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.
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.
One great mystery fiction short story is 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe. It is often considered a pioneer in the detective story genre.
You could try 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's a classic and full of twists.
There's 'The Secret in the Attic' - it's got a great twist and keeps you guessing till the end.
How about 'The Mysterious Pet'. A child gets a new pet but strange things start happening. They have to figure out what's going on. The story has lots of twists and turns to keep kids engaged.
A very popular one is 'The Mysterious Footprints'. A child wakes up one morning to find strange footprints in the garden. As the story progresses, they meet different characters in the neighborhood, all of whom seem to have a possible connection to the footprints. It's full of mystery and adventure as the child tries to solve the mystery before nightfall, and it also teaches kids about deduction and observation skills.
One great third grade mystery short story is 'The Case of the Missing Cookie'. It's about a kid who comes home to find their favorite cookie gone. There are clues like crumbs on the floor and a half - open pantry door. Another is 'The Mysterious Garden'. In this story, a child discovers a hidden garden in their neighborhood and tries to figure out who it belongs to. There are strange plants and a locked gate that add to the mystery.
One great one is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It has elements of mystery and a sort of supernatural unease as the narrator descends into madness. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs, which is a classic supernatural mystery short story where a family makes wishes on a cursed monkey's paw with terrifying consequences.
There's 'The Secret Room in the Library'. A group of friends discovers a hidden room in the school library and tries to figure out its purpose and who might have hidden it. It's full of twists and turns.