crime fiction short stories

One characteristic is a fast - paced plot. Since they are short, they need to quickly draw the reader in and keep the action moving. For example, in 'Lamb to the Slaughter', the murder happens right at the start. Another characteristic is the presence of a mystery or a crime to be solved. Usually, there's a detective figure, either formal like Sherlock Holmes or just an observant character. And often, there's an unexpected twist at the end, like in many of Poe's stories.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Scandal in Bohemia' is also a great one. It shows Sherlock Holmes at his best, outwitted by the clever Irene Adler. This short story is full of intrigue and showcases Holmes' methods of investigation.

Agatha Christie is another big name. She wrote numerous short stories featuring detectives like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her stories are known for their clever plots and unexpected twists. For example, in 'The Thirteen Problems' collection, each story is a mini - mystery waiting to be solved.

The best crime fiction short stories often have a strong sense of mystery. They draw readers in with an initial crime or strange situation. For example, in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', the brutal murders in a locked room create immediate intrigue. Also, they usually have interesting characters. In 'Lamb to the Slaughter', the seemingly gentle housewife who commits a crime is a very engaging character.

Very short crime fiction stories often rely on a strong central mystery. Take 'The Speckled Band'. The mystery of the strange death and the speckled band is what drives the story forward. They also tend to have a limited number of characters to keep the story focused and not overly complicated.

Well, start with a captivating crime idea. Build interesting characters and make the plot twisty. Keep the story short and intense.

Crime short fiction often has a fast - paced plot. It quickly sets up a crime situation, like a murder or a theft. The characters are usually well - defined, with the detective or the criminal having distinct personalities. For example, Sherlock Holmes in Conan Doyle's short stories. There is also a sense of mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

You could write a story where a jewel thief targets a famous actress during a high - profile awards ceremony. The thief manages to swap the real jewels for fakes right under everyone's noses, but leaves behind a single clue that a sharp - eyed security guard picks up on.

One idea could be a story about a detective who is investigating a series of art thefts in a small, wealthy town. The detective discovers that the thief is actually the curator of the local museum who is stealing the art to sell on the black market to pay off his gambling debts.

A crime short story could revolve around a con artist who targets wealthy, lonely widows. She befriends them, gains their trust, and then slowly drains their bank accounts. But one of her targets has a secret of her own - she was once a con artist too. This leads to a battle of wits between the two women, with the younger con artist realizing she may have bitten off more than she can chew.