One of my favourite plot reveals happens in The Railway Children. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it. I know it was published in 1906 and has a couple of film adaptations, but if you haven’t encountered a particular plot reveal or twist, I don’t think it should be deliberately spoiled.

I think that’s half the joy of reading, being able to discover a plot reveal or twist independently, then gushing to the closest person who will listen and, preferably, has read the book too, about how clever it was.

 The Railway Children’s plot reveal happens naturally and fits perfectly into the historical setting and context of the story. Now about twenty-five years after I first read the book, it still strikes me as clever because it wasn’t contrived but naturally arose from the plot and established characterisation.

The book also contains narrative elements that remain my favourite today such as direct addresses to the reader and wry asides.

I’m very lucky I get to work with manuscripts that contain many of these elements now.

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