| A | B |
|---|
| Means | how a crime was carried out |
| Opportunity | the access or chance that a character had to commit a crime |
| Motive | the reason why a crime was committed |
| Alibi | an excuse that an accused person uses to show that he or she was not at the scene of a crime or involved in a crime |
| Breakthrough | an advance or discovery that helps solve a crime |
| Clue | a fact or object that helps one to solve a mystery |
| Deduce | to infer by logical reasoning |
| Sleuth | another name for a detective |
| Gumshoe | yet another name for a detective |
| Suspect | a person suspected of having committed a crime |
| Evidence | something, such as a witness statement or object used as proof in solving a crime |
| Red herring | a misleading clue or suspect, meant to throw a detective off the path of discovering the true solution to a crime |
| Victim | someone who is harmed or suffers some loss |
| Acquit | to declare that someone is innocent and free from blame |
