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.

Posted in Mystery on Jun 26, 2021

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 206 stories

“The Mouse Head” by Maya Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #51

“Mommy, come here!” Tommy shouted eagerly, standing next to the sliding door opening onto the back porch. “Just a minute!” came his mother’s faint reply from somewhere inside the house. “Hurry up!” he yelled frantically, tapping his hand on the glass window. “What is it, Tommy?” she asked, coming up behind him. “Look!” He pointed out the window at a fluffy ball sitting outside the door. “What is that?” she exclaimed, peering through the smudged glass. “It’s a mouse head!” he replied excitedly. “Eww, gross!” Lucy gagged, peeking over T...

11 comments 11

Read story

“A Fridge Full of Bacon” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #51

I gazed at the fridge in disbelief. A week ago, I had emptied the kitchen of food before my husband and I went on vacation, but the fridge was definitely not empty now. Upon the previously bare shelves sat a packet of butter (we only ever buy sunflower spread), a block of lard (ditto, olive oil) and what looked like enough bacon to set up a truck stop. “Did you buy any soya milk?” My husband joined me at the open fridge door and peered inside. “What the hell is that?” he asked...

4 comments 4

Read story

“What if the facts are the Mystery?” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #51

The girl’s race around the yard examining the boundaries of their new home, they chase squirrels up into the trees and bunnies into their dens. They race around to the back of the spacious cabin and back to the front circling it several times. The girls are my babies; Lexus and Sassparilla. Lexi is a blue fawn Pit bull and Sassy is a Saint Bernard. They are so excited about the move, because now they have two acres to play in. The property is fenced to keep them from wandering into the surrounding forest.We are only about...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Teeth” by 𝕔𝕛 𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣

Submitted to Contest #51

A little girl sat on a park bench, hands in the pockets of her small double-breasted coat, feet swinging over the edge of the seat lazily. She was all rosy cheeks and pale skin in the breath of autumn. All around her, the park’s landscape turned a pinky-orange color with the sun’s fading light. Long shadows crawled across the neatly trimmed grass and sidewalks, one such shadow cutting the bench in half right over the girl’s frame. There were only a few people other than her in the park: two lovebirds strolling through the common, a runn...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Hot Pink Stilettos ” by Melissa Hassan

Submitted to Contest #51

Monty woke up, startled by the loud beep of his alarm clock. He pounded angrily on it to make it stop buzzing.He sighed and got out of bed reluctantly, still feeling groggy. As he made his way to the bathroom, he stepped on something. He looked down and was shocked to see a pair of stilettos!.A pair of hot pink stilettos!He slowly bent down and picked them up, carefully examining them with his mouth open in wonder. They seemed almost brand new.He threw them on the floor and walked around to the other side of the bed and on the floor was...

1 comment 1

Read story

“For it Begins” by Ana Chirila

Submitted to Contest #51

On the morning of May 13th 2016, Ava Atkins was running late. It was unusual but she had a nightmare and couldn’t find the courage to face the world in a bad state. She waited until she calmed down before she took a shower and prepared for another day at the office. The traffic in London at that hour was infernal and Ava was aware she had to call Charlie and tell her to keep her patient entertained until she gets there. Ava reached for her purse and rapidly texted her secretary, completely absorbed in her business. Once she finished, s...

1 comment 1

Read story

“ " UP THE GARDEN PATH "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #51

In a small English village, the town is in preparation for the upcoming garden competition. In midlife, pursuing detective tendencies, whose vocational skills expounded to those of professional gardener as a plausible cover. We specialized in concoctions for weed removal, fertilizer that promotes healthy and hearty growth. At times we joined one another on va...

9 comments 9

Read story

“The Pineapple Mystery” by Angela Van De Pol

Submitted to Contest #51

"Okay, so what do we need? Did you bring our grocery list?" I asked Tracy, my best friend. She walked into the grocery store before me, skipped like a little girl and got ourselves a shopping cart. Her blonde hair waved in the air and she truly looked as if she was sixteen years old. Smiling all cute with the shopping cart and the note in her hand."What do you think?" she asked. I never forget these kind of things. Even if you write them and leave them behind in your apartment! I am the master of shopping lists. You know that," she said smil...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Message.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #51

“Do you think they are dead, Jeff? They don’t look it, but I can’t detect any breathing.” “I don’t know, I guess we’ll have to wait until our ‘path’ guy turns up to find out. I understand this mob are into some sort of Eastern religion. Maybe they are in a trance. These yogi guys can apparently suspend their breathing to such a degree that you can’t detect it easily.” “Yeah, it’d be embarrassing to have them come awake when most of their organs are strewn around the autopsy table,” Jeff said with a laugh. Twenty-five men and women were sit...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Mirage” by M D

Submitted to Contest #51

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” -Albert Einstein Death is inevitable although how and when one faces death is what is destined. The blaring lights of blue and red filled the streets, my heart poundi...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Rufus T. Rutherford Private Eye” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #51

When I got to my investigation office, my receptionist shouted at me that Rufus I just took a call from the State of Florida, they need you to solve the cases of infants being kidnapped. The Attorney General of Florida said, he'd give you a blank check if you could stop whoever is doing it. I gave my overly excited girlfriend Gry a big hug and told her she's just a little emotional because she's pregnant. Don't play with me Rufus she screamed. I handed her one of those home pregnancies test I purchased at CVS Pharmacy....

5 comments 5

Read story

“Heart Full Of Coal” by Rema Teller

Submitted to Contest #51

You know there’s something not quite right about her but you continue anyway, the tequila slammers don’t help.She’d caught your eye on the dance floor. Well, she grabbed it with a smile and a flick of her long hair. For a moment you looked behind you, was there someone beautiful behind?Then her delicate hand was on your shoulder pulling you around. It felt gentle and smelt of spicy vanilla. Somehow you ended up dancing together.You look to her now and wonder. Does she feel sorry for you? You can't even remember how you ended up here. Alone.&...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Guardian Geologist” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #51

Once again, the old man was there. He drove up the hill in his beaten Lada Niva - the old model - sputtering black clouds of smoke that probably killed a few trees in the rainforest, and ground the tormented gearbox in that dreadful shift from second to first gear. Miles, squatting behind a bush in ambush, winced at the metallic sound of the car suffering. Lada Niva stopped at the exact same spot it always did, driving over the established tire marks, and parked by the side of the road. Miles checked his wristwatch. 6:00 in the mornin...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Secret To Success” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #51

Ever wondered how writers become successful? C.B., author of the bestselling series Moonlight Quests, shares with Bruce what he believes is his true secret to success. B: So the second book in your Moonlight Quests series is getting released next month. How does it feel to see your series become a bestseller?C.B.: Good.B: Ha, man of few words I see. So let’s get straight to the point then. Do you have any advice to give to writers who want to be successful like you?C.B.: Yep.B: Would you mind sharing them?C.B.: Sure. My advice for those...

16 comments 16

Read story

“Lonely prey” by Connor H

Submitted to Contest #51

Walking up to their hideout clearly took a toll out of the couple as the larger figure was doubled over breathing heavily. The smaller and more energetic was gesturing frantically that they must keep moving. What was being said was unknown, unfortunately they were too far away to hear any words, yet it the words seemed to be working as the larger figure begins to move slowly whilst holding their side. As they stride forward unawares that they are being watched each starts to rumble in their bag showing the other what they have. Food, books, ...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Middle School – 405 stories

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Kids – 148 stories

Write about someone who returns as an adult to a place they last visited as a child.

Character – 237 stories

Write a story about someone who's haunted by their past.

Character – 252 stories

Contest #51

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Two Hundred!

$50

Prize money

1248

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 24, 2020 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

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.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 206 stories

“The Mouse Head” by Maya Reynolds

“A Fridge Full of Bacon” by Jane Andrews

“What if the facts are the Mystery?” by Catherine Stevens

“Teeth” by 𝕔𝕛 𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣

“Hot Pink Stilettos ” by Melissa Hassan

“For it Begins” by Ana Chirila

“ " UP THE GARDEN PATH "” by Vickie Culbertson

“The Pineapple Mystery” by Angela Van De Pol

“The Message.” by Len Mooring

“Mirage” by M D

“Rufus T. Rutherford Private Eye” by Blane Britt

“Heart Full Of Coal” by Rema Teller

“Guardian Geologist” by Harken Void

“The Secret To Success” by Bruce Charles

“Lonely prey” by Connor H

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Write about someone who returns as an adult to a place they last visited as a child.

Write a story about someone who's haunted by their past.

Contest #51

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

1248

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: