In his July 30 th posting, R.T. Lawton gave us new insights in the setting the hook in a story. Other SleuthSayers, including me, have posted about opening lines. Robert Lopresti posted about one of his opening lines (May 17 th posting).
So, I thought I'd share opening lines that worked for me in recent short stories and novels. Why not?
SHORT STORIES:
I always wanted to be a sleuth. Pfft! As if.
opening line of " The First Annual Atchafalaya Coyote Hunt; or, Is There a Sleuth in the House"
Black Cat Mystery Magazine Issue 11, March 2002
Damn car wouldn't start.
opening line of " The Obsidian Knife"
The Book of Extraordinary Femme Fatale Stories, Mango Press, July 2022
Tom steps into the dark bedroom and waits just inside the door for his eyes to adjust. opening line of " Blue Moon Over Burgundy"
Black is the Night Maxim's Jakubowski's Cornell Woolrich Antho, Titan Books, October 2022 “Ah, here is our French detective now,” Captain Joe Rathlee called out from his office door as Detective Jacques Dugas came into the Detective Bureau. opening line of " The Other French Detective" Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Vol. 67. Nos 11 & 12, November/December 2022
A woman trying not to look beautiful stepped into my office a little after nine a.m. opening line of
"A Jelly of Intrigue" Edgar and Shamus Go Golden Anthology, Down & Out Books, December 202 ( A Jelly of Intrigue is a finalist for this year's SHAMUS AWARD for Best Private Eye Short Story)
“No offense, Officer Kintyre. But I’m smarter than you.” opening line of
" Of Average Intelligence" Black Cat Weekly #85 April 2023
Billy found the trunk release button and popped open the trunk.
opening line of
" A Pretty Slick Guy"
Black Cat Weekly #92 June 2023
A shadow beyond the smoky glass portion of my office door had me fold my newspaper and pull my feet off the desk before the door opened and a heavy-set man stepped in, looked around the big office. opening line of " The Little Iréne Escapade" upcoming in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
NOVELS:
She came in at one o’clock sharp on Decoration Day, Friday, May 30th, just as a light rain began falling outside. opening line of The Spy Who Used My Love Big Kiss Productions, March 2021
The high-pitched shrill of a police whistle turns Detective Mike Labruzzo around.
opening line of
Gilded Time Big Kiss Productions, March 2022
I drop the uncut gemstone back into the leather bag with the others and tell her, “Emeralds. Every one."
opening line of
Hardscrabble Private Eye Big Kiss Productions, June 2022
The body hung from the low branch of a live oak in the Bayou Sauvage swamp about thirty yards from Chef Menteur Road. opening line of
New Orleans Heat Big Kiss Productions, March 2023
May not be the best opening lines but they hooked the editors enough for them to read on. Of course, the follow-up from the opening line needs to keep them reading.
That's all for now.
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