Creating suspense in a story is an art form and that art form is one that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, rapidly flipping pages to find out what happens next. I have built a reputation in my small circle for creating stories that are unputdownable and these are my top five tips for how you can too!

1. Start with a Bang and then Build Tension Gradually

If you can grab a reader’s full attention in the first five pages they will stick around for the remaining three hundred. The key is to kick off the story in a way that DEMANDS that the reader continue down the path to learn more. From there, you must build suspense at every turn and carry it through to the big twist or event at the end. Suspense is most effective when it’s carefully layered. Start with small, unsettling details and gradually escalate the stakes. For example, my character might hear footsteps behind them, then notice shadows moving in their peripheral vision, and finally realize they’re being followed. Maybe none of that happens and they just get that feeling that we all get when we are being watched. By pacing the tension, you give readers time to feel the fear build.

2. Use Cliffhangers

Ending a chapter or scene on a cliffhanger is a great way to create suspense and one that I use frequently. Leave your readers with an unanswered question or a shocking revelation that compels them to keep reading. It is against our nature to be so close to an answer and not get it, so if they have to start the next chapter to find out the truth, that is exactly what they will do. Then THAT chapter ends with one and they go into the next and so on and so on.

3. Control Pacing

Manipulate the pacing of your story to reflect the level of tension. Slow, deliberate sentences can evoke dread, while shorter, punchier sentences increase the feeling of urgency. During action scenes, rapid pacing mirrors the intensity of the moment and keeps readers engaged. The pacing of each page, chapter and act should reflect the general feel of the story and mirror where it is and where it is going.

4. Withhold Information for a while

Keep readers guessing by revealing information sparingly. Let them know just enough to sense danger, but not enough to fully understand it. This approach engages their imagination, allowing them to fill in the gaps with their own fears, which can be more powerful than anything you describe. Something that I always strive for in my books, which generally include a sense of who-done-it, is leading the reader to believe that one person is responsible for whatever tragedy has occurred and then flipping the script completely by revealing the real villain in the end. It is typically someone who has been involved from the beginning but would never be suspected. Hiding in plain sight!

5. Play with Perspectives

Switching perspectives or using an unreliable narrator can heighten suspense. For example, a reader might know the antagonist’s plan while the protagonist remains oblivious. This technique creates dramatic irony, increasing tension as readers wait for the inevitable confrontation. This is an approach I use with my Casey Norris detective novels. You get the perspective of the law enforcement team trying to stop the killer, but you also get the point of view of the killer which not only gives the reader and interesting perspective from both sides, but also humanizes the protagonist AND the antagonist.

Bonus Tip: End with Impact

No suspenseful scene is complete without the payoff. The resolution doesn’t have to be explosive—sometimes a quiet, chilling revelation can be just as powerful. The key is to leave your readers emotionally satisfied while setting the stage for more tension to come.

Try these tips in your next thriller and I cannot wait to read it!

Happy writing/reading!