That famous first line!

The first line of Chapter one of the first novel in my series: It was during that hot summer in ’35 when Mr. Crebs died.

Here are three of my most recent, still on tnbw.

The girl was dead.     from Bete Noire

I finish washing my dishes -- a plate, a fork and a Tupperware container.    from Smokey

I never even noticed her.     from At the Movies.

Yes the first line is important, as are the first paragraph, the first page and the first chapter. I have read different articles that claim if a writer hasn't introduced everything important by one of these (depending on who wrote the article), the agent, editor, or whoever wields the power of life and death over a story tosses the manuscript. I've also read that said person may be having a bad day, so the story gets junked.

I think you have to be concerned about all of it. There's not one that's more important than any other. Every single word, sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, and idea should be the very best you can do. There's no skating here.  JP

The first lines of my first and only novel:

Prologue: Mariah stood on the beach and watched the fog creep inland, as though it were searching for someone.

Chapter one: The car crept along the California coast highway, its fog lights cutting the thin mist like a knife though smoke.

I wanted the weather to set the stage, almost as a main character, because I love mysteries that begin on cold misty nights.