Here is a 20-word-per-sentence opening for a murder mystery: She woke up suddenly in the middle of the night to the sound of breaking glass downstairs in her quiet suburban home. Getting out of bed nervously, she slowly walked to the top of the stairs and peered into the darkness as her heart pounded in her chest. A crash echoed from the kitchen, followed by the sound of footsteps moving through the house toward the staircase where she stood paralyzed by fear.