| Mystery readers love to exercise. Exercise their | | | | and the solution to the case. |
| minds, that is! | | | | For example; my detective knows his quarry |
| A great mystery should challenge readers and | | | | strolled out of a Super Shoe store at six o'clock |
| make them think. Readers want to figure out the | | | | on the night in question. The pavement in front of |
| mystery along with the detective and not be able | | | | the store was freshly cemented and the suspect |
| to figure out the mystery by page two. In order | | | | left shoe prints in the wet cement. The detective |
| to do this, the writer needs to include a literary | | | | thinks the size 6 shoe print with the distinctive |
| device called a red herring. | | | | outline of the newest Stuart Wietzman Empire |
| What is a red herring? | | | | boots is the suspects and asks the shoe |
| A red herring is a dried, smoked herring that looks | | | | saleswomen for a printout of all the women who |
| red from the curing process. | | | | bought that shoe in the last week. |
| Why should a mystery writer stick kipper snacks | | | | However, the detective didn't realize the suspect |
| into their plot line? | | | | would NEVER wear a new pair of three hundred |
| From the information I could find on the original of | | | | dollars boots on wet cement, and had left her |
| the phrase, it seems some kind-hearted folks | | | | treadless Nike's on! The boots are a red herring. |
| would try to save a hunted fox by dragging a red | | | | The best mystery writers use red herrings to |
| herring across the path of a fleeing fox, confusing | | | | keep the detective on his toes and baffle the |
| the hound dogs and leading them away from the | | | | reader. However, the writer must be sure to also |
| little red fellow. Another mention of red herrings | | | | put real clues along with the red herrings. You |
| comes from a poem written in the 1680's, around | | | | could even put the real clues and the red herring |
| the same time as the first written mention of the | | | | in the same scene, and have your reader try to |
| fox hunting reference. | | | | puzzle out which clue is real, and which one is |
| Like the hounds who are thrown off the trail in | | | | fishy. |
| pursuit of a smoked fish instead of a live fox (the | | | | Red herrings are an essential part of your |
| fish probably tastes better anyway), a red herring | | | | mystery plot.. Use them judiciously to baffle your |
| is a clue meant to confuse readers and make | | | | readers and keep them interested! |
| them take the wrong path away from the truth | | | | |