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Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight
“In these mysteries, the stakes are existential: knowing one’s self, knowing how to save the people you can save, and knowing that life is worth living even in the midst of pain. Gran is both blowing up the mystery genre and tying herself to its mast—what an incredible light show. Charming, gritty explorations of the greatest mysteries of all: Who are we, and what is this life?”
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred)
In her first collection of short stories, Sara Gran dives back into DeWitt’s mysterious universe and creates new worlds, drawing on memories of Choose Your Own Adventure novels, Encyclopedia Brown, Two-Minute Mysteries, and teen sleuths.
Who destroyed Professor Wolf’s prize-winning tomatoes? What’s behind the mysterious goings-on at Killington Manor? And why does life sometimes feel like we’re stuck in a mystery, with few clues and no solutions? In her first collection of short stories, Sara Gran explores what detective stories mean and why we need them. If you love mysteries, and wonder why, this book is for you.
Featuring both new characters and characters from the beloved Claire DeWitt series.
“This playful story collection from Gran (the Claire DeWitt series) takes readers on a gleefully irreverent tour of classic crime tropes. . . . Gran’s characters always feel authentic, and the author infuses even her bleakest premises with a sly wit. This is an equally good bet for Gran’s longtime fans and newcomers to her work.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Sara Gran writes a kind of pop noir that's always about ten years ahead of its time, full of wisdom and life and perfect sentences that make other writers tear their hair out in jealousy. The stories in this book pack more punch than a lot of novels do, and will have you laughing and crying and thinking about the years that’ve slipped away all at once.”
—Ed Brubaker, author of Criminal, Reckless, Pulp, and Night Fever
“Gran has an arresting, original imagination. These stories are by turns profound, amusing, and just plain fun.” —Sara Paretsky
“A truly fun book of stories packed with clever twists and wry humor—not to mention the return of one of my favorite detectives, Claire DeWitt. Little Mysteries is big on smarts, suspense and style. You won't want to miss it.”
—Alison Gaylin, Edgar-winning author of We Are Watching
“Irresistible . . . the perfect introduction to one of my favorite writers.” —Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams
“A darkly glittering cabinet of delights and curiosities by a master of the craft. Little Mysteries is a hell of a lot of fun.” —John Wray, author of Gone to the Wolves
“Sara Gran puts her detectives to work again on the deepest Mysteries. Thrillingly, without fear, they look beyond criminals and crimes, and into the motives of the Universe, of the Answer That Refuses to Appear, of love and of abandonment. Only Gran can take us this deep with this much pleasure in the reading, and so, Little Mysteries magnifies life itself.” —Conner Habib, author of Hawk Mountain
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred)
In her first collection of short stories, Sara Gran dives back into DeWitt’s mysterious universe and creates new worlds, drawing on memories of Choose Your Own Adventure novels, Encyclopedia Brown, Two-Minute Mysteries, and teen sleuths.
Who destroyed Professor Wolf’s prize-winning tomatoes? What’s behind the mysterious goings-on at Killington Manor? And why does life sometimes feel like we’re stuck in a mystery, with few clues and no solutions? In her first collection of short stories, Sara Gran explores what detective stories mean and why we need them. If you love mysteries, and wonder why, this book is for you.
Featuring both new characters and characters from the beloved Claire DeWitt series.
“This playful story collection from Gran (the Claire DeWitt series) takes readers on a gleefully irreverent tour of classic crime tropes. . . . Gran’s characters always feel authentic, and the author infuses even her bleakest premises with a sly wit. This is an equally good bet for Gran’s longtime fans and newcomers to her work.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Sara Gran writes a kind of pop noir that's always about ten years ahead of its time, full of wisdom and life and perfect sentences that make other writers tear their hair out in jealousy. The stories in this book pack more punch than a lot of novels do, and will have you laughing and crying and thinking about the years that’ve slipped away all at once.”
—Ed Brubaker, author of Criminal, Reckless, Pulp, and Night Fever
“Gran has an arresting, original imagination. These stories are by turns profound, amusing, and just plain fun.” —Sara Paretsky
“A truly fun book of stories packed with clever twists and wry humor—not to mention the return of one of my favorite detectives, Claire DeWitt. Little Mysteries is big on smarts, suspense and style. You won't want to miss it.”
—Alison Gaylin, Edgar-winning author of We Are Watching
“Irresistible . . . the perfect introduction to one of my favorite writers.” —Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams
“A darkly glittering cabinet of delights and curiosities by a master of the craft. Little Mysteries is a hell of a lot of fun.” —John Wray, author of Gone to the Wolves
“Sara Gran puts her detectives to work again on the deepest Mysteries. Thrillingly, without fear, they look beyond criminals and crimes, and into the motives of the Universe, of the Answer That Refuses to Appear, of love and of abandonment. Only Gran can take us this deep with this much pleasure in the reading, and so, Little Mysteries magnifies life itself.” —Conner Habib, author of Hawk Mountain
280 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2025
39 people are currently reading
1674 people want to read
About the author
Sara Gran
16 books2,027 followersSara Gran's most recent book is LITTLE MYSTERIES, available from Dreamland Books on 2/11/25. She is the author of 7 1/2 previous novels, a screenwriter, and a publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 21, 2025
This was a lot of fun. Self-published in 2024 by Sara Gran via her Los Angeles based press Dreamland Books, Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall and Delight is comprised of micro-fiction dedicated to the authors who've published under the pen name "Carolyn Keene," and Nancy Drew fan worship is strong with this one. Very self-aware, very meta, but a quick and enjoyable read.
San Francisco private detective Claire DeWitt or her favorite fictional Young Adult sleuth Cynthia Silverton factor into most of these entries, but as with good writers, it isn't necessary to have read Gran's novels or be familiar with her characters to enjoy this one. The longest entry--The Mystery at Killington Manor, or, The Feeling of Seeing Clear Blue Sky After Being Lost in the Woods--is Gran writing a Nancy Drew-type novella because she loves Nancy Drew, like Quentin Tarantino writing four teleplays for his fictitious 1950s TV western Bounty Law (as glimpsed in Once Upon a Time In Hollywood) because he loved black & white network TV westerns and got carried away creating one whole cloth.
Sara Gran finds a way to work her passion for rare books or magazines, printing presses, inks, paper, or stamps into most of her work. She deconstructs what a mystery story is, the difference between a crime, a case and a mystery, and how they affect both her detectives and the reader. Gran is one of my favorite authors because she hits the sweet spot between a plot-driven genre thriller and an existential literary novel, similar to Tana French, but with a great deal more brevity and infusion of popular culture and profanity.
As a writer, I have Gran to thank for making me think about what a mystery is and how despised a true detective really would be, particularly to themselves, even a woman, particularly a woman. In spite of rejecting a lot of the pageantry of what we tend to associate with a private eye going back to Philip Marlowe, Gran's stories are a lot of fun.
First sentence: Sheriff Brown surveyed the crime scene through sleepy and bloodshot eyes: Professor Wolf's books, papers, and household goods had been thrown around his formerly neat cottage seemingly at random, much of his exceptional china now broken, antiquarian books from his carefully curated library torn at the spine.
Favorite passage: I was in my loft in San Francisco, drinking coffee with a big splash of amaretto for breakfast, feeling exhausted after the Case of the Broken Sparrow. Sometimes it seemed like no one won in life. Not really. Once an old homicide cop told me that he felt no better solving a murder than not. "You just ruined a bunch more lives," he said--he meant the lives of those who loved the killer, happiness now forever lost--"and you didn't bring anyone back."
San Francisco private detective Claire DeWitt or her favorite fictional Young Adult sleuth Cynthia Silverton factor into most of these entries, but as with good writers, it isn't necessary to have read Gran's novels or be familiar with her characters to enjoy this one. The longest entry--The Mystery at Killington Manor, or, The Feeling of Seeing Clear Blue Sky After Being Lost in the Woods--is Gran writing a Nancy Drew-type novella because she loves Nancy Drew, like Quentin Tarantino writing four teleplays for his fictitious 1950s TV western Bounty Law (as glimpsed in Once Upon a Time In Hollywood) because he loved black & white network TV westerns and got carried away creating one whole cloth.
Sara Gran finds a way to work her passion for rare books or magazines, printing presses, inks, paper, or stamps into most of her work. She deconstructs what a mystery story is, the difference between a crime, a case and a mystery, and how they affect both her detectives and the reader. Gran is one of my favorite authors because she hits the sweet spot between a plot-driven genre thriller and an existential literary novel, similar to Tana French, but with a great deal more brevity and infusion of popular culture and profanity.
As a writer, I have Gran to thank for making me think about what a mystery is and how despised a true detective really would be, particularly to themselves, even a woman, particularly a woman. In spite of rejecting a lot of the pageantry of what we tend to associate with a private eye going back to Philip Marlowe, Gran's stories are a lot of fun.
First sentence: Sheriff Brown surveyed the crime scene through sleepy and bloodshot eyes: Professor Wolf's books, papers, and household goods had been thrown around his formerly neat cottage seemingly at random, much of his exceptional china now broken, antiquarian books from his carefully curated library torn at the spine.
Favorite passage: I was in my loft in San Francisco, drinking coffee with a big splash of amaretto for breakfast, feeling exhausted after the Case of the Broken Sparrow. Sometimes it seemed like no one won in life. Not really. Once an old homicide cop told me that he felt no better solving a murder than not. "You just ruined a bunch more lives," he said--he meant the lives of those who loved the killer, happiness now forever lost--"and you didn't bring anyone back."
August 8, 2024
ARC for review. To be published February 10, 2025.
Subtitled: “Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall and Delight”
This was very inventive with everything from an old MASH game from middle school to stories featuring strong females, including Claire DeWitt whom Gran has written about before. Some stories are playful, some have more depth and the last is truly lovely. If you know you like Gran you’ll like this. If you enjoy strong female detectives, give this a try.
Subtitled: “Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall and Delight”
This was very inventive with everything from an old MASH game from middle school to stories featuring strong females, including Claire DeWitt whom Gran has written about before. Some stories are playful, some have more depth and the last is truly lovely. If you know you like Gran you’ll like this. If you enjoy strong female detectives, give this a try.
July 29, 2025
* 2.75⭐️0🌶️
* A collection of nine short stories that blend classic mystery elements with existential and philosophical themes. The stories, inspired by childhood detective series like Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew, delve into deeper questions about life, maturity, and the nature of reality. Gran explores the blurring lines between fear and anxiety, and the challenges of remaining a good person in a complex world. The collection includes recurring characters like Claire DeWitt and Cynthia Silverton, and features puzzles that focus on emotional and psychological mysteries rather than just physical clues.
* A collection of nine short stories that blend classic mystery elements with existential and philosophical themes. The stories, inspired by childhood detective series like Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew, delve into deeper questions about life, maturity, and the nature of reality. Gran explores the blurring lines between fear and anxiety, and the challenges of remaining a good person in a complex world. The collection includes recurring characters like Claire DeWitt and Cynthia Silverton, and features puzzles that focus on emotional and psychological mysteries rather than just physical clues.
Want to read
August 9, 2024A new Sara Gran book is such a reason to celebrate that I might pop the cork of the champagne I've been keeping in my fridge since my birthday 2022, but maybe a much better occassion is pub day. So excited for this!
February 27, 2025
I really enjoy Sara Gran's writing style, even though this felt significantly different from the previous novel I read from her, THE BOOK OF THE MOST PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE. Something about her style and quirky concepts really clicks with me, so I found myself enjoying each individual piece of this collection. The stories are connected, but I think I missed some of the broader impact of the whole story since I ended up reading this in pieces over a longer period of time than I usually do. I'd recommend reading it more like a novel if you pick it up!
Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.
Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.
February 10, 2025
This was not what I expected. I had never read anything by popular author Sara Gran, and I was looking forward to this introduction to her work. I thought this would be a selection of miniature mysteries with clues so the reader could try to solve the crimes. However, not enough clues were given. One selection, which contained two timelines on one page, was challenging to read on my Kindle. Its title, Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, was suitable (but I would omit the Enthrall and Delight wording).
The chapters were well-written and should appeal to fans of her books, but they didn't work for me. I did not read all the short stories. I think reading one of her books would be a better introduction to this author's works.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Little Mysteries is due to be published today. 2.5 Stars.
The chapters were well-written and should appeal to fans of her books, but they didn't work for me. I did not read all the short stories. I think reading one of her books would be a better introduction to this author's works.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Little Mysteries is due to be published today. 2.5 Stars.
January 15, 2025
“Some days it feels like people just exist to break your heart, and other days and other people exist just to pour salt in the open flesh; sometimes it feels like entire months, years, whole decades exist just to hurt us like it’s their fucking hobby.”
Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight is a short story collection that only Sara Gran could pull off. Ugh, I am not normally a short story kind of gal, but I ate this collection up in two days flat!
This series touched on so much of what it is to be human and to live a life worth living. For these stories being a bit quirky, there is so much depth hidden in these pages. I really love how there are overarching themes that pull the stories into one cohesive piece of work even if they don’t necessarily all contain the same characters.
This is one of those books where I feel like I cannot put the magic into words, but you just need to live it! Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy of this beautiful collection in return for an honest review. This book releases on 2/11/25 and you don’t want to miss it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight is a short story collection that only Sara Gran could pull off. Ugh, I am not normally a short story kind of gal, but I ate this collection up in two days flat!
This series touched on so much of what it is to be human and to live a life worth living. For these stories being a bit quirky, there is so much depth hidden in these pages. I really love how there are overarching themes that pull the stories into one cohesive piece of work even if they don’t necessarily all contain the same characters.
This is one of those books where I feel like I cannot put the magic into words, but you just need to live it! Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy of this beautiful collection in return for an honest review. This book releases on 2/11/25 and you don’t want to miss it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
February 26, 2025
W-O-W did this speak to me. The format, the characters, the tone. The exploration of A) mystery as entertainment and B) the mystery of life.
There is a bit of everything: minute mysteries, a choose-your-own adventure, a novella, some experimental formats. Cynthia Silverton was my favorite character; “Choose Your Own Heartbreak” was my favorite story.
If you prefer your fiction to be more conventional, this is not for you. But if you want a bit of adventure and whimsy that leads to, perhaps, some deeper understanding of the self, look no further. (Especially if you believe in the power of the mystery genre, that it can be so much more than what you think it is.)
There is a bit of everything: minute mysteries, a choose-your-own adventure, a novella, some experimental formats. Cynthia Silverton was my favorite character; “Choose Your Own Heartbreak” was my favorite story.
If you prefer your fiction to be more conventional, this is not for you. But if you want a bit of adventure and whimsy that leads to, perhaps, some deeper understanding of the self, look no further. (Especially if you believe in the power of the mystery genre, that it can be so much more than what you think it is.)
September 2, 2024
I received this book for free and I write this review voluntarily. I am a fan of thrillers, especially the Golden Era's whodunits. So, it was a great opportunity for me to read Sara Gran's beautiful novel. This novel has two parts. First part has short stories about Claire DeWitt, best detective in the world. She reminds me of Scandinavian thriller detectives, not so perfect in their lives, not easy to work with but a genius when it comes to work. The author uses different writing styles successfully in this part, which should be praised. The second part is my favourite part. This part set in 1949, in Killington Manor. Everything seems to be in order in the manor, even the deaths. But are they really? Mystery shadows the manor and with an Agatha Christie style ending (everybody in a room, everybody's motives discussed by the 'detective'), mystery unfolds. I thank author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
September 11, 2024
I don't know what I expected from this, but it was not at all what I thought it would be. A truly fun and thought-provoking blend of mystery and lit fic. There were a few stories that made me laugh and others that made me cry. Some were classic mysteries and some were about the mysteries of life. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!
December 21, 2024
I had high hopes for this, but there was just too much going on. The pages with split time line were annoying to read. The choose different paths also was too much going on. I get where she was going with it but not just for me. I get the whole teen detective thing but it seemed a bit elaborate.
October 8, 2024
Thank you to Dreamland books and NetGalley for the ARC!!
☆3.5 stars
Sara Gran’s Little Mysteries is a collection of detective stories that are more character-driven than the average whodunnit. The detective stories we’re most familiar with are crafted with intricate plot twists and stock characters that serve as eye-catching ornaments in an elaborate narrative maze. Gran primarily contends with how mysteries affect human emotion and connection. The Killington Manor story was by far my favourite followed by the choose-your-own-adventure story and the bite-sized mysteries. I reviewed the individual stories below!
‘Five-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Mysterious Dr Crowley Or Fuck This World Indeed’ ⭐⭐⭐💫
Fun, quick and clever. Cynthia Silverton is a really striking character which I appreciate!
‘The Mystery of the Mycelial Net…’ ⭐⭐
I enjoyed the glib, sort-of breezy writing style. I noticed here that this is more of a character study than a collection of standard mysteries, which I really enjoy as an idea, but I found this particular story underwhelming.
‘The Good Smell of New York City/ The Ocean-Salted Air’ ⭐⭐💫
What this story does with form is really interesting but I found it pretty underwhelming.
‘The Case of the Jewel in the Lotus’ ⭐⭐⭐
Interesting exploration of the thrill of the solve and the urge to satiate that thirst. Bleak and introspective to the point where it sort of dragged. Gran explores the fallout after a crime is committed by someone close and the emptiness at seeing the fissures in people’s lives that a solve causes.
‘One-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Razor’s Edge Between Life and Death’ ⭐⭐💫
I enjoyed reading it but ended up disappointed with the solution to the mystery. Or rather how they got there, as all the evidence seemed like pure guesswork and Claire just pulling it out of nowhere. I do think it was quite well-written though
‘The Case of the Blood on the Snow’ ⭐⭐⭐
Really enjoyed this sincere and bittersweet story despite the fact that I generally didn’t like Claire Dewitt as a protagonist.
‘Choose Your Own Heartbreak’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was so, so fun I loved it! The choose-your own-adventure format was really exciting and novel. I just kept rereading until I read all the possible routes. I especially like the route where she decides to have faith in those closest to her. I really enjoyed the second person perspective as well. It’s lovely, quick and clever while still being reflective and poignant. Everything in this story boils down to the bonds we make and break. Some might find it trite or cheesy to focus on something so simple but I think it’s very human and sincere.
‘Cynthia Silverton & The Charnel House Grounds’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A deeply absurd story about a 19 year old university student detective in an existential rut that I really enjoyed. Cynthia Silverton is pure camp and fun and glitter and heart.The writing style is super ridiculous and has the campiness of a magician pulling a glittery dove out of their back pocket. It seemed like a satire of the pomp of a traditional mystery. Gran’s exploration of identity and our relationships with others was pretty well done as well.
‘The Mystery at Killington Manor’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was an incredibly charming story with vivid, striking characters, a playful style and some lovely prose. There was also pretty good exploration of grief, privilege and dysfunctional family dynamics. I really enjoyed the heartfelt relationship between Poppy and Mrs Kitty.
☆3.5 stars
Sara Gran’s Little Mysteries is a collection of detective stories that are more character-driven than the average whodunnit. The detective stories we’re most familiar with are crafted with intricate plot twists and stock characters that serve as eye-catching ornaments in an elaborate narrative maze. Gran primarily contends with how mysteries affect human emotion and connection. The Killington Manor story was by far my favourite followed by the choose-your-own-adventure story and the bite-sized mysteries. I reviewed the individual stories below!
‘Five-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Mysterious Dr Crowley Or Fuck This World Indeed’ ⭐⭐⭐💫
Fun, quick and clever. Cynthia Silverton is a really striking character which I appreciate!
‘The Mystery of the Mycelial Net…’ ⭐⭐
I enjoyed the glib, sort-of breezy writing style. I noticed here that this is more of a character study than a collection of standard mysteries, which I really enjoy as an idea, but I found this particular story underwhelming.
‘The Good Smell of New York City/ The Ocean-Salted Air’ ⭐⭐💫
What this story does with form is really interesting but I found it pretty underwhelming.
‘The Case of the Jewel in the Lotus’ ⭐⭐⭐
Interesting exploration of the thrill of the solve and the urge to satiate that thirst. Bleak and introspective to the point where it sort of dragged. Gran explores the fallout after a crime is committed by someone close and the emptiness at seeing the fissures in people’s lives that a solve causes.
‘One-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Razor’s Edge Between Life and Death’ ⭐⭐💫
I enjoyed reading it but ended up disappointed with the solution to the mystery. Or rather how they got there, as all the evidence seemed like pure guesswork and Claire just pulling it out of nowhere. I do think it was quite well-written though
‘The Case of the Blood on the Snow’ ⭐⭐⭐
Really enjoyed this sincere and bittersweet story despite the fact that I generally didn’t like Claire Dewitt as a protagonist.
‘Choose Your Own Heartbreak’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was so, so fun I loved it! The choose-your own-adventure format was really exciting and novel. I just kept rereading until I read all the possible routes. I especially like the route where she decides to have faith in those closest to her. I really enjoyed the second person perspective as well. It’s lovely, quick and clever while still being reflective and poignant. Everything in this story boils down to the bonds we make and break. Some might find it trite or cheesy to focus on something so simple but I think it’s very human and sincere.
‘Cynthia Silverton & The Charnel House Grounds’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A deeply absurd story about a 19 year old university student detective in an existential rut that I really enjoyed. Cynthia Silverton is pure camp and fun and glitter and heart.The writing style is super ridiculous and has the campiness of a magician pulling a glittery dove out of their back pocket. It seemed like a satire of the pomp of a traditional mystery. Gran’s exploration of identity and our relationships with others was pretty well done as well.
‘The Mystery at Killington Manor’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was an incredibly charming story with vivid, striking characters, a playful style and some lovely prose. There was also pretty good exploration of grief, privilege and dysfunctional family dynamics. I really enjoyed the heartfelt relationship between Poppy and Mrs Kitty.
May 20, 2025
My favorite author in the entire world. I would love to stand on that beach in the dark, too. Maybe I am standing there right now?
September 11, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for another ARC,
Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight, by Sara Gran was a delightful little surprise. I have heard of Sara’s work before, Come Closer is currently on my October/Halloween TBR, but I didn’t know that she wrote mysteries. Most of the nine short stories of Little Mysteries feature Claire DeWitt, Gran’s very own Poirot, sort to speak.
Claire DeWitt is the world’s best private detective and, to be honest? I believe her.
Because I didn’t read any of her books before (Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead; Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway and The Infinite Blacktop) I don’t know too much about her as a character but, from what I read, I absolutely loved her. She is a flawed human being but you can’t help but love her, because she never stops trying.
I have half a mind to read everything that Sara Gran ever wrote.
Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight, by Sara Gran was a delightful little surprise. I have heard of Sara’s work before, Come Closer is currently on my October/Halloween TBR, but I didn’t know that she wrote mysteries. Most of the nine short stories of Little Mysteries feature Claire DeWitt, Gran’s very own Poirot, sort to speak.
Claire DeWitt is the world’s best private detective and, to be honest? I believe her.
Because I didn’t read any of her books before (Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead; Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway and The Infinite Blacktop) I don’t know too much about her as a character but, from what I read, I absolutely loved her. She is a flawed human being but you can’t help but love her, because she never stops trying.
I have half a mind to read everything that Sara Gran ever wrote.
January 21, 2025
Little Mysteries by Sara Gran is a collection of short stories that all have different mysteries to them. Most of the were inspired by classic whodunnit style stories and some of them feel more original.
I have loved books by this author so when I saw it available to request, I was on it! I didn’t know that this would lean a lot more on the cozy side so that was a surprise. I found this to be a mostly endearing little collection that I had a good time with but it wasn’t anything super impactful.
I can see why some readers would love this and I know exactly who I would recommend this to so I don’t think it is any way a bad book, just not exactly my thing. I do think the eARC was hard to read because of the way the story telling was done so I encourage anyone picking this up to try the physical book.
I have loved books by this author so when I saw it available to request, I was on it! I didn’t know that this would lean a lot more on the cozy side so that was a surprise. I found this to be a mostly endearing little collection that I had a good time with but it wasn’t anything super impactful.
I can see why some readers would love this and I know exactly who I would recommend this to so I don’t think it is any way a bad book, just not exactly my thing. I do think the eARC was hard to read because of the way the story telling was done so I encourage anyone picking this up to try the physical book.
September 26, 2024
Little Mysteries is an unusual and somewhat charming little collection of curious vignettes and reflections on life.
I went in expecting a fun combination of puzzle-like mysteries and whodunnits but found instead a series of simple stories pondering life's meaning and mysteries.
There also seems to be a focus on character's from Gran's previous work (that I haven't read) which makes me think her existing readers would love this.
An interesting one to pop in and out of but definitely a case of not for me.
2.5/5
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on Instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
I went in expecting a fun combination of puzzle-like mysteries and whodunnits but found instead a series of simple stories pondering life's meaning and mysteries.
There also seems to be a focus on character's from Gran's previous work (that I haven't read) which makes me think her existing readers would love this.
An interesting one to pop in and out of but definitely a case of not for me.
2.5/5
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on Instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
July 30, 2024
This was a truly unique blend of mystery and lit fic that I thoroughly enjoyed. Murdle-lovers will enjoy the bite-sized format and I also found unexpected thought-provoking moments of magical realism and philosophy. Some stories were more successful than others- parallel stories of overdoses during the AIDS epidemic and COVID pandemic felt heavy-handed while the longest story of Killington Manor was an immediate favorite and the allegorical(?) detective Cynthia’s stories had surprising depth.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!
November 24, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC.
I didn’t expect Sara Gran to write something so cozy and wholesome. This reads more like an outlines for different novels with the same main character. Every story is pretty short and I would say unsatisfying. The backstories of the characters are laid out well but we spend so little time with the mysteries itself, we don’t have enough of information to investigate or for more details to be provided, the solutions are abrupt and dry. This would be a good read if you’re looking for some easy little stories. 2.5 stars.
I didn’t expect Sara Gran to write something so cozy and wholesome. This reads more like an outlines for different novels with the same main character. Every story is pretty short and I would say unsatisfying. The backstories of the characters are laid out well but we spend so little time with the mysteries itself, we don’t have enough of information to investigate or for more details to be provided, the solutions are abrupt and dry. This would be a good read if you’re looking for some easy little stories. 2.5 stars.
February 4, 2025
Little Mysteries by Sara Gran contained definitely more than nine titles within it. Most of the stories was written around Claire DeWitt (I have to be honest I have never read a book by Sara Gran prior to this one), her assistant Claude, or teen detective extraordinaire Cynthia Silverton. I was initially very impressed that the first couple of stories managed to have a certain melancholic quality to them, they were more like literary stories where someone happened to solve a mystery. By the 6th or 7th story I felt quite jaded, because ALL the stories were very bleak and had the same sad human condition (loneliness) as the main thing the characters ruminate about. I think only the second to last story was a real, proper murder mystery, instead of a sad detective story. Not to say that I didn't enjoy this book. I had a good time reading it and it was very well-written. It was just a bit one-note when read directly from start to finish.
eARC provided by NetGalley and Dreamland Books.
eARC provided by NetGalley and Dreamland Books.
October 16, 2024
This was a really fun read! I haven’t read many mysteries, but each story within this book were really engaging, The story that felt like a Goosebumps “choose your own adventure” was cool. I like how each story has a life lesson within that the reader can think on after they’re done with the book.
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
December 4, 2025
3.5 stars
A quirky collection of short mysteries featuring well-known characters from Gran's Claire DeWitt series.
I can't imagine this book will work well for readers who haven't already been introduced to Claire DeWitt / Cynthia Silverton.
Part noir, part Nancy Drew parody with a depressed philosophizing detective - not much more to say other than I weirdly love it, especially the "choose your own adventure" story.
A quirky collection of short mysteries featuring well-known characters from Gran's Claire DeWitt series.
I can't imagine this book will work well for readers who haven't already been introduced to Claire DeWitt / Cynthia Silverton.
Part noir, part Nancy Drew parody with a depressed philosophizing detective - not much more to say other than I weirdly love it, especially the "choose your own adventure" story.
March 15, 2025
Some of the stories are quite interesting. Others not so much. Still, that's common in a book of short stories.
March 26, 2025
I was disappointed the new Sara Gran wasn't a Claire DeWitt book. But then... IT WAS! She's all throughout this fun little collection. Definitely worth checking out.
November 5, 2025
Perfect, perfect perfect. I am obsessed with Sara Gran.
December 23, 2025
that was so fun- some plot twists later and i was entertained.
March 3, 2025
Wonderful story collection from the dark, beautiful and obscure world of Claire DeWitt. Made me long for more novels, but this is indeed delightful. Even though I read many of these in Gran’s holiday newsletters, she still makes these work as a collection. A welcome addition to Detection.
June 9, 2025
Good, but the stories seemed extra dark. Given the state of the world today, this isn’t what I was in the mood for, so it took me a while to get through it. I did think the CYOA story was a nice interlude.
November 2, 2024
Got an early copy of this book via NetGalley, and it was a pleasant little surprise. It’s quirky, original, but also well built and full of very original tropes.
It’s a set of short stories and novellas, some of them with the author’s character, Claire DeWitt, in the main role. Superficially, they are mysteries, but there are many layers to them, and they speak about friendship, identity, and self-discovery. So will they confuse, enthrall and delight? Totally so.
And was I unable to find the longer and more thought-out review I wrote in the NetGalley app? That’s correct.
It’s a set of short stories and novellas, some of them with the author’s character, Claire DeWitt, in the main role. Superficially, they are mysteries, but there are many layers to them, and they speak about friendship, identity, and self-discovery. So will they confuse, enthrall and delight? Totally so.
And was I unable to find the longer and more thought-out review I wrote in the NetGalley app? That’s correct.
December 29, 2024
Little Mysteries has the subtitle "nine miniature puzzles to confuse, enthrall and delight." With the exception of "confuse," and, in some cases, "miniature," every word in this title is a lie. There are twelve items listed in the table of contents. One is a "psychospiritual divination tool," which is unusable even if one is willing to cut a page out of the book, an option unavailable to anyone reading in Adobe or any other digital format. The rest are not mysteries and few of them are either enthralling or delightful.
The Claire DeWitt stories are irritating as they consist of the mental ramblings of the self proclaimed ;world's greatest detective. The Cynthia Silverton ("teen detective") episodes are, if possible, even worse. There is little detection going on anywhere in these stories and I hated both main characters. If the author's dedication to Donald Sobel (Encyclopedia Brown series) R.A. Montgomery (Choose Your Own Adventure series) and "Carolyn Keene" (Nancy Drew series) had appeared at the beginning of this book instead of the end, I might have understood what she was doing and saved myself some time.
I didn't mind reading The Case of the Blood on the Snow because it is a story told to Claire, rather than one in which she participates, about a nun and a homeless prostitute. I also liked The Mystery at Killington Manor because it told an interesting, if improbable, story from the perspective of a bright sixteen-year-old named Poppy Killington-Wade. It was hardly a mystery and the ending would be unlikely in the real world, but I might read a book about this character if it existed. My two star rating was earned by these two stories.
Almost nineteen years ago, I read a terrifying horror novel called Closer. I was so impressed by it that I went on to read three other books by the author, Sara Gran. All three (Dope, The Book of the Most Precious Substance, and Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead) disappointed me in different ways. I took a chance on Little Mysteries because it was free so I had nothing to lose but a few hours. I am very glad I didn't spend actual money or make a trip to the library to borrow this book. I would recommend Come Closer, which is, in its own way, as good as The Haunting of Hill House or Carrie, but I doubt I will ever bother reading another book by Sara Gran.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dreamland Books for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I wish I could recommend it, but I can't.
The Claire DeWitt stories are irritating as they consist of the mental ramblings of the self proclaimed ;world's greatest detective. The Cynthia Silverton ("teen detective") episodes are, if possible, even worse. There is little detection going on anywhere in these stories and I hated both main characters. If the author's dedication to Donald Sobel (Encyclopedia Brown series) R.A. Montgomery (Choose Your Own Adventure series) and "Carolyn Keene" (Nancy Drew series) had appeared at the beginning of this book instead of the end, I might have understood what she was doing and saved myself some time.
I didn't mind reading The Case of the Blood on the Snow because it is a story told to Claire, rather than one in which she participates, about a nun and a homeless prostitute. I also liked The Mystery at Killington Manor because it told an interesting, if improbable, story from the perspective of a bright sixteen-year-old named Poppy Killington-Wade. It was hardly a mystery and the ending would be unlikely in the real world, but I might read a book about this character if it existed. My two star rating was earned by these two stories.
Almost nineteen years ago, I read a terrifying horror novel called Closer. I was so impressed by it that I went on to read three other books by the author, Sara Gran. All three (Dope, The Book of the Most Precious Substance, and Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead) disappointed me in different ways. I took a chance on Little Mysteries because it was free so I had nothing to lose but a few hours. I am very glad I didn't spend actual money or make a trip to the library to borrow this book. I would recommend Come Closer, which is, in its own way, as good as The Haunting of Hill House or Carrie, but I doubt I will ever bother reading another book by Sara Gran.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dreamland Books for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I wish I could recommend it, but I can't.
December 26, 2024
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved almost all of the stories - especially the dual timeline and choose your own way (and of course I went back a couple of times to make sure I tried all different versions and outcomes).
I really enjoyed having the mix both very short and longer stories and the times they take place in. 100% recommended for all who enjoys mysteries with a dash of weirdness!
I loved almost all of the stories - especially the dual timeline and choose your own way (and of course I went back a couple of times to make sure I tried all different versions and outcomes).
I really enjoyed having the mix both very short and longer stories and the times they take place in. 100% recommended for all who enjoys mysteries with a dash of weirdness!
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