Elements of Mystery

Which of these is NOT usually at the heart of a mystery story?

• A secret that needs to be revealed

• A lost or stolen item that needs to be found

• An difficult inner decision that needs to be made

• A crime that needs to be solved

The character responsible for solving the mystery is called the:

(a)  

In a mystery, we are usually introduced to the detective character in the:

• Falling Action

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Introduction

During the story, the detective questions characters who might have committed the crime. These characters are called:

• Witnesses

• Suspects

• Culprits

• Accomplices

The reason a suspect gives for why they could not have committed the crime is called:

• Motive

• Accomplice

• Alibi

• Evidence

A clue that leads the detective away from the true solution to the mystery is called a:

(a)  

Not all mysteries need red herrings.

• True

• False

In mysteries, MOTIVE means:

• How the criminal commits the crime

• How the detective looks for clues

• Why the criminal commits the crime

• The car the criminal uses to get away from the crime scene

The character who commit the crime is called the:

(a)  

The identity of the culprit is usually revealed during which part of a mystery story?

• Rising Action

• Resolution

• Falling Action

• Climax