Mystery – August 31

Jack the Ripper killed his first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, on this date in 1888. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes the event s/he is exploring is the second instance of a very particular antagonist’s activity.

Mystery – August 30

Anna Politkovskaya was born on this date in 1958. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a crime committed against a reporter leads your protagonist to suspect larger forces are at work.

Mystery – August 29

Henry Bergh, who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was born on this date in 1813. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a clue in an instance of someone abusing a pet.

Mystery – August 28

The Killers premiered on this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that a double-crosser was double-crossed.

Mystery – August 27

Ira Levin was born on this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suspects a suicide is actually murder.

Mystery – August 26

“Truth is rare fruit in garden of murder.” -Earl Derr Biggers, born this date in 1884. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that her/his assumptions about a person’s national heritage are incorrect, which requires reconsideration of the entire situation.

Mystery – August 25

“It was cold at 6:40 in the morning of a March day in Paris, and seems even colder when a man is about to be executed by firing squad.” -Frederick Forsyth, born this date in 1938. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s duty makes the weather seem more extreme than it is.

Mystery – August 24

“At night we are all strangers, even to ourselves.” -Alexander McCall Smith, born on this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which one night in particular causes your protagonist to become a stranger to him/herself.