One good plot is a missing heir mystery. There's an old, wealthy family and suddenly a will is discovered, but the heir named in it has vanished. This sets off a search among various characters who all have motives to either find the heir first or keep them from being found. It could involve a lot of family secrets and hidden pasts.
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.
An unusual object or symbol that keeps popping up can be a good hook too. Say, a strange amulet is found at every crime scene. This mystery surrounding the amulet will intrigue readers and make them eager to find out its significance in the story.
For a murderer name in a story, 'Silas Grim'. 'Silas' sounds old - fashioned and a bit menacing. 'Grim' directly tells the readers that this character is not a pleasant one. Also, 'Raven Darkmoor' is a great choice. 'Raven' is a symbol of death and mystery in many cultures, and 'Darkmoor' gives an impression of a dark and desolate place where evil might lurk.
Sherlock. It's a classic detective name, made famous by Sherlock Holmes. His deductive skills and unique personality make it a great choice for a detective in a story.
Well, strange noises heard by witnesses are good clues. Imagine in a spooky old mansion mystery, a witness hears a creaking sound every night at the same time from a supposedly empty room. It could lead to the discovery of a hidden passage or some secret activity. Another good clue is an unusual item found in a suspect's possession, like a rare coin that has a connection to the victim or the crime scene.
Good mystery stories often have complex and intriguing plots. They keep the readers guessing until the very end. There are usually unexpected twists and turns.
The story of the haunted house is a classic mystery. Strange noises at night, doors opening on their own, and shadowy figures. It turned out to be a prank by the neighbor's kids who found a way into the attic.
The 'Sherlock Holmes' stories by Arthur Conan Doyle are also excellent mysteries. For example, in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', Holmes has to solve the mystery of a supposed supernatural hound that is terrorizing the Baskerville family. Holmes uses his brilliant deductive reasoning skills to get to the bottom of the case, even when faced with false leads and a very spooky atmosphere.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is a great mystery. A murder occurs on a train, and detective Hercule Poirot has to solve the case with a limited number of suspects all trapped on the moving train.