Ideas to write about for a short story that involves mystery

One idea could be a young adventurer who discovers a hidden, magical forest. In this forest, the trees can talk and they hold the secrets of an ancient civilization. The adventurer has to solve riddles set by the trees to find a magical artifact that can save his own world from an approaching darkness.

In a small, isolated town, a valuable diamond went missing from the local museum. The only clue was a strange mark on the floor. Detective Gray arrived. He questioned the curator, who seemed nervous. As Gray dug deeper, he found that the curator had gambling debts. But the curator had an alibi for the time of the theft. Gray then noticed that the strange mark led to a ventilation shaft. After crawling through it, he found the diamond in the curator's secret office. The curator had used a trained monkey to steal the diamond through the shaft while he was elsewhere to create his alibi.

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.

The old family heirloom, a golden locket, vanished one day. Grandma was heartbroken. The house had been locked, and only family members were present. Suspicions fell on the young nephew who had always been interested in shiny things. But when his room was searched, nothing was found. Then, the maid remembered seeing the cat playing with something shiny in the attic. They rushed to the attic and found the locket under a pile of old rags. The cat had dragged it there while everyone was distracted during a family gathering.

You could write about a forest that has an evil presence. Maybe a group of hikers go into the forest and get lost. As they wander, they start to feel like they're being watched. The trees seem to close in on them, and they hear howls that don't sound like any normal animal. The forest seems to play tricks on their minds, making them see things that aren't there, like apparitions of long - dead hunters.

One idea could be a haunted house. Picture an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town. Strange noises come from within at night, like creaking floorboards and whispering voices. The protagonist could be a curious journalist who decides to spend a night there to write a story. As the night progresses, they start to see shadowy figures moving in the corners of their vision.

Once upon a Christmas Eve, in a small snowy town, there was a mysterious disappearance. The town's beloved Christmas tree ornaments were vanishing one by one. A young girl named Lily decided to solve the mystery. She noticed strange footprints near the town square. Following them, she found a little elf hiding in an alley. The elf confessed that he was homesick and taking the ornaments to make his own little Christmas corner. Lily, feeling sorry for him, helped him create a beautiful corner in the town, and the elf returned the remaining ornaments. And they all had a very merry Christmas.

Once upon a time in a small, gloomy town, a wealthy businessman was found dead in his locked study. The police suspected foul play. Detective Smith was called in. He noticed a half - empty glass of brandy on the desk and a strange symbol carved into the wooden floor. As he investigated, he discovered that the businessman had many enemies. His business partner had a motive as they had a recent argument over money. The partner's fingerprints were found on a letter opener near the body. In the end, the partner confessed to the murder, driven by greed.

Well, to write a mystery short story, start with a hook that grabs the reader's attention. Develop suspects and red herrings to keep them guessing. Also, make sure the clues are there but not too obvious. The ending should be satisfying and surprising.