Published by Daniel Jenkins for 5 Minute Detective. How we make the site.
Having a reason to act does not prove someone did it. A garden club mystery shows why you need to read a suspicious clue in full.
A motive is a reason someone might want something to happen. It can help you decide what to ask next. It does not prove that they acted. Several people may have reasons to be upset.
A red herring is a detail that leads you towards the wrong answer. It may be a real fact that means something different from what you first thought. Check what the clue tells you before deciding how important it is.
Ask why, how and who
Keep three questions separate. Why might someone want this to happen? Could they have done it? What shows that they did? One clue may answer only one of these.
Scroll sideways in the table to read every column.
| Question | A clue that may help | What this does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Why might they want it to happen? | An argument, a reward or a risk of losing something. | That they did anything about it. |
| Could they have done it? | They could reach the place at the right time. | That they actually went there and acted. |
| What shows they did it? | A clue shows them doing the act. | Every other detail, such as why they did it. |
“They had the most to gain” can be a reason to look closer. You still need to check what they could do and what the evidence shows they did.
Example: the missing contest list
A garden club's contest list is taken from a desk between 17:10 and 17:20. Rafi had argued about the judging rules. Nell has a desk key and is seen leaving the office during that time. A note in Rafi's bag says, “Get rid of the list before the meeting.”
The note looks damning until you read the rest of it. It is attached to an old seed-order list and tells Rafi to recycle that list. It is not about the contest list. This fuller note is available before you choose your answer.
- Rafi did argue about the contest. That fact has not changed.
- The note is about a different list. It does not show a plan to take the contest list.
- Nell's key and visit show she had a chance to act. They do not show what she did.
- A separate, clear video shows Nell taking the contest list from the desk at 17:16. This is the clue that shows the act.
The video matters because it shows Nell taking the list. Rafi's anger cannot change what the video shows. We would need other clues to explain why Nell took it or where she put it.
A fair puzzle lets you read the full note before deciding. Explaining the other list only after you submit would leave out a fact you needed.
Do not dismiss a difficult clue too soon
If a clue does not fit your favourite answer, keep it in view. Write “not sure yet” beside it. It may be the clue that changes your mind.
A different secret may explain why someone lied. For example, they might be hiding a second job. But use that explanation only if the story gives you clues about it.
Can you explain the false lead?
A good answer should explain the main act and the strongest false lead. Not every object has to matter. But you should understand why a major clue first looked suspicious and what it really meant.
Ask which clue tells your main suspect apart from the next best choice. If your only reason is that one seems angrier, check the times, actions and statements again.
Try it: a threatening message
A club banner is taken from a hall. Bea has argued with its designer. Bea writes, “I will take it down tonight.” But the full chat shows she means an old notice on the club website. You can read that chat before deciding. Another clue shows Bea could enter the hall that evening.
What can we still say about Bea? What does the message no longer suggest?
Show the answer and explanation
Bea argued with the designer and could enter the hall. Both facts still stand. Neither proves she took the banner.
The message is about a website notice, so it is not a threat to take the banner. This explains the message, but it does not rule Bea out. We still need a clue about the missing banner.
Things to remember
- Use a person's reason to guide your questions. Then check their actions.
- Read the whole message before deciding what a worrying line means.
- Keep a clue marked “not sure yet” until you can explain it.
- Choose the clue that tells suspects apart, not the person who seems the most suspicious.
Use the facts in the story. If something is still unknown, leave it as a question.