I recently was reading Killer Move by Michael Marshall, a mystery writer. I got halfway through. Here is what I am writing him. Snarl.

Perhaps you think it is not the author’s responsibility to provide the reader any emotional satisfaction. You would be wrong. In your novel, Killer Move, (such a nothing title) you give the mischief makers all of the marbles. And, of course, you are lazy since you answered none of the questions you raised throughout your narrative. Was that sloth, or did you write without an outline, letting each character guide you on and not knowing where they were taking you?

Eventually, though, the talented (and hard-working) writer discovers a way to tie the threads to each other logically so as to appease the reader’s hunger for who was persecuting our hero and why was he being persecuted. Apparently you got to “the end” without a clue. I also fault your editor and agent for letting you get away with this. Apparently no one was minding this store. As for a resolution. I can see you now in your den: “I’ve got it! I don't have reasons for this behavior I have invented, so I’ll just not tell the reader anything. My masochistic readers will love me.”

I read only half of the book and then, detecting a control freak’s sick manipulation (that would be you) I skipped to the end. A wise move, particularly when I saw there was no end.

xx, Teal