In modern literature, suspense and tension are almost essential to producing works that are both successful and interesting to the reader. These two aspects of literature are particularly important in Truman Capote's novel In Cold Blood, which tells the story of how a simple attempted robbery ends in the deaths of four affable and respected family members. Although the reader is aware of the various outcomes of the story in advance, Capote effectively holds their interest through suspense and tension. Capote particularly builds this suspense and tension by alternating between simultaneous events, waiting to reveal the details of the murder, and suggesting errors in the American justice system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Suspense proves to be an essential aspect of this novel, particularly in the way it proves to be a new mechanism of 'plot. For example, Capote introduces suspense through the short segments of each chapter. It constantly alternates between Dick and Perry and the people of Holcomb, leaving the reader wanting to find out what is happening in both perspectives of the story. Most importantly, it ends many segments with surprising and suspenseful actions and thoughts. For example, when Nancy expresses her suspicions about the smell of cigarette smoke, Capote astutely ends with this thought: "Before she could ask if that was really what Nancy meant, Nancy interrupted: ' Sorry, Susie. I have to leave. Mrs. Katz is here'" (22). This ending leaves the reader wondering whether Mr. Clutter, who possesses a strong aversion to such matters, would actually participate in smoking. This suspicious and sudden change in the family's daily habits allows to Capote to create an atmosphere of suspense in the reader's mind as these details seem to foreshadow the murder Additionally, Capote heightens the suspense by ending the section on this note, leaving the reader at a climax Moreover, while. Capote returns to the murderers, he casually describes their preparations. Tensions increase as the reader becomes irritated by the murderers' lack of morality and the Clutter family's complete unawareness of the events to come. Constant change serves. also serves another purpose in bringing the reader into the actual story as they try to follow the simultaneous events as they occur Additionally, Capote presents many of the events taking place through the testimonies of. various citizens, which gives more credibility to the story. In addition to timely changes in the novel, Capote builds suspense by waiting to reveal various details of the story, especially the murders themselves. Capote chooses to stop the description of the "score" at the moment when the murderers approach the house: "Dick turned off the headlights, slowed down and stopped until his eyes adjusted to the night lit by the moon. 57). After this passage, Capote goes directly to the discovery of the dead victims. Capote uses this very effective tactic of jumping forward in order to create suspense. It surprises the reader and leaves him wanting to continue to unearth the facts and details of this hideous night. In addition to creating suspense, this method again places the reader in the eyes of the perplexed citizens of Holcomb, as they also have no idea of ​​the details surrounding the murders. Likewise, Capote does not explicitly introduce the murder plot: “Still no sign of Dick. But he was sure to show himself; after all, the purpose of their.