And then the murders began

With thanks to Torunn. The first line of almost any story can be improved by making sure the second line is, "And then the murders began." For example:

The day was lovely and sunny, the birds chirping in the trees. And then the murders began.

The opening post was alerted. And then...

'The Crow Road' By Iain Banks

It was the day my grandmother exploded. And then the murders began.

@Ghost-of-a-Duke

Donald J. Trump refused to concede defeat in the 2024 presidential election. And then

My mother was released from the hospital after 364 days. And then the murders began.

The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet day. And then the murders began.

The Cat in the Hat -- Dr. Seuss

Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. And then the murders began.

(V. Woolf)

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills
and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown,
engines on
Check ignition
and may God's love be with you

and then the murders began

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. And then the murders begin.

(Pride and Prejudice)

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. And then the murders began.

Little Women -- Louisa May Alcott

The story so far: in the beginning, the universe was created, this has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. And then the murders began.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

this may be a good time for my story where an unknown entity is involved
then the murders began to repeat themselves

Boris Johnson smiled tightly, entering number 10 Downing Street, his aim to isolate the UK from their closest allies as he called Dominic Cummings to his side. And then the murders began...

The Queen watched furiously as her son married the wrong woman, a woman unworthy of her son, but then she left for another man. And then the murders began...