The Big Let-Down

I will be honest, I haven't ever posted in this blog because thus far I haven't really read anything worth mentioning.  The biggest problem with the novels I have been reading as of late seem to all have one thing in common: a big let-down at the very end of the book.  The authors seem to do a fantastic job of developing the story throughout the 100-300 pages of the novel but then you as you get down to the last 2 pages you realize there is not enough time left to resolve anything you expected them to resolve.  One prime example that comes to mind is Steamship to Zion by Jerry Borrowman.  This book looked like it was right up my alley (I love historical fiction) and it sort of was until the last few pages.

**Spoiler Alert**
The story is about the Chandler family and their journey to Salt Lake.  Long Story Short it is their father, Henry, who feels they must move from their home in England to join the Saints in Utah.  They begin their journey by traveling to New York City.  Things don't go as well as planned and they suddenly find themselves forced to work on a steamship bound for Panama City.  Their father passes away during this leg of the journey (dumb!  It was his idea to go and it took a lot of convincing to get the rest of the family to agree to go and then Henry dies!  But death happens and I was able to accept this and move on :) )

The family arrives in Panama City but they find that they don't have enough money to continue on so the boys must work in Panama City until they are able to save enough money for passage to California.  While they are in Panama City Henry's only daughter becomes ill and dies.  (Once again, dumb but it happens and is conceivable in the conditions they were living in)

What's left of the Chandler family (mother and 2 boys) journey to California and once again they must stay for a time; until they can make enough to finish their journey to Utah.  They face many hardships but they are finally able to get a guide to take them to Utah.  This is where the story becomes frustrating.  The author gave so many details about their journey and the difficulties they faced but then the story ends...it just ends.  We don't get to see the Chandler family in Utah; we don't get to see the Saints.  Nothing.  I felt like this was a huge let-down after the development of the story.  Would it really have killed the author to write 30 more pages and finish developing the story?  It feels like he just got tired and gave up or something!

What other big story let-downs have you had?