Can you give some good themes for mystery stories?

A sudden scream in the dead of night can be a great hook. It creates an immediate sense of unease and mystery. The reader will be eager to find out who screamed and why.

Sure. A plot where a small town is haunted by a series of unexplained events. Strange noises at night, objects moving on their own, and people seeing shadowy figures. It turns out that there's a long - forgotten secret in the town's past, and someone is using these 'hauntings' to cover up their real motives, which could be related to money or revenge.

The concept of 'fate vs. free will' is also a good one. Characters can struggle with whether their lives are pre - determined or if they have the power to shape their own destinies. This can lead to a lot of philosophical exploration within the story.

Here's a more complex opening. 'In the middle of the bustling city square, a woman suddenly collapsed. As she hit the ground, a small, leather - bound book slipped from her purse. No one noticed it at first, but when they did, they saw strange markings on the cover. Those who looked closer seemed to be overcome with a sense of dread.' This opening combines a sudden event, an unexpected object, and a reaction from those who encounter it, all of which are great for setting up a mystery.

Friendship. Stories about the bond between friends can be really engaging. For example, two friends who support each other through thick and thin, like when one friend is going through a tough time at school or work and the other is always there to cheer them up.

One good theme is courage. For example, in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', the children show great courage in the face of the White Witch and her evil plans. They risk their lives to save Narnia.

Survival is a powerful theme. It can involve characters struggling to survive in a post - apocalyptic world, or in a harsh natural environment. 'The Hunger Games' is based on this theme, where the characters have to fight for their survival in a brutal game.

The theme of sacrifice can be really good. In many war stories, soldiers sacrifice their lives for their country or comrades. The theme of hope is also important. In 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank, despite the difficult situation, Anne still holds on to hope. And the theme of perseverance is shown in 'The Little Engine That Could' where the little engine keeps trying until it succeeds.

Sure. One example is the 'whodunit' theme, where the main question is who committed the crime. Another is the 'locked room' mystery, where a crime occurs in a seemingly impossible - to - escape - from place. And there's also the theme of a hidden identity, like a character pretending to be someone else to cover up their true motives.

Counterfeiting can be a great crime for a mystery novel. Counterfeit money, products, or documents can lead to investigations that involve tracing the source, the people involved in the production, and those who are using the counterfeits. Then there's identity theft. In the digital age, someone stealing another person's identity can create a complex mystery. The detective has to figure out how the identity was stolen, what the thief is using it for, and how to stop them. And human trafficking is a very serious but also a crime that can be used in a mystery novel. Uncovering the network, the motives of the traffickers, and rescuing the victims can be full of mystery and drama.