What are some good ideas for mystery stories?

You could base a mystery story on a cursed painting. The painting has a strange history. People who own it start experiencing bad luck or seeing strange apparitions. Is it a hoax, or is there something truly supernatural about it? Also, having a detective character who has his own personal demons can add depth to the story. He's trying to solve the mystery while also dealing with his own problems, like a drinking habit or a broken relationship.

A murder mystery set in a small, idyllic village. A wealthy landowner is found dead. The local villagers all seem to have motives. The baker might be angry because the landowner wanted to raise the rent of his shop. The gardener could be suspect as he was often mistreated by the landowner. And there could be a mysterious stranger who was seen in the village around the time of the murder. The key to solving the mystery could be a rare flower found at the crime scene which is only grown in the gardener's greenhouse.

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.

You could have a mystery set in a boarding school. A student goes missing, and the main character, another student, decides to find out what happened. There are rumors of a secret society within the school that might be involved. The search leads to exploring old, locked - up parts of the school building, finding hidden messages in old textbooks, and interviewing students and teachers who all seem to be hiding something. It turns out that the missing student stumbled upon a plot by the secret society to steal exam answers and was silenced.

A good start could be a strange disappearance. For example, a well - known person in a small town vanishes without a trace. It immediately creates mystery and makes the readers wonder what happened. Another idea is a mysterious object. Maybe an ancient artifact that has strange powers or markings and everyone is trying to figure out its origin and purpose. Also, an unreliable narrator can add to the mystery. They might be hiding something or misinterpreting events, which keeps the readers guessing about the truth.

For a mystery story, consider creating a locked - room mystery. A person is found dead in a room that was locked from the inside. How did it happen? Another good idea is to introduce a code or cipher that the characters need to solve. It could be related to a historical event or an ancient legend. And don't forget about false leads. Make the readers think they've figured it out, but then throw in a twist that shows they were wrong.

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.

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.

You could have a mystery party game story set in an abandoned asylum. The characters are either investigators or former patients. There are rumors of strange experiments and a hidden room. Another idea is a mystery involving a magic spell gone wrong in a wizarding world. The wizards and witches have to figure out who cast the wrong spell and how to reverse it. Or a mystery in a post - apocalyptic world where a valuable resource has disappeared and everyone is fighting over it.

The classic 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a great mystery. It involves a strange and terrifying hound on the moors, a family curse, and Sherlock Holmes' brilliant deductions to solve the case.