Mystery GenreMystery Genre

Mystery Mystery

a work of fiction, a drama, or a film a work of fiction, a drama, or a film dealing with a puzzling crime dealing with a puzzling crime

What is Mystery?What is Mystery?

A Problem To SolveA Problem To Solve Who did it?Who did it? What is it?What is it? How did it happen?How did it happen?

Mystery is……Mystery is……

Realistic in some ways Realistic in some ways Everything in the story revolves around a Everything in the story revolves around a

puzzle or an unusual problem to solve.puzzle or an unusual problem to solve. The author drops hints that might help the The author drops hints that might help the

reader solve the mystery.reader solve the mystery. There might be distractions in story to lead There might be distractions in story to lead

the reader away from the correct solution.the reader away from the correct solution. The story ends with a credible, realistic The story ends with a credible, realistic

solution to the mysterysolution to the mystery

Often Called A Often Called A ‘Whodunnit?’‘Whodunnit?’

An often complicated, plot-driven story An often complicated, plot-driven story the reader is provided with clues the reader is provided with clues the identity of the perpetrator of the crime the identity of the perpetrator of the crime

may be deduced (figured out) before the may be deduced (figured out) before the solution is revealed in the final pages of solution is revealed in the final pages of the bookthe book

Mystery Genre Mystery Genre TerminologyTerminology Alibi Alibi ~ a plea offered by an accused ~ a plea offered by an accused

person of not having been at the scene person of not having been at the scene of crime.of crime.

Clue Clue ~ something that appears to give ~ something that appears to give information toward solving the crime.information toward solving the crime.

CrimeCrime ~ a serious violation of the law. ~ a serious violation of the law. CulpritCulprit ~ a person guilty of a crime. ~ a person guilty of a crime.

Deduction Deduction ~ collecting facts and ~ collecting facts and drawing a possible conclusion.drawing a possible conclusion.

Evidence Evidence ~ someone or something that ~ someone or something that proves who committed the crime.proves who committed the crime.

Motive Motive ~ the cause of a criminal’s ~ the cause of a criminal’s action.action.

Red herring Red herring ~ a false lead that throws ~ a false lead that throws investigators off track.investigators off track.

Sleuth Sleuth ~ an investigator or detective.~ an investigator or detective. Suspects Suspects ~ people who appear to ~ people who appear to

have a motive to have committed the have a motive to have committed the crime.crime.

SuspenseSuspense ~ feeling of excitement or ~ feeling of excitement or uncertainty as to the outcome of a uncertainty as to the outcome of a situation.situation.

Witness Witness ~ person who has personal ~ person who has personal knowledge about the crime.knowledge about the crime.