110+ Short Crime Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Feed your fascination with the latest crime short stories. From thrilling accounts of lovable burglars to chilling tales of stone-cold murderers, these bite-sized pieces are so addictive, they should be illegal.

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“UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER” by Carol Gichuru

UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER  Walking down the quiet deserted street, Maya felt like everything around her was on fire because of the hurt and disappointment she felt in her heart. She was burning up with range but had no one to channel it to.    Early on a Saturday morning, she had gone to his house to pay him a visit. Maya had been out of town for two weeks on a work trip and wanted to surprise him. When sh...

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“Set Ablaze 2, electric boogaloo” by Lucinda Serenity

My name is Niall. I was just a regular high school student that got bullied a bit for...no apparent reason. I say WAS because that was in the past, now, I'm the most wanted criminal in my town. With my partner in crime, Kyle. Who's honestly the reason we are in this mess. Since, he set our school on fire. We called our selves the Kings of Flames, causing havoc left and right for again, no ...

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“Father of Mine” by Leviathan Five

Caroline:“She just wants to get to know you all better,” our father said. “Now that Julia is your stepmum, I think you three should make an effort.”“Make an effort seems to be a catchphrase of yours,” Caroline spat back at her father, mimicking his voice. “Isn’t that what you told Mum all the time? Lorraine, I think you should make an effort and keep this house clean; make an effort and ...

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“Are you still here, Olivia? ” by Rachel Cerbito

I met her in the dilapidated house two kilometers away from our house. I usually passed by here every afternoon while riding my bicycle. It was ten past five in the afternoon. I felt the cold wind, my hair stood on end. Anyway, I was used to it and I didn't bother about that. I stared at the house for a long time. I was suddenly flabbergasted when my phone rang. "Kate! where are you? hurry, go home now!" I broke out into...

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“A GHOST STORY” by Sivaram Govindaraj

He was no ordinary joe. He was a professor with a doctorate in psychology and had presided over many international conferences in India as well as abroad. An authority on ghosts, he had written books about them. In the consultancy in his home that morning, he got a call and answered “Yes. I’m Prof.Jo.” The caller said “I’m Col.Hardy retired from the Indian army. I want to consult you regarding a house I’v...

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“A Watchman Lady” by Skyler Woods

Lindsay McBride murdered her husband. She stabbed him to death while he was trying to leave the house with their son in his arms. If Lindsay could do it all over again, she would still kill her husband. Sadly, Lindsay’s husband, Dennis, wasn’t her only victim. Lindsay also murdered her 5-year-old son, Amari. The little boy didn’t suffer as badly as his father, but he still died. His father’s shielding arm took most of the stabbing blows. Amari died instantly when his mother stabbed him in the neck by accident. She w...

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“Known Unknown” by Ɛʟʏֆɨǟռ .

  “Name, age, grade.” “Rosalie Lavigne, 17, 12th, senior.” “Your room is room number 245, located on the east wing. Have a nice stay we look forward to seeing you again at the orientation located in the main ballroom at 6 pm,” the clerk handed me a small, rustic, golden key along with the most fabricated smile I had ever seen, and I trust me, I’ve seen many. I walked up two flights of stairs, turned a right, then a left, and continued walking for about two minutes until I arrived at an ivory-colored door with a b...

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“They Didn’t Know” by Libby Carter

   “You know, when I said ‘Let’s initiate Blythe’, I really meant that we should drive all the way to Wormsloe and make her run. Not this,” I huffed.    “Considering you’re the daredevil of this group, I’m surprised you aren’t all for it.” Blythe laughed at me in surprise.    “While I’m aware that I seem to be a rebel who doesn’t care, I’m not interested in dying tonight. I mean, I at least want to make it ...

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“Fuego” by Esteban Fernandes

Sparky raised her feline legs and stretched out herself on the soft leather couch. It was morning and the trash men had just passed. Friday, trash day and the truck was loud enough to wake her up. Cinder and Ash the two Alsatians she shared this home with her master were barking at noise of the trash truck. The pair made their rounds outside before entering through the doggy door. They had been up before dawn with their noses in the air and paws on the ground. She rarely got excited over anything except food time and the occasional mouse,...

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“The Children's Manor” by Nyx .

"3 Years Ago, i got seperated from my mom in a carnival. I wonder why she didnt looked for me?". November 3, 2019- "Another day, i got transferred to a different foster parent for causing trouble.". "Feel yourself at home", says the Foster Mother. -"I can't sleep at night because of wandering thoughts, like, why am i the only one in this manor, why do i hear a slight drilling sound at night? All those que...

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“Last Christmas ” by Kayla Joseph

“Hey Grandma, it’s been so long, how are you?” My grandmother walks towards me and gives me a big warm hug, she smells of coffee beans and Lysol. “You don’t ever call me to check up on me, you don’t love me no more?” I love my grandma to death but she drives me crazy.  “Sammy, what the hell is this?” I turn around to see my grandmother standing in my door frame. “What’s the matter?” I ask her. “This room is disg...

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“THE DEADLY REVENGE. ” by Swetha Saravanan

It was an usual summer morning in the city of Mumbai. The whole team of special task force were surprisingly relaxing without a single case. Little did they know their Chief Krunal is going to roast them once more with a case. All the four except their Chief where chit chatting in the conference room.  Abhi(techno savvy) : In which direction did the sun rise today?  Karthik(commando): Abhi, ask this to your...

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“The Case of the Haunted House” by Derek Mcmillan

The Case of the Haunted House I do not believe in ghosts. However, I would not spend a night in an allegedly haunted house on my own. That was the reason Barker and I were sitting in an ill-lit house waiting for the ghosts to appear. I had a camera in case the ghosts were visible. I had a blunt instrument in the form of a monkey wrench in case the spirits turned out to be human after all. And ...

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“Evil is as evil does.” by Len Mooring

“Brush them aside. Sod ‘em, they’re plebs, anyway. If they were any good, they’d not be bloody plebs.”These were some of the first words that ‘officially’ issued from the lips of the newly elected member to the ‘halls of political wisdom,’ namely; parliament.Of course, he knew his people, that is; he knew his immediate ‘help-mates’ that would seek to guide him if he ever sought to ‘go off the rails’ to an ‘irredeemable’ position. But, they were ‘chi...

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“THE MURDERED APPLE” by Mara Masolini

THE MURDERED APPLE_____MURDER WITH APPLE “ But look, it seems this apple has been stabbed” Mark tells me, showing an apple, which he has picked up from the ground. In the apple, a Plumpgum apple, full, so pot bellied that it looks like the apple is about to burst, a knife blade is stuck. Mark tries to extract the knife from the belly of the apple, but he doesn’t succeed in it. The blade is so deeply stuck, indeed ...

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