When something is described to me as a metaphysical mystery, I know I’m going to be either highly entertained by intelligent storytelling (as I was here) or incredibly bored by self-conscious navel-gazing (which I thankfully wasn’t.) What I didn’t expect, while reading Sara Gran’s first short story collection, was to find myself sobbing my heart out at the pain and relief of recognizing my own emotions in her philosophical examination of the mystery, both as a fictional form and as the heart of existence.

To illustrate how she does this, here’s a passage featuring one of the detectives in an early entry of this book. Claude – who’s the assistant to Claire DeWitt, the heroine of several of Ms Gran’s other mysteries – speaks of his own unusual path to becoming a private investigator, describing an influential tome that Little Mysteries itself could easily stand in for:

QUOTE
Detection was a book about solving mysteries. But the more one read it, the more one realized everything was a mystery, and nothing was ever really solved, because most people prefer obfuscation to clarity, and favor soothing, slick lies over truth–including, at times, or maybe most of the time, myself. That seemed to sum up just about everything in my life so far, and the more I read it, the more something inside me seemed to crack open, and then crack further, until that which had previously been contained and orderly and content was now broken and spilled and spoiled–both within me, and in the larger, not-me world.
END QUOTE

I often say that mystery novels are a fantasy of justice, because most readers want tidy, satisfying endings that stand in sharp contrast to the often chaotic unfairness, preferred or otherwise, of the real world. But the more I read of my favorite genre, the more I want to invite that authentic complexity into my fiction, almost as if by blending the two worlds, I can siphon off some of that fabricated justice to apply to reality in turn. Or, at the very least, siphon off some of the logic, so that I can better understand through these stories why people do incomprehensible and often terrible things to others. Perhaps more importantly, works of mystery fiction – and particularly books like this one, that can so assuredly interrogate the genre because of the author’s deep familiarity with it – show me how I can nurture the survival of my own belief in humanity through the examples set in their narratives.

That probably makes this book sound incredibly conceptual, but I promise you, if you’ve ever enjoyed a book starring Encyclopedia Brown or Nancy Drew, then you will love Little Mysteries too. As the subtitle says, it features “Nine Miniature Puzzles To Confuse, Enthrall, And Delight”. Honestly, I was never confused while reading this, though I felt enthralled, delighted and perhaps most importantly seen, just like the aspiring young sleuth Poppy felt in a later story.

Each of these miniature puzzles is really a clever story of varying length, and usually a variation on a theme hearkening back to mysteries for younger readers. Whether in the mold of one of Donald J Sobel’s Two-Minute Mysteries, a Carolyn Keene homage or a Choose Your Own Adventure, Ms Gran plays with the fundamental building blocks of many readers’ relationships with the mystery genre in creating these delightful gems. As such, each story can be enjoyed on an entirely surface level. But Ms Gran also uses the opportunity to ask readers some of the deepest and often most painful questions of adult existence:

QUOTE
You have a choice: Can you believe that the universe has some adventure left for you? That life–and other people–might still be worth risking another crack in your heart for?

[...]

If your answer is YES, welcome to life. You are a detective, and you are on the biggest case of your life, and I wish you luck. You’ll need it. Anything can happen and the only thing I can promise you is: It will hurt. But if you take every risk, and you’re willing to fall down and fall down and fall again and still get up, then all of this might, for a moment, be worth it.

Now turn to Chapter Two.
END QUOTE

I am, admittedly, going through a weird phase emotionally, as the echoes of my past linger in the form of current hungers, urging me to embrace patterns that I know are bad for me. I need to believe that the work of putting these behind me is worth it, that moving forward with courage will bring me the happiness and peace that I truly crave. Ms Gran doesn’t make any promises, but she does remind me that, like the fictional detectives I admire, I’m smart and insightful and capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. And maybe, if you read this book and you need that reminder, too, it will help you in the same way that it helped me believe in myself a little more than I did before I opened its pages.

As you can probably tell, this astonishing book has been my favorite read of 2025 so far. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Overall: 2.5/5

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet: ultimately, this book just wasn’t for me. I went into it with high expectations, hoping for something like an adult take on a "choose your own ending" murder mystery, or at least a collection of short stories where the reader is invited to solve each case. But that’s not really what this turned out to be.

The tone was much cozier than I expected, and as someone who prefers their thrillers and mysteries with a little more intensity and edge, this one didn’t hold my attention. That being said, I do think there’s a definite audience for it—especially since the stories are loosely connected. If cozy mysteries are your thing, this might be worth checking out.

4/5 stars
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. With Claire DeWitt and more.

this was super fun and something really different. I really enjoyed it.

I read Sara Gran's first Claire DeWitt novel several years ago and wasn't really impressed by it. I loved Come Closer, though, and The Book of the Most Precious Substance sits on my shelf waiting for the right time. The point is that I had no expectations for this book—and fortunately for me, it was an absolute delight. I'm not sure how to review it, though. Little Mysteries is less a book of short mystery stories (though it's that too) and more a novel in stories (but it's not really that either). But mysteries do abound—What is this book? Why is it so beautiful and (sometimes) heart-wrenching? Why is the cover so odd yet so perfect?
It's a little undefinable, but it's excellent. We also get a little bit more of Claire DeWitt, which makes me think it's time to revisit her.

Wow! Before reading this book I never heard of Sarah Gran, but now I want to read everything by her! This darkly humorous collection of literary mysteries was quite the page-turner, sprinkled with satire, absurdism, and Christmas Spirit.

I love S. Gran's work and was excited to see this collection. I find her writing to be smart, compelling, and entertaining.

Sara Gran‘s Claire DeWitt series, set chiefly in New Orleans and the Bay Area, has consistently delivered a modern take on the hardboiled detective tradition, with the twist that Gen X private eye DeWitt is an adherent of an esoteric, philosophy-heavy European school of detection. Like Netflix‘s Jessica Jones or for that matter, The X-Files, the series is at its strongest when its heroine focuses on actual detective work instead of getting bogged down in the overarching mythos. In this collection of short stories, some featuring DeWitt and other detectives from her extended universe, Gran playfully—and beautifully—explores various detective story forms, including classic noir, a country house mystery, a Nancy Drew-style girl detective yarn, and the microfiction puzzlers that inspired the title. Few, if any, are true whodunits, and Gran uses the techniques of the genre to do what mystery does best: probing the quandaries of human nature, mortality, and the limitations of understanding. The stories’ brevity gives Gran’s stylistic experimentations enough room to blossom without becoming overladen with backstory or degenerating into parody, and her skill and obvious affection for the genre make the collection resonate with new possibilities for extending mystery’s well-worn forms.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!

What an interesting read - I've never read anything by Gran before, so I enjoyed this adventure. I don't want to give too much away, since it's a mystery...so I'll leave it at that. Really thought provoking, and so refreshing. Highly recommend!

I’m afraid this was a dnf for me. I do enjoy short stories , but I really struggled with the writing style and found a few of the stories confusing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me chance to read a new author but on this occasion it wasn’t for me.

DNF @ 53%

I just couldn't do it. I cannot finish Little Mysteries by Sara Gran for the main reason that I'm not a huge fan of short story collections. It is a mistake on my part for requesting an ARC that I know beforehand that it will not really work out for me. Though, Sara Gran is a talented writer and I appreciate how easy to consume her stories are, I still have a hard time connecting with each story. The 'choose your own adventure' didn't help my case either and just made me not enjoy the whole journey with the book.

Thanks for the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eARC for free in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Little Mysteries is an inventive and intriguing read, filled with Sara Gran’s signature style—sharp prose, philosophical musings, and an offbeat sense of mystery. The book’s concept is fascinating, offering a unique take on the detective genre with a more introspective and unconventional approach. Gran’s writing is immersive, and there are moments of brilliance scattered throughout.

However, the novel doesn’t always deliver on its potential. The pacing is uneven, and while the ideas at play are thought-provoking, they sometimes overshadow the narrative itself. At times, the story feels more like an experiment than a fully realized mystery, which may leave some readers feeling disconnected. Those expecting a tightly woven plot may find themselves frustrated by the book’s more abstract approach.

Ultimately, Little Mysteries is an interesting read that will appeal to fans of literary mysteries and unconventional storytelling, but it may not be satisfying for those looking for a more traditional or gripping narrative. Three stars.

Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight is somewhat of an enigma in itself. I think the subtitle might throw a lot of people off on what to expect from this short story collection. Readers may be expecting classic or straightforward mysteries or whodunnits where they can work out solutions alongside the sleuths, and that isn’t the case for every story in this collection, at least not exactly…

Sara Gran really plays with the genre and format here, and while there are some murders and other crimes to puzzle out here, the mysteries at the heart of these stories are really about exploring the bigger existential questions in life. She uses the genre itself as a tool to explore these questions. I think if you go in knowing you aren’t getting a classic detective collection, but rather more of a genre bending, character-focused, experimental collection, then you won’t be let down.

I happen to appreciate the variation in formats and style, but I will say that some stories were more engaging than others for me personally. In general, I preferred the longer stories (“The Mystery at Killington Manor…”) to the “One-Minute” or “Five-Minute” style mysteries and other briefer forms. In the longer stories, the characters and the themes had more of a chance to shine and were just more impactful. I thought the characters were a lot of fun, and the plays on tropes in detective fiction were entertaining, despite the heavier tone of many of the stories.

I must admit that I have not read any of Gran’s other works in the Claire DeWitt series, and I have a feeling I am missing a few references and some context that might help me understand some of the stories. I think fans of the series will definitely appreciate this collection, but by no means do you need to have read the prior work to enjoy Little Mysteries.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamland Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Sara Gran's Little Mysteries was a very fun book! It took me a little bit to figure out what was going on with the book as I thought the mysteries were ones that the reader was expected to solve. This is not the case, but I did enjoy the stories. Each one has a different format, which was unexpected, but kept me interested. My favorite was the choose your own adventure in the middle of the book and the closing mystery that seemed to be more of a philosophical statement than a mystery. It was a quirky little book that I enjoyed a lot. I am interested in reading the rest of Gran's Claire DeWitt series after she made a few appearances throughout Little Mysteries. I highly recommend it for people who enjoy short stories, unique mysteries, and fans of Sara Gran.

Sara Gran writes a collection of short stories featuring Claire DeWitt, her brilliant detective, as well as several Claire-adjacent characters, that also nod toward the children’s mystery books—like the Encyclopedia Brown and Two-Minute Mysteries series by Donald J. Sobol—that forged many a crime fiction fan. The result is a beguiling, inventive anthology. Some of the stories borrow the conceit of a solution concealed at the end, as in the Encyclopedia Brown books. Another combines two narratives like a split screen in a Brian De Palma film, each set in a year beset with a virus (1988 and 2020), that collectively ask what you owe to the person who saves your life, and to a person whose life you save. Every one of the nine stories is a heartbreaker, and a reminder that a mystery is a good reason to stay alive.

Some interesting short mysteries collected here. The stories felt a bit too short and there wasn't much to keep us tied to the characters throughout them or the mystery. I would definitely read Sara Gran again, but this wasn't quite for me. I think anyone looking for quick little mysteries just for fun, might enjoy these.

I really like mysteries, especially ones that you have to truly think about to understand how and why the case exists. However, Sara Gran was trying to create critiques on society in short mystery vignettes and I just couldn't enjoy it.

Thank you to the author, Dreamland Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting, I had several familial health challenges to contend with in the past months.

I was not familiar with this author and expected something a bit different. In reference to the title, I was often confused, but seldom enthralled. As with all collections of short stories/essays, some appealed more than others. I found the teen detective annoying, other selections enigmatic - the last story was however delightful and I can see where the author's strengths lie. That last story made me want to search out more by this author.

The mystery at the center of these short stories is what it means to be human. Each story examines the complexities of humanness and how we deal with them and connect with each other despite them.

“Make Your Own Tool of Psychospiritual Divination” is a one page paper fortune teller origami kid’s game. I found this one gimmicky but entertaining as I loved making and playing with paper fortune tellers when I was a kid.

In “Five-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Mysterious Dr. Crowley,” teen detective Cynthia Silverton solves a case involving a break in. Breaks the rules of fair play, but maybe that’s the point.

“The Mystery of the Mycelial Net That Will Sometimes, Somehow, If We're Lucky, Catch Us When We Fall” features Claire DeWitt’s assistant who solves his first case. Seeing a secondary character as a protagonist makes for a fun ride.

In “The Good Smell of New York City/ The Ocean-Salted Air” In 1988 and 2020,” Claire DeWitt navigates the AIDS epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively, encountering the same woman in both timelines. One of my favorite stories in the collection due to the powerful parallels.

In “The Case of the Jewel in the Lotus Or The Mystery You Will Never Quite Solve, but If You're Lucky, Will Come a Little Closer to Every Day Until Death,” Claire DeWitt solves a case involving a woman named April and encounters her multiple times in the future. April made a fascinating character.

“One-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Razor's Edge Between Life and Death:” While Claire and Claude are at a restaurant, she detects another patron desperately needs her help. This is my favorite of the “minute mysteries” in this collection.

“The Case of the Blood on the Snow” involves an acquaintance who visits Claire in the hospital and shares a moving story. This one tugs at the heartstrings.

“Choose Your Own Heartbreak” is a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-esque story featuring an adult Cynthia Silverton and her nemesis Hal Overton. I liked the experimental concept, but the story itself fell a touch short for me.

In “Cynthia Silverton & The Charnel House Grounds” teenaged Cynthia Silverton attempts to solve the mystery of her identity. Like the previous story, I wanted more from this story.

“The Mystery at Killington Manor Or The Feeling of Seeing Clear Blue Sky After Being Lost in the Woods” In 1949 teenager Poppy Killington-Wade discovers that her dear great-grandmother Mrs. Kitty has been murdered. This is one of my favorites of the collection. Poppy’s character arc is fantastic.

“Ten-Second Mystery: How You Never Seem to Get Exactly What You Want, but Somehow Time Moves Monstrously Forward Anyway” A mystery that might never be truly solved. The “mystery” is much shorter than the “solution” but maybe that’s the point.

This collection falls firmly on the side of literary fiction. Some of the stories were misses for me, but a few knocked it out of the park.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Atria Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.