by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Red herrings, or false leads, can add a lot to a mystery and serve different purposes.
How red herrings add to mysteries:
They make the mystery more complex. They send the sleuth and reader off in different directions (maybe there was a false confession…someone protecting someone else, for instance).
They add length to the book. If your mystery is too straightforward, you’re going to end up with a shorter mystery.
They keep the reader from figuring out the killer too early in the story. Red herrings can be an argument, another body, or something that appears to be an important clue or lead. It can be an alibi that’s disproven.
They help make suspects more three-dimensional. Maybe a character appears to be a good, well-respected person…but they’re actually really wicked. Or maybe each suspect has a secret they’re desperately trying to keep from being made public (petty theft, an affair, etc.) and the reader is led to believe that the secret might be the murder.
They divert attention from actual clues. If you’re laying a clue and immediately follow it with a red herring (especially a red herring that seems like a major clue), you can keep the clue from sticking out too much to the reader.
They can help hide the true motive for the crime(s). You could imply through your red herrings that the murder was committed for revenge and then later reveal a different/true motive.
They make it easy to change course later if you want to switch the murderer’s identity. This may sound like an onerous task, but if all the suspects have motive, means, and opportunity, it’s not so hard. One of the red herrings simply becomes an actual clue.
They can help lead to a surprise ending. I like to have a really strong red herring near the end of the book so the reader believes they know the killer…and then change direction abruptly.
If you’re a mystery reader, have you ever been so diverted by a red herring that you picked the wrong suspect as the murderer? For writers, do you have a tough time creating strong red herrings for savvy mystery readers?
Tips for Red Herrings in a Cozy Mystery Share on XPhoto credit: Onasill ~ Bill Badzo – – 64 Million Views – Thank on Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Very true – with enough red herrings, it could be anybody. Then it becomes a game of Clue.
:) Love that movie. All the alternate endings.
For me, Elizabeth, red herrings can be the most challenging part of the book. How do you make someone look just enough like a suspect, but not actually be guilty. Planting the wrong clues, so to speak, takes some effort. But you’re right that it adds richness to a story.
It really can. Hope you have a great weekend, Margot!
Ha! You just gave me an idea for my Wip. Thanks for the tips, Elizabeth!
Great! Good luck with the book, Gwen!
Hi Elizabeth – I think that’s probably why I read, or watch, ‘who dunnits’ – my imagination can just wander without being stretched too much – as I’m not trying to work out the (twisty sneaky) author’s mind!
Great list of ideas though … cheers Hilary
Sometimes it’s nice not to try to work out the mystery! Can be more relaxing that way. Have a nice weekend!
Digging past all the red herrings is what makes reading mysteries so much fun.
I enjoy them, too! Keeps me guessing when I read. :)