I’m hooked on Criminal Record (2024), a British series on Apple TV+ that pits two detectives against each other over an old homicide.

The young detective played by Cush Jumbo opens a new line of inquiry into an old murder case upon receiving new information through an anonymous phone call. Her investigations will thrust her into a titanic struggle with the veteran detective who originally handled the case, masterfully portrayed by actor Peter Capaldi.

Like many good thrillers, Criminal Record is captivating for its ability to create suspense. This term refers to the emotional anticipation felt by the audience regarding future events in the story. It’s the feeling of uncertainty about what might happen and the desire to discover how the plot will be resolved.

Suspense versus Narrative Tension

Suspense is also a powerful tool for creating narrative tension in a story. Suspense and narrative tension may seem synonymous, but the latter encompasses a broader range of situations that, in addition to creating emotional anticipation, include the sensation of conflict or pressure that moves a story forward.

Narrative tension can manifest, for example, in situations of physical or emotional danger for the characters, in conflicts between characters, or in moments of high emotional intensity.

Formulas to Keep Us on the Edge of Our Seats

So, how can we create suspense that keeps our audience guessing what happens next? These six techniques are proven formulas for creating that sense of anticipation:

1. Pose unanswered questions from the start. Introduce questions or enigmatic situations from the beginning of the story that arouse the audience’s curiosity and incite them to follow the story to get answers. For example, you can start your story with an intriguing sentence, a puzzling situation, or an unresolved mystery.

Criminal Record starts with a phone call to the police from an anonymous woman, revealing that her abusive boyfriend boasts of having murdered another woman in the past. While the boyfriend remains free, an innocent man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder.

2. Reveal information gradually. Instead of providing all the information at once, reveal important details gradually throughout the story so that the audience is always left wanting more. The key is to balance suspense with audience satisfaction, providing enough clues to maintain their interest without revealing the plot secrets too soon.

In Criminal Record, for example, the young detective gradually uncovers clues that make her believe there were irregularities in the murder case. For instance, she will discover that the incarcerated man was coerced into confessing to the murder, or that the mysterious woman making the call at the beginning is named Carla.

3. Incorporate unexpected plot twists. Introduce shocking twists or revelations that surprise the reader and change the course of the story. This breaks with pre-established expectations and adds a new level of suspense to the plot. However, ensure that the twists are consistent with the narrative and do not seem forced or unrealistic.

In Criminal Record, the police receive a second call from the woman, at a critical time when she´s being chased by her abuser. The young detective rushes to the building where the call originated, and although the woman has already been murdered, the detective manages to apprehend the killer. An analysis of the voices in the two calls will soon reveal that they were from two different women, and the cases were not interconnected.

4. Create dangerous or conflict situations. Introduce moments of emotional or physical tension that put the characters in danger or confront them with difficult challenges. This increases the feeling of suspense and makes the reader worry about the fate of the protagonists.

In Criminal Record, there are numerous tense encounters between the characters played by Jumbo and Capaldi. As the young detective approaches the truth, she will see how the old cop tries to corner her; for example, he will pull strings to investigate the young detective about her police ethics, or he will arrest the young detective’s 12-year-old son with a false accusation of drug possession. The tension between the two main characters becomes increasingly palpable as the story progresses.

5. Create complex and vulnerable characters. Develop characters with whom the audience can identify and care about their fate. By having the characters face difficult questions or challenges, the reader will feel more emotionally involved in the story.

As pressure mounts on the young detective in Criminal Record, we will see her scream, break down in tears and engage in arguments with her husband and her boss. The older cop will also show a vulnerable side when faced with his daughter’s drug addiction.

6. Use time as a narrative tool. Play with the temporal structure of the story to create anticipation and suspense. For example, you can use flashbacks to reveal important information at strategic moments, or have events unfold slowly in real-time to increase tension and uncertainty.

By narrating events in real-time, especially in high-tension situations, Criminal Record manages to increase the sense of urgency and keep the audience intrigued with the escalation of events.

By combining these techniques effectively, you will create great stories that keep your audience hooked and eager to discover what will happen next. As your narrative draws to a close, don’t forget to «kill the suspense» with a clarifying (and perhaps surprising) resolution that, if it doesn’t answer all the questions, may at least provides a relatively satisfying denouement for your audience.