good ideas for a murder mystery story

One idea could be a murder in a small, isolated town where everyone seems to have a secret. The victim is a newcomer who might have uncovered something that threatened the town's hidden past. For example, a long - forgotten crime or an illegal business operation. Another idea is a murder at a high - society party. The guests are all wealthy and powerful, and any one of them could have a motive, like jealousy over a business deal or a love affair. A third idea is a murder in a spooky old mansion. There could be hidden passages and rooms, and the killer uses the layout of the mansion to their advantage to commit the crime and then disappear.

You could have a murder mystery where the victim is a journalist who was about to expose a big scandal. The killer could be anyone from a corrupt politician to a powerful business tycoon who wants to keep their secrets hidden. It would be interesting to see how the detective tries to uncover the web of lies and cover - ups.

One idea could be a murder in a small, seemingly idyllic town. The victim is a local shop owner. The detective discovers that the motive is related to a long - hidden family secret. Years ago, the shop owner's family had cheated another family out of a valuable piece of land, and the killer is seeking revenge for that injustice.

A murder occurs in a theater. The victim is an actor. The killer could be a jealous understudy who was constantly overshadowed by the victim. The understudy saw an opportunity when the actor was alone backstage and struck. The detective finds out by looking at the understudy's rehearsal schedule which shows they had ample opportunity to plan the murder.

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.

First, create interesting characters. The detective should be unique with sharp intuition. Second, set a complex plot. Have multiple suspects and lots of red herrings. For example, in 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd', Agatha Christie did this very well. Third, the setting should be atmospheric, like a spooky old mansion. This can add to the mystery.

The murderer turns out to be the detective's partner all along. They had been secretly framing others to cover their own tracks.

First, you need a compelling mystery. Make the crime complex and full of twists. Second, create interesting characters with motives and secrets. And don't forget a tense atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

A good murder mystery usually has a complex and engaging plot. It should keep you guessing until the end with unexpected twists and turns.

Think about motives. Love, money, revenge are common ones. But you can also explore more complex motives. For example, someone might commit murder to protect a secret that if revealed would not only destroy them but also many others. And then create characters that fit those motives. You could have a group of friends who all have something to lose if a certain piece of information comes out. And one of them decides to take drastic measures to keep it quiet.