This is an alphabetical list of elements in mystery and detective stories, that contributes to the intrigue, suspense, and puzzle-solving in these tales!
A
Alibi
Anonymous tip
Anti-hero
Art theft
B
Backstory
Blackmail
Bloodstain
Body
Broken lock
Buddy cop
Burglar
C
Caution tape
Chase
Chekov's gun
Clue
Code
Cold case
Confession
Confidential informant
Conspiracy
Crime
Crime scene
Criminal mastermind
Cryptic message
D
Dark alley
Deduction
Detective
Disguise
Dossier
Double-cross
E
Evidence
Eyewitness
F
Fake identity
False accusation
Fingerprints
Forensic expert
Forgery
Fugitive
G
Game theory
Good cop, bad cop
Gun
Gut instinct
H
Hero
Hidden compartment
Hidden motive
Homicide
Hostage
I
Identity theft
Inheritance
Interrogation
Investigator
J
Jailhouse snitch
Journal
Justice
K
Kidnapping
Killer
L
Lawyer
Lie detector
Life insurance
Lockpick
Lost evidence
M
Magnifying glass
Manhunt
Masked figure
Misdirection
Missing person
MO (motivating operation)
Mob boss
Motivation
Murder
Murder weapon
Mysterious disappearance
Mysterious letter
N
No witnesses
Noir
Notepad
O
Obsession
Open case
Overheard conversation
P
Pawn shop
Perjury
Phone records
Plot twist
Poison
Police
Police lineup
Prisoner's dilemma
Private investigator
Profiling
R
Ransom
Red herring
Rookie cop
S
Safe deposit box
Scandal
Secret passage
Security camera footage
Serial killer
Shadowy figure
Skeleton key
Sleuth
Smoking gun
Spy
Stakeout
Stolen goods
Surveillance
Suspect
Suspense
T
Testimony
Timed puzzle
Trial
U
Undercover operation
Unsolved case
V
Vanishing act
Victim
Villain
Voice recording
W
Wanted poster
Weapon
Witness protection
Wrongly accused