Mystery Elements (Vocabulary)

something that draws attention away from the main issue; false clue

• red herring

• suspect

• victim

• evidence

Person thought to be capable of committing a crime.

• suspense

• suspect

• victim

• evidence

a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action

• suspense

• theory

• victim

• evidence

proof

• suspense

• theory

• alibi

• evidence

A feeling of uncertainty and curiosity about what will happen next in a story; key element in fiction and drama; "hook" writer uses to keep audience interested

• suspense

• theory

• alibi

• deduce

a hypothesis regarding the solution to a crime

• motive

• theory

• alibi

• deduce

an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene

• motive

• sleuth

• alibi

• deduce

To draw a conclusion from fact; to infer

• motive

• sleuth

• complexity

• deduce

a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious

• motive

• sleuth

• complexity

• detective

another name for a detective

• hunch

• sleuth

• complexity

• detective