very short crime fiction stories

Very short crime fiction stories often rely on a strong central mystery. Take 'The Speckled Band'. The mystery of the strange death and the speckled band is what drives the story forward. They also tend to have a limited number of characters to keep the story focused and not overly complicated.

Sure. 'Lamb to the Slaughter' by Roald Dahl is a great one. It's about a wife who kills her husband in a very unexpected way. Another is 'The Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features Sherlock Holmes solving a mysterious case.

Here is another. A woman entered a store. She slipped a small piece of jewelry into her pocket when the clerk wasn't looking. But an observant customer saw her and told the clerk. The woman was then held until the police arrived. She was charged with theft. In short crime stories like these, the act of crime is simple and direct, and the consequences usually follow quickly.

Another common element is the presence of a victim. In short crime stories, there is always someone or something that gets wronged. For instance, if someone vandalizes a public park, the park or the community is the victim. And often, there is some form of discovery or consequence. So if a person shoplifts and gets caught by the security guard, that's the discovery and start of the consequence for the criminal.

One characteristic is a fast - paced plot. Since they are short, they need to quickly draw the reader in and keep the action moving. For example, in 'Lamb to the Slaughter', the murder happens right at the start. Another characteristic is the presence of a mystery or a crime to be solved. Usually, there's a detective figure, either formal like Sherlock Holmes or just an observant character. And often, there's an unexpected twist at the end, like in many of Poe's stories.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Scandal in Bohemia' is also a great one. It shows Sherlock Holmes at his best, outwitted by the clever Irene Adler. This short story is full of intrigue and showcases Holmes' methods of investigation.

Agatha Christie is another big name. She wrote numerous short stories featuring detectives like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her stories are known for their clever plots and unexpected twists. For example, in 'The Thirteen Problems' collection, each story is a mini - mystery waiting to be solved.

The best crime fiction short stories often have a strong sense of mystery. They draw readers in with an initial crime or strange situation. For example, in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', the brutal murders in a locked room create immediate intrigue. Also, they usually have interesting characters. In 'Lamb to the Slaughter', the seemingly gentle housewife who commits a crime is a very engaging character.

Well, start with a captivating crime idea. Build interesting characters and make the plot twisty. Keep the story short and intense.

Here are some recommendations for short crime novels: 1. Murder in the Street of Morgue: This is a short story from the Complete Dark Stories of Edgar Allan Poe, written by Edgar Allan Poe. This story was based on the origin of the detective novel. It described the original reference of the detective structure of Holmes and Watson's partnership, as well as the super strict and real reasoning process. 2. None Survived: This is a novella (play script) by Agatha Christie. This story used the perfect combination of horror and suspense as the key words. It described the murder in a closed space and creative ideas, while analyzing human nature. 3. The Genius Ripley: This is a long novel by Patricia Highsmith. This story was about the criminal process of a low-level, sidelined, and rebellious genius. It told a sad and tearful story. 4. The Mystery of Mary Roget: This is a short story selected from the Complete Dark Stories of Edgar Allan Poe. The author is Edgar Allan Poe. This story used a short story to solve a case as the key word, telling a fascinating story. Please note that the recommended crime novels are based on the search results provided and may not be the complete answer.