Blog for Nov 11 RED HERRINGS

In the literary world, a red herring is anything that can be seen as a misleading or false clue. It is a common technique used in mysteries and thrillers to send readers down a false path or distract them from the real culprit.

I will not give away the red herrings in my own stories. They are for the astute reader to identify, but I can give you some examples from well-known stories:

In Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, multiple characters provide conflicting evidence, directing suspicion away from the true culprit. In Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” clues about a supernatural element distract the reader from the real solution. And in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the appearance of madness obscures Hamlet’s deeper motivations.

As a reader, to beat the detective to the solution, watch for clues introduced early and then notice other clues and actions that reinforce that clue. As a writer, do not over-explain the red herring. Let it unfold naturally and make it relevant to the main plot so that it blends into the story. Incorporating red herrings can add depth and complexity to your story. But be fair to your readers. You want them to feel satisfied when the truth is revealed despite the red herrings along the way.