Black Stories

What exactly are Black Stories?

Black Stories (Black Stories) are disconcerting, morbid, macabre stories that could have happened as described, or almost. They are transmitted by word of mouth among fans of this kind of urban legends. Sometimes everything ends very quickly: two or three questions and you're already on the track. But sometimes, a seemingly simple story turns out to be the most difficult to decipher.

Black Stories have grown in popularity in recent years. In English they are commonly known as Mystery Puzzles, but in German they are also called Concept Puzzles, Lateral Thinking Puzzles or simply Mysteries. But don't doubt it: only the sinister ones are true Black Stories. These 50 Black Stories are my favorites. Some are classics, others are not so well known, and some I have "developed" especially for this collection - of course, not before having "`tested" them extensively with my friends. This means that they can all be solved and therefore deserve the name "Black Story".

Unfortunately, you can only crack a Black Story once. When I hear a new Black Story, I try to solve it without additional clues from the "Mystery Keeper" (who is the person who knows the solution and must answer all the questions). I'd rather pester him for hours than ask for another lead. The Keeper of Mystery is always right! If no one in the group comes anywhere near the solution, the Mystery Keeper can, if he chooses, offer a clue or two. But he can keep everyone on edge, guessing – this decision is entirely his.