Mystery Elements

Front

suspense

Back

the stressed feeling a reader has while trying to solve the mystery.

Front

motive

Back

the reason a person does something.

Front

distractions/red herring

Back

things that lead an investigator off the path; clues that do not add up to a solution but make the search longer.

Front

evidence

Back

a thing or statement that helps to prove who committed the crime.

Front

plot

Back

the story of the mystery; a problem, something is missing, a secret, and unexplained event.

Front

detective

Back

a character who investigates and solves the mystery.

Front

clue

Back

a piece of information that helps to solve the mystery.

Front

suspect

Back

a person who may have committed the crime.

Front

alibi

Back

a reason or explanation that shows someone was not at the scene of the crime.

Front

red herring

Back

a misleading clue that distracts from the real issue.