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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#12: Armchair Detectives

In much of the world, fall is in full swing. Leaves are a vibrant kaleidoscope of oranges, reds, and yellows. A chill is settling in. Days are shorter, and pumpkin spice is, well, everywhere. In other words, it's the kind of weather that simply begs for you to cozy up with a good read. And what kind of book could be cozier than a cozy mystery?

For those of us who enjoy getting spooked, but not terrified, in the lead-up to Halloween, the cozy mystery is a great genre. It provides suspense and mystery, but not horror. The crimes are depicted lightly, and typically take place in idyllic towns where things always ended up working out.

This week, our prompts are inspired by the cozy mystery genre. But that doesn't mean your story needs to involve a mystery! The great thing about fiction is how hallmarks of one genre can weave their way into stories of all kinds. (Want to learn more about the cozy mystery genre or check out some suggested reading? Check out this blog post!)

This week's prompts

Write a story that takes place in a small town where news travels fast.

High School – 50 stories

Write a story about a character with a sidekick.

Character – 20 stories

Write a story featuring a protagonist with a knack for getting to the bottom of things.

Mystery – 6 stories

Write a story that involves a mystery — it doesn't need to be crime-related, it should just include something that remains unexplained until the end.

Mystery – 79 stories

Write a story that features an ensemble cast of characters.

Character – 20 stories

Stories

“Three Petals” by Jasmin Park

Submitted to Contest #12

I was walking along the cobblestone road to my small cottage at the edge of town when I saw smoke in the distance. I hurried along, past our small garden, heading inside.The fire was still burning from earlier that day when I decided to leave for the local market for some bread. My husband stayed behind to tend to the fire and our daughter."Hello my dears. What have you two been up to since I've gone?""Just waiting for you my love." My husband said as he kissed my cheek. We have been together since our schooling years and we live the most pe...

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“The Job of my Dreams” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #12

THE JOB OF MY DREAMS They still had careers advisors when I was at school, but I daresay the only people who wistfully lament their passing are those who never were subject to their ministrations. No, that’s unfair. Probably a great many of them gave excellent advice, I just never seemed to hear about any, though I never did find out if the story about the person who said he wanted to work with animals being told he could work in an abattoir was true or not, and it’s not very often I don’t find something out....

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“The Loudest Whispers” by Amy Dear

Submitted to Contest #12

Kai popped off the white lid, and lightly swirled his pinky around the foam that frothed on top of his venti latte. He then placed his finger in his puckered lips with a smirk lurking in his mind. Mona rolled her eyes and tried to hide her irritation as she watched the droplets of condensation drip off his lid onto the glass table. “I really wish you would stop projecting your thoughts like that, Kai. You know it drives me crazy.” She stated between gritted teeth. Oh, I think that young couple is fighting, thought a middle-aged woman t...

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“Sidekick” by Mushroom (flammulina Velutipes)

Submitted to Contest #12

She stands slightly behind me, like always. That’s her job, to wait behind me and warn me of incoming danger so I can save everyone like always, solve the crime like always. Maybe she’ll get involved in the investigation. Probably not. It’s not safe for sidekicks to get involved. I survey the crime scene, looking at the broken glass, the blood, and the open window too high up to reach. I look around for some other way for whoever it was to get out, but see nothing. “Maybe,” she says. I look up, surprised. Her voice is hesitant and soft. “May...

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“Five Times the Trouble” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #12

“I’m Limmy!” “Timmy!” “Tammy!” “Sammy!” “WHAMMY!” Each one of the Harrison quintuples posed on stage with their first initial spelled out in their arms as Timmy and Tammy both glared at each other for having the same first initial. “And this is our show!” They shouted in sync. The audience was small that night. Despite having the whole school auditorium, no one except their father and a woman showed up. It was obvious to all that no one trying cared about the quintuples’ play but the quintuples. Especially Tammy who had written the entire th...

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“Emotional Murder” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #12

“One of you…” I glared at my suspects. “Committed murder.”My lightning and thunder sound effect flashed and crackled outside the window. All my guests cranked their heads in suspense at it.Together, the three of us were all huddled around a wooden table in a castle I inherited from my recently deceased uncle. Mold bloomed from each and every crack, making it a HHS nightmare. That’s right, I know acronyms.“This is ridiculous!” Professor NutsWorth declared, slamming his hands down on the table. “I have an alibi!”“Okay, first off. This is hand ...

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“The Paralegal” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #12

“Wends, can I call you Wends?”Samantha raised her finger in objection, but before she could tell Dennis that her name was not Wendy, but Samantha, he continued his rambling. “I’m calling you Wends. Listen, Wends, you and me? We’re a team. Partners in crime that defend the law. Scratch that, actually, you’re just my assistant.”Again, Samantha raised her finger to correct him, that she was actually a paralegal, not a lowly assistant. However, Dennis didn’t stop to breath, let alone listen to her. “I’d say our relationship is more… hmmm… master...

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“This must be the place” by Fran Tracey

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #12

Cathy’s breath caused a fog on the window, she was standing that close. It was something she did as a child, intentionally back then. Breathe, write, rub, breathe, write, rub, much to her mother’s annoyance. Is it you, Cathy who cleans those windows? No it is not. Stop, please. Causing the fog wasn’t helping her see into the place, that was for sure. Cathy took a step back, then able to make out some shapes inside the erstwhile cafe – chairs, tables, maybe the counter there at the back no longer covered in a white cloth? Hope rose for ...

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“Shadow” by Caroline D

Submitted to Contest #12

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” I smacked myself on the forehead. “I can’t believe I did that.” I pushed my seat back and stood up. I took one step after another until the floor went from hardwood to a soft, thick rug that my toes would get caught in. Three steps to the right, four steps forward. I reached out, feeling a silky leather. I turned and dramatically plopped down on the couch. I sighed, letting the air leave my mouth with frustration. A clicking noise followed behind me, and suddenly I felt warm fur lay against my leg. I reached down to...

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“Adelaide Sleeper” by Terry R Barca

Submitted to Contest #12

“I’m sorry Mr Bennett,” she didn’t look that sorry, “but a shared sleeper is all we have left. If you must travel on that day, you will have to share. If you can put your trip off for a day or two you can have your pick of the solo cabins — they are more expensive, of course.”“I have to be there on Friday, so it has to be the overnight train on Thursday. I’ll take the ticket, but tell them to stock up on decent whisky. I’m going to need it, and so is my sleep buddy,” said Sam“You will have some time to yourself because your fellow passenger ...

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“Express News” by N B Edwards

Submitted to Contest #12

In the near distance, the train to Chicago blared its horn. The sound was mostly drowned out by the mechanical thump and whirr of the production line, not to mention the loud chatter of a dozen local people doing what they always did when stuck in a room together: gossip. "Well I heard young Clem is sweet on Lizzy's daughter," said Joyce. Her clever hands, wrinkled and thick-knuckled, made quick work of sorting through the green stream of apples. Good one, good one, good one. Aha! Bad one! In a flash, she whipped it off the line, no second ...

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“A Print in the Mud” by Will Smith

Submitted to Contest #12

Prologue: There was the sound of the door opening. A figure walked in through the door and proceeded into the hallway. The figure came into the light of the living room nearly was dark enough to conceal itself. The figure went past the living room into a darker hallway. The floor of the hallway was covered in drying cement, just barely far enough through the hallway that if he was going to pass it, they would have to jump, and it would be a close one. The figure took a few steps back, ran forward and jumped. With a squish, the figure landed...

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“A Trucker's Long Night” by Steven Pittaro

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #12

7PM-6AM. That’s the truckers shift. Assuming the driver doesn’t take any breaks, and tonight, he isn’t. Richie’s the one on the road. Carrying a double trailer on the back, this one weighs 120,000 pounds. Richie needs to make sure the back is secure on the truck before he sets out on the road. That takes about a half hour, after which, he is soaring. He starts driving at 7PM. The sun is just beginning to set. It’s the summer, so Richie isn’t enveloped in total darkness yet. He loves watching the sunset while he drives. The sky is a pale...

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“The suspicious bag ” by Elianna Penkar

Submitted to Contest #12

It was once said that the wind whispers woes of those unheard. I don't know who said it and it doesn't matter who did. On this stormy night on Thonhill, I stand by the edge and wait. I was to meet a young man with a red cap, he was to hand me a bag and disappear quickly. And so he did. The bag held unfamiliar contents. That made me - the middleman, in need of cash.I was without a wife, not to say that I never loved. I did. We were to be married but she took ill, and we spent the rest of her days paying medical bills. After she was gone,...

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“A Dying Beauty” by Vince Calma

Submitted to Contest #12

Levi Griffin followed his memories of the route to his best friend’s house along gloomy country roads and forty minutes later turned his car onto a paved driveway. A porch light cast an orange glow over the small redbrick house. He pulled to a stop and the screen door screeched open, revealing Margaret Tanner’s silhouette. As Levi climbed the porch step he could see she was wearing outdoor clothes, her handbag still slung on her shoulder.“Levi, it’s you,” Margret says, her eyes a bit wide, reaching out to him with both fo her hands. Levi let...

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$50

Prize money

175

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 25, 2019 EST

Won by Dylan Roth 🏆

Title: Annual Reunion

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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