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A misleading clue or distraction that diverts attention from the real criminal or solution. Example: In 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', the escaped convict serves as a red herring to make the characters suspect him rather than the true culprit.

A crime fiction where the perpetrator's identity is known from the start and the story focuses on how the detective catches them. Example: 'Columbo' is a famous TV example of this trope.

An object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but is insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself. Example: The stolen diamond in 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins.

A subgenre of crime fiction where sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously. Example: The 'Cat Who' series by Lilian Jackson Braun is known for being part of the cozy mystery genre.

A type of character usually portrayed as tough, cynical, and street-smart. Example: Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler, epitomizes the hardboiled detective.

A claim or piece of evidence that someone was elsewhere when a crime was committed, used as a defense or to deflect suspicion. Example: In 'Murder on the Orient Express', multiple characters use alibis to establish they could not have committed the murder.

A companion to the detective who is less adept at solving mysteries, serving to ask questions the reader may have. Example: Dr. John Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories often plays this role.

A subgenre of detective fiction that attempts to convincingly depict the activities of police work. Example: 'Homicide: Life on the Street' shows the day-to-day work of detectives.

A subgenre of detective fiction where a crime, often murder, is committed under seemingly impossible circumstances. Example: In 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe, two women are found murdered in a room locked from the inside.

Occurs when a character confesses to a crime they did not commit, often to protect someone or for attention. Example: In 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', several characters give false confessions.

A character who is extremely intelligent, proficient in planning crimes, often the detective's archenemy. Example: Professor Moriarty in the Sherlock Holmes stories is a classic criminal mastermind.

An attractive and seductive woman, who often leads the detective astray. Example: Brigid O'Shaughnessy in 'The Maltese Falcon' plays the role of the femme fatale.

An incredibly intelligent and often eccentric detective character. Example: Sherlock Holmes is the quintessential great detective, using his impressive deductive abilities to solve crimes.

A narrator whose credibility is compromised, casting doubt on the account of events. Example: The narrator in 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' by Agatha Christie proves to be unreliable.

The use of a character's physical double, sometimes revealing the darker side. Example: In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the doppelganger is used to explore the duality of human nature.

A complex plot-driven variety of detective fiction where the puzzle is paramount. Example: Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is a quintessential whodunit.

A whodunit where the author provides all the clues necessary to solve the mystery. Example: Agatha Christie often played fair, providing readers with all they needed to figure out 'whodunit'.

A character who investigates and solves crimes but is not a professional detective. Example: Miss Marple, created by Agatha Christie, is a well-loved amateur sleuth.

Crime fiction that focuses on the scientific methods used to solve crimes. Example: The TV show 'CSI' popularized forensic science in detective fiction.