*** Thank you NetGalley and Dreamland Books for sharing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own ***

I want to start this review by acknowledging the following: I believe that there is an audience for this book but I am unfortunately not a part of it. Though I was charmed by its premise, promising synopsis and intriguing subtitle, I came out of the reading experience neither enthralled nor delighted, but utterly confused.

Little Mysteries opens on a chatterbox repurposed as a tool for “psychospiritual divination.” I found it clever and unexpected, and hoped that it would set the tone for what would be nine bite-size mysteries that readers could solve alongside the characters. Instead, the book features stories of varying lengths that parody storytelling devices of the mystery genre.

The first story borrows the mystery puzzle format: it sets the stage and introduces the mystery in a few pages, asks the readers if they can solve it, then offers a solution. Sadly, the case cannot actually be solved by the readers because the vast majority of clues are not actually featured in the story. Instead, the main character just pulls clues out of their hat. While this might be intentionally subversive, it makes the whole endeavor feel gimmicky and pointless, which is not helped by how underwhelming the story is. The book also includes a “Choose your own Adventure”-style story and a lengthy mystery play-like chapter, which sound fun and promising, but ultimately fail to deliver. This was ultimately my main issue across all stories: them are neither engaging nor entertaining, and no amount of clever storytelling devices can change that.

The style is direct and alternates between lengthy dry descriptive passages and pseudo-philosophical ramblings. A number of stories end on a vague moral or just take an existential U-turn like “Cyntia Silverston and The Charnel House Grounds.” What starts as an absurd Scooby Doo-esque story turns into Cynthia trying to figure out who she really is deep down.

The wink-wink-I-know-you-know-I-know-what-I-did-there humor does not land for me, and neither does the disillusioned-pseudo-noir-detective tone affected by most protagonists (that or they are utterly clueless and naïve).

(Mis)led by the subtitle and synopsis, I admittedly took this light and playful book more seriously than likely intended and ended up feeling frustrated by the reading experience.

I like everything about this concept and was excited to read it but the execution of the book fell short. The stories were never really enthralling and I was never satisfied with the results of the mystery.

Sara Gran’s book, "Little Mysteries: Nine Miniature Puzzles to Confuse, Enthrall, and Delight," is a set of short stories that digs deep into what makes detective fiction so interesting. It’s not just about solving mysteries—it’s about figuring out why we love puzzles and the stories around them.

There are nine short stories in this book, and each one is like a mini puzzle that gets you thinking. The plots are smart and sometimes unexpected, which keeps you on your toes. You’ll meet a bunch of different characters—from newbie detectives to pros—each dealing with their own mysterious situations. The stories are short but rich, giving us satisfying endings while still leaving some things up in the air to think about.

The book looks at the psychology and emotions behind mystery stories, asking why we’re so drawn to them and what makes us feel good about solving puzzles. That makes you stop and think about your own connection to detective fiction.

Each story has its own atmosphere, but all of them are engaging and mysterious. Some are in secret-filled rooms, others in busy cities—all of them adding to the overall mystery vibe. The characters feel real, with their own personalities, problems, and desires. The way Gran brings her characters to life makes their stories hit home for readers.

Gran’s writing is easy to read but still deep. She writes clearly but adds a bit of beauty that makes it special without being stuck up. Her sentences are usually short and packed with meaning that makes you stop and think. It’s the kind of writing that’s simple to follow but rewards you for thinking a little deeper.

The shortness might leave some readers wanting more. Since the stories are so compact, character development can feel rushed sometimes, and the endings, while clever, might not be completely satisfying for everyone. But the shortness also means you need to pay attention to the clues and come up with your own ideas—which can be a good thing.

Sara Gran is an author who knows her stuff, writing both mystery and literary fiction. She brings her experience and knowledge of the genre to her stories, giving readers a unique and enjoyable look into the world of mysteries. Her previous books, like the Claire DeWitt series, show that she’s a fresh voice in today’s literature, and "Little Mysteries" proves it even more.

So, "Little Mysteries" is a great read for anyone who loves detective fiction and wants to understand the appeal of mysteries even better. Gran’s stories have great characters, interesting themes, and show off her skills as an author.

As a longtime reader of Sara Gran, and a lover of mysteries, the title of this book was like catnip to me. I told myself that there were nine mysteries and I would read one a day, as a treat.
There were days when I read more than one because who has that kind of restraint, really? And some of the puzzles truly are miniature.
There is also a longer story that I read over two days because I wanted to make it last.

I feel like this book can be described in the same way you'd talk about a small box of handmade chocolates: delicious, flavorsome, moreish, decadent even. Worth savoring.

There's much to enjoy here for Claire DeWitt fans - Claire, Claude, and (of course!) Cynthia Silverton all appear. Re: Cynthia - Nancy Drew could never (and I say this as someone who grew up inhaling those books). There's a choose-your-own adventure tribute, a story told in parallel vertical columns, and even an "origami tool of psychospiritual divination" (remember those from your schooldays?) to make at home.

The longer story (The Mystery at Killington Manor Or The Feeling of Seeing Clear Blue Sky After Being Lost in the Woods) is layered, witty, and contains phrases so perfect you may want to commit them to memory.

And the closing Ten-Second Mystery is both unexpected and beautiful.

This book is a gem, I loved it. I will be pre-ordering a physical copy so I can revisit it again and again.

Thank you to Dreamland books and Net Galley UK for the advanced digital copy in exchange for this, my honest review.

I received this book for free and I write this review voluntarily. I am a fan of thrillers, especially the Golden Era's whodunits. So, it was a great opportunity for me to read Sara Gran's beautiful novel. This novel has two parts. First part has short stories about Claire DeWitt, best detective in the world. She reminds me of Scandinavian thriller detectives, not so perfect in their lives, not easy to work with but a genius when it comes to work. The author uses different writing styles successfully in this part, which should be praised. The second part is my favourite part. This part set in 1949, in Killington Manor. Everything seems to be in order in the manor, even the deaths. But are they really? Mystery shadows the manor and with an Agatha Christie style ending (everybody in a room, everybody's motives discussed by the 'detective'), mystery unfolds. I thank author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

Sara Gran has been one of my favorite writers since I read Come Closer. She's really not like anyone else, and this little mystery collection is a great example of that. There are some actual mysteries, and the writing is clever, but the stories are more about the people. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thank you to Dreamland books and NetGalley for the ARC!!

Sara Gran’s Little Mysteries is a collection of detective stories that are more character-driven than the average whodunnit. The detective stories we’re most familiar with are crafted with intricate plot twists and stock characters that serve as eye-catching ornaments in an elaborate narrative maze. Gran primarily contends with how mysteries affect human emotion and connection. The Killington Manor story was by far my favourite followed by the choose-your-own-adventure story and the bite-sized mysteries. I'd give the collection a score of 3.5/5 overall but I reviewed the individual stories below!

‘Five-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Mysterious Dr Crowley Or Fuck This World Indeed’ ⭐⭐⭐💫
Fun, quick and clever. Cynthia Silverton is a really striking character which I appreciate!

‘The Mystery of the Mycelial Net…’ ⭐⭐
I enjoyed the glib, sort-of breezy writing style. I noticed here that this is more of a character study than a collection of standard mysteries, which I really enjoy as an idea, but I found this particular story underwhelming.

‘The Good Smell of New York City/ The Ocean-Salted Air’ ⭐⭐💫
What this story does with form is really interesting but I found it pretty underwhelming.

‘The Case of the Jewel in the Lotus’ ⭐⭐⭐
Interesting exploration of the thrill of the solve and the urge to satiate that thirst. Bleak and introspective to the point where it sort of dragged. Gran explores the fallout after a crime is committed by someone close and the emptiness at seeing the fissures in people’s lives that a solve causes.

‘One-Minute Mystery: The Case of the Razor’s Edge Between Life and Death’ ⭐⭐💫
I enjoyed reading it but ended up disappointed with the solution to the mystery. Or rather how they got there, as all the evidence seemed like pure guesswork and Claire just pulling it out of nowhere. I do think it was quite well-written though

‘The Case of the Blood on the Snow’ ⭐⭐⭐
Really enjoyed this sincere and bittersweet story despite the fact that I generally didn’t like Claire Dewitt as a protagonist.

‘Choose Your Own Heartbreak’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was so, so fun I loved it! The choose-your own-adventure format was really exciting and novel. I just kept rereading until I read all the possible routes. I especially like the route where she decides to have faith in those closest to her. I really enjoyed the second person perspective as well. It’s lovely, quick and clever while still being reflective and poignant. Everything in this story boils down to the bonds we make and break. Some might find it trite or cheesy to focus on something so simple but I think it’s very human and sincere.

‘Cynthia Silverton & The Charnel House Grounds’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A deeply absurd story about a 19 year old university student detective in an existential rut that I really enjoyed. Cynthia Silverton is pure camp and fun and glitter and heart.The writing style is super ridiculous and has the campiness of a magician pulling a glittery dove out of their back pocket. It seemed like a satire of the pomp of a traditional mystery. Gran’s exploration of identity and our relationships with others was pretty well done as well.

‘The Mystery at Killington Manor’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was an incredibly charming story with vivid, striking characters, a playful style and some lovely prose. There was also pretty good exploration of grief, privilege and dysfunctional family dynamics. I really enjoyed the heartfelt relationship between Poppy and Mrs Kitty.

The younger generation will probably love this, but it was not for me. Despite the title, these stories were not really mystery stories in the regular sense and were not at all concerned with detection, but were more centred around the musings, soul-searching and stream of consciousness of the individual detectives. The constant swearing was unnecessary and extremely off-putting - for this reader anyway, although this seems to be a given with any modern book, as is the casual treatment of sex. This book abounds in offhand references to sex as though just talking about the weather. Again it is clearly a generational thing but to me, this is not something to be casually thrown into everyday speech or treated as an everyday concept, but something that is private. I am no prude but like activities in the bathroom, activities in the bedroom are private and not to be casually aired, not in a decent, civilised society. Such things are not taboo, simply private.

I really liked Come Closer, so when I saw this galley, I couldn't wait to read it. I just couldn't put it down! My nose was buried between train stops and while waiting at the bus stop. I liked the last two mysteries the most, but they were all enjoyable. Sars Gran's writing is so sharp, witty and incisive. I only wished these were being published in time to pick up a few for stocking stuffers!

Such a weird, funny little treasure. I was indeed confused and delighted all the way. I’ll being looking up the author’s other works next.

Sara Gran's Little Mysteries came along and made my day. Her signature heartening and heartbreaking but unflinching insight into humanity lies at the heart of each of these little gems and are a joy to read. I look forward to sharing this little wonder with everyone I can.

My thanks to Dreamland Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of “ Little Mysteries “ for an honest review.

I generally like reading books with a little mystery and intrigue so this sounded ideal for me.I sometimes find short stories a little hit and Miss , and unfortunately , for me, this was more miss than hit.
It was quirky and entertaining but not really for me

4 stars for the nostalgia hit I got from MASH!!! Really enjoyed the lit fic/cozy mystery blend. Choose your own path was fun, I was constantly entertained while being fed harder hitting topics like the pandemic. Looking forward to reading more from her!

I really loved this book. These stories are sharp, clever, funny, sometimes cutting, and sometimes bittersweet, and they've lingered in my mind long after I finished the book. I've read other books by Sara Gran, and her trademark voice and wit are on full display here. Her noir-infused style works extremely well in these stories, and I loved the variety of formats and styles. While I enjoyed every story, there were three that were so excellent that any one of them would be worth reading the whole book for. Highly recommended! I can't wait to buy my copy when the book comes out.

Thank you to Dreamland Books, NetGalley, and Sara Gran for generously providing an ARC for review!

I expected solvable mysteries with clues and settings that would entertain my brain. Rather felt like a series of vignettes--about already solved mysteries. I am going with 2 stars. It missed my expectations and I would not have chosen to read this book as it is. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion (and in the minority).

Ooooh! More Claire DeWitt in this lovely, surprising book of short mysteries. Fun plays with tropes and form, too.

Little Mysteries took me by surprise. I love Sara Gran but did not expect this to be such a beautiful reflection on grief and self-actualization? AND it was all wrapped up in a unique format for each story.

A little choose your own adventure? Why not!

The last two mysteries were my favorite but honestly they are all bangers. Just in case you can’t tell, I loved this book so much-please read it.

One thing I have to say is that this book gave off so much coziness and comfort

I adore every short story despite some instances where the mystery is pretty obvious or vague, so I don't know what was happening half the time. It kind of fell short mystery-wise but literary fiction-wise, this book is brilliant! Gran was able to hook me in with her quirky and simple writing style immediately, it was what I needed after battling a terrible reading slump. I adored the underlying message interwoven into each mystery. That last mystery made me gasp in surprise and appreciation, and it is a chapter that I will never forget.

This book is the best of both worlds for me, mixing mystery and literary fiction, two literary genres that have a special place in my heart. Will definitely read more of Sara Gran's books sometime soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamland Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Literary, weird, bite-sized stories that both interrogate and expand on mystery tropes and take your breath away. An incredibly inventive, moving, philosophical book – perfect for mystery lovers who love a touch of the beautiful and the bizarre!

I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved almost all of the stories - especially the dual timeline and choose your own way (and of course I went back a couple of times to make sure I tried all different versions and outcomes).

I really enjoyed having the mix both very short and longer stories and the times they take place in. 100% recommended for all who enjoys mysteries with a dash of weirdness!