Mystery Elements
Suspects are
characters who may have caused the problem the mystery is trying to solve.
Clues are
hints that help the detectives and reader solve the mystery. They can be things people say or do or objects that are found.
Deduction
Drawing a conclusion
A guess or feeling not based on facts
Hunch
Sleuth
An investigator
Detectives or investigators try
to solve the mystery
Distractions are
things that lead an investigator off the path, including clues that do not add up to a solution but make the search longer.
Crime
An action that breaks the law
An investigator looking for and gathering clues
Detective
Person who has knowledge about a crime
Witness
Setting is
The location where the mystery takes place.
The location where the mystery takes place
Setting
Clue
A fact or object that gives information toward solving the crime
A thing or statement that helps to prove who committed the crime
Evidence
Suspect
Person who has a motive to have committed a crime
The plot is the story of the mystery. Usually there is:
• A problem or puzzle to solve • Something that is missing • A secret • An event that is not explained
Try to solve mysteries/the mystery
Detectives or investigators
Breakthrough
discovery that helps solve the crime
A reason that a person does something — can include anger, hatred, love, or greed
Motive
An action that breaks the law
Crime
Most mystery plots use
suspense. This means that the reader does not know the solution while he or she is reading the mystery
Structure refers to
the way the story is set up. Most mysteries have a structure like this: • Introduction: learn about the problem, meet characters • Body of story: someone is working to solve the mystery • Conclusion: mystery is solved
Alibi
An excuse that an accused person uses to show that he or she was not at the scene of the crime
Something that is unknown
A false clue that throws the investigator off track
Red Herring