Simple Mystery Plots, Part 2: The Lead

Another simple mystery plot.  This one I’ve got mentally labeled The Lead.

  1. A crime occurs.
  2. The solver follows leads as though they were a labyrinth.
  3. Some of the leads are dead ends.
  4. Some of the leads are live ends.
  5. One of the leads that looks like a dead end is a live end.
  6. The solver keeps an eye on the dead-alive end, while appearing to follow the other leads exclusively.
  7. The solver pounces on the criminal out of the blue.
  8. Climactic struggle, wrapup, the end.

I’m working on this plot right now for an upcoming series.  More on that later.  Variations on this one show up a lot in detective-type novels.

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