Writing a Killer First Line - A Thriller Case Study

Decoding the art of first lines from bestselling Thriller novels

Sep 28, 2024

Hello and Welcome to The Writer Story!

And do I have news this week? I do!!

I am officially on sub with my debut commercial book. This seems like a huge milestone. I mean, I still remember thinking one day that I need to take writing seriously. I know that there’s still a long way to go in the publishing journey and there is no guarantee for nothing. But even reaching to this point, writing, editing, editing multiple times, querying, signing with an agent, editing some more… it has been quite the journey.

And this book is really special to me. Not the first book I wrote, but this is the book I wrote to make me laugh when everything seemed bleak. It’s a fun little story about a Princess who doesn’t want to be a princess. Inspired by Princess Diaries and P. G. Wodehouse, it’s a wonderfully fun romp.

So, if you are reading this, wish me luck while on sub.

Today we are continuing our First Lines series, with bestselling Thrillers.

Here are the previous First Lines series posts for different genres. You can check them out if you want some comparison.

Writing a Killer First Line - A Contemporary Romance Case Study

Writing a Killer First Line - A Romantasy case study

Writing a Killer First Line - A Science Fiction Case Study

Writing a Killer First Line - A Fantasy Case Study

Okay let’s go…

The Housemaid by Freida Mcfadden - If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell - Stumbling from the cool of the air-conditioned hotel foyer into the steamy white heat of the night does nothing to sober him up.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager - The office is on Main Street, tucked between a beauty parlor and a storefront that, in hindsight, feels prophetic.
All the Dangerous Things by Stacey Willingham - Today is day three hundred and sixty-four.
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall - There is a wilderness in little girls.
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney - People say there’s nothing like a mother’s love.
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok - My beloved, I understand that forgiveness may not be possible.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - It starts with the little things: an extra toothbrush in the glass holder next to the sink, a few articles of clothing in the smallest drawer, phone chargers on both sides of the bed.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - Alicia Berenson was Thrity-three years old when she killed her husband.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus - A sex tape.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - His fingers hover over the keyboard.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica - There’s a smudge of lipstick on the collar of his shirt.
The Last Thing he Told me by Laura Dave - Owen used to like to tease me about how I lose everything, about how, in my own way, I have raised losing things to an art form.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite - I bet you didn’t know that bleach masks the smell of blood.
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak - A few years back I was running out of money so I volunteered for a research study at the University of Pennsylvania.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister - Jen is glad of the clocks going back tonight.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead - Your body has a knowing.
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo - I’ll know it’s working when he starts to scream.
The Book of Cold cases by Simone St. James - The Greer mansion sat high on a hill, overlooking the town and the ocean.

These are just examples of First lines of some of the recent Thriller novels. And I find all these first lines do is to create intrigue for the character or the setting. It’s interesting to see how each first line is different yet is able to evoke some emotion when you read.

Tell me, which first line above was most intriguing to you and why.

The Writer Story

Writing a Killer First Line - A Thriller Case Study

Decoding the art of first lines from bestselling Thriller novels

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