Mystery Elements

Vocabulary for Mysteries

Reading

alibi

• noun

• An excuse that an accused person uses to show that he/she was somewhere else other than the scene of a crime

“You must believe me, sir, I was not there on the night in question.”

breakthrough

• noun

• an advance or discovery that helps to solve a crime

• synonym: discovery, find, insight

Eureka! The mystery has been solved!

clue

• noun

• a fact or object that helps solve a mystery

• synonym: hint, evidence, sign

We need look no further. The evidence is right in front of us.

crime

• noun

• an act committed in violation of the law

• synonym: offense, wrong doing

The robber would be punished for his crime.

deduce

• verb

• to infer by logical reasoning

• synonym: infer, conclude, deduct She would deduce who was

guilty from the information she had gathered.

detective

• noun

• a person who investigates crimes and gathers information

• Synonym: gumshoe, investigator, sleuth

The detective put all his efforts into solving the crime.

evidence

• noun

• something, such as a witness statement or object, that is used as proof in a crime

• synonym: clue, indication

The woman burned the evidence so she would not be accused of the crime.

hunch

• noun

• a guess or feeling not based on known facts

• synonym: suspicion I have a hunch you are

going to solve the mystery soon.

motive

• noun

• An inner drive that causes a person to do some thing or act in a certain way

• synonym: rationale

His motive for robbing the bank was his need for more money to pay off his debt.

mystery

• noun

• something that is secret and unknown

With the help of the detective, the mystery would soon be solved.

plot

• noun

• the arrangement or incidents in a story

Dr. Dixon was a source of conflict in the plot of the story.

purloin

• verb

• to steal or filch

• synonym: swipe, lift

A pirate might purloin an object he really wanted.

red herring

• noun

• something that is used to divert attention from the basic issue

• synonym: diversion, distraction

A diversion to the detective would be a red herring.

setting

• noun

• the time, place, environment and surrounding circumstances of a story

Cinderella went to the ball at the castle one special night.

sleuth

• noun

• another name for a detective

• synonym: detective, investigator A sleuth never gives up until

the clues have all been investigated.

solution

• noun

• an answer to a problem

• synonym: explanation

suspect

• noun

• a person who is suspected of a crime

The policeman caught the suspect.

victim

• noun

• someone who is harmed or suffers some loss

The victim never knew he was being robbed.

witness

• noun

• Someone who saw or can give a firsthand account of something

The witness swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.