How these papers have been placed in sequence will be made manifest in the reading of them.-- Dracula by Bram Stoker.
The opening make sense when you realize that the novel is told through a series of documents -- journals, letters, telegrams, newspaper stories, etc.
This is excellent! I do not read any vampire books, as a rule, so maybe I am enjoying this one so much because it isn't a worn-out story for me. I am continually surprised by how fresh and modern the book feels, even though this one -- the original -- was published in 1897.
This counts as the "horror" choice for the Back to the Classic Challenge hosted by Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much