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 View Less