How important is the first line?

[joseph47]

I am going to try and write a short crime novel and i have a first line i think may entice the browser to read on. The line is "I was down the wrong end of the bath when I felt a cold tap on my shoulder"

[squarebear]

Is it a comedy?

[jno]

the bookshop browser will take the book along to the Bad Jokes section and replace it there rather than under Crime Novels.

[McMouse]

Don't faucet.

[gingejbee]

Second line: I knew I could be getting myself into hot water.

[squarebear]

Is this a *plug* ?

[jno]

"I felt like a complete drip"

[saxy_jag]

It is very important and I'm not sure about the line you have. For a start, it's not the best English I've read - try "sitting at the wrong end of the bath" rather than "down the wrong end of the bath". Also, unless it's a deliberate attempt at humour, the 'cold tap' reference is a bit cliched.

[Count-A-Strong]

Who was up at the round end, that's what i want to know. (See it's a mystery thriller already!)

[Khandro]

I advise you to proceed no further, -throw in the towel.

[flicrat]

Third line. Provided I don't get cold feet and throw in the sponge.

[treetops1]

Maybe it could be turned into a soap.

[twix123]

I think that you should wash your hands of the whole idea!

[boxtops]

You're scraping the bottom here..........

[johnny.5]

you,ll soon be flushed wth success

[Andyvon]

Whatever you decide, make sure you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater Joseph!

[boxtops]

...or it'll all go down the pan

[usathome]

Think about it more...
It could all go down the plug hole.

[mollykins]

if you didn't want to get pun answers back, I don't think you should have put any in the question.

[gingejbee]

Joseph - take no notice of us, we're a right shower.