A good way to start is by introducing a character with a mysterious past. Maybe this character has just moved into town and seems a bit off. They are very secretive and avoid answering certain questions. Then, when a murder occurs in the town, all eyes turn to this new person. The reader will be interested in finding out if this character is involved and what their secrets are that might be related to the murder.
Begin with a strange noise. It could be a scream in the middle of the night that wakes up the whole neighborhood. Everyone is on edge trying to figure out where it came from. When they go to investigate, they find a scene that looks like a murder has taken place. The sudden and unexpected noise grabs the reader's attention and sets the mystery in motion.
Start with a missing person. Just say that someone has vanished without a trace. The family and friends are worried sick. This makes the reader curious about what happened to the person. Was it foul play? Who could be responsible? It's a simple yet effective way to draw the reader in.
One good way is to start with a strange discovery. For example, a character finds a mysterious object like a blood - stained handkerchief in an unexpected place, like their own pocket when they are sure it wasn't there before. This immediately creates intrigue and makes the reader wonder how it got there and what it means.
One way to start a story is to use an exclamation. 'Oh no! The alarm didn't go off!' This shows a sense of urgency or surprise right away. Starting with a time reference can also work well. 'On that cold winter's morning, everything seemed to be covered in a blanket of white.' It sets the mood based on the time of day or season. Also, starting with a contrast can be interesting. 'The city was bustling with life, but in her heart, she felt only loneliness.' This shows a conflict from the start.
A great way to start a mystery story is to introduce a puzzling situation. Say there's a string of unexplained disappearances in a small, quiet town. The first disappearance might be a well - liked local who was last seen walking home from work one evening. There are no signs of a struggle, no witnesses, and no obvious motive. This situation makes the reader curious and eager to find out what's causing these disappearances.
Another way is to introduce a menacing figure right at the start. Picture this: a tall, shadowy figure standing at the end of a long, dimly - lit hallway. The main character catches a glimpse of it out of the corner of their eye, but when they turn to look directly, it seems to vanish. This makes the reader question whether it was real or just a trick of the light, and it sets up a sense of mystery and fear.
Beginning with a dream or vision that seems prophetic can be an interesting start. For instance, a young girl has a recurring dream of a world being destroyed by a giant, glowing orb. When she wakes up, she starts to notice strange things in the real world that seem related to her dream. This type of start adds an element of mystery and foreshadowing to the story.
One way is to start with a festival or a celebration in a fantasy world. There could be a grand ball in a castle where all the magical beings of the land are gathered. But then, something strange happens during the event, like a strange symbol appears in the sky. This combines a sense of celebration and normalcy with an unexpected turn of events. Another good start is to start with a character's special ability that they are just discovering. A girl realizes she can communicate with the stars, and this new - found ability sets her on a path of exploration and adventure.
Starting with a mystery is effective. 'There was a box. It had been sitting in the corner of the old room for as long as anyone could remember. It was unmarked, but there was an odd energy coming from it. One day, a curious child decided to open it...' It makes the reader curious to know more about the mystery object.
A great way is to start with a vivid description of a setting. For instance, 'The city was a chaos of neon lights and steam - filled alleyways. The smell of burnt rubber and fried food filled the air as people scurried about like ants.' This kind of detailed setting draws the reader in and sets the mood for the story.
The motive for the murder was not what it seemed. Everyone thought it was about money or revenge, but it was actually to protect a secret that the victim knew. The murderer was part of a powerful organization, and the victim was going to expose their illegal activities. So, the murderer had to kill to keep the secret safe. This kind of plot twist makes the story more complex and interesting as it challenges the readers' initial assumptions.
A sudden, unexpected event can make for a great start. For instance, 'I was walking home on a normal day when suddenly, a hand reached out from the sewer grate and grabbed my ankle. I screamed, but no one was around to hear me.'