"One of the hardest things to believe is that anyone will abandon the effort to escape a charge of murder. It is extremely important to suspend disbelief on that. If you don't, the story is spoiled"

In this quote, Rex Stout highlights a main theme typically discovered in mystery and criminal activity literature: the value of suspending disbelief to totally engage with the story. When Stout mentions that "one of the hardest things to believe is that anybody will desert the effort to escape a charge of murder", he is pointing to the natural human instinct for self-preservation. The instinct to run away or fight against an accusation is deeply ingrained in human behavior, as many would do anything within their power to avoid such a serious repercussion. In the world of storytelling, this makes it challenging for audiences to accept situations where a character might appear to do otherwise.

Nevertheless, Stout firmly insists that it is "exceptionally crucial to suspend shock on that". This implies readers or viewers need to for a short time set aside their sensible uncertainty to become immersed in the imaginary world existing. By doing so, they enable the story to unfold according to its own internal logic and rules, providing space for unexpected plot advancements, character motivations, and twists that are often particular of mystery stories.

Suspending shock is particularly important in a genre that thrives on the tension between reality and the dramatic possibilities of fiction. If the audience dwells excessive on the implausibility of a murderer quiting the fight, they risk losing out on the depth and complexities of the plot, along with the mental expedition of characters that defy common habits. In essence, Stout's remark is a suggestion that the pleasure and effect of fiction-- especially criminal offense fiction-- originated from welcoming the not likely and letting the story lead the audience into uncharted, typically surprising, areas.

Eventually, Stout is suggesting that accepting this suspension of disbelief not only enhances the story however also safeguards it from being "ruined" by extremely important analysis that could detract from its intended experience and pleasure.