist. If you have never had a chance to read this aesthetic masterpiece, I wholeheartedly recommend it. If you have read it, why not read it again? I read it fairly regularly for classes I teach, and each time, I see something new. Seeing the excitement and shock of my students when they come to the plot twist is a lot of fun too. The excitement never gets old. (Get it? Never gets old. I tried).
A mysterious protagonist, a blooming love, a toxic obsession – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens has it all. Oh, yeah, and it has a fantastic plot twist. Kya Clark was abandoned by her mother and siblings when she was a child. She was left alone with her father, who was an alcoholic and oftentimes abusive. As a child, she found solace in the things of nature. She meets and falls in love with Tate Walker, who teaches this “Marsh Girl” how to read. However, when Tate moves on, Kya falls for Chase Andrews, who seems too good to be true. Things take a dark turn, and Kya’s life as she knows it may be in jeopardy. What happens and what will become of Kya? Well, the Salina Public Library has both the novel and the 2022 movie. Why not check them out and see what you think?
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald may be one of the most debated books I have come across. During Fitzgerald’s lifetime, it was a flop. Now some consider it The Great American Novel. In my opinion, it is fabulous. Not only does it reflect the glitz of the Roaring Twenties, the dark side of the American Dream, and the power of social class, it contains a plot twist like no other. Here at Salina Public Library, we have the novel and three movie versions of the work.
Alex Michaelides is another thriller writer I enjoy. His The Silent Patient is my favorite of his works so far. In this novel, Alicia Berenson is accused of murdering her husband. She does not plead guilt or innocence. Instead, she paints Alcestis, which is believed to hold clues to the truth.
Psychiatrist Theo Faber is having problems of his own. His wife, he believes, is having an affair. However, he becomes intrigued with Berenson’s case and takes a job at the psychiatric facility where she is a patient. Here he encounters friends, enemies, and Berenson. Twists and turns – and quite a surprise – occur. I recommend checking it out.
What article about plot twists would be complete without mentioning at least one work by “the Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie? Murder on the Orient Express is one of Christie’s Hercule Poirot books. Its plot focuses on the murder of a not-so-upright individual. Readers question whether there was any morality in this crime. Of course, there’s a fantastic plot twist. Here at Salina Public Library, we not only have the book. We also have both the 1974 and 2018 movies. Why not check out one or more of these versions of this classic mystery?
Did you know on the tombstone of nineteenth-century sensationalist author Wilkie Collins, the words “Author of The Woman In White and Other Works of Fiction” is written? The Woman in White tells the story of a teacher named Walter Hartwright, who, on a lonely night, meets a mysterious woman, who turns out to be an escapee from a mental asylum. He later meets another young woman who looks almost identical to the stranger he cannot seem to forget. And that is where the mystery and the plot twist come into play. Even if I wanted to tell you about the twists and turns in this work, I am not sure I could do it justice. I recommend reading it and seeing if you were as surprised by the plot twist as I was.
Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
My list of books would not be complete without mentioning the Master of the Macabre and the Father of Detective Fiction, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe himself. We have several works by and about Poe in our collection, including the spectacular Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. If anyone knew how to write a plot twist, it was Poe. Some plot-twisting horror titles in this collection include “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat,” “The Oval Portrait,” and “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.” Complete Stories and Poems also includes his detective fiction “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Mystery of Marie Roget.” If you are a fan of psychological horror and early detective fiction, Poe and his plot twists are for you (and me too!).
Fight Club, written by Chuck Palahniuk, is a work that is not afraid to challenge “normal” life in modern America. An unnamed narrator (you just know there is some kind of mystery involved if the narrator is unnamed) is living an empty life. He pretends to have various ailments and tries to find fulfillment in attending support groups. He meets a soap salesman named Tyler Durden. Durden introduces our narrator to a world in which masculinity is physical and brutal. (It isn’t called Project Mayhem for nothing). His new life in this underworld fight club convinces the unnamed narrator to leave his old life behind and dedicate his all to recruiting other men to Project Mayhem. Except, of course, things aren’t always what they seem, are they? In fact, this applies most… Oh, nevermind. You should check out the movie version of Fight Club and find out. (The book is also available through our online services).
If you like dark, twisted, and psychological (with a fabulous plot twist, of course), which, I admit, I do at times, I recommend the movie The Black Swan. Actress Natalie Portman won the 2005 Academy Award for her portrayal of Nina Sayers, a ballerina who not only is seeking the lead part in Swan Lake, but she lives with her controlling mother and is taking the place of a forced-to-retire-and-is-not-happy-about-it dancer. That says nothing of the intense competition with other dancers, the demanding and rather abusive director who insists Nina is not free enough to play the part of the Black Swan, and the fact that Nina… Oh, wait. Sorry. Let me just say that this psychological horror movie is probably my favorite from director Darren Aronofsky.
No movie plot twists would be complete without mentioning M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense. In this classic, Bruce Willis plays child psychologist Malcolm Crowe. He believes his young client may have schizophrenia because the child claims he can see dead people. Crowe’s treatment for overcoming childhood fear involves convincing Cole it is okay to try to talk to the so-called dead people he sees. What happens next, and next to that, is so shocking. There is a reason The Sixth Sense is often on the list of movies with the best plot twists. And we have it right here at Salina Public Library, just waiting for you to check it out for your next movie night.
I am going to here mention a movie that I do not think gets the attention it deserves. The Illusionist was released the same year (2006) as Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, another magician movie with a wonderful plot twist. But I have to confess, I think The Illusionist is better. (This is a big debate in my house). Edward Norton and Jessica Biel star in this movie about childhood love that takes a deadly turn many years later. This movie truly has it all – romance, excitement, ghosts, a less-than-laudable crown prince, a worried-about-his-job-if-he-finds-out-the-truth detective, and… Really, you need to check this one out. You will not be disappointed.
Books and movies with plot twists are fun and relaxing, while keeping us on the edge of our seat. The works I listed here are just a few of my recommendations. Come check them out and see if you find them as surprising as I did.
About The Author: Kandy
Kandy works in the Circulation Department at Salina Public Library. She holds two bachelor's degrees in religion and education and three master's degrees in human services counseling with a cognate in Christian ministries, history, and professional writing - all from Liberty University. In her free time, she enjoys fiction and nonfiction writing, reading, researching her favorite historical, sociological, psychological, and theological topics, conducting Bible studies, and visiting her favorite historical sites and museums. Her favorite things at the library are books and writing events.
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