How do authors build suspense in missing person mystery fictions?

One classic is 'Agatha Christie's 'The Mystery of the Blue Train'. It involves the disappearance of a wealthy woman on a train journey. Another is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, which has a complex plot around a missing wife. And then there's 'In the Woods' by Tana French, where a detective tries to solve the mystery of a missing child from years ago.

Authors often use secrecy and hidden emotions. For example, they might have the characters keep their feelings to themselves for a long time. In a "secret relationship novel", the characters may act one way in public but have completely different feelings in private. This contrast builds suspense as the reader wonders when and how these hidden feelings will be revealed.

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.

In first person mystery novels, the suspense is often created by the limited perspective of the narrator. Since we only see the story through their eyes, there could be a lot of things they don't know or are hiding, which makes us wonder.

Here are some of the classics that are considered to be mystery novels: 1. Murder on the Oriental Express, by Agatha Christie, tells the story of a murder on a luxurious Oriental Express and how Detective Hercule Poirot uncovers the truth. 2. "And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie, tells the story of ten strangers who are invited to an isolated island and then murdered one by one, each receiving a nursery rhyme as a warning. 3. Death on the Nile, by Agatha Christie, tells the story of a murder on a luxury cruise ship on the Nile and how Detective Poirot uncovers the truth. 4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. It tells the story of how Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, solve various mysterious cases. 5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was about a young man who committed a murder because of poverty and despair, and how he struggled to find redemption in his heart. 6. The Silence of the Lambs, written by Thomas Harris, tells the story of an FBI agent, Clarice Starling, and a psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, working together to track down a serial killer. 7. The Godfather, written by Mario Puzo, tells the story of an Italian mafia family and how they survive and thrive in the world of gangsters. 8. One Hundred Years of Solitude: Written by Gabriel García Márquez, it tells the story of the rise and fall of a family in the town of Macondo in Latin-America, as well as their struggle against time and fate. 9. L'étranger, by Albert Camus, tells the story of a young man who was sentenced to death for an accidental murder and his indifference and alienation towards the world and life. 10. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Gerald. The story of a young man named Gatsby who struggles to pursue his love and his relationship with wealth and social status. The above are just some of the suspense and mystery novels that are widely regarded as the pinnacle. Everyone's preferences and evaluation standards may be different, so there are many other excellent works that are worth reading. While waiting for the TV series, you can also click on the link below to read the classic original work of "Dafeng Nightwatchman"!

One way is through the introduction of multiple suspects. When there are several people who could be the culprit, it makes the reader wonder who it really is. Also, the gradual revelation of clues keeps the suspense high. You don't know which clue will be the key to solving the mystery.

One way to build suspense is by creating a sense of mystery. Keep the readers guessing about what's going to happen next. Drop hints and clues along the way but don't reveal everything at once.

Undercover detective novels build suspense by hiding the true identity of the detective or the villain. For example, in many novels, the undercover detective has to blend in with the bad guys without being detected. This creates a constant sense of danger. Also, the slow revelation of clues and the unexpected twists keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The reader is always wondering if the detective will be found out or if they will be able to solve the case before it's too late.

The conflicts in the novel create suspense mainly through a sense of mystery and danger. You never know how the characters will handle the difficult situations they face, and that keeps you engaged and eager to find out.

You can build suspense by creating uncertainty about what will happen next. Maybe introduce mysterious characters or situations and don't reveal all the details at once.