Write about a character on the hunt to solve a mystery who uses their local library (or librarian) as a source of information.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 25 stories

“Finding The Truth” by Crystal Glisson

Submitted to Contest #142

I feel my phone vibrating, and quickly answer it. Hello, I say, trying to be quiet. “Finally, I have been trying to reach you.” I hold the phone away from my ear. Sarah could be loud sometimes. I was busy, I told her. “Mitzie, are you at the library again?” I smile to myself. My best friend knew me well. Yes, I am, I tell her, now keep it down. “I swear you would live there, if they’d let you.” I could hear the annoyance in her voice. Alright so what’s up, I ask. “I was thinking we could hang out tonight.” Sure, where do you want to meet? “I...

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“The Dream” by Ambar Sánchez

Submitted to Contest #142

I didn’t sleep on my way back to my hometown. When I left away, I thought I would never have to come back, but there I was, feeling like I was heading to a ghost town.It gave me chills just to think about it, but I had to be back. I left a lot of things behind when I left, including people I loved as my friends. One of them was Marlene, with whom I probably shared nothing in common, but we had lots of fun together.The guilt haunted me because I was back because Marlene was dead after five days of being missing.I heard the news on social medi...

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“The Mystery of the Missing books” by Joan Dorosario

Submitted to Contest #142

The Mystery of the missing books The local library was a wooden structure on the edge of town, which had served as the town’s drinking hall during the boom days of the colonial times. That was when the town had been a thriving center of trade between the islands around the mainland. It boasted of a schoolhouse, a Church, a government building, a City Hall, and a flourishing marketplace, with the attached bar and saloon. Nestled along the shores of the river, mountains and forests surrounded the town. The foothills of the mountain range, whe...

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“THE EMPIRE” by John Minnaar

Submitted to Contest #142

Write about a character on the hunt to solve a mystery who uses their local library (or librarian) as a source of information. AN EMPIRE Mantua – Italy Amadeus stood on the stair pondering matters. Time passed. War had ravaged every one of the Empires from France, Saxony to Prussia and Austria. These were desperate times and the 7 years war had not left one land untouched by the madness of territorial conquests. Even the British were fighting in Canada and further south in America. What did any of this really mean, aside fr...

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“On the Basis of Names” by C. Stacey

Submitted to Contest #142

L. Thomas. Now, who was this guy? Every book I’d checked out from the library had their name in it. Wuthering Heights, Heart of Darkness and hell, I bet if I found the Junie B. Jones books, even those would have their name on the checkout slip. But I had never heard; nor seen their name anywhere else. I’d checked the yearbooks all the way to nineteen-ninety two. Nada, zilch. Nothing. No Leah, no Lester, no Leeroy. Well, there was a Leeroy, but from what Miss Claron said, he’d up and gone to Mississippi before his freshman year started, and h...

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“THE LIBRARIAN - MRS. M” by Vijay Likhite

Submitted to Contest #142

Mrs. M, the senior librarian entered the library building of Boston University at 11 in the morning,. She used the elevator and reached the 5th floor to enter her cabin. Settled herself and looked around through the glass panel. Only a couple of students were seen scanning some books. Mrs. M wondered whether that treasure of knowledge was being utilized by the students effectively for carrying out research work. She got the idea of doing some project work herself along with some students. She wanted to see the effectiveness of attracting stu...

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“Guess Who's Cooking Dinner?” by Joe Dozier

Submitted to Contest #142

“Hello? Horry County Library, may I help you?” “Reference Desk, please.” “Reference, may I help you?” “I need a contact to report Elder abuse. Do you have a reference for that?” “I’m sure we do. If you would give me your name and number, I will call you as soon as I l...

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“Lost Time” by Joseph Hartshorn

Submitted to Contest #142

Here comes another one, just as confused as the others. As soon as he comes through the door, there is first that look of surprise, then of admiration (for it is a beautiful library if I say so myself). When he has finished enjoying the quaint, retro charm of the room, the vintage green desk lamps, fine mahogany furniture, and that unmistakable smell of old, over-read books, it dawns on him that he has no recollection of making his way here. He's not even sure what part of town he has come to and probably does not know where he left his car....

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“The Doll Maker” by Lexi Duckett

Submitted to Contest #142

“We’re moving?” I and my brother Adam looked up at our mother who was doing the dishes. Adam and I were sitting at the kitchen table. Adam was studying for a math test for school, and I was writing a story. I love writing. That’s what I want to be when I get older. I want to be a writer. Mom finished washing a coffee mug and then she grabbed the dishtowel from off of the counter and she dried her hands. Then she laid the towel back on the counter and she turned and looked at us. She had that calm look on her face that she always had. My mom ...

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“The Case of the Passiflora X” by Olivia Snead

Submitted to Contest #142

The Case of the Passiflora X By O. S. Snead One Monday morning in August, private investigator Edgar Nikephoros Huntinger received a telephone call from Franklin Harrington, an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Good morning, Edgar, this is Agent Harrington. How are you on this hot Miami morning?” I’m doing well, thank you, Franklin...

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Write about a character on the hunt to solve a mystery who uses their local library (or librarian) as a source of information.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 25 stories

“Finding The Truth” by Crystal Glisson

“The Dream” by Ambar Sánchez

“The Mystery of the Missing books” by Joan Dorosario

“THE EMPIRE” by John Minnaar

“On the Basis of Names” by C. Stacey

“THE LIBRARIAN - MRS. M” by Vijay Likhite

“Guess Who's Cooking Dinner?” by Joe Dozier

“Lost Time” by Joseph Hartshorn

“The Doll Maker” by Lexi Duckett

“The Case of the Passiflora X” by Olivia Snead

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone being given a book recommendation.

Write a story about a librarian that doesn’t fit into the common librarian stereotypes.

Write a story that includes one character reading aloud to another.

Write about somebody who likes to work in silence.

Contest #142

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

175

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: