This document defines key terms and vocabulary used in mystery genres, including alibi, clue, deduce, deduction, detective, evidence, flashback, foreshadowing, hunch, motive, mystery, planted, red herring, sleuth, suspect, suspense, victim, and witness. It provides short descriptions of each term to explain their meaning within the context of mysteries.

1. Mystery Genre
Terms and Vocabulary

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

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

4. Clue
A fact or object that gives information
toward solving the crime

5. Deduce
To infer by logical reasoning

6. Deduction
Drawing a conclusion

7. Detective
A person who investigates crimes and
gathers information

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

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

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

11. Hunch
A guess or feeling not based on facts

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

13. Mystery
Something that is unknown

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

15. Red herring
A false clue that throws the investigator
off track

16. Sleuth
Another name for a detective

17. Suspect
A person who is suspected of a crime

18. Suspense
Anxiety or apprehension resulting from
an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious
situation

19. Victim
Someone who is harmed or has suffered
some loss

20. Witness
Someone who saw or can give a firsthand
account of something