best collection of mystery short stories

You can start by asking for recommendations at your local library. Librarians are very knowledgeable and can point you to some great mystery short story collections.

One great collection is 'The Complete Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It contains a series of brilliant mystery short stories featuring the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson.

One common theme is 'the unexpected'. Often, the solution to the mystery is something the reader doesn't anticipate at first.

Sure. 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a great one. It has a really suspenseful plot with strange happenings in a locked room.

, I recommend the following mystery novels to you. They are all collections of short stories: 1. The Murder Scene series was written by MS007. The plot was compact and exciting. It was a mystery detective novel that could not be missed. 2. "Strange Murder Record" was written by Yao Ju. The plot was compact and the reasoning was very interesting. It was suitable for readers who liked reasoning. 3. "Forensic Record". The author was a little bit of a knife. He explained the forensic anatomy knowledge to the readers in simple terms. It also contained suspense elements and was very interesting. The above is my personal recommendation. I sincerely hope you like it ~

Characteristics include concise yet vivid descriptions. Since they are short, they need to paint a clear picture in just a few words. In 'The Speckled Band', Doyle describes the strange circumstances and the menacing presence effectively. Another characteristic is the ability to engage the reader quickly. They don't have a long build - up like some novels. 'The Cask of Amontillado' grabs you right from the start with its strange invitation. And they often leave a lasting impression. Even though they are short, stories like 'A Jury of Her Peers' stay with you long after you've read them because of their unique take on mystery and human nature.

The use of suspense is masterful. The slow build - up as the narrator plans the murder and then the increasing paranoia afterwards create a truly nerve - wracking reading experience. The story also has a very atmospheric setting which adds to the mystery. It's set in a rather dreary and claustrophobic place which enhances the feeling of dread and unease.

Often, you'll find themes like the search for justice, the exploration of human nature in challenging situations, and the element of surprise in a collection of short mystery stories. These themes keep readers engaged and curious.

Another great one is 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle. In this story, Sherlock Holmes uses his brilliant deductive skills to solve a strange and menacing mystery involving a young woman's life being in danger. Holmes carefully examines the clues, such as the strange whistling sound and the locked room, to figure out what's really going on.

For short mystery stories, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine is a top choice. They have a long history of publishing mystery fiction. Another good place is Mystery Weekly Magazine. It focuses specifically on mystery stories and welcomes submissions from new writers. You might also consider the Mystery Writers of America anthologies. They are highly regarded in the mystery writing community.