Endings in Books

The first in the Temp Crabtree mystery series. 

 I've been doing a lot of reading lately and I've noticed the importance of endings.

In a mystery, the mystery needs to be solved, and all the plot ends tied up. If it's a series, there can be ongoing plot threads such as relationships not yet resolved that will continue on in the next book.

But for goodness sake, please give us a solution to the mystery.

Don't leave it hanging. 

I once quit reading a best-selling mystery writer because at the end we still didn't learn who-dun-it. On the next page the reader was informed to read the next installment in the series. I never bought another of the writer's books. 

Recently read a fairly compelling mystery, but in the end the bad guy got away. He was a really horrible murderer, multiple victims, and no remorse. Ugh!  Not what I expected or enjoyed.

In other genres, I expect an ending that in some instances will give me pleasure, maybe even make me smile. 

Endings are as important as beginnings. Maybe this is something we need to spend time teaching new writers.

In both my series, the mysteries are always solved. 

Marilyn