what is the purpose of suspense within a text?
Suspense is the element of both fiction and some nonfiction that makes the reader uncertain about the outcome. While most obvious in mystery stories such as those published in Ellery Queenâs Mystery Magazine or Alfred Hitchcockâs Mystery Magazine, suspense is present in all good fiction. Suspense can be created through almost any element of a story, including the title, characters, plot, time restrictions and word choice. For example, if the plot involves the hero trying to reach an intended victim before a bomb is set to explode, the author has used time restriction as a suspense device.