The Best Cliffhanger Endings of the Past 15 Years

The Premise: Llewelyn Moss stumbles onto a drug deal gone wrong near the Mexican border, steals the money and drugs and runs. A chase involving rival hitmen and a guilt-ridden sheriff ensues. As in his other novels, McCarthy marries a mesmerizing prose style to a profound exploration of good and evil.

Why the Ending Is a Stunner: There's room for interpretation. McCarthy's genius lies in taking you for a wild ride, and then making you think and rethink questions about violence and conscience, long after you’ve finished the book.