Mystery Genre Terms and Vocabulary

Alibi

An excuse that an accused person uses to show that he or she was not at the scene of the crime

Cliffhanger

A suspenseful situation occurring at the end of a chapter, scene, or episode

Clue

A fact or object that gives information toward solving the crime

Deduce

To infer by logical reasoning

Deduction

Drawing a conclusion

Detective

A person who investigates crimes and gathers information

Evidence

A thing or statement tat helps to prove who committed the crime

Flashback

Literary or cinematic (movie) device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative

Foreshadowing

To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand (a hint at something that will occur later in the story)

Hunch

A guess or feeling not based on facts

Motive

A reason that a person does something – can include anger, hatred, love, greed, or fear

Mystery

Something that is unknown

Planted

Having placed a misleading piece of evidence so as to be discovered (as in clues)

Red herring

A false clue that throws the investigator off track

Sleuth

Another name for a detective

Suspect

A person who is suspected of a crime

Suspense

Anxiety or apprehension resulting from an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious situation

Victim

Someone who is harmed or has suffered some loss

Witness

Someone who saw or can give a firsthand account of something