Mystery Writing Prompts

15 mystery writing prompts

1. A crossword setter notices clues in her own puzzles that she did not write.
2. At a village baking contest, the judge collapses after tasting entry number seven.
3. A retired detective in a care home suspects the new resident is not who he says.
4. Every guest at a dinner party receives a note: "I know what you did in 2009."
5. A priceless violin is stolen during a concert, while the audience was watching it.
6. The murder weapon is found in the victim's own locked safe.
7. A food-delivery rider realises the same address has ordered for a dead man for months.
8. A librarian notices someone is borrowing books in an order that spells a message.
9. The ship's cook is the only one who knows which passenger skipped breakfast.
10. A child reports a crime she saw in a painting.
11. Twins, one alibi.
12. The lighthouse keeper's logbook is missing exactly one night.
13. A cosy mystery where the sleuth is a dog groomer who reads people by their pets.
14. A heist crew gathers for a reunion, and one of them is found dead.
15. The victim left a clue. It is a supermarket receipt.