Start with a strange character. Maybe a person who is wearing a long black coat, a wide - brimmed hat that shadows their face, and has an air of secrecy about them. They could be standing in a crowded place but seem completely detached, as if they are in their own world filled with secrets. This kind of character piques the reader's curiosity.
A great start for a mystery story could be a sudden disappearance or a mysterious message. It creates suspense and makes the reader eager to solve the mystery along with the characters.
One of the best ways to start a mystery story is with an intriguing event. For example, a strange disappearance. You can begin by describing the scene where a character vanishes without a trace. The suddenness and mystery of it will immediately hook the reader. It makes them wonder what happened and why, creating an instant sense of curiosity that will drive them to keep reading.
Open with a mysterious object. For instance, 'The small, ornate box sat on the dusty shelf, pulsating with an unseen energy. No one knew where it came from or what it held, but I could feel its malevolence from across the room.'
You could also start with a strange discovery. 'He found a key in his grandfather's old chest, a key with no lock in sight.' It plants the seeds of mystery and gives the reader a question to ponder from the very beginning. Mystery stories thrive on unanswered questions at the start.
One way is to start with a discovery. For instance, a character could find a strange object like a small, ornate key that has no obvious lock it fits. It's a simple yet effective start as it sets up the mystery of what the key is for and where it belongs. The reader will be eager to follow the character's journey to figure it out.
Starting with a thought - provoking question can be great. Like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in a world where everyone had forgotten your name?' This makes the reader start thinking and gets them engaged in the story right away.
Begin with a mysterious character. For example, a veiled figure that appears out of nowhere in a fog - covered graveyard. This character can be the source of the gothic elements to come, such as dark secrets or a connection to the supernatural. It creates an air of mystery right from the start that draws the reader in.
A great start could be a description of a spooky object. 'I found an old, dusty book in the attic. Its pages were yellowed and brittle, and there was a strange symbol on the cover that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. As I opened it, a cold wind blew through the attic, even though all the windows were closed. It was a Halloween discovery that would change everything.'