How so, you might ask? Well, it\u2019s a completely different task. When I was catching criminals, I relied on witnesses, forensics, technical evidence and even the odd admission (yes, there were one or two.) The job was knowing where that evidence might lie, finding it then packaging it for interview, charge and eventually court. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding a killer in crime fiction is far more subjective, so writing it should involve more trickery. Unless you want it all out on a plate you are unlikely to craft a fictional murder with five eye witnesses, four sources of the suspect\u2019s DNA together with damning CCTV, phone location data and the suspect\u2019s vehicle triggering Automatic Number Plate Recognition to and from the scene. Instead you need to seed subtle, seemingly meaningless clues throughout. You should shine a light on pointers which beef up your red herrings while having the real suspect hidden in plain sight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
S.S. Van Dine\u2019s rules of detective fiction may not survive in the modern age but they do make the point that, as authors, we must play fair with the reader. There is nothing I like more than being surprised by a reveal or plot twist, then to go back and slap my own brow for missing all the breadcrumbs laid out for me which, even being a former detective, I had completely overlooked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I\u2019m writing, I leave worrying about those clues until the second or third draft. I pepper the OMG moments only when I know for sure what\u2019s going to happen and who\u2019s to blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you do that then? As ever, read as a writer and see how the experts do it (yes, Agatha Christie, I\u2019m looking at you) then try it for yourself. It takes practice and honest beta readers who will highlight any giveaways, but here are five techniques to trick your reader, but within the rules: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bury your clue in mundane detail<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nExample<\/strong>: After the murder, your killer runs through a forest tripping over roots and snagging his clothing on branches. That is never mentioned again but a torn jacket gives them away in the final act. Then it dawns on the reader how it was ripped. <\/p>\n\n\n\nShow your clue from the wrong perspective<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: The detective notices a suspect nervously rubbing their hands. She assumes guilt. Later it is revealed that they had a medical tremor so we discount them. But the real clue was that they never once asked who the victim was. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe “absence” clue.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: Classically, from Arthur Conan Doyle\u2019s The Adventure of the Silver Blaze, <\/em>this is the famous “curious incident of the dog in the night-time,” where a dog’s silence reveals the culprit. The dog did not bark because the thief was someone it knew well, proving the theft was an inside job. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA seemingly innocuous act becomes significant<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: The small woman is removed from the crashed car, then the scenes of crime officer moves the seat forward to examine underneath it, indicating that the seat would have been too far back from the pedals for her. Therefore she couldn\u2019t have been driving but was placed in the car after the fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWant to read the rest of this article? Log in<\/a> or join our free community – you’ll get the rest of our top tips, plus a truck-load of other resources. Whoever said you don’t get anything in this life for free?<\/h4>\n\n\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Writing-skills-Website-blocks.png\")
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Show your clue from the wrong perspective<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: The detective notices a suspect nervously rubbing their hands. She assumes guilt. Later it is revealed that they had a medical tremor so we discount them. But the real clue was that they never once asked who the victim was. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe “absence” clue.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: Classically, from Arthur Conan Doyle\u2019s The Adventure of the Silver Blaze, <\/em>this is the famous “curious incident of the dog in the night-time,” where a dog’s silence reveals the culprit. The dog did not bark because the thief was someone it knew well, proving the theft was an inside job. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA seemingly innocuous act becomes significant<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example<\/strong>: The small woman is removed from the crashed car, then the scenes of crime officer moves the seat forward to examine underneath it, indicating that the seat would have been too far back from the pedals for her. Therefore she couldn\u2019t have been driving but was placed in the car after the fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWant to read the rest of this article? Log in<\/a> or join our free community – you’ll get the rest of our top tips, plus a truck-load of other resources. Whoever said you don’t get anything in this life for free?<\/h4>\n\n\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n Want to sharpen your writing skills?<\/h2>\r\n Join our free community for instant access to: <\/p>\n<\/div>
\r\n \r\n <\/i><\/div> \r\n Digital tools like our character builder<\/div> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/i><\/div> \r\n Peer-to-peer support & feedback <\/div> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/i><\/div> \r\n Regular writing tips straight to your inbox <\/div> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n Please go to your inbox and verify your email address or click here to get started<\/a><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
Example<\/strong>: The detective notices a suspect nervously rubbing their hands. She assumes guilt. Later it is revealed that they had a medical tremor so we discount them. But the real clue was that they never once asked who the victim was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Example<\/strong>: Classically, from Arthur Conan Doyle\u2019s The Adventure of the Silver Blaze, <\/em>this is the famous “curious incident of the dog in the night-time,” where a dog’s silence reveals the culprit. The dog did not bark because the thief was someone it knew well, proving the theft was an inside job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Example<\/strong>: The small woman is removed from the crashed car, then the scenes of crime officer moves the seat forward to examine underneath it, indicating that the seat would have been too far back from the pedals for her. Therefore she couldn\u2019t have been driving but was placed in the car after the fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Join our free community for instant access to: <\/p>\n<\/div> The “absence” clue.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A seemingly innocuous act becomes significant<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Want to read the rest of this article? Log in<\/a> or join our free community – you’ll get the rest of our top tips, plus a truck-load of other resources. Whoever said you don’t get anything in this life for free?<\/h4>\n\n\n\r\n
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