This was a fun read. I am not sure why I was not able to download a Kindle version, but I still had fun reading this in pieces. I like that each story was sort of stand-alone but also had a cohesive feeling. I definitely didn't get any mysteries in full on the first go around.

This was a really fun read! I haven’t read many mysteries, but each story within this book were really engaging, The story that felt like a Goosebumps “choose your own adventure” was cool. I like how each story has a life lesson within that the reader can think on after they’re done with the book.

I thought this was a very entertaining collection of mystery stories! Even though I haven't read the Claire series I was able to get the general idea when she was mentioned. I'm a huge fan of Sara Gran so I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read the advanced ebook! Some of them were difficult to "read" in the digital format but that's no fault of the author. Looking forward to reading the physical copy once it's published! Thank you, Netgalley!

A fun-filled way to spend the weekend solving various puzzles and mysteries. Ever wanted to be a detective and solve mysteries? This is the perfect book for you. One word of caution. If you do decide to purchase, make sure it's a physical copy. It will be easier to navigate the book.

#LITTLEMYSTERIES
#SARAGRAN
#NETGALLEY

Well… that wasn’t what I expected.
I have realized I don’t really like short stories like this, I am just not the target audience for it.
I had to DNF it :/

However, I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

LITTLE MYSTERIES, Sara Gran’s first story collection (and, technically, a new installment in her Claire DeWitt series) is a decidedly post-pandemic book: Hearts and horizons have shifted; everybody’s older; and Mystery, like memory, is both an affliction and a balm as we navigate the rubble of our former lives.

Claire’s former lives and selves are given free rein throughout, as Gran revels in shapeshifting form, style, and POV from one story to the next. Baby detectives stalk New York City’s back alleys alongside older-but-little-wiser ones. Games, puzzles, riddles, pop homage, and pulpy allegories abound. Perky teen sleuth Cynthia Silverton continues to reveal facets and clues through refractions of her surreal, seamy comic mirrorverse in both new and previously-published tales, and series fans will spot allusions to Jacques Silette and his masterwork Détection throughout.

The collection is a little uneven (I’ve always found Gran’s detail and dialogue more convincing in contemporary settings than in period ones) but the ride is always thrilling, and LITTLE MYSTERIES marks a new, more liberated phase for the author that fans should celebrate. At its most delightful, the stories gift us welcome new perspectives on the World’s Best Detective and her impact on the lives of her partners and clients: sometimes dubious, sometimes revelatory, but always hopeful. Above all, LITTLE MYSTERIES is a fun book—not in spite of its characters’ suffering, but in tremendous respect and compassion for it. Like Claude (Claire’s now-long-suffering protege whose kind, fastidious POV and presence elevate the collection), we’re along for the ride no matter how dark. We can always start again and we can always choose our own adventure, even amid the wreckage of community that COVID, poverty, addiction, and humanity’s stupid injustices have wrought. Claire DeWitt fans will be exhilarated and thankful for this candy box of treasures, even as it leaves us hungry to pursue long-hidden existential truths in a fourth novel.

These short stories, many featuring Gran’s Claire DeWitt teen detective character, play with form in an interesting way. They also felt very much like a parody of hard boiled detective writing, which was fun at first but got a bit grating since it all came across as a bit of a joke.

Little Mysteries is an unusual and somewhat charming little collection of curious vignettes and reflections on life.

I went in expecting a fun combination of puzzle-like mysteries and whodunnits but found instead a series of simple stories pondering life's meaning and mysteries.

There also seems to be a focus on character's from Gran's previous work (that I haven't read) which makes me think her existing readers would love this.

An interesting one to pop in and out of but definitely a case of not for me.

2.5/5

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Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am such a huge Sara Gran fan and was thrilled to see this on Netgalley. Much like her other works, this did not disappoint. Short stories are difficult to pull off and while there were clear standouts, the entire collection was consistent and well written.

I liked the formatting and how it changed throughout the book, however, i didn’t like the writing style. The overall format wasn’t my favorite even though I found it interesting

Overall I did enjoy reading Little Mysteries with some of the stories having unique formats including a choose your own story line with multiple endings. The short story titled 'The Mystery at Killington Manor', was definitely my favourite and felt like a proper mystery as it was quite long so was easier to get into and connect with the characters compared to some of the others. However, with some of the shorter stories, I did find myself being a bit confused at the endings as some felt quite abrupt and I had to go back and re-read to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I also at times struggled to get back into it after I'd put it down as it felt quite stop start. I would recommend this book to others and will be checking out more of Sara Gran's work!

This is a book full of fun mysteries - but not ones I think the reader can solve! It was a good time and I absolutely love Sara Gran. But I prefer her other books!

A sweet selection of short stories and my first exposure to Gran. Her writing style is quick witted, succinct yet full of detail that draws you into each quirky little world. I will definitely be reading more of Gran’s work. Immediately a must- buy author.

Let me be clear, this book is about mysteries, but if you're looking to solve something alongside the characters, you won't find that here.

What you will find is easy to read short stories following a few different characters. Most of them are trying to solve mysteries of some kind, but each story is really about the characters and their lives. Some of them may be detectives, trying to solve a case, but these stories are about much more than that. I don't really consider myself a mystery/thriller reader. I find the genre contrived and underwhelming. What drew me to Little Mysteries was only the fact that I'd heard good things about the author. I was so pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I was by Gran's storytelling. The characters, their stories, and the interesting ways Gran chose to tell these stories really made me love this book. I love that this explores humanity and big questions through detectives and people from all walks of life, while also still being easy to read. And by easy to read, I mean something that is just easy to get through as this book does explore many heavy topics throughout.

I would recommend this to short story lovers, mystery lovers, and even maybe someone who doesn't love mysteries as much. I think most readers will find something to enjoy within this book.

Little Mysteries by Sara Gran is a delightful anthology of nine short stories that explore the purpose of mysteries in everyday life. Gran plays with the structure and tone of the detective genre, with clever nods to Nancy Drew and other classic sleuth stories, while digging deeper into the existential questions that lie beneath. The book’s varying points of view, including a second-person narrator who breaks the fourth wall, keeps the reader engaged throughout. Gran’s writing is sharp, witty, and full of metaphors, making each story feel meaningful even when it teeters on the absurd. Fans of mystery fiction will enjoy this playful, yet thoughtful collection. It’s a light, enjoyable read that still leaves room for reflection on life and its unsolved puzzles.

If you grew up on Nancy Drew, Famous Five, Fantastic Four, Hardy Boys, Secret Seven, you'll enjoy this. The writing somehow took me back to nostalgic sleuthing pleasures.

If you binged Law & Order, Monk, CSI, Suits, this book is again for you as it experiments with different formats in small bite sized stories.

Though the book is definitely fun to read in hindsight, I had my issues with it in the form of convincing myself to pick it up after a break. While stories are a mixed bag with this one, there's definitely a niche audience for Little Mysteries.

Wow, I completely adored this book. I'd only read Gran's Come Closer before this, but am now realizing I need to look into her Claire DeWitt series. I did not expect a book of short mystery stories to have me tearing up so many times, or to hit quite so hard - the second-to-last story, The Mystery at Killington Manor, had me screenshotting quotes like crazy (She could have loved me. Every single day, she could have loved me, and did not.) and also realizing that I really need to write about the collapse of my relationship with my parents and get some things out. Woo boy.

Gran uses often marvelously simple language to portray incredibly complex people with a clear-eyed empathy that just knocks me on my ass. Every experiment with style here succeeds beautifully. This is easily one of the top five books I've read this year, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

My thanks to Dreamland Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a collection of short mysteries and one mystery novella that are all perfectly
wonderful. This author’s mysteries always have an edge to them as is if there is always
more under the surface which they do. But what fun reads.

I opened this book on my phone and immediately saw an old-school fortune teller. Now I need the physical copy so I can cut it out and use it!

That being said, this wasn't anything like I expected. It was comical in lots of places, but I also felt very much like there was an underlying theme/message that I just can't articulate because I had shitty instruction in middle/high school around literary analysis tbh. So while I was reading and thinking, "I'm smart, but not smart enough to understand what this author is trying to say," I at least enjoyed myself very much! I'm sure someone smarter than me will come along and actually review the book in a more succinct, thoughtful way. What I will say is that the story about Mrs. Kitty was my least favorite, and I loved the choose-your-own-adventure one.