Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of A Kiss Before Dying. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Bud Corliss, a charming, ruthless young man determined to marry into the wealthy Kingship copper family, kills Dorothy Kingship when she becomes pregnant and later murders her sister Ellen when she investigates. He then courts the third sister, Marion, but she and Ellen's friend Gordon Gant uncover the truth, and Bud falls to his death at the Kingship copper plant.
Quick facts
– Book: A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin
– First published: 1953
– Type: A crime thriller
– Tone of the ending: Tense and ironic
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
The novel is told in three parts, one for each sister. In the first, a student, never named to readers, gets Dorothy pregnant and realizes her father will disinherit her. He makes her write a note that looks like a suicide note and pushes her from the roof of a municipal building. Police rule it suicide.
What Happens at the End of A Kiss Before Dying
Ellen, sure Dorothy did not kill herself, investigates and discovers the boyfriend: Bud. Bud kills Ellen and frames another man. Bud then courts Marion, telling her lies about his past. Gordon Gant, suspicious, digs into Bud's background and tells Marion and her father Leo. At the copper plant, Bud is confronted and, trying to escape, falls into the processing machinery and dies.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Dorothy's death was murder.
- Ellen is killed while investigating.
- Marion learns the truth.
- Bud dies at the copper plant.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Bud Corliss | Dies at the plant |
| Dorothy Kingship | Murdered |
| Ellen Kingship | Murdered |
| Marion Kingship | Saved by the truth |
| Gordon Gant | Exposes Bud |
| Leo Kingship | The sisters' father |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows ambition and greed destroying the man who pursued them.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers admire the structure, which hides the killer's name until the second part, so the reader suspects the wrong man.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Ambition. Bud's greed.
Deception. Bud's lies.
Justice. Bud's fate.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of A Kiss Before Dying as tense and ironic. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Ira Levin to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are tense and ironic will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Ira Levin closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1956 film and the 1991 remake both change details of the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading A Kiss Before Dying with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about ambition, and do you agree with Ira Levin's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as tense and ironic, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces ambition and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Ira Levin leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in A Kiss Before Dying often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of A Kiss Before Dying earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of A Kiss Before Dying on Amazon
Books to Read After A Kiss Before Dying
- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
- The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of A Kiss Before Dying?
Bud Corliss, a charming, ruthless young man determined to marry into the wealthy Kingship copper family, kills Dorothy Kingship when she becomes pregnant and later murders her sister Ellen when she investigates. He then courts the third sister, Marion, but she and Ellen's friend Gordon Gant uncover the truth, and Bud falls to his death at the Kingship copper plant.
Is the ending of A Kiss Before Dying happy or sad?
Most readers call it tense and ironic.
What does the ending of A Kiss Before Dying mean?
The ending shows ambition and greed destroying the man who pursued them.
Is the ending of A Kiss Before Dying the same in the adaptation?
The 1956 film and the 1991 remake both change details of the ending.
Who wrote A Kiss Before Dying and when was it published?
A Kiss Before Dying was written by Ira Levin and first published in 1953.
Is A Kiss Before Dying worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy crime thrillers. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Ira Levin prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read A Kiss Before Dying before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.