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Mystery
Strange figures dance in the moonlight, an ancient vine hides a terrible secret, and fish swim . extraordinary in the sky . events fill this eerily compelling collection.
223 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 1996
4 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Helen Cresswell
159Ìýbooks50ÌýfollowersHelen Cresswell (1934â€�2005) was an English television scriptwriter and author of more than 100 children's books, best known for comedy and supernatural fiction. Her most popular book series, Lizzie Dripping and The Bagthorpe Saga, were also the basis for television series.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 4, 2019
I sought this out despite being disappointed in the similarly-themed
from the same series. As I said in my review of that one, I do love a good short story anthology, and I figured it couldn't possibly be a worse collection than Detective Stories. Oh, how wrong I was. I gave up on this after the first six stories, only one of which ("The Azteck [sic] Opal") was an actual mystery; two others were fantasy, one was science fiction, and one was a fantastic folktale, while the last was an excerpt from Wuthering Heights! "The Azteck Opal" was also the only one I enjoyed, and it wasn't great, just good.
I see that the book was later released under the title Mystifying, which is at least more appropriate, but this is by no means a good mystery anthology, for kids or grown-ups. Frustrating, honestly.
I see that the book was later released under the title Mystifying, which is at least more appropriate, but this is by no means a good mystery anthology, for kids or grown-ups. Frustrating, honestly.
June 28, 2021
This anthology spans the scope from playful to horrific, brooding to lighthearted. Indeed, there are many themes running rampant here, including some stories that barely qualify as mysteries at all.
The only subgenre missing appears to be science fiction. The story by Dianne Wynne Jones, with its collection of oddments that puzzle the heroine as to their uses, might fit the bill. But this is so obviously a man-beast story of the lupine type that calling it “science fiction� is a bit of a stretch.
This is a moot point. With so many masterful writers on display, mystery lovers are bound to find stories they enjoy in this ragtag collection.
The only subgenre missing appears to be science fiction. The story by Dianne Wynne Jones, with its collection of oddments that puzzle the heroine as to their uses, might fit the bill. But this is so obviously a man-beast story of the lupine type that calling it “science fiction� is a bit of a stretch.
This is a moot point. With so many masterful writers on display, mystery lovers are bound to find stories they enjoy in this ragtag collection.
November 8, 2023
The stories were nice. But -
1. Some were written in old english
2. They were in some cases not mysteries but rather fun supernatural short stories.
3.It's got three sort of detective mysteries Poirot, Sherlock Holmes and the case of azteck Opal. Rest are all unfitting, they feel like extracts of a larger work and leave multiple questions unanswered.
The result is a collection of good short stories which doesn't match up to the name on the cover and ends up disappointing the reader. How the collection was packaged with the name 'Mystery' is itself a mystery.
Three stars only cause the stories themselves were good.
1. Some were written in old english
2. They were in some cases not mysteries but rather fun supernatural short stories.
3.It's got three sort of detective mysteries Poirot, Sherlock Holmes and the case of azteck Opal. Rest are all unfitting, they feel like extracts of a larger work and leave multiple questions unanswered.
The result is a collection of good short stories which doesn't match up to the name on the cover and ends up disappointing the reader. How the collection was packaged with the name 'Mystery' is itself a mystery.
Three stars only cause the stories themselves were good.
February 4, 2022
2.5 stars
It's quite hard to rate this because some of these stories were really good and some were just weird. The age category was a bit weird, too - it was obviously intended for children younger than me but some of the older stuff that is written in ye olde English was a pain to read for me, so I'm not sure if I'd have been able to stomach it as an eleven year old. Also minus points for the fact some of these weren't even mystery stories... the editor really had one job.....
It's quite hard to rate this because some of these stories were really good and some were just weird. The age category was a bit weird, too - it was obviously intended for children younger than me but some of the older stuff that is written in ye olde English was a pain to read for me, so I'm not sure if I'd have been able to stomach it as an eleven year old. Also minus points for the fact some of these weren't even mystery stories... the editor really had one job.....
April 5, 2020
This collection of short stories brings together a number of "mystery" short stories from different authors, as a way of introducing the genre to younger readers. The collection to me would seem to be hit and miss and certainly some bizarre choices for the "mystery genre". Still for younger readers the length and breadth might suit.
April 20, 2016
Book Review:
Mystery Stories Chosen By Helen Cressswell
Why did you decide to read the book?
I decided to read this book because it was about mystery and it looked interesting. I read the back part of the book and it said that this book will take you through a journey so that part hooked me so I decided to read it.
Character Description and or Setting:
The main character in this book was a boy aged about 14, he was disabled. As his older brother sang and played a song to him it would take him to a this special place in the middle of the forest that soothed him, he never said it was a forest but he said there were tall trees surrounding him. Later on in this story it kinda says the place that the music took him was like heaven that's why he could never reach the middle otherwise he would die. At the need of the story his brother dies but his music teacher played the song for him one last time and the boy went to the special forest and he saw his brother, that's how he knew it was like heaven because his brother was there.
Favourite quote from the book and why:
“Brand tune ended and, with a breaking heart, I was snatched away, back to my life, my own kitchen�. I liked this quote because it kinda explains the whole story in only one sentence. It expresses the emotions of what the reader was trying to project.
Something new I learnt and/or thought more deeply/differently about from reading this book:
That some people don't always live a easy life and sometimes the smallest things such as music can help soothe them.
Mystery Stories Chosen By Helen Cressswell
Why did you decide to read the book?
I decided to read this book because it was about mystery and it looked interesting. I read the back part of the book and it said that this book will take you through a journey so that part hooked me so I decided to read it.
Character Description and or Setting:
The main character in this book was a boy aged about 14, he was disabled. As his older brother sang and played a song to him it would take him to a this special place in the middle of the forest that soothed him, he never said it was a forest but he said there were tall trees surrounding him. Later on in this story it kinda says the place that the music took him was like heaven that's why he could never reach the middle otherwise he would die. At the need of the story his brother dies but his music teacher played the song for him one last time and the boy went to the special forest and he saw his brother, that's how he knew it was like heaven because his brother was there.
Favourite quote from the book and why:
“Brand tune ended and, with a breaking heart, I was snatched away, back to my life, my own kitchen�. I liked this quote because it kinda explains the whole story in only one sentence. It expresses the emotions of what the reader was trying to project.
Something new I learnt and/or thought more deeply/differently about from reading this book:
That some people don't always live a easy life and sometimes the smallest things such as music can help soothe them.
January 8, 2013
A decent collection of stories: most are stand alone stories, one said it was an excerpt from a larger work. I can't say I found the stories particularly "sinister", but they are all mystery stories. I picked up the book because of my love of Diana Wynne Jones. I read and finished the book because I recognized some of the other authors' names & the stories were pretty good.
One of the previous reviews says that the stories seem like excerpts of larger plots: to this I say 'well, yes, they're short stories. Do you often read short stories that explain absolutely everything?'
The stories are supposed to bring up a sense of suspense or mystery. I say that they do this.
One of the previous reviews says that the stories seem like excerpts of larger plots: to this I say 'well, yes, they're short stories. Do you often read short stories that explain absolutely everything?'
The stories are supposed to bring up a sense of suspense or mystery. I say that they do this.
April 14, 2009
I like this book because they talk about things that people see in other places.Also they talk about many scary things that you could be scared of.You would like this book if you like reading scary and weird things.If you want to read this book you can find it in a libery.
March 15, 2010
A strange collection -- a few reasonably good short stories, but the rest is composed of excerpts from larger works, without context at all. It feels like an anthology of someone's favorite bits, with no explanation -- wait, that's in the title! I assumed that the stories were about the unexplained, but that was wrong of me. A++ on the marketing, I'd say.
August 5, 2015
Much as I admire Cresswell, some of the stories she selected are very odd, especially in the context of a work of fiction for children. Thomas Malory (an excerpt from the Death of Arthur)? Wuthering Heights (another excerpt)? Carl Jung? Still, some of the other stories are quite enjoyable, including Cresswell's own contribution.
April 10, 2016
While it does contain stories from famous writers, I don't think the best ones were chosen. There wasn't much mystery in the stories, they weren't all well-written, despite the stellar cast of authors, and there was no order or common thread through them. It's a hotchpotch thrown together in a few minutes and not very well proofread either.
June 30, 2010
this was creepy---I really liked a few tales which qualify as good horror stories but still some do not reach my expectations--
September 8, 2015
Fun collection of short stories! Nice change of pace to read quick little bites of mysteries at a sitting. Although compiled with the younger reader in mind, I enjoyed these very much.
October 26, 2018
Umm not scary
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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