In this example from the opening scene in an advance, prepublication copy of Ian Rankin's novel, a Question of Blood, internal and external dialogue is used to arouse the reader's senses. The novel was released in February, 2004

There's no mystery," Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke said. "Herdman lost his marbles, that's all." She was sitting by a hospital bed in Edinburgh's recently opened Royal Infirmary. The complex was to the south of the city, in an area called Little France. It had been built at considerable expense on open space, but already there were complaints about a lack of useable space inside and car-parking space outside. Siobhan had found a spot eventually, only to discover that she would be charged for the privilege.

This much she had told Detective Inspector John Rebus on her arrival at his bedside. Rebus's hands were bandaged to the wrists. When she'd poured him some tepid water, he'd cupped the plastic glass to his mouth, drinking carefully as she watched.

"See?" he'd chided her afterwards. "Didn't spill a drop."

But then he'd spoiled the act by letting the cup slip as he tried to maneuver it back on to the bedside table. The rim of its base hit the floor, Siobhan snatching it on the first bounce.

"Good catch," Rebus had conceded.

"No harm done. It was empty anyway."

Since then, she'd been making what both of them knew was small talk, skirting questions she was desperate to ask and instead filling him in on the slaughter in South Queensferry.

1. INITIAL DIALOGUE

   "There's no mystery," Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke said. "Herdman lost his marbles, that's all."

2. DIALOGUE FOLLOWED BY NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION TO AROUSE THE READER'S SENSE OF SETTING (SPACE IN THIS CASE)

   She was sitting by a hospital bed in Edinburgh's recently opened Royal Infirmary. The complex was to the south of the city, in an area called Little France. It had been built at considerable expense on open space, but already there were complaints about a lack of useable space inside and car-parking space outside. Siobhan had found a spot eventually, only to discover that she would be charged for the privilege.

3. SEGUEY TO A DESCRIPTION OF A CHARACTER USING THE TECHNIQUE OF "SHOWING" INSTEAD OF TELLING

   This much she had told Detective Inspector John Rebus on her arrival at his bedside. Rebus's hands were bandaged to the wrists. When she'd poured him some tepid water, he'd cupped the plastic glass to his mouth, drinking carefully as she watched.

4. DESCRIPTION USING DIALOGUE

   "See?" he'd chided her afterwards. "Didn't spill a drop."

5. FOLLOWED BY NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION

   But then he'd spoiled the act by letting the cup slip as he tried to maneuver it back on to the bedside table. The rim of its base hit the floor, Siobhan snatching it on the first bounce.

   "Good catch," Rebus had conceded.

   "No harm done. It was empty anyway."

6. SOLILOQUY TO CREATE RISING TENSION

   Since then, she'd been making what both of them knew was small talk, skirting questions she was desperate to ask and instead filling him in on the slaughter in South Queensferry.