These novels create suspense in several ways. One way is through the characters. There could be a mysterious archeologist who seems to know more than he lets on, or an antagonist who is constantly trying to stop the discovery of the truth. The setting also plays a big role. For instance, if the story is set in a dark and spooky ancient tomb, it immediately sets a suspenseful mood. And the use of ancient languages and symbols that need to be deciphered adds to the mystery and suspense as the reader wonders what secrets they hold.
Horror mysteries create suspense through their settings. For example, in a spooky old mansion like in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the creaky floors and dark corridors immediately make you feel on edge. The unknown also plays a big part. When the characters don't know what's causing the strange noises or disappearances, it makes the readers or viewers wonder and be in suspense.
Heist novels create suspense through various means. One way is by carefully revealing the plan of the heist bit by bit. For example, in 'The Thomas Crown Affair', we learn about the art heist plan in stages, which keeps us guessing. Another way is by introducing unexpected obstacles. In 'Ocean's Eleven', there are always new problems that pop up during the casino heist planning. And the characters' personalities also add to the suspense. If they're unreliable or have hidden motives, like in 'The Hot Rock', it makes the reader wonder what will happen next.
Gothic adventure suspense novels create suspense by building an atmosphere of unease. They use settings like desolate moors or crumbling castles. The sense of isolation and the unknown in these places makes the reader feel on edge. Also, the use of foreshadowing is common. A small, seemingly insignificant event at the start may be a hint of a much larger and more dangerous event to come, which keeps the reader in suspense.
Some other archeology mysteries novels include 'The Sign of Four' by Arthur Conan Doyle. Although it's more of a detective story, it has elements of archeology with the mystery surrounding a treasure from India. Also, 'City of the Dead' by Paul Doherty, which is set in an ancient Egyptian context and involves solving mysteries related to archeological finds.
They create suspense by showing the characters' premonitions of death. When readers know that the characters have seen their deaths coming, they are eager to find out if they can escape it.
Slasher horror novels create suspense in multiple ways. One important aspect is the building of the killer's character. Even if the identity of the slasher is hidden, the hints about their motives and their modus operandi create suspense. For instance, if the killer seems to target a specific type of person, the readers will be on edge whenever a character fitting that description is in the scene. The limited point of view of the characters also helps. We only know as much as the characters do, so when they are in the dark about the danger, so are we. And the use of false alarms, where it seems like the killer is about to strike but doesn't, is another effective technique to keep the suspense high.
Slasher mystery novels often create suspense through the unknown identity of the killer. For example, in 'The Silence of the Lambs', the reader is constantly trying to figure out who 'Buffalo Bill' is. They also use settings that are isolated or spooky, like the old mansion in many slasher mysteries. This makes the reader feel that danger could be lurking anywhere.
Family secrets novels create suspense in multiple ways. Firstly, the withholding of information is key. The author doesn't spill all the beans at once. In 'Big Little Lies', we know there's something not quite right with the characters from the start, but we have to wait to find out what. Secondly, the emotional stakes are high. Since it's about family, the secrets often have the potential to destroy relationships. This makes the readers care more about finding out the secrets. Finally, the setting can play a role. A spooky old house or a small, gossip - filled town can add an extra layer of mystery and suspense, as seen in many such novels.
They often use unreliable narrators. For example, in 'The Girl on the Train', the narrator's alcohol - addled memories make you question what's real. This creates doubt and suspense.
They often use mystery elements. For example, in many detective horror novels, there's an unknown threat or a series of strange events that the characters need to figure out. This keeps the reader in suspense as they wonder what will be revealed next.