Grim, eerie and weird: Laura McCluskey on the real-life mysteries ripe for all-star treatment

The weird story of a former child prodigy who vanished in search of a fantasy world is one of four extraordinary unsolved mysteries Taylor-made for screen.

For a species that thrives on consistency – sun rising, seasons changing, Netflix cancelling a show after one season – we sure do love a good mystery.

Strange disappearances, spooky sightings, inexplicable deaths … there’s something about unsolved cases that keeps us up at night. And some of us feel compelled to come up with answers.

My debut novel, The Wolf Tree, was inspired by the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from a Scottish island in 1900. This formed the foundation of my novel; set in the present day, two detectives arrive on the same tiny isle to investigate a strange death, and find themselves at the mercy of the hostile and secretive community.

Writers have always been inspired by true events – The Red Wedding in Game of Thrones was a nod to The Glencoe Massacre and the hideous “Black Dinner” of 1440 – and as one who finds inspiration in tantalising mysteries, here are four that I would love to see becoming somebody’s next novel, film or series.

‘Compelled to come up with answers’ … Laura McCluskey. Photo: Zoe Hawkins

FREDERICK VALENTICH

As someone with a personal interest in lighthouses (well, this story brings it to two), this mystery caught my eye – but also because it happened in Australia, and it’s a suspected UFO encounter.

Near the lighthouse in Victoria’s Cape Otway is a plaque dedicated to trainee pilot Frederick Valentich. In 1978, Frederick was flying solo over Bass Strait when he reported that he was being followed by a ‘strange object’. ‘It’s hovering,’ he said, ‘and it’s not an aircraft.’ The transmission cut off, and neither Frederick nor his plane were ever seen again. This story deserves a screen adaptation, and it should star Australia’s (and my) go-to leading man, Ryan Corr.

Disappeared … Frederick Valentich.

Leading man … Ryan Corr.

DYATLOV PASS

I love winter, but the experience nine hikers faced after disappearing at the Dyatlov Pass in Russia’s Ural Mountains in 1959 has reinforced that my version of winter is big coats and sipping whiskey by a fire.

A search party made a gruesome discovery: the hikers had died from horrific and inexplicable injuries. Theories range from natural disasters (what natural disaster removes someone’s eyes and tongues?), to secret weapons testing (poisons or frequencies that, er, melted their eyes and tongues), to a yeti attack (they might exist, and might eat eyes and tongues).

American found-footage horror film Devil’s Pass attempted to solve the mystery, but if the critic scores are anything to go by, acclaimed movie director Ari Aster should have a crack next.

Ready for the Dyatlov challenge, Ari? ... Aster directs cast member Milly Shapiro on the set of 2018 psychological horror film, Hereditary.

BARBARA NEWHALL FOLLETT

Barbara was a child prodigy who published her first fantasy novel in 1927, at age twelve. (At that age I was doing worthless things like playing outside and watching The Simpsons.)

After an argument with her husband in 1939, Barbara grabbed $30 and a notebook and walked out her front door – and never returned. One theory posits that, dissatisfied with domestic life, Barbara left to seek out the fantasy world she created in her childhood … a concept that seems straight out of a Murakami novel, or should be a film starring the other-worldly Anya Taylor-Joy.

Gone … Barbara Newhall Follett.

Here … Anya Taylor-Joy.

SHANTI DEVI

In India in 1925, a woman named Lugdi passed away. Almost two years later, in a different village, a baby called Shanti was born. When Shanti turned four, she started recalling memories – specifically, Lugdi’s memories, and in incredible detail. Shanti met members of Lugdi’s family and revealed deeply personal information about them; enough that they truly believed she was Lugdi reincarnated. News reached Mahatma Gandhi, who met with Shanti and later launched an official inquiry into her alleged rebirth.

This is an extraordinary case that would make an extraordinary novel or film – and surely it’s one for Christopher Nolan.

You don’t want a holiday on this island … The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey.

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey is out now, published by HarperCollins.

What’s your favourite mystery, in fact or fiction? Join in the comments below.

And find fellow thriller-lovers at THE SUNDAY BOOK CLUB group on Facebook.

‘Other-worldly’ … actress Anya Taylor-Joy photographed for Vogue Australia by Josh Olins.

Originally published as Grim, eerie and weird: Laura McCluskey on the real-life mysteries ripe for all-star treatment