Having written four books on Alfred Hitchcock, and three mystery and suspense novels, two of which The Two Masks of Vendetta and The Passion of The Cross have just been published, I know that autumn is an exciting time to either write or settle down with a gripping mystery thriller. Here are 10 tips to get you started.
- The number one rule of suspense is to give your reader information. You can’t expect a reader to have anxieties if they have nothing to be anxious about. If you tell the reader that there’s a bomb in the room and that it’s going to go off in five minutes, that’s suspense. The suspense in The Two Masks of Vendetta is will Catriona be found out about the ruse she’s playing? Will she uncover the murderer before she becomes the next target? The suspense drives the narrative and keeps your reader interested.
- Use counterpoint and contrast. “Suspense doesn’t have any value unless it’s balanced by humour,” said Hitchcock, who was famous for his macabre sense of humour in films like The Trouble With Harry. In Frenzy, Hitchcock liked the extremes between comedy and horror and used humour to great effect between the Chief Inspector and his wife. “And I get comedy to sugar-coat the discussions by making the wife a gourmet cook. So, this inspector comes home every night to the discussion of the murders over very rich meals,” Hitchcock said. Comedy can make your writing more dramatic and give your reader a chance to reflect on the suspense.
- A good story should start with an earthquake and be followed by rising tension. Some of Hitchcock’s best stories start with a bang, such as the chase along San Francisco’s twilight rooftops in Vertigo, or the strangulation murder at the beginning of Rope. I start The Two Masks of Vendetta with an exciting proposition which is soon followed by a murder when everyone becomes a prime suspect.
- Never use a setting simply as background. Use it 100%. Hitchcock was adamant that the backgrounds must be incorporated into the drama and made it a rule to exploit elements that are connected with a location. When writing my locations, I also thought about how they could be used dramatically. The New York locations form an important backdrop in my novel, especially scenes set in the theatre and opera which suggest life imitating art.
- At the same time, avoid the cliché in your locations, such as staging a murder in a dark alleyway or at night. As Hitchcock loved contrast, he would often stage his most macabre scenes in the most congenial of settings, such as the murder-dinner party in Rope, or the attempted assassination of Cary Grant’s character in North by Northwest, which takes place in brilliant sunshine inside a crop field. This sense of the unexpected, and the idea that turmoil can erupt at any moment, will keep your readers on their guard. Many of the settings in my novel take place in bright art galleries like the Whitney or the Guggenheim, sophisticated spaces where you wouldn’t think a murder would take place.
- Keep your story moving. The sudden switches of location in a book are also very important to ensure your readers are alert. Hitchcock knew that one of the ways in which suspense drama must change is in its setting. The 39 Steps is constructed like a series of mini stories, where Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) embarks on one adventure followed by another, taking him the Scottish Moors to the London Palladium. In North by Northwest, Hitchcock wanted to stage a scene on Mount Rushmore, and like The 39 Steps, wrote a quick succession of scenes that led up to the exciting denouement. Similarly, I start my novel with a quick succession of chapters, with locations and settings that will be crucial for the action later on.
- Avoid stereotypes whether it’s in character or plot. Hitchcock has given us some of the most memorable villains to grace the screen. That’s because he avoided the cliché through character and made his villains like Brandon in Rope, or Bob Rusk in Frenzy, attractive. “All villains are not black, and all heroes are not white. There are greys everywhere. You can’t just walk down Fifth Avenue and say he’s a villain and he’s a hero. How do you know?” said Hitchcock. I make my villains such as Miles Kingston and Louis Ferrero charismatic and charming, so that they can get near their victims.
- Identifiable character archetypes. Whether it’s the intrepid heroine, the wrongfully accused man or the debonair villain, Hitchcock created memorable characters that the audience rooted for or admired. Similarly in my books, I cast characters that the audience care for or want to go on a journey with, either sympathetic, charismatic or memorable, such as Freddie the dashing society photographer or Mario, the boyfriend who is accused of a crime he didn’t commit.
- Build to an exciting finish. Hitchcock’s films often build up to a denouement such the chase over Mount Rushmore in North by Northwest, the final bird attack in The Birds, or the reveal of Mrs. Bates in Psycho. Keeping your reader on the edge of their seats is worth the price of an admission ticket or the book alone. So just when Catriona thinks she has solved the crime, there is a final twist to the tale that will make the reader gasp.
- Know your audience. Hitchcock was so successful with his films, because he catered for the film going public and likened his stories to a trip to the haunted fun house or a roller coaster ride. Similarly, when writing my stories, I have the reader in mind and try to write twists and turns that are unexpected so that they are not always one step ahead.
The Two Masks of Vendetta and its sequel The Passion of The Cross are published by The Book Guild and can be ordered via Amazon.
Publisher: Sabana
ISBN13: 978-1838211585
Genre: Thriller
Release date: 09 09 2024
Price*: Kindle £Free (GBP)/ Paperback £9.99 (GBP)
Kindle $Free (USD)/ Paperback $10.99 (USD)
Pages: ~ 294
You can get this book here:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Description of the book: Catriona, a struggling actress in New York City, finds herself trapped in a dangerous web of secrets. Approached by the wealthy and charismatic Miles Kingston, she’s offered an incredible sum of money to pose as his wife – an arrangement that will help Miles secure his enormous inheritance. Eager to escape her financial woes, and her boyfriend’s debts to a violent loan shark, Catriona reluctantly agrees.
But as they toast to their union, there is a shocking murder, and a slew of suspects. The glamorous world of the Kingston family soon reveals its darker side. Now Catriona must race against time to clear her name and outwit a killer before she becomes the next target.
Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
ISBN13: 978-1835740491
Genre: Thriller
Release date: 28 09 2024
Price*: Kindle £4.99 (GBP)/ Paperback £9.39 (GBP)
Kindle $6.99 (USD)/ Paperback $17.45 (USD)
Pages: ~ 320
You can get this book here:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Description of the book: When famed curator Giovanni Montefiore is shockingly murdered at the Italian Opera in Rome following his bold proclamation regarding the authenticity of the True Cross, there are many suspects, but suspicion falls heavily upon his nephew, Mario Montefiore.
With his American girlfriend, actress Catriona Benedict, by his side, they embark on a perilous quest for truth and to uncover the real killer, leading them through some of Italy’s most iconic and glamorous cities.
But as the body count rises and the relentless pursuit of both law enforcement and paparazzi intensifies, they find themselves fleeing to Florence in search of the True Cross, which they hope holds the answers they need. Amidst the ancient streets of Florence, Catriona assumes a daring new identity, delving into a world of shadows and deception. Will they uncover the secrets surrounding the True Cross before it’s too late?
About the author: Tony Lee Moral is an author and mystery and suspense writer who has written four books on Alfred Hitchcock: Alfred Hitchcock Storyboards (2024) published by Titan Books; The Young Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass (2022) published by Sabana/MWP books; The Making of Hitchcock’s The Birds (2013) published by Kamera Books and Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie Revised Edition (2013) published by Roman and Littlefield/Bloomsbury. He is also the author of four novels; The Two Masks of Vendetta (2024) and its sequel The Passion of the Cross (2024) published by The Book Guild in September; The Cat That Changed America (2022) and Ghost Maven (2019).
Facebook: @tonyleemoralfans / Instagram: @tonyleemoral / X: @TonyLeeMoral / TickTock: @tonyleemoral
*-the price was taken from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on the current date. The price might change at the time of your purchase.
