| A | B |
|---|
| alibi | a suspect's claim that he or she was not near the crime scene at the time the crime took place |
| clue | something that appears to lead the detective (or reader) a step closer to solving the crime; may include objects found in unusual places, missing objects, or something said by a witness |
| evidence | something that helps prove who the villain is |
| red herring | a false clue that throws the detective (and reader) off track; this heightens the mystery's suspense |
| sleuth | someone who investigates and solves a crime |
| suspects | the people who are connected to the crime in sme way and appear to have a motive for committing the crime |
| witness | a person who discovers the crime or has some information about the crime |
| motive | a reason or apparent explanation as to why one may have committed a specific crime |
| imminent | About to happen |
| paradigm | a general agreement of belief of how the world works |
| treacherous | dangerously unstable and unpredictable |
