Rob Meyer answers “Hey, question about the ending (so please...”

Fazzer A. asked this question about The Bee Sting (International Edition):

Hey, question about the ending (so please do not continue reading unless you have finished the book): How do you interpret the ending? Though a part of me refuses to believe it, unfortunately, I think there are cues that Dickie has resolved to shoot his children...

Rob Meyer I don’t think you can read too much into the call backs of red and grey squirrels, the wedding day etc. These just serve to add tension and create anx…moreI don’t think you can read too much into the call backs of red and grey squirrels, the wedding day etc. These just serve to add tension and create anxiety for the reader that someone is going to be accidentally shot. I think the most likely ending would be somewhat anti climatic. If anything, perhaps that’s what can be read into the ending being left open. The most likely ending being Dickie (knowing what he know about his timidity) wouldn’t bring himself to fire a gun at someone, in the dark with poor visibility. He would have talked himself out of it for those and other reasons. Even if he did manage to fire off a sot, the likelihood of him hitting anyone has to be very small. It’s dark. The rain is pelting down. He is somewhat delirious and he isn’t exactly a practiced marksman. Any suggestion that he may purposefully have shot at someone he knew to be a family member has to be the least likely scenario. As for Frank, I don’t think he would have shot at anyone, having seen two people. The puzzle for me is what happened with Big Mike and Ryszard. How does this left open serve the ending? (less)

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John Kiely I think there is a strong case for hope right at the very end. A rifle makes a “crack” when fired and a “click” when empty … plus with weapons the seq ...more
Feb 18, 2024 03:06AM · flag

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