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What is a mystery? |
by Kate Simmons >> more about the author
Are you ready to hunt for clues? If you’re a good problem-solver or enjoy searching for “missing pieces,” a mystery may be your book of choice! A mystery is a story in which characters try to solve a problem, answer a puzzling question, or discover who committed a crime.
Sometimes solving a mystery involves hunting for something that’s missing or searching for clues, which give hints of information that can be used to uncover the answer! The thrill of reading a mystery is trying to solve it—in fact, many mysteries feature detectives who try to solve crimes.
Mysteries are often full of suspense, or uncertainty about how things will turn out, which makes the story all the more exciting!
When it comes to reading and solving a mystery, staying on track can be tricky, especially when phony clues or misleading pieces of information called “red herrings” can throw you off course! For example, in a mystery about a missing pet, the author may distract readers with the red herring of a sneaky neighbor who says, “Maybe your dog is closer than you think...” Readers may think she has the dog, which may make it more surprising when they later discover that the dog ran away through a small opening in the fence.
Some say the term “red herring” is used to describe a phony clue because stinky cured or smoked fish (often herring) were used to train hunting dogs. The dogs would learn to stay on the trail of the animals they hunted rather than be led astray by the scent of the smelly fish!
The next time you read a mystery, see if you can spot the red herrings!
Sometimes solving a mystery involves hunting for something that’s missing or searching for clues, which give hints of information that can be used to uncover the answer! The thrill of reading a mystery is trying to solve it—in fact, many mysteries feature detectives who try to solve crimes.
Mysteries are often full of suspense, or uncertainty about how things will turn out, which makes the story all the more exciting!
When it comes to reading and solving a mystery, staying on track can be tricky, especially when phony clues or misleading pieces of information called “red herrings” can throw you off course! For example, in a mystery about a missing pet, the author may distract readers with the red herring of a sneaky neighbor who says, “Maybe your dog is closer than you think...” Readers may think she has the dog, which may make it more surprising when they later discover that the dog ran away through a small opening in the fence.
Some say the term “red herring” is used to describe a phony clue because stinky cured or smoked fish (often herring) were used to train hunting dogs. The dogs would learn to stay on the trail of the animals they hunted rather than be led astray by the scent of the smelly fish!
The next time you read a mystery, see if you can spot the red herrings!
- “Ingredients for a Mystery.” Scholastic Printables. Scholastic.com. 2010-1996. Scholastic Inc. 25 Nov. 2010.
- Nixon, Joan Lowery. “Mystery Writing – Step 2: Writing Tips.” Scholastic.com. 2010-1996. Scholastic Inc. 25 Nov. 2010.
- “red herring.” merriam-webster.com. 2010. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 25 Nov. 2010.