mystery story; tale of the strange
Refers to a narrative centered on eerie, uncanny, or mysterious events. Often used for ghost stories, weird tales, or supernatural mysteries.
He published a book collecting mystery stories.
That movie is based on a strange tale from the Edo period.
怪談 specifically refers to ghost stories or horror tales, often with a focus on fear and the supernatural, while 怪奇物語り is broader, encompassing any mysterious or bizarre story.
ミステリー is a loanword for mystery, often implying a puzzle or crime to be solved, whereas 怪奇物語り emphasizes the strange and eerie atmosphere.
Compound of 怪奇 (strange, bizarre) and 物語り (story, tale). The reading ものがたり is the standard kun'yomi for 物語り.