Online 5 Minute Mysteries

Ready to join the ranks of 5 Minute Mystery's Top Sleuths? 5 Minute Mysteries are short, challenging mysteries posted Monday and Friday.

Choose the clues1. Choose the clues.

Read each mystery carefully and select which clues either incriminate or exonerate each suspect. Earn points for finding all of the clues.

Choose your suspect2. Choose your suspect.

Select the guilty suspect from the list once you've found all of the clues.

Solve the case3. Solve the case.

Submit your clues and suspect decision to earn points. The more difficult the case, the more points you'll earn. The solutions are released the day after each mystery is published.

Solve the most recent mystery, then visit the archives to solve more! Move up in the rankings by choosing all of the correct clues and suspects and earning bonus points for solving more difficult cases.

Solve today's mystery to earn points and move up in the rankings!


Riddle of the Confederate Spy

Re-published March 12th, 2010, Written by Moe Zilla Cannons fired in Maryland, as 45,000 Confederate soldiers crossed the Potomac River,
approaching Washington, D.C.

But far away in Illinois, a lonely Union sergeant performed his own duty – guarding a secluded stretch of railroad tracks against sabotage. It had only been one week, and already he missed home.

That night, the sergeant’s troubled eyes searched the sky for answers, while the campfire cast shadows on the faces of four soldiers who accompanied him. “You're all good soldiers,” Sergeant Stoker said, fondly. “Unfortunately, one of you is a spy.”

Continue Reading >> 75% Solve Rate Easy


The Haunted Portrait

Re-published March 8th, 2010, Written by William Shepard It was one of those Gothic tragedies, I suppose -- or quite possibly a practical joke gone terribly wrong. Here in Scotland, one must be prepared for anything. Still, when Chief Inspector McIntyre assigned me to the case, fresh from my commissioning as a detective, you could say I felt a bit nervous. After all, this was my first real case.

But I am getting ahead of myself. And perhaps you are the only ones who didn’t awaken to STOP PRESS inserts in the newspapers announcing the ghastly death of Lord Auchinlech. It made a dramatic scene. Lord Auchinlech’s body was found on the second floor gallery of his residence in the south wing of Auchinlech Castle, just beyond the staircase. From the horrible look on his face, and the fact that his right hand was rolled into a tight ball over his heart, it appeared he had been frightened to death.

Continue Reading >> 35% Solve Rate Easy

View More Archived Mysteries >