Red Herring - something to eat?

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Red Herring:

1.  A dried smoked herring which is turned red by the smoke

2.  Something, especially a clue, which is intended to be misleading or distracting.

You may have never heard of the term "red herring" before now. If you have, three cheers for you for being a step ahead of the pack. No, I don't mean the fish but rather definition  number 2 - a clue in a mystery.

A mystery writer will intentionally place red herrings in your path. You can gobble them up as you read and then digest which ones are not actual red herrings but true clues. A red herring might be a character who's purpose is to make you think he or she is the killer. Or a red herring might be a subtle clue which isn't a red herring at all but is place such that you aren't sure.

Next time you are reading a mystery look for the red herrings in the plot. They shouldn't jump out at you but be woven into the story.

Happy trails,

Leslie



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