50 mystery whodunit writing prompts

50 mystery whodunit writing prompts

50 mystery whodunit writing prompts: Do you love crafting thrilling murder mysteries? Looking for inspiration to get those creative juices flowing for your next whodunit story? Then you’ll definitely want to check out the 50 incredibly inventive whodunit writing prompts I’m highlighting today!

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of intrigue-inducing story ideas involving imaginative murder scenarios you can use as a launching pad for your own tales of mystery and mayhem. They range from poisoning a celebrity chef with their own signature dish to disguising a killer in a bear costume to camouflage the crime.

With so many unique concepts for motives, murder methods, suspects, sleuths, and plot twists provided in bite-sized prompts, you’re sure to find inspiration to spark your next grim and gripping killer narrative.

So without further ado, grab your metaphorical deerstalker cap and magnifying glass as we dive into these 50 whodunit scenarios guaranteed to trigger plenty of “aha!” moments as you scheme up the perfect pulmonary puzzle to baffle your readers! Just perusing these clever prompts filled with potential should get those story ideas percolating.

Here are 50 mystery whodunit writing prompts:

1. A chef is poisoned by his own signature dish at a cooking competition. Who did it—one of the other competitors or someone with a personal grudge?
2. A politician is shot while giving a campaign speech in the town square. Was it a random act or a politically-motivated attack?
3. Jewels are stolen from a supposedly impenetrable museum vault overnight. How did the thief bypass state of the art security systems?
4. The homecoming queen is found strangled the day before the big dance. Did her boyfriend do it in a jealous rage or was someone else envious of her perfect life?
5. A billionaire is pushed off a balcony while vacationing aboard a private yacht. Which of the high-profile guests or crew members committed this brazen act?
6. An up-and-coming actress dies on set, apparently electrocuted by a faulty microphone cord. But was it just an accident or something more sinister?
7. A blackmailer is killed in a public park just before a prearranged meeting with their victim. Was the person being blackmailed responsible or was someone else tied to the scheme?
8. On Halloween night, a young man is stabbed while walking home alone from a party on a dimly lit path. Did a random stranger attack him or someone he knew from the party?
9. A survivalist reality TV host dies in what seems to be a tragic bear attack—but was the bear provoked or was a person disguised in a bear costume to hide their crime?
10. A star football player collapses after drinking from his water bottle during a big game. Who tampered with his drink—a rival teammate, fan, coach, or someone gambling on the game?
11. The editor in chief of a major fashion magazine is pushed onto the subway tracks during rush hour. Did a jealous assistant seize the chance to replace her or enact revenge for being fired?
12. On the last night of senior year, the high school valedictorian goes missing after the graduation party. She is later found dead in the woods nearby.
13. A discordant married couple are found dead together at a romantic lookout point along a coastal highway. Did this quarrelsome twosome plunge off the cliff in a tragic murder-suicide or were they both pushed by an outside party?
14. A cruise ship singer is murdered in her cabin the night before the grand finale performance. Was an obsessive fan or fellow entertainer aboard responsible?
15. A controversial biotech CEO is poisoned during a highly publicized conference. Were animal rights activists that opposed his research behind it or a business rival looking to tank the company’s prospects?
16. On New Year’s Eve, a shot rings out just after midnight, killing the ornery head of the home owners association at a swanky resort. Which of the neighbors had enough of his tyrannical tirades and run ins with the man?
17. A newly hired lead detective is found dead inside a locked evidence room containing active homicide cases he was working—a baffling case with no lack of potential suspects.
18. A group therapist gathering colleagues and patients together at a remote camp is found mauled to death near cabins after apparent lengthy torture–which patient or peer carried out this twisted betrayal?
19. An A-list Method actor known for his extreme dedication takes his transformation too far when he is discovered having actually committed the grisly serial murders of the killer he is researching for an upcoming true crime film about an unsolved cold case.
20. A slimy divorce lawyer is found poisoned after his own contentious divorce proceeding wraps up. Did his jaded ex have revenge in mind or an angry client from another broken marriage he ruined?
21. A slimy divorce lawyer is found poisoned after his own contentious divorce proceeding wraps up. Did his jaded ex have revenge in mind or an angry client from another broken marriage he ruined?
22. A high profile judge known as a hanging judge is discovered swinging from the gallows outside the county courthouse on the eve of a controversial trial verdict he was set to announce. Which individual with a personal grudge took justice into their own hands believing this authoritarian judge deserved a taste of his own harsh justice?
23. A scheming heiress is killed when her champagne glass explodes in her face at her over-the-top engagement party. Did her new fiancé catch on to the fact he was being used for his good family name and access or did someone else have cause to stop the upcoming marriage of convenience?
24. The ruthless patriarch of a family media dynasty is bludgeoned by one of the antique typewriters displayed in his majestic office suite at the company headquarters.
25. A slimy Hollywood director known for terrorizing up and coming young actresses is drowned in the private pool at his Mulholland Drive mansion the morning after the star-studded wrap party for his most recent film. Which of the traumatized actresses, past or present, wanted definitive revenge?
26. The star witness collapses one day before offering her insider testimony to the ongoing trial against the deranged cult leader she formerly served. Is the collapse and later death merely coincidental or the final, most crucial act of devotion demanded by her former teacher?
27. At sunrise on the Summer Solstice, a controversial billionaire tech mogul turned wellness guru is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances at the stone altar of his recently purchased spiritual retreat, moments before the first gathering of followers.
28. A brash stand up comedian known for a raunchy, insult-driven act is discovered suffocated backstage by an antique rubber chicken prop just before he is set to film his first cable comedy special and cross over into mainstream fame. Who among those at the small venue silenced this shock comic before his risqué career took off on a larger scale?
29. A prominent anti-vaccine advocate and social media influencer known for spreading conspiracy theories is found dead in her remote mountain cottage with all signs pointing to death by one of the diseases she claimed was not a threat. Did she contract something by accident mocking public health measures or was she deliberately exposed?
30. The lead detective probing the cold-case murder of a high school outcast 15 years prior is run off the road just after telling his partner he knows who the killer is for certain and plans to make an arrest within 48 hours. Who is still determined to hide what really happened and prevent the case from ever being closed?
31. An anonymous gossip blogger known for outrageous claims about various celebrities is found suffocated to death surrounded by photos meant for their next salacious exposé piece. Which star, tired of the harassment and damage to their reputation, decided enough was enough?
32. A brash radio shock jock who delights in insulting callers on air with outrageous political rants is found shot dead behind the wheel while leaving the station parking garage after one such heated exchange. Police initially suspect an unhinged listener before discovering darker secrets the controversial host was hiding off the airwaves. What did he know that was worth killing to keep quiet?
33. The ruthless warden of a corrupt, privately-run prison is found locked inside solitary confinement beaten to death. Which inmate orchestrated the attack when the scandal-ridden administrator’s abusive policies went too far—or was it a grieving relative of a past victim or protester fed up with the system?
34. An activist working to reform unfair entertainment industry practices around rights and residuals is killed via poison dart on the red carpet while protesting executive greed and overreach at a glitzy awards show. Which shadowy Hollywood figure or company moved to quickly silence this growing crusade?
35. A brash stand up comedian known for a raunchy, insult-driven act is discovered suffocated backstage by an antique rubber chicken prop just before he is set to film his first cable comedy special and cross over into mainstream fame. Who among those at the small venue silenced this shock comic before his risqué career took off on a larger scale?
36. The homely, overlooked maid who quietly tends one of the guest cottages of a former president’s vacation compound turns up dead under mysterious circumstances after decades of loyal service. What secrets did she overhear that compromised a high stakes political scheme?
37. A chef at a cutting edge molecular gastronomy restaurant pioneered by culinary bad boy celebrity chief is killed when a sous vide machine explodes during dinner service. Foul play is suspected when it is revealed what creation was being prepared for a food critic’s table. Who wanted to sabotage the high-stakes evening that could make or break the ambitious new establishment?
38. An avid storm chaser documenting an Oklahoma tornado dies under questionable circumstances. Was the death an actual freak accident caused by volatile weather patterns or did another thrill-seeking tornado hunter in his crew sabotage equipment out of professional jealousy?
39. A slimy Wall Street banker narrowly avoiding jail time thanks to connections and legal technicalities after the housing bubble crisis is found gruesomely murdered in his Park Avenue penthouse on the 10 year anniversary of the historical market crash. Is the killer one of the millions of Americans who lost big in the meltdown looking for belated justice?
40. A chef at a cutting edge molecular gastronomy restaurant pioneered by culinary bad boy celebrity chief is killed when a sous vide machine explodes during dinner service. Foul play is suspected when it is revealed what creation was being prepared for a food critic’s table. Who wanted to sabotage the high-stakes evening that could make or break the ambitious new establishment?
41. A prominent anti-vaccine advocate and social media influencer known for spreading conspiracy theories is found dead in her remote mountain cottage with all signs pointing to death by one of the diseases she claimed was not a threat. Did she contract something by accident mocking public health measures or was she deliberately exposed?
42. A brash radio shock jock who delights in insulting callers on air with outrageous political rants is found shot dead behind the wheel while leaving the station parking garage after one such heated exchange. Police initially suspect an unhinged listener before discovering darker secrets the controversial host was hiding off the airwaves. What did he know that was worth killing to keep quiet?
43. The homely, overlooked maid who quietly tends one of the guest cottages of a former president’s vacation compound turns up dead under mysterious circumstances after decades of loyal service. What secrets did she overhear that compromised a high stakes political scheme?
44. A survivalist reality TV host dies in what seems to be a tragic bear attack—but was the bear provoked or was a person disguised in a bear costume to hide their crime?
45. A high profile judge known as a hanging judge is discovered swinging from the gallows outside the county courthouse on the eve of a controversial trial verdict he was set to announce. Which individual with a personal grudge took justice into their own hands believing this authoritarian judge deserved a taste of his own harsh justice?
46. A scheming heiress is killed when her champagne glass explodes in her face at her over-the-top engagement party. Did her new fiancé catch on to the fact he was being used for his good family name and access or did someone else have cause to stop the upcoming marriage of convenience?
47. The ruthless patriarch of a family media dynasty is bludgeoned by one of the antique typewriters displayed in his majestic office suite at the company headquarters.
48. The star witness collapses one day before offering her insider testimony to the ongoing trial against the deranged cult leader she formerly served. Is the collapse and later death merely coincidental or the final, most crucial act of devotion demanded by her former teacher?
49. At sunrise on the Summer Solstice, a controversial billionaire tech mogul turned wellness guru is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances at the stone altar of his recently purchased spiritual retreat, moments before the first gathering of followers.
50. A slimy Hollywood director known for terrorizing up and coming young actresses is drowned in the private pool at his Mulholland Drive mansion the morning after the star-studded wrap party for his most recent film. Which of the traumatized actresses, past or present, wanted definitive revenge?

Well, there you have it – 50 thrilling whodunit writing prompts packed with mysterious murder scenarios designed to set your imaginative juices flowing! With so many options for victims, villains, motives, and red herrings to choose from, you’re bound to find an idea that sparks your creativity.

I hope these prompts inspire you to craft a compelling whodunit tale filled with intrigue, suspense, and no shortage of surprising twists and turns. Whether you go the classic detective story route or put your own unique spin on the genre, these springboards offer lots of potential.

And if you end up using one of these prompts as the starting point for a riveting mystery of your own, I’d love for you to share it! Leave a comment below once your masterpiece is complete would absolutely make my day.

Now get sleuthing and start preparing to stump your readers with a crafty game of whodunit cat and mouse they won’t soon forget. Just beware of any menacing-looking characters in bear costumes along the way… And be on the alert for ornamental daggers concealed inside dusty old candlesticks! Red herrings abound… So stay sharp! The chase for the cunning killer is on! 

If you enjoyed these prompts leave us a comment below, and we have many more writing prompts on our site you may enjoy.