best english mystery stories

Some good mystery English short stories include 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a story full of mystery as the narrator's mental state deteriorates while she is confined to a room with strange wallpaper. 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' by Frank R. Stockton is also interesting. The ending is left ambiguous, leaving the reader to wonder whether the lady or the tiger came out of the door. Also, 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe, where a man exacts a very devious revenge in a catacomb, filled with mystery and suspense.

Another good one is 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins. It's a complex mystery involving a woman in white who seems to be at the center of a web of secrets, with themes of identity, inheritance, and love all intertwined in the mystery.

Well - developed characters play a huge role. Take Sherlock Holmes for example. His unique personality, his deductive skills, and his relationship with Watson make the stories engaging. We are interested in how he will use his intelligence to solve the mystery. Also, the settings in these stories are often very atmospheric. For instance, in many of Agatha Christie's works, the closed - off locations like a country house or a train add to the mystery. There are a limited number of suspects, and the claustrophobic feeling makes it more exciting as we try to figure out who the murderer could be among those few people.

You can start by looking at classic literature anthologies. Many of them include well - known mystery short stories. Also, check out online e - book platforms like Project Gutenberg, which has a vast collection of free classic short stories, including mystery ones. Another option is to ask for recommendations at your local library. Librarians are usually very knowledgeable and can point you in the right direction.

One of the best is 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson. The stories are full of mystery, with Holmes using his remarkable deductive skills to solve complex cases.

One characteristic is the presence of a mystery or a puzzle. This could be a murder, a disappearance, or some strange event that needs to be solved. For example, in 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie, ten people are mysteriously killed on an isolated island.

Typically, they have a sense of suspense. The author keeps the reader guessing about what will happen next or who the culprit is. For example, in Agatha Christie's stories, there are often many suspects and red herrings.

Then there's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. This is a very imaginative and surreal story. It takes the reader on a journey through a strange world with all kinds of odd characters and situations, which has made it a favorite among both children and adults for its unique charm.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is very popular. It combines a murder mystery with elements of journalism and exposes a lot of dark secrets in Swedish society. Lisbeth Salander, the main character, is a complex and fascinating figure who helps in solving the mystery.

Edgar Allan Poe's short stories like 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' are also suitable for beginners. Poe is often considered a pioneer of the mystery genre. His stories are short but full of suspense and his unique writing style can introduce new readers to the allure of mystery novels.