A lot of novels could be improved by changing the second line to, ‘And then the murders started.’ Like this:
‘Every who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. And then the murders started.’
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; and then the murders started.’
‘In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. And then the murders started.’
‘As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. And then the murders started.’
‘It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen. And then the murders started.’
Boru
‘Every who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. And then the murders started.’
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; and then the murders started.’
‘In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. And then the murders started.’
‘As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. And then the murders started.’
‘It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen. And then the murders started.’
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax