Can you give more examples of a good way to start a mystery story?

One way is to start with a dialogue. Such as 'I'm not going in there,' said Tom, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at the dark cave entrance. This makes the reader curious about why Tom is so afraid and what is in the cave.

You can start with a statement that sets the stakes high. For instance, 'In that war - torn land, every second counted, and a single misstep could mean death for all of us.' It makes the reader understand the gravity of the situation right from the start.

A story could also start with a question, like 'Have you ever felt like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time?' This makes the reader think about their own experiences and then they will be eager to see how the story relates to that feeling. It creates a connection between the reader and the story right from the get - go.

Another way is to begin with a false alibi. For example, a suspect claims to have been at a party all night when a crime occurred, but there are little details that don't add up. The main character, perhaps a detective, starts to dig deeper into this alibi. This setup draws the reader in as they want to know if the suspect is really guilty and how the truth will be uncovered.

A good way could be starting with a character's strange feeling. 'As she walked into the empty school building, an unexplainable chill ran down her spine. It was as if she was being watched, but there was no one in sight.' This creates a sense of unease.

Start with a sudden and unexplained event. 'The moment he opened the front door, all the lights in the house went out. He could feel a cold draft sweep over him, but there was no sign of where it came from.'

Start with a false accusation. For instance, a well - respected man in the community is wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit. This creates a sense of injustice and the need for the real truth to be uncovered. A detective can then be brought in to clear his name and find the actual culprit.

You can start with a strange dream. 'He fell asleep and entered a world of chaos. In his dream, he was running through a forest filled with trees that had eyes and roots that reached out to grab him. When he woke up, he found that the nightmare was just beginning as there were scratch marks on his bedroom door that weren't there before.'

Sure. A great start could be a character in a moment of extreme emotion. For instance, a young girl crying inconsolably on a park bench. It makes the reader wonder what has made her so sad and interested in finding out more about her story. Another example is starting with a question that the story will gradually answer. Such as 'What if the world suddenly lost all its colors?' This piques the reader's curiosity right from the start.

Begin with a character in the middle of an action that is related to the war. Say, 'Tom was running for his life, bullets whizzing past his ears. He could hear the screams of his fallen buddies, and in that moment, his war story began.' This kind of start gives a sense of urgency and danger from the very beginning.