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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#27: Agatha Christie

It's no secret why one of the most-repeated writing tips is: to read. You can learn endless craft wisdoms by reading the works of literary greats — and also lesser-known authors, too. Reading, in general, is simply a valuable way to improve your skills as a writer.

This week, we're pulling inspiration from the author behind two of crime fiction's most beloved sleuths: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Yes, each of the below prompts relate in some way to themes, symbols, or other common elements in the writings of Agatha Christie.

Want to learn more about the Grand Dame of crime fiction? Check out our Agatha Christie reading guide!

This week's prompts

Write a short story that takes place on a train.

High School – 128 stories

Write a short story about a jury of people tasked with making a decision. (It doesn't necessarily need to be a court jury.)

Adults – 29 stories

Write a short story in which a specialist is called upon to carry out a job.

High School – 36 stories

Write a short story that ends with a twist.

Mystery – 155 stories

Write a short story that takes place in a quaint, idyllic, English village.

Fiction – 31 stories

Stories

“IRL” by Gareth Clegg

Submitted to Contest #27

May 2022It was November 2021 when I became notorious as public enemy number one, hunted by the organisation known as FreeMind.FreeMind, as I’m certain everyone is aware, seemed to be a cult of asshats moaning about Armageddon, the end of the world, you know? All the usual cultish crap you see on TV. They were evangelical and recruited fiercely. Their numbers growing like humping rabbits locked in a Viagra factory.I’m not really sure how I got myself into this, but I need to write it down so someone can hear the truth in case they get to me. ...

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“Emergency Rations” by Synia Sidhe

Submitted to Contest #27

The train’s shrill whistle was a javelin through the heart of serenity.Percy stretched awake, his long fingernails scraping against the interior of the crate.“Eduardo?” He hissed. “Miguel? Sam?” His vassals should be enticing him back to the world of the living with honey-blood tea right now. He pulled the release handle with one hand and pushed at the lid of the crate with the other. It didn’t open. Something on top of his bed rattled.“Oi,” Percy puffed, rubbing his throbbing eyes. “For all the trips for me to end up in a luggage pile, it h...

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“Freaks and Oddities” by Eleanor S

Submitted to Contest #27

The loud whistle sounded, warning all passengers of the train’s departure. Still by the ticket booth, tapping his foot against the cobblestone setting, Castle handed his money to the keeper. The train slowly moved forward, it’s wheels screeching against the new rail tracks.The Keeper remained unconcerned, and took his leisurely time retrieving Castle’s ticket. Castle’s wingtips tapped faster. Nervously, he tightened his tie and straightened his vest and jacket. When the Keeper offered the ticket, Castle slapped it from his hand and ran ...

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“Local Exhibit” by Katy Schwartz

Submitted to Contest #27

Through the dirt-smeared window, Mona could see the swirling graffiti zipping by on the cracking, crumbling brickwork that boxed Queens County in at the edges. White plastic fences, badly in need of a power-wash, marked with pseudonym symbols and false signatures capped with cartoon crowns; blacks and reds and blues. Something to stand out against all that gray in the air. The first time she’d ridden into the city, on this very same local lin...

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“Night Train” by William Webster

Submitted to Contest #27

In his bedroom three blocks away from the railroad tracks that split the town in half, Richard hears the train whistle. Every night at midnight, when the train barrels west towards Garret Tunnel and River Junction, it approaches the grade crossing in the center of town and she blows her whistle. It’s a lonely sound. The engineer and firemen in the cab and brakeman riding solo in the caboose are the only living souls on the train. Every day engineer Jonathan Luther hauls freight out of Central Station to ...

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“What Color is a Mirror? ” by Gabi Rose

Submitted to Contest #27

The clock tick-tocked on the beige wall. The Crown Court jury was silent. I had to be strong. I knew I hadn’t gone mad. The judge's penetrating stare tore right through me, impatiently waiting for a reply, but I didn’t have one to give. A Cheshire cat’s smile bobbed in the air above the windowsill. I lifted a hand to my eyepatch and gingerly touched the dark cover. My mind’s eye was leaping over everything that had happened in the past year, calculating and reshaping the possible outcomes. Every rabbit trail ended here. There wasn’t any othe...

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“Thanks to Mrs Barnes” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #27

“Tina, does every English village have someone like Mrs Barnes?” my Dutch ex-sister-in-law Anneke asked, looking vaguely shell-shocked. “I’m not sure,” I admitted, “But why should we be the only ones to suffer?” “Oh, come on, you don’t mean it! She is a character, after all.” “So was Jack the Ripper,” I said, darkly. I suppose I should explain a couple of things. Anneke was my idiotic brother Colin’s ex-wife.&nb...

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“The Planted Pot Murders” by Cheryl Fulton

Submitted to Contest #27

Stella Stanhope rode her bike habitually into town like she did everyday. As she glided along the narrow, barely paved road with the same scenery no matter which way she looked. Green fields as far as the eyes could see, and sheep, lots of sheep. Some might think pretty, and it was, but so boring. Nothing ever exciting happened in Hambleden, it did at one time, but not lately. Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Band of Brothers, and my favorite Sleepy Hollow, among others were filmed here. They even used our church for a scene in the Agatha Christi...

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“Following the Birds” by Cory Pines

Submitted to Contest #27

Piper stared out the window, staring at a small blue jay soar around the sky. I sat down next to her, but she didn’t acknowledge my presence. I didn’t mind it though. I was fine with just sitting next to her, watching her marvel at the sight of the bird. “Jackson, do you want to fly away?” Piper asked, apparently she did realize I was there. I was a little shocked, normally when she was looking out the window up into the sky, nothing could pull her out of her trance. Not a rub on the back or a kiss to her cheek. “Why would I, I live in...

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“Nicer than the New-Builds” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #27

People always seemed to say, “Oh, you live in one of the nice new-builds then!” It made Tessa inclined to reconsider her opinion that the word “nice” was much-maligned. It wasn’t always possible to judge the nuance, and perhaps it was as well. Not exactly envy, not exactly contempt, and she supposed she could be reading way too much into it. She didn’t hate her little semi on Willow Way, but she was pretty sure she’d never love it either. It was a neat redbrick little house with a gabled roof ...

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“Angel Umbrellas” by Brittany Rohm

Submitted to Contest #27

I think about the Carters every day, but most of all on Saturdays. Those are the only days when the boy with giant glasses doesn’t careen past on his bike, laden with numerous copies of the Sherman County Journal and struggling to stay upright. Mr. Carter used to read that paper every weeknight while Mrs. Carter prepared dinner, and every Sunday morning while she scrambled eggs. Sometimes Mr. Carter would mutter about “that stupid goddamned war” or “that good-for-nothing Johnson,” but mostly he kept his opinions to himself. I think he just w...

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“The Horrors of Travel” by Mary Lombardi

Submitted to Contest #27

I’m tired, hungry, want to throw up, and have the growing need to use a bathroom. Dragging my heavy suitcase from the cramped taxi to the busy bus station did not help with my irritability either. By the time I got onto the red line that you must board on the green platform, of which two are closed because of construction, I was ready to scream at the next person who waved a newspaper in my face while screaming at me in no less than five different languages. I drag my suitcase into the aisle of the cramped train, find the seat that re...

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“illusion of a friend” by Rory Freed

Submitted to Contest #27

I got a phone call from the police station this morning. It was the usual thing they say when they call me. "Come to the station it's an emergency." I was hoping for a day off but oh well. I get to the station and walk straight to Chief Sander's office not even waiting to check in at reception. "Ah detective it's nice to see you." I huff at his formalities. He does this everytime. "Honestly Kian no need to be so formal around me. I've known you since we were 7." Kian rolls his eyes and points at the chair in front of his desk "Well Alina we ...

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“Whatever Happen to Him” by Angie DiCervo

Submitted to Contest #27

As a boy born in Cuba in 1965 to a couple married. His father whom Theresa loved much was a doctor and his mother who was his everything a woman of noble background. Born in a time of lack, poverty, minimal resources, but grown to have values, achievement, high expectations, pride and fear of nothing.Growing up was a tough thing for Mat, being the only boy flanked by two sisters one older, the other younger. He was placed to be the responsible one to take good care of them in any situation. If when his father went away, he was left in charge...

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“The Sanford Parva Mystery” by Brian Guyll

Submitted to Contest #27

You've probably never heard of Sandford Parva, a small village in Dorset on a quiet road five miles away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Its tree lined avenue, verdant village green complete with pond and wildlife creates the perfect picture postcard of an idyllic village in the west country. Naturally, the inhabitants of Sandford Magna, a couple of miles to the north, dispute such a claim, based mainly on the fact that their spreading chestnut tree is much bigger and fifty years older. However, Parvians quickly point to their...

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$50

Prize money

379

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 07, 2020 EST

Won by Natalie Frank 🏆

Title: Seaglass

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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