Short Story Review: Arson at Al's Auto Parts

People are exercising their brains these days, trying to maintain the health of the gray matter. One suggestion I have is to read puzzle mysteries.

My short story review this week is one such example. Author Kate Fellowes created a fun puzzle story with Arson at Al's Auto Parts. The reader is given two suspects and a couple clues. In less than a thousand words, readers can try to solve the mystery before Officer Packard. 

Doesn't every mystery short story involve solving a puzzle? True, but what I'm calling a puzzle mystery has these parameters: the point of the story is to guide the reader to a solution, little is wasted on setting or character development, and the story reaches the solution by the end.

Kings River Life is an e-zine that includes a section called Mysteryrat's Maze. Here you can find book reviews and short stories. You can test your mystery solving skills by reading Arson at Al's Auto Parts. ​KRL is free.

Other short puzzle stories are published in the Woman's World feature, Mystery Minute. You have to buy the magazine to read the story, found at the grocery store checkout.

Test your detective skills and exercise your brain. Read more puzzle mysteries.

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