Red herrings are a staple of any murder mystery novel or case file. Having the most obvious person be the killer is way too on-the-nose and will leave most readers disappointed. The enjoyment in these types of books comes from having your expectations subverted and being surprised. However, the final reveal has to seem fair. There should always be sufficient evidence to back your reveal.

This article is all about understanding what red herrings are, how they work, and – most importantly – how to see through them.

This article is part of our series on detective reasoning. For the full guide, see how to think like a detective.

What Is a Red Herring?

A red herring is any piece of information, character detail, or clues that are added to mislead an investigator away from the correct conclusion. It needs to have some surface-level plausibility in order to work, but will ultimately not lead to the correct suspect.

The term comes from an old technique that was used in fox hunting and then later when training hunting dogs. A smoked herring (which turns red during the curing process) would be dragged across a trail to create a false scent. This was used to teach dogs to follow a trail. The metaphor is now used in detective fiction, as a false trail.

A red herring can arise from coincidence, from deliberate deception by a suspect, or from investigators adding meaning to irrelevant information.

Why Red Herrings Work – The Psychology

A red herring only works if it has some plausibility to is.

When we don’t have a complete picture – and in any mystery, we never do – our brains look for patterns and connections. A red herring provides us with a connection and a pattern that seems to make some sense. Our brains then latch onto it because it reduces our uncertainty, giving us immediate comfort.

The other reason they work so well is because of confirmation bias. Once you’ve decided a red herring is important, you start interpreting any new evidence through that lens. Anything that fits your red-herring theory will start to stand out. Things that contradict it, get ignored. A red herring doesn’t just mislead you once, it can derail your entire reasoning process.

This is why red herrings and confirmation bias are so closely linked. We explore that connection in depth in Confirmation Bias in Investigations: Why We See What We Want to See.

Types of Red Herrings in Mystery

There are different types of red herrings that I like to use, and knowing them will make them easier to spot when reading books and solving case files.

Suspicious Characters

This is the most common type. There’s a person that looks guilty right from the start. They might have a very strong motive, behave rudely or suspiciously or have something from their past that makes them appear violent-prone. This is one of the easiest ways to redirect readers away from the true suspect. A suspect that is so inherently suspicious that all focus is immediately redirected at them.

Misleading Clues

This is any evidence that appears incriminating on the surface but actually has an innocent explanation. Things like a bloodstain that turns out to be red paint or a threatening note that is actually a joke between friends are some common ones used. I also like to throw in a secondary crime that’s completely unrelated to the murder and have evidence point to the both crimes. In that way, I can redirect readers with misleading clues and have them looking at the burglar instead of the murderer.

False Timelines

There are many different ways that you can change the timeline of a murder. For instance, you could have a body that hasn’t decomposed, and expect the murder to be recent, only to find later that it had been frozen. This throws off the timeline and will have the investigator rechecking everyone’s alibi for the timeline.

Irrelevant Backstories

Another one that I love adding are character secrets that seem relevant but aren’t. There might be an affair or financial issues that show up in evidence and make a person seem guilty, but it has no bearing on the case at all. People often have problems in their life, but they don’t always lead to murder. I love watching TV shows where normal everyday things happen without them affecting the show. For instance, I remember watching a TV show where a character had a cold, but had to go on a stealth mission. Normally, you’d expect them to cough or sneeze at an unexpected time and alert the people around them, but that never happened. Everything went as planned and this character just dealt with their cold as any normal person would while working. They averted my expectations.

Planted Evidence

Sometimes it’s physical and sometimes is simply an idea. You’ll often see suspects who are being interrogated give out the name of someone else that they want police to investigate instead. They’ll choose someone plausible and plead innocence. However, they can also go a step further and plant evidence that will directly lead to that innocent person being arrested. This is the most active type of red herring.

The Rule of Fair Play – Red Herrings in Detective Fiction

In the golden age of detective fiction, writers developed what’s become known as the “fair play” rule. A mystery is only fair to the reader if they have all the information needed to solve it. Red herrings are always allowed but the truth must be solvable from the clues given. You can mislead a reader as much as you want, but you cannot withhold the answer from them.

If all the clues point to person A, but person B is actually the killer – then the mystery is just frustrating and not satisfying in the least. A good red herring makes you think “I should have seen through that” but a bad one makes you think “I had no way of knowing that.”

I also apply this principle when designing case files. Every red herring in my games can be seen through, as long as you look at the evidence closely and not make assumptions because of characters personalities. On the flip side, sometimes it’s a double bluff, and the most suspicious person is the killer.

How to Spot a Red Herring

There’s no foolproof method with red herrings, because by their nature, they’re there to misdirect you, but here are some ways to mitigate them:

Spotting them too early. In fiction, unless the writer is doing a double bluff, the first true suspect is usually a red herring. If you know the identity of the killer in the beginning of a movie or book, there can be no big twist at the end. If someone seems too guilty, too fast – they’re usually a red herring.

Light evidence. Red herring often only have a single source of evidence that makes them look guilty. You might have 5 good suspects, but find out that there was a prenup that would make divorce impossible. The spouse immediately becomes the main suspect while all evidence still points to someone else.

Motive, means and opportunity. Every suspect – including the one a red herring points toward – needs motive, means and opportunity. If a suspect is pointing their finger at someone else, always check to see if they check these 3 boxes before even considering them.

What are you being distracted from. Red herrings are often thrown in to distract the reader or viewer away from the real suspect or from other important clues. Whenever a new suspect pops up, always put yourself in the shoes of the creator and try to spot what they are trying to hide from you.

Red Herrings in Murder Mystery Case Files

If you play murder mystery puzzle games or work through murder mystery riddles, you’ll spot lots of red herrings. They’re there to challenge you, but are never unfair. As long as you’re paying attention and following the tips I’ve mentioned above, you should be able to spot some of the red herrings. And each time you do spot them, I’ll have to up my game and make them even harder to spot.

For detective games built around Holmesian observation and misdirection, detective games like Sherlock Holmes are an excellent training ground for this kind of thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a red herring in a mystery?

A red herring is any piece of information, evidence, or character detail that’s added to mislead an investigator toward the wrong conclusion. It appears relevant and plausible but ultimately has nothing to do with the real answer. In detective fiction it’s used as a deliberate way to add plot twist. In real investigations it can arise from coincidence, misinterpretation, or be deliberately planted by other suspects.

Where does the term “red herring” come from?

It comes from when people would drag smoked (red) herring across a trail to create a false scent when training hunting dogs. The metaphor was later adopted by detective fiction as a false clue or misleading lead.

What is the difference between a red herring and a clue?

A clue leads toward the truth. A red herring leads away from it. Red herrings are misdirects that lead you down a false path.

Can you always spot a red herring?

Not always – and that’s by design. A well-constructed red herring is meant to be convincing enough to make you look at the wrong suspect. If a lead seems to be too obvious, it may well be a red herring.

Do red herrings appear in real criminal investigations?

Yes. But unlike in detective fiction, they aren’t always intentional. Many are caused by coincidental information that has nothing to do with the crime but still appears to be connected, and from an investigator misinterpreting evidence. On a smaller scale, there can also be deliberate deception by a suspect who wants to direct suspicion somewhere else.

Red Herrings and Misdirection

Red herrings work on investigators who are looking for confirmation instead of for the truth. The best defense against misdirection is discipline. You should always try to verify everything you’re told independently, match all your evidence against every suspect, and be open to being wrong.

A red herring can only mislead you if you follow it blindly. And if you follow the right habits during your investigation, you’ll learn to recognize when you’re being led astray.

For our full detective reasoning framework, check out how to think like a detective. And when you’re ready to test your red herring detection skills in one of our challenging game, you can browse our murder mystery case files to solve at home.