mystery short story ideas

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.

Write about a strange object that washes up on the shore of a beach town. It's a small, metallic cube with strange markings. A local scientist starts to study it, but soon realizes that it seems to be emitting some sort of signal. Strange things start to happen around the town - electronics malfunction, animals act strangely. As the scientist tries to figure out what the cube is and where it came from, she uncovers a mystery that might involve an extraterrestrial origin.

A short mystery story could be about a strange message found in an old book that leads to a hidden treasure. But there are clues and puzzles along the way that need to be solved.

A horror mystery story could revolve around a haunted mansion. A family moves in, not believing the rumors of it being haunted. Strange things start to happen - objects move on their own, they hear unexplained whispers. As they dig deeper, they find out that the previous owner was a deranged serial killer who hid his victims' bodies in the walls of the house, and their spirits are now trapped and angry.

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.

You could use 'The Shadow in the Alley'. It gives a spooky and mysterious feeling. Just the thought of a shadow in an alley makes the reader wonder what's lurking there. Is it a person? A supernatural being? It sets the mood for a mystery.

One idea could be a missing heirloom. The story could start with an old family's most prized possession disappearing overnight. The main character, a young detective, could be hired to solve the mystery. He or she then discovers strange footprints around the scene and some cryptic notes left behind.

A good idea for a short mystery story is a cursed object. For example, a beautiful antique mirror that brings bad luck to anyone who looks into it. People start having accidents or misfortunes after looking at it. The mystery could be about finding out the origin of the curse and how to break it. Another is a missing heirloom that has a lot of sentimental value. It was last seen in a particular room of an old mansion. The main character has to search through old family secrets and hidden passages to find it. Also, a mystery about a strange symbol that keeps appearing around town. No one knows what it means, and it seems to be linked to some sort of underground cult or a long - lost treasure.

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.