Mystery Genre Elements of a Mystery A Crime

Mystery Genre

Elements of a Mystery • A Crime • Various Clues • Suspense and Tension • Solution

Three Rules of Crime Solving - Motive – The prime suspect must have a REASON to commit the crime.

Three Rules of Crime Solving - Means – The prime suspect must have had a WAY to commit the crime.

Three Rules of Crime Solving - Opportunity – The prime suspect must have had the CHANCE to commit the crime.

Mystery Jargon

- Sleuth the private investigator or detective investigating the case EXAMPLE = Sherlock Holmes

- Culprit – person who committed or assists in the crime

- fugitive – person running from the law

- Lead – information or clues concerning the case

- Interrogate – to ask questions related to the crime

- Alibi – proof that a suspect was nowhere near the crime

- Deduction – using the facts to infer a conclusion/solution to the case

- Red Herring – a false clue or lead According to some old tales, red herrings were pulled across the trail of hounds to confuse them and throw them off the trail. Mystery writers deliberately “fake-out” readers by planting these misleading clues.

Solving the Mystery

- Fact – something that cannot be disputed EXAMPLE: Ben is dead.

- Assumption – a guess EXAMPLE: Ben was murdered.

- Inference – a guess based on facts EXAMPLE: Whoever murdered Ben… has something to hide.

- Deduction – an educated guess EXAMPLE: Ben must have threatened to tell the killer’s secret.

Clues

• Fingerprints • Blood/Hair/Fabric • Dead Body • Financial/Telephone Records • Interrogation/Questioning Witnesses • Suspicious items • Lifestyle changes • Personal items

Enjoy a mystery book today!