One of the scariest mystery stories on YouTube might be those about haunted houses. For example, there are videos where people claim to have experienced unexplainable phenomena in old, dilapidated mansions. Strange noises, cold spots, and objects moving on their own are often reported. It sends shivers down your spine just thinking about it.
Often, short scary mystery stories have a dark atmosphere. The settings are usually gloomy, like an abandoned asylum or a fog - covered forest. This helps to create a sense of fear. For example, in stories set in old cemeteries at midnight, the description of the tombstones, the cold wind, and the dark shadows all contribute to the overall scariness.
One good scary mystery story is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It's about a governess who starts to see strange apparitions around the estate where she's taking care of two children. The mystery lies in whether these are real ghosts or just her imagination.
A small town is haunted by a series of disappearances. Every full moon, someone vanishes without a trace. The main character, a detective, starts to investigate. He notices that all the victims had visited an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town before they disappeared. When he goes to the mansion, he finds it filled with strange symbols and a locked room. As he tries to break into the room, he hears a deep growling noise. The mystery could revolve around a cult that used to operate in the mansion and is now kidnapping people for a dark ritual.
Online platforms like Amazon Kindle have a vast collection of scary mystery stories. You can search for specific keywords like 'haunted mystery' or 'scary detective story' and you'll get a lot of options. Some of these e - books are free while others you may need to purchase.
One common element is the sense of the unknown. For example, in many such stories, there's something lurking in the shadows that's not fully revealed until the end, like in 'The Woman in Black'. Another element is the use of suspense. Writers build tension by withholding information, such as in 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' where the main character hears strange noises but doesn't know what's causing them right away. And often, there's an element of the supernatural. Stories might involve ghosts, like in 'The Canterville Ghost', or some otherworldly force that defies explanation and adds to the scariness.
One common element is the appearance of the dog. Usually, it has some strange or menacing features like glowing eyes or really long teeth. For example, in many stories, the dog's eyes are described as being red or yellow, which gives it an otherworldly look.
One great scary murder mystery story is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It's set on an isolated island where guests are mysteriously murdered one by one. Another is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It involves a complex web of murder, mystery, and family secrets in Sweden. Also, 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn is a thrilling tale of a missing wife and the secrets that unfold.
One common theme is the unknown. For example, in stories like 'The Lottery', the true nature of the lottery is not known until the very end, creating a sense of mystery and fear. Another theme is madness, as seen in 'The Tell - Tale Heart' where the narrator's madness drives the story. Death is also a prevalent theme. In many of these stories, death is either the result of the mystery or a central part of it, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the wishes lead to death and misfortune.
One short scary mystery story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man he lives with. His paranoia leads him to commit a terrible act, and then he's driven mad by the sound of the old man's still - beating heart that he imagines he can hear.