Murder in the First

Max Allen Collins has some interesting thoughts about killing your victim in the first chapter of a novel.  Even in short fiction there is that "jump feet first" into the action that seems almost to be mandatory these days.  While I like my stories to move along, there are times that I'd like to kick back and take a bit of time to develop the story more.  Impossible with flash but something that would work in longer stories if it didn't try the patience of readers.