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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of crime short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

4810+ Crime Short 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.

Crime Short Stories – Page 231 of 321

rocky hills massacre

Submitted to Contest #93

We pack up the car with a few suitcases the next morning .we were on the road we had to wake up a little .so we could get there around the right time .when we left i had the back seat all to myself while my two older brothers get to ride in the front .we are driving in the woods not much to see except trees .and a few dear . but we did stop by an old town to stock up on gas and snakes for the road .i fell asleep for about 20 minute when i woke we are still in the woods .i ask forest are we almost there he says according to map we pretty...

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Lisa Finally Goes to a Party

Submitted to Contest #93

Lisa a young high school student at seventeen years old just moved. To a new school not knowing anyone there she kept to her self. She is a shy girl does not talk to anyone all she does is go to school and comes home. Her mother is worried about her because she use to be so out going. She played on the basketball team she went to parties. But she no longer does any of that and her mom does not know why. She has asked Lisa a couple of times but all Lisa does is shrug her shoulders. Lisa’s mother try’s to get her out more doing stuff to make...

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Death at a Party

Submitted to Contest #93

There was a body on the table. They stared at it—at the heavy hair-sprayed pink curls and the smudged mascara and the tiny crop top that showed off a belly button piercing (did people still get belly button piercings? Never mind the piercing, she was dead) . Sixteen, maybe. Or younger. Anyway she was too young to be here. That’s what they were all thinking. Someone’s niece who’d hidden in the back of the car. Someone’s little sister who’d sneaked in the bathroom window. But no one claimed her. Not even when they turned down the volume and ...

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A Woman of Loose Morals

Submitted to Contest #93

Trigger warning: Violence, languageThis story is inspired by true events.Neha covered her head with the dupatta of her salwar-kameez and wrapped it across her shoulder. She put on the oversized black sunglasses borrowed from her roommate Kavya, who — along with the rest of the second-year students of Kasturba Medical College — was attending the first lecture of the day. Dr. Swamy was one of the lenient professors and students often got away with marking proxy attendance for their friends. As Neha checked the pen drive in her pocket for the t...

106 likes 27 comments 27
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First Time After My Divorce.

Submitted to Contest #93

TW: death Between the two of us, my husband, Jamie, was the life of the party. Everywhere we went, he would light up a room. Cheers would follow him from room to room, dying down only to rekindle moments later when he reappeared.   I never understood how he did it, how he was able to take a simple gathering, and turn it into something wild and unforgettable. I guess that was just his personality. And what made me fall in love with him.   Of course, after six years together, that wasn't enough for him.   It was like...he got ad...

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After Party

Submitted to Contest #93

After the Party When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was a nerve behind my knee twitching uncontrollably, as if a fish had swum its way down behind my thigh overnight and become stranded, flapping, at the joint. The sun was already high and my mouth tasted like I’d been sucking on small change coins. I couldn’t remember anything of the night before. Everyone says, when you can’t remember that’s when you know it was a good night. But when the ragged edges of memory begin to piece together, fun does not fill the gaps. A few limbs lay in ...

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AN IMPROMPTU LOVE TRIANGLE GOES WRONG.

Submitted to Contest #93

  TW: murder The Kasarani auditorium was packed to capacity. City dwellers from nearby as well as party goers from far and beyond had all gathered on that much awaited day for the dancehall concert. Dancers in tight small shorts could be seen shaking their derriere to the sound of the music that boomed from the several large speakers. Those doing business could be seen busy attending to the guests that had visited their booths. Some wanted food while others used food as an excuse to socialize. However, most of the buyers were in search ...

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Realization

Submitted to Contest #93

"I am pressed against the shelves in my house trying to hide as much as I can,my eyes were shut tight I tried to open them but I just could not everything that had happened in my life had led me up to this moment I felt light headed and thoughts were infiltrating my mind I needed to calm down and escape this situation so I finally managed to open my eyes and looked as much as I could i was unable to comprehend what had happened my chest was tight I was paralyzed in this uncomfortable position inside a cabinet hiding was my last hope as I loo...

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Not the party I expected

Submitted to Contest #93

  It started like any high school weekend party. There was a keg or two, the jocks, a couple of nerds and of course some of us long haired hippies. The parents of the girl who was giving the party were away for the night and we all knew we couldn’t get too crazy. About half way through the festivities a fight broke out about some boy girl drama but it got calmed down pretty fast. It was not the type of neighbor hood that we wanted the cops to show up at. People started leaving shortly thereafter. A couple of people stayed to help c...

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The Last Day

Submitted to Contest #93

“NO!!! That doesn’t go there!!!” I have heard this a million times, over and over again. Every party. Every event. Every ____ day! When will this ever end! This is the most horrible party ever. Supposed to be the best, but sooooo boring. When will this night ever end! “Jake? Go get my blue wig from the van, I will need it in an hour or so.” Bliss!!! Awesome!!! A break finally. My name is Jake. I come from a use-to-be small town before joining the big black hole known as the GTA. Maybe you have heard of it? It used to be called Stoney Cree...

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Au Revoir

Submitted to Contest #92

  The moment her fingers wrapped around the neck of a guitar instead of around the spine of a book, I knew that the family tradition would die with me. From the moment my twelve year old daughter plucked at those strings for the first time, she was a goner and everybody knew it. Everybody acknowledged it. They even praised her for it. But, according to the whispered rumours flying around the shelves I stocked on a daily basis, I was villain in every story that featured my daughter.   I don’t understand why she won’t support Danica’...

70 likes 32 comments 32
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House of Shadows - Burning Bronze - Chapter 1

Submitted to Contest #92

Jim - February 12, 2001 - 9:13 amMy footsteps echoed through the grand room as I paced the empty redwood floors. The glossy shine of intermingled reds and dark browns were dulled by a layer of dust. I passed by six unveiled windows and stared through them in turn. The flat plains of the Midwest sprawled out to the horizon. A group of orange, black, and grey finches hopped around in a patch where green grass poked through the melting blanket of snow. I stopped pacing and turned to face my dad. “Rianne was your fourth attorney. You can’t keep ...

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My little game

Submitted to Contest #92

Well, I got caught. They caught me red-handed and now I don’t know what to do at this point in time but before we talk about what I got caught for let me catch you up to speed. My name is Jack Wilson I am 14 years old and was born on June 9th, 2400. Now I didn’t have the greatest childhood. I come from a family full of crime. I know boo who so sad well I’m not talking about robbing candy stores and all the boring stuff because that would be a bad excuse. See my family well we have been known for being a family of hitmen. My father was the be...

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Buried

Submitted to Contest #92

Goosebumps played across Ansley‘s skin and her breath blew smoky from between her chattering teeth. She couldn’t see her hand in front of her face for the fog that accompanied the nights chill. Her legs strained to drag her feet through the thick bayou mud and muck. Fear shook its way through her, and her knees nearly buckled.  Liz was out here somewhere and nothing would deter Ansley from finding her. “Elizabeth!” Her best friends name reverberated off the moonless sky and echoed all around her.  There was no response. Ansley stre...

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The Haunted house that is filled with shadows.

Submitted to Contest #92

     It all started on a hot ,Sunday morning and  I was getting ready to go and visit Aunt Louise that lived on the countryside, which was twenty miles away from my house. My brother Leroy decided to come since Uncle Vas house was nearer to hers. On my way we stopped at Edwardsville to pick up a few things for her since we have not seen her in a long while. Aunt Louise had a  poultry and vegetable farm that she would normally sell to the nearby markets and public schools in the area. Grandma’s plantations &...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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