How Does 'The Last House Guest' End?

The ending of 'The Last House Guest' packs a punch with its twisty reveal. After chapters of small-town secrets and suspicious accidents, we learn the protagonist's best friend didn't just die—she was murdered by the town's golden boy. The killer framed the protagonist, planting evidence to make her look guilty. The final confrontation happens during a storm at the cliff where the friend died. The protagonist outsmarts him by recording his confession, but he falls to his death trying to attack her. The police clear her name with the recording, but the emotional toll lingers. It's a satisfying ending where the manipulator gets his due, though the loss of friendship remains haunting.

As someone who devours psychological thrillers, 'The Last House Guest' delivers one of the most meticulously constructed endings I've seen. The resolution ties together dozens of subtle clues planted throughout the book. The protagonist Avery realizes her friend Sadie's death wasn't an accident—it was orchestrated by Connor, the charming local real estate heir who'd been manipulating both women. The brilliance lies in how Megan Miranda layers the reveals. First, we discover Connor had been gaslighting Avery for months, making her doubt her own memories. Then comes the gut punch: Sadie had uncovered Connor's embezzlement scheme and threatened to expose him.

The climax unfolds during a nor'easter, mirroring the night Sadie died. Avery lures Connor to the cliffside under the pretense of hiding evidence, secretly recording his confession. When he realizes her deception, their struggle ends with him slipping over the edge—an ironic echo of Sadie's 'accidental' fall. The denouement shows Avery rebuilding her life, but Miranda leaves haunting threads unresolved. The town's collective silence about Connor's crimes suggests corruption runs deeper, making this more than just a personal revenge story. It's a commentary on how wealth and power distort justice in small communities.

If you enjoy endings that leave you staring at the wall processing everything, this book delivers. The finale reveals Connor as the mastermind behind Sadie's murder—a twist that recontextualizes every interaction in the story. What makes it chilling is how ordinary his evil seems. He wasn't some cartoon villain; he was the guy everyone trusted, which mirrors real-life predators. The confrontation scene crackles with tension. Avery uses his own tricks against him, faking vulnerability while secretly recording his confession. When he lunges at her, his fall feels inevitable yet shocking.

Miranda doesn't tidy up all the loose ends, which I appreciate. We never learn if the police investigate Connor's powerful family, or whether the town will stop covering up secrets. Avery moves away but keeps Sadie's necklace, symbolizing how trauma lingers. The ending works because it balances justice with realism—the villain dies, but the system that enabled him remains unchanged.