1. Vocabulary for Mysteries Reading
Mystery Elements
Vocabulary for Mysteries
Reading

2. 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.”

3. breakthrough noun an advance or discovery that helps to solve a crime
synonym: discovery, find, insight
Eureka! The mystery has been solved!

4. 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.

5. crime noun an act committed in violation of the law
synonym: offense, wrong doing
The robber would be punished for his crime.

6. deduce verb to infer by logical reasoning
synonym: infer, conclude, deduct
She would deduce who was guilty from the information she had gathered.

7. detective
noun
a person who investigates crimes and gathers information
Synonym: gumshoe, investigator, sleuth
The detective put all his efforts into solving the crime.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. mystery noun something that is secret and unknown
With the help of the detective, the mystery would soon be solved.

12. plot noun the arrangement or incidents in a story
Dr. Dixon was a source of conflict in the plot of the story.

13. purloin verb to steal or filch synonym: swipe, lift
A pirate might purloin an object he really wanted.

14. 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.

15. setting
noun
the time, place, environment and surrounding circumstances of a story
Cinderella went to the ball at the castle one special night.

16. sleuth noun another name for a detective
synonym: detective, investigator
A sleuth never gives up until the clues have all been investigated.

17. solution
noun
an answer to a problem
synonym: explanation

18. suspect noun a person who is suspected of a crime
The policeman caught the suspect.

19. victim noun someone who is harmed or suffers some loss
The victim never knew he was being robbed.

20. 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.