Here's a more complex opening. 'In the middle of the bustling city square, a woman suddenly collapsed. As she hit the ground, a small, leather - bound book slipped from her purse. No one noticed it at first, but when they did, they saw strange markings on the cover. Those who looked closer seemed to be overcome with a sense of dread.' This opening combines a sudden event, an unexpected object, and a reaction from those who encounter it, all of which are great for setting up a mystery.
A foreboding dream. 'He had the same dream every night for a week. In it, he was in a dark, endless corridor with doors on either side. Each door had a strange symbol, and a cold wind blew from behind him, urging him forward, but he knew that whatever lay beyond those doors was something terrifying.'
A long, lonely road in the middle of nowhere. The headlights of the car are the only source of light as the driver hears a strange thumping on the roof of the vehicle.
Starting with a mysterious statement works well. For instance, 'The old house on the corner had a secret that no one knew, until now.' This piques the reader's interest as they want to uncover what that secret is. It can lead to a story full of mystery and discovery.
You could also start with a simple, relatable situation. For instance, 'Tommy was so excited to go to the park. He had his favorite ball in his hand and was ready for a day of fun.' This makes children feel like they can understand the character's feelings and gets them engaged in the story. Another good opening for kids is a rhyming one. Such as 'Once upon a time in a far - off rhyme, there was a bunny that liked to climb.' Rhymes are catchy for children and can hold their attention better.
One good opening could be 'The old, creaking door swung open, revealing a room filled with a thick, impenetrable darkness that seemed to swallow the feeble light from the hallway.' It immediately sets a spooky and mysterious mood.
Sure. 'The door creaked open, and a cold wind swept in, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.' This opening creates an immediate sense of unease and makes the reader wonder what's behind the door.
'Two friends sat on the park bench, the sun shining down on them, but little did they know that their lives were about to change forever.' This opening sets the scene of a normal friendship moment but then hints at upcoming change.
A discovery of a strange object. It could be an ancient artifact with unreadable inscriptions found in an unexpected place like a local park or in an old attic. The object's origin and purpose are unknown, and it seems to hold some sort of power or significance.
A character with a mysterious past is a great hook. For instance, a new neighbor moves in and has a tattoo on his wrist that seems to be a code or a symbol related to a long - forgotten crime. The other characters, and the readers, are then intrigued to find out who this person really is and what their past holds.
Definitely. 'Veiled' is a wonderful word. A veiled threat or a veiled identity can add depth to a mystery. 'Abstruse' means difficult to understand, so if there are abstruse clues in a mystery, it makes the story more engaging. 'Inscrutable' is another great one. An inscrutable expression on a character's face can keep the reader guessing. For example, the detective stared at the suspect with an inscrutable look, making it hard to tell what he was thinking.