Quotes about Suspense

Come, Watson, come!' he cried. 'The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!' Ten minutes later we were both in a cab and rattling through the silent streets on our way to Charing Cross Station.

Yes, the setting (Dartmoor) is a worthy one. If the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men. Sherlock Holmes

A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap.

How long is this to last? asked the inspector finally. And what is it we are watching for? I have no more notion than you how long it is to last, Holmes answered with some asperity. If criminals would always schedule their movements like railway trains, it would certainly be more convenient for all of us.

Suspense in news is torture.

That will do," cried Holmes. "What became of him?

Fewmets to Mr. Jenkins, anyhow.

Where then shall Hope and Fear their objects find? Must dull Suspense corrupt the stagnant Mind? Must helpless Man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the Torrent of his Fate? Must no Dislike alarm, no Wishes rise, Nor Cries invoke the Mercies of the Skies? Enquirer, cease, Petitions yet remain Which Heaven may hear, nor deem Religion vain. Still raise for Good the supplicating Voice, But leave to Heaven the Measure and the Choice.

Your story should open as a door to the reader, where the action has already begun and they have to run to keep up.

Like the creation, man's games are an expression of freedom . . . for playing relates to the joy of the creator with his creation and the pleasure of the player with his game. Like creation, games combine sincerity and mirth, suspense and relaxation. The player is wholly absorbed in his game and takes it seriously, yet at the same time he transcends himself and his game, for it is after all only a game.22

I heard them saying something about a razor—Miss Vane! What killed him?' There were no kindly words for this—not even a long, scientific, Latin name. 'His throat was cut, Mrs Weldon.' (Brutal Saxon monosyllables.)

You had decided to take the action, whatever it was."   "Yes."   "Yes. It involved perhaps a period of inaction."   "Of comparative inaction—yes."   "Of suspense, shall we say?"   "Yes—of suspense, certainly."   "Possibly