Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Kiss the Girls. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Alex Cross discovers that Casanova, the serial kidnapper keeping women in an underground lair in North Carolina, is Detective Nick Ruskin, a police officer working on the case. Ruskin is killed, and Kate McTiernan, who escaped from Casanova, survives.
Quick facts
– Book: Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
– First published: 1995
– Type: A crime thriller
– Tone of the ending: Tense
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Alex's niece Naomi disappears from Duke University. Casanova kidnaps women and keeps them captive. Another killer, the Gentleman Caller, kills women in California. The two killers communicate.
What Happens at the End of Kiss the Girls
Kate, a young doctor, escapes from Casanova's underground hideout and becomes Alex's key witness. Her memories help Alex narrow the search. Alex learns that the Gentleman Caller is Dr. Will Rudolph, who is caught. The bigger shock is that Casanova is Nick Ruskin, a detective who has been working alongside the investigators and steering them away from the truth. Ruskin returns to attack Kate, and Alex kills him. The hidden house is found, and Naomi and other captive women are rescued.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Casanova is a cop.
- Naomi is saved.
- Kate survives.
- Two killers worked together.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Alex Cross | Solves the case |
| Nick Ruskin | Killed |
| Will Rudolph | Arrested |
| Kate McTiernan | Survives |
| Naomi Cross | Rescued |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows Alex's persistence and Kate's courage.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers find the twist shocking, while others see it coming.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Courage. Kate escapes.
Evil. The killers are cruel.
Family. Alex fights for Naomi.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Kiss the Girls as tense. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected James Patterson 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 will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how James Patterson 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 1997 film with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd keeps the twist about Casanova but changes how the killers are linked and how the final confrontation plays out.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Kiss the Girls 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 courage, and do you agree with James Patterson'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, 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 courage 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 James Patterson 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 Kiss the Girls often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Kiss the Girls 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?
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Books to Read After Kiss the Girls
- Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
- The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Related: Kiss the Girls by James Patterson: Summary and Key Takeaways · Along Came a Spider by James Patterson: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Kiss the Girls?
Alex Cross discovers that Casanova, the serial kidnapper keeping women in an underground lair in North Carolina, is Detective Nick Ruskin, a police officer working on the case. Ruskin is killed, and Kate McTiernan, who escaped from Casanova, survives.
Is the ending of Kiss the Girls happy or sad?
Most readers call it tense.
What does the ending of Kiss the Girls mean?
The ending shows Alex's persistence and Kate's courage.
Is the ending of Kiss the Girls the same in the adaptation?
The 1997 film with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd keeps the twist about Casanova but changes how the killers are linked and how the final confrontation plays out.
Who wrote Kiss the Girls and when was it published?
Kiss the Girls was written by James Patterson and first published in 1995.
Is Kiss the Girls 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 James Patterson prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Kiss the Girls before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.