How do murder fiction stories usually build suspense?

Fictional murder mystery stories build suspense in several ways. One is through the setting. A spooky old mansion or a desolate island, like in many Agatha Christie stories, can add an air of mystery. The use of red herrings is also important. These are false clues that mislead the reader and the detective in the story. In 'Sherlock Holmes' stories, Holmes has to sift through these red herrings to find the real solution. Moreover, the slow revelation of the victim's past can create suspense. If the victim had a dark secret, as is often the case, the discovery of that secret bit by bit keeps the reader on edge.

Often, murder novels create suspense through withholding key information. For example, they might not reveal the identity of the killer right away.

Often through withholding information. For example, in many murder fantasy stories, the author won't reveal the identity of the killer right away. This makes the reader keep turning the pages to find out. They might drop little hints here and there, but not enough to solve the mystery immediately.

Murder mystery stories also build suspense by gradually revealing clues. The author might drop small hints here and there throughout the story, making the reader try to piece them together before the detective in the story does. A good example is when a small object is mentioned early on that turns out to be a crucial piece of evidence later. This keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat, wondering what will be revealed next.

The pacing is crucial in building suspense. The plot moves in a way that alternates between revelations and new mysteries. For example, just when the detective seems to be getting close to the truth, a new piece of evidence emerges that throws everything into question again, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the entire novel.

They often use mystery. For example, in 'The Silence of the Lambs', the identity of the serial killer 'Buffalo Bill' is slowly revealed through the investigations of Clarice Starling. Also, the use of a race against time, like in 'Kiss the Girls' where the victims are in danger while the detective tries to figure out the killer's pattern. Another way is through the mind of the killer. In 'American Psycho', we get inside Patrick Bateman's deranged mind which is very suspenseful.

The characters are often complex and not fully trustworthy. In 'Watchmen', every character has their own secrets and motives. You're constantly questioning who could be behind the murder because each character seems to have a reason to be involved. Also, the slow revelation of clues over the course of the story builds suspense. It's like peeling an onion, layer by layer, and you never know when a big revelation is going to come.

They often use secrets. For example, the characters might be hiding things about their past that are related to the mystery. This makes the reader wonder what will be revealed and how it will affect the romance.

Survival stories fiction often create suspense through the constant threat of danger. For example, in 'The Hunger Games', the main character Katniss is always in danger of being killed by other tributes or the traps set in the arena. This keeps the reader on edge, wondering if she will survive.

Abduction fiction stories create suspense in multiple ways. First, by setting an ordinary scene at the beginning and then shattering it with the abduction event. This contrast catches the reader off - guard. Second, the lack of information about the abductee's fate keeps the reader on edge. Is the character alive? Are they being tortured? Moreover, the introduction of strange or otherworldly elements in the abduction, such as in some stories where the abductors have superhuman abilities, heightens the sense of mystery and suspense. The reader is constantly trying to figure out what these elements mean and how they will affect the story.