Mysteries: Following the Clues

Mysteries invite readers to solve a puzzle alongside the detective.

A mystery centers on a puzzle, usually a crime, a disappearance, or a secret, that a character must solve. Mysteries have special parts. The detective is the person solving the case, often a curious kid. Suspects are characters who might be responsible. Clues are bits of evidence. Red herrings are false clues that lead readers in the wrong direction.

The fun of a mystery is solving it yourself before the ending reveals the answer. Try this: 'The class hamster vanished overnight. The cage door was latched. Sunflower seeds trailed toward the bookshelf. The janitor said he heard squeaking near the heater vent. ' The latched door suggests no one stole the hamster.

The seeds and the squeaking point to a hiding spot, perhaps behind the bookshelf near the vent. Keep a mental list of clues as you read, and see if you can beat the detective.

• 1A mystery centers on a puzzle to solve.
• 2Key parts: detective, suspects, clues, red herrings.
• 3Track clues to solve it before the ending.