"I really hate those books where the murderer turns out to be somebody you never heard of who pops up in the last chapter"

This quote by Jane Haddam reveals her dislike for books where the murderer is revealed to be someone who was never ever pointed out before the last chapter. This type of plot twist can be seen as a low-cost method to surprise the reader, as it does not provide the reader any clues or hints to the killer's identity throughout the story. Jane Haddam thinks that this type of plot twist is ineffective in developing a rewarding story, as it does not provide the reader the chance to guess the killer's identity. She thinks that the best stories are those where the reader has the ability to guess the killer's identity prior to completion of the book, as this develops a sense of complete satisfaction and accomplishment.