Crafting Mysteries in

As I've been rolling out the first teases for The Night Chronicles, I've focused on the inciting mystery of the series. The story begins not with a bang, but with a profound and unnerving silence. This was a very deliberate choice. Today, I want to share why I feel that kind of quiet opening is one of the most effective ways to hook a reader.

The Power of Silence in Storytelling

For me, a compelling mystery isn't just about solving a puzzle; it's about exploring an emotional wound that needs closure. To create that, I knew I had to ground the reader in mundane reality before shattering it. In Claimed by Night, I wanted the reader to understand what a normal Saturday morning was supposed to feel like for twelve-year-old Liz.

Imagine sleeping in, the smell of coffee, and her mom humming off-key in the kitchen. By establishing this simple, relatable "normal," the absence of those sounds becomes a character in itself. The silence becomes the first clue.

Creating Tangible Details

I believe the most effective mysteries are built on tangible, concrete details that feel subtly wrong. Here are a few examples from my work:

• The Unmade Bed: I created a simple rule for Liz's mom: she never made the bed if her husband was still sleeping. When the bed is perfectly made, it becomes a broken rule—a signal that something is fundamentally off.

  
  

• The Abandoned Essentials: A person doesn't leave without their purse or keys. I chose to leave these items behind as symbols of intent. Their presence suggests the person had no intention of being gone for long or, even worse, didn't leave willingly.

  
  

• The Lifeline: In our modern world, one of the most impossible clues I could imagine was the phone left charging. Our phones are our lifelines, connecting us to everything. Leaving it behind screams that the trail went cold before it even began.

  
  

Inviting Readers to Investigate

By layering these small, "wrong" details, I wanted to invite you to become a detective alongside Liz. I wanted to ask you a question—What happened here?—and make you desperate to turn the page for the answer. That unanswered question is the engine of my story.

Building Emotional Stakes

Creating a mystery is not just about crafting clues; it’s also about building emotional stakes. In The Night Chronicles, Liz is not just a character; she’s a reflection of lost innocence and hope. The deeper the connection readers feel with her, the more invested they become in solving the mystery.

Engaging Readers through Emotion

As readers journey alongside Liz, they experience her confusion, fear, and determination. Each chapter should peel back layers of her emotional state, revealing not only what she’s grappling with externally but also what’s happening internally. By doing this, I’m inviting readers to empathize with her plight.

The Importance of Relatable Characters

Creating relatable characters is crucial. Liz's quirks, hopes, and fears should resonate with readers. When they see pieces of themselves in her, they become more than just readers; they become partners in the mystery. They will want to protect her and, ultimately, find her.

Leave Them Wanting Answers

A well-crafted mystery leaves readers hungry for answers while providing just enough satisfaction to keep them turning the pages. I aim to walk the fine line between revealing enough to build intrigue and maintaining the suspense that keeps readers guessing.

In conclusion, the subtle interplay of silence and detail forms the backbone of The Night Chronicles. It’s a careful dance of emotions, clues, and relatable experiences that I hope resonate deeply with my audience. By choosing to start with a sense of quiet, I invite you into a world where every sound—or lack of sound—holds significance.

Leave them wanting answers,

June Skye