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
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson