The opening line of a book is extremely important, as it has to be intriguing and powerful enough to capture the reader's imagination. Then, the second line has to intensify the intrigue. Coming up with these lines can be pretty difficult, yet one writer came up with a second line that would almost always heighten the intrigue to its peak, and the Internet is going crazy.
"And then the murders began" - that's the clever line Marc Laidlaw came up with. Add it to almost any opening line and you've got yourself a hell of an intriguing book opening. Now people are tweeting famous first lines of books followed by Marc's second line, with the hashtag #LaidlawsRule. The results are absolutely hilarious! See for yourselves below, and feel free to add your own intriguing openings to the list.
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#321
Tom glanced behind him and saw the man coming out of the Green Cage, heading his way. And then the murders began. Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley
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#322
Chug Chug Chug. Puff Puff Puff. The little train ran along the tracks. And then the murders began.
-The little Engine that Could, Watty Piper
-The little Engine that Could, Watty Piper
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#323
The strangers from across the big water disembarked off the big ships with white, billowing sails. And then the murders began.
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#324
It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the house-tops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.then the murders began—Paul Clifford
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#325
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
And then the murders began.
And then the murders began.
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#326
Walking back to camp through the swamp, Sam wondered whether to tell his father what he had seen. And then the murders began. (The Trumpet of the Swan, E.B. White)
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#327
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. And then the murders began
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#328
This is George. He was a good little monkey and always very curious... and then the murders began. Curious George, Margaret and H.A. Ray
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#329
The first thing the boy Garion remembered was the kitchen at Faldor's farm. For the rest of his life he had a special warm feeling for kitchens and those peculiar sounds and smells that seemed somehow to combine into a bustling seriousness that had to do with love and food and comfort and security and, above all, home. And then the murders started. Pawn of Prophecy, David Eddings
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#330
I am an invisible man. And then there were murders.
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#331
It was a dark and stormy night. In her attic bedroom Margaret Murry, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing of the wind. And then the murders began. (A wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engal)
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#332
Dr Strauss says I shoud rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on. (Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes)
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#333
Eating sugar? No Papa.
Telling lies? No Papa.
Open your mouth. Hahaha.
And then the murders began
Telling lies? No Papa.
Open your mouth. Hahaha.
And then the murders began
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#334
When he was nearly 13 years old my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. And then the murders began.
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#335
The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet day. I sat there with Sally. We sat here we two and we said 'How we wish we had something to do.' And then the murders began. (Cat in the Hat - Dr Seuss)
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#336
In the great green room There was a telephone And a red balloon
And a picture of-
The cow jumping over the moon ... and then the murders began.(Goodnight,Moon)
And a picture of-
The cow jumping over the moon ... and then the murders began.(Goodnight,Moon)
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#337
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse....and then the murders began.
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#338
Jesus wept. And then the murders began. (The New Testament)
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#339
You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about,
You do the hokey pokey
and you turn yourself aroud. And then the murders begin.
and you turn yourself aroud. And then the murders begin.
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#340
Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth; and then the murders began
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