Suspense

Suspense is a major theme and motif in the novel The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Suspense involves apprehension, fear, and anxiety about a situation that is either unfolding or has yet to unfold. Del Toro and Hogan use suspense throughout the novel as a way to provoke fear, excitement, and interest in their plot.

Suspense is most notably apparent initially with the arrival of Flight 753 from Berlin to JFK International Airport. Something on the plane goes terribly wrong in a time span of about two or three minutes. The plane goes dead, and all the shutters are drawn. These events lead the reader to wonder about what could be going on with the plane. The fact that employees (such as Lo Ruiz) and people (like Abraham Setrakian) have an interest in what is happening to the aircraft adds to the air of...