The purpose of this article is to provide inspiration to those of you who are writing a mystery novel.
Below you can find 27 original mystery writing prompts to spark your imagination.
General Mystery
1. Mystery comes by mail.
Mysterious letters are delivered to the same house every day but with no return address. The contents start off kindly enough but become more and more menacing. Who is sending them and why?
2. What happened last night?
A man wakes up with no memory of the previous day but with a strange assortment of items in his pockets and bag. He attempts to retrace his steps through the items, but the more he uncovers, the more confused—and concerned—he gets. Why doesn’t he remember? Who wants him to forget?
3. History isn’t always set in stone.
While working in the artifacts department of an English castle, a young apprentice discovers an item of extreme historic importance. When they return the next day to share the news, the item is nowhere to be found.
4. Music makes us mad!
A song seemingly follows a woman everywhere she goes: at home, in her car, at the coffee shop, in the office. Nobody else seems bothered by it or even recognizes it. Why is it following her? And what does it mean?
5. Mysterious messages make for mighty work.
One morning, a series of strange messages foretelling dangerous events are found spray painted all over the city. When the first event they foretold comes true, the hunt is on to find out who made the paintings and whether the next events can be stopped.
6. The lost family riches could be finally found.
A long-lost aunt leaves a set of three siblings each an envelope in her will. Inside are a set of clues to the rumored hidden family fortunes. Who will find it first?
7. Books contain hidden mysteries.
An old book appears on the library shelf with no idea where it came from. Inside are a series of coded messages and a warning that whoever deciphers them will be plagued by danger.
8. For your ears only.
After the death of an international navy captain, his vinyl records are sold at an estate sale. Upon listening to one of them, there is a noticeable lack of music interrupted only by a series of patterned noises. Later, those same noises are heard interrupting a newscast. Why could they mean?
9. Treasure hunts make for light work.
At work one morning, a man is handed a package containing only a safety deposit box key and the address of a bank; the package is addressed to him at work. After opening the box, he discovers another set of clues but with no idea where they lead or who sent them.
10. Home for sale.
A woman arrives home from a work trip to find another family moving in. They claim they bought the house at a quick sale but the woman never put it up for offer. Who sold it? And where did her belongings go?
Cozy Mystery
11. Bake me a…murder!
A local baker discovers a murder at the address of a cake delivery. Although the police begin investigating, the baker does her own digging in an effort to clear her name.
12. Chilis can’t kill, can they?
During a famous chili-eating competition, the favored competitor drops dead mid-competition. His fellow chili-eating competitors go on the hunt to find out who murdered their friend and maybe even save themselves.
13. Librarians can read between the lines.
A collection of rare books goes missing during a city-wide blackout. The local librarians band together to find out who took them and how to get them back.
14. Solve the puzzle, solve the crime.
A famous puzzle maker is found dead in his studio. A group of his most devoted fans follow the maker’s intricate clues to discover who killed him.
15. Tick-tock goes the death clock.
When a local watchmaker passes away naturally, his will gives an antique watch to his closest group of elderly friends. After they open it, they discover a mystery that will take all of them to solve.
Crime Mystery
16. Body on the Bayou.
A man is discovered in the Florida wetlands, murdered in a ritualistic fashion with strange statues and drawings nearby. Detectives embark on a search through ancient rites of the backwater marshes, trying to find the murderers before they strike again.
17. At your service.
A waitress is found murdered in the kitchen of the restaurant. The detective investigating finds she was involved in much more of service to the gritty underworld than just serving them food.
18. Magic can be dangerous.
A detective must uncover who killed a magician’s assistant after she was found dead during a live magic trick on stage. The magician was on stage when it happened and his materials weren’t sabotaged. The detective must unravel the mystery of how she died before the magician’s new assistant takes her place on stage, potentially becoming the next victim. .
19. Pictures are worth a thousand words.
The police start receiving photographs of people who are found murdered exactly four days later. After the fifth murder, a sixth picture arrives, and it is a race against time to find the murderer before they claim another life.
20. Feathers for the fallen.
A series of murders are found with a single white feather left at each one. Forensics show the murders are unconnected and the feathers were left hours later. Who is leaving these feathers and what do they know about the crimes?
21. Hypnotized mayhem on the water.
At least 10 visitors on a cruise ship start dying after a hypnotist’s show. Detectives must investigate the 1000+ guest list and 100+ staff to find out who’s responsible and how. But each time they think they’ve found the culprit, that person dies.
22. The opera can change your life.
A man is found dead in his seat at an opera house one evening. Nobody can remember if he was alive when they got there that evening or if he was already in his seat. Nobody even knows who the man is. Detectives must work quickly before the next showing to ensure another murder doesn’t happen.
Supernatural Mystery
23. The Door that Wasn’t.
After moving into their seemingly normal house, a family discovers a secret door they were sure wasn’t there before. When they go inside, it seems to transport them to another world. Where did it come from? Where does it go?
24. The clock stops for no man.
Every night, at precisely 3am, a grandfather clock strikes the time and wakes the entire household. The problem is: there is no grandfather clock in the house.
25. A picture can transport you…literally.
After discovering a painting of a beautiful woman, a man finds himself transported back to her time period. Even though he finds himself falling in love with her, he still needs to find out how he got there. And, more importantly, how does he get home?
26. Old toys hold old memories.
A man uncovers his great-grandfather’s model city in the basement and decides to put it together. As he builds each portion of the model, people start disappearing from the real city he lives in. The strangest part: there are tiny people inside the model houses that weren’t there before…
27. A curiosity for everyone, indeed…
A new curiosities shop in town promises everyone that visits will find the exact thing they need, every time. But every item comes at a dear price. Who is this shopkeeper, and can the mystery of his origins help stop him before it’s too late?
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the following:
27 Cozy Mystery Writing Prompts
How to Write a Locked-Room Mystery
How to Write a Cozy Mystery Novel
How to Build Suspense in a Mystery Novel