A good idea for a short mystery story is a cursed object. For example, a beautiful antique mirror that brings bad luck to anyone who looks into it. People start having accidents or misfortunes after looking at it. The mystery could be about finding out the origin of the curse and how to break it. Another is a missing heirloom that has a lot of sentimental value. It was last seen in a particular room of an old mansion. The main character has to search through old family secrets and hidden passages to find it. Also, a mystery about a strange symbol that keeps appearing around town. No one knows what it means, and it seems to be linked to some sort of underground cult or a long - lost treasure.
A short mystery story could be about a strange message found in an old book that leads to a hidden treasure. But there are clues and puzzles along the way that need to be solved.
A good idea for a mystery story could be centered around a series of anonymous letters that are being sent to different people in a community. These letters contain cryptic messages that seem to be leading to some sort of impending doom. The detective or the main character has to decipher the codes in the letters and figure out who is sending them and why. Also, a mystery about a locked room where a person is found dead with no obvious way in or out is always interesting. Or perhaps a story where a young heir suddenly disappears on the night before they are set to inherit a large fortune.
You could base a mystery story on a cursed painting. The painting has a strange history. People who own it start experiencing bad luck or seeing strange apparitions. Is it a hoax, or is there something truly supernatural about it? Also, having a detective character who has his own personal demons can add depth to the story. He's trying to solve the mystery while also dealing with his own problems, like a drinking habit or a broken relationship.
A murder mystery set in a small, idyllic village. A wealthy landowner is found dead. The local villagers all seem to have motives. The baker might be angry because the landowner wanted to raise the rent of his shop. The gardener could be suspect as he was often mistreated by the landowner. And there could be a mysterious stranger who was seen in the village around the time of the murder. The key to solving the mystery could be a rare flower found at the crime scene which is only grown in the gardener's greenhouse.
One idea could be a story about a lost key that unlocks a mysterious door in an old attic. The protagonist discovers the key while cleaning out their deceased grandmother's house. As they search for the door it might belong to, they encounter strange events and people who seem to be guarding a secret related to the key.
A short story idea could revolve around time travel. A scientist accidentally travels back in time to a crucial moment in history. He has to decide whether to interfere or not, and his every action has unforeseen consequences. It can explore themes like fate, free will, and the impact of small actions.
One great mystery short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a psychological thriller that follows a narrator who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye. Another is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, which has an unexpected twist at the end regarding a lost and replaced necklace. And 'The Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle is also a classic, with Sherlock Holmes solving a mysterious death.
One great short mystery story is 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's full of twists and keeps you guessing.
One idea could be a story about a time - traveler who goes back in time to prevent a major disaster but discovers that changing the past has unforeseen and dangerous consequences. Another idea is a short story centered around a lonely artist who discovers that their paintings come to life at night and start interacting with them in mysterious ways. A third idea might be a story set in a post - apocalyptic world where a group of survivors find a hidden, untouched place that seems like a paradise but holds its own dark secrets.
A story about a house with a locked room that no one has opened for decades. The new owner of the house is curious and finally manages to break the lock. Inside, there's a single chair in the middle of the room. As soon as they step in, the door slams shut behind them. They feel a cold presence. Then, they start to see apparitions of people who seem to be trapped in the room, reaching out to them with desperate looks, as if they want to transfer their own trapped state to the new owner.