Detective Mystery
Story Genre
Glossary of
Useful
Vocabulary
Term and Definition
A
accuse (verb)
To claim or suggest that someone
is guilty. The detective often does
this at the end of the story in front
of the rest of the characters.
clue (noun)
A piece of evidence which may
hint at or indicate details of a
case or crime. Clues may be red
herrings.
Agatha Christie (proper noun)
Dame Agatha Christie (18901976) was an English
writer known for her
novels and short stories
revolving around fictional
detectives, Hercule Poirot
and Miss Marple.
crime (noun)
An action or activity that
breaks the law.
alibi (noun)
Evidence which proves that
someone was not at the scene of a
crime when it took place.
B
C
Arthun Conan Doyle
(proper noun)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (18591930) was a British writer and
doctor who created the famous
detective character Sherlock
Holmes in 4 novels and 56
short stories.
criminal (noun)
A person who has committed
a crime.
D
E
breakthrough (noun)
An important discovery in a case
which means that the detective is
one step closer to solving it.
case (noun)
An event or crime which is being
investigated.
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culprit (noun)
A person who is responsible
for a crime.
deduce (verb)
To use clues and logic to work out
facts and conclusions.
detective (noun)
A person whose job is to solve
mysteries and crimes.
See also: sleuth.
evidence (noun)
Signs left behind that prove what
has happened in a case.
Detective Mystery Story Genre Glossary of Useful Vocabulary
Term and Definition
H
I
M
Hercule Poirot (proper noun)
A Belgian detective character
created by author Agatha
Christie. Poirot appeared in
over 80 stories between 1920
and 1975 and has also been a
character on stage, in films and
on television.
hunch (noun)
An idea based on a feeling rather
than the facts.
investigate (verb)
To spend time looking for clues,
in order to find out the truth
about a case.
O
R
S
means (noun)
If a person had ‘the means’ to
commit a crime, it suggests that
they were physically able to do
it and may have had the right
equipment.
red herring (noun)
A clue which turns
out to be misleading.
This creates an unexpected twist,
indicates a potential suspect and
challenges the detective.
scene (noun)
The location where a crime took
place. This is often the place
where the most clues are found.
Sherlock Holmes (proper noun)
A very famous detective character
created by author Arthur Conan
Doyle in the 1800s. He solved
mysteries with his sidekick, Dr
John Watson.
Miss Marple (proper noun)
A popular detective character
created by author Agatha
Christie in the 1920s,
who appeared in many
stories until 1976. She
has also been shown on
television and in movies.
sidekick (noun)
A person’s assistant or close
helper, but who has less authority.
sleuth (noun)
A person who solves mysteries and
crimes. See also: detective.
motive (noun)
A reason for wanting to do
something, for example to
make money.
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opportunity (noun)
A gap in the timeline when
someone has no
alibi and could have
committed the crime
in-between other
activities.
solve (verb)
To find an answer or explanation.
statement (noun)
The recount given by each witness
of what they saw or heard, to be
used by the detective as evidence.
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Detective Mystery Story Genre Glossary of Useful Vocabulary
Term and Definition
T
V
W
suspect (noun)
A person who is believed to be
possibly guilty of a crime.
Download the Key Stage 2 story
‘The Curious Case of the
Stolen Show’.
timeline (noun)
The sequence of events that
happened in order, according to
the witnesses.
victim (noun)
The person against whom the
crime was committed. Usually,
the victim is not the culprit.
witness (noun)
Someone who was at the scene
and saw or heard something
important. They may be required
to give a statement.
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of Originals stories each half-term.
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