sleuth
Follows the evidence
A sleuth is a detective or someone who investigates mysteries.
The word carries a slightly playful or literary tone—you're more likely to encounter it in cozy mysteries than police reports: an amateur sleuth, The reporter sleuthed out the truth.
To sleuth is to investigate or track down information.
One who examines evidence
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- HolmesFictional London investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
shamus · operative · inspector · dick · plainclothes · snoop · bloodhound · shadow
Hidden writing system
- codeSymbolic communication system
- cryptogramCoded message puzzle
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- decodeConvert from cipher
crack · solve · unravel · logic · reasoning · pattern · clue · hidden
Hints toward answers
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- deductionConclusion from premises
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
autopsy · forensics · fingerprints · footprints · alibi · witness · testimony · profiling
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- secretsConcealed information
cryptic · enigma · culprit · motive · locked-room · cliffhanger · revelation · denouement
Path through wilderness
- scentAirborne odor detected
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- shadowingFollowing to observe
- tailRear animal appendage
hound · spoor · trace · follow · hunt · quarry · bloodhound · dogged
Tough, cynical fiction style
- trenchcoatBelted, knee-length raincoat
- shadowyObscured by darkness
- smokyFilled with combustion haze
- underworldRealm of the departed
cynical · gritty · betrayal · corruption · blackmail · whiskey · nightclub · alley
investigator
One who examines evidence
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- HolmesFictional London investigator
Poirot · shamus · operative · inspector · dick · plainclothes · snoop · bloodhound · shadow · tracer
cipher
Hidden writing system
- codeSymbolic communication system
- cryptogramCoded message puzzle
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
decode · crack · solve · unravel · logic · reasoning · pattern · clue · hidden · codebreaker
clues
Hints toward answers
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- deductionConclusion from premises
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
surveillance · autopsy · forensics · fingerprints · footprints · alibi · witness · testimony · profiling · examine
whodunit
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
secrets · cryptic · enigma · culprit · motive · locked-room · cliffhanger · revelation · denouement · suspect
trail
Path through wilderness
tail · hound · spoor · trace · follow · hunt · quarry · bloodhound · dogged · relentless
hardboiled
Tough, cynical fiction style
- trenchcoatBelted, knee-length raincoat
- shadowyObscured by darkness
- smokyFilled with combustion haze
underworld · cynical · gritty · betrayal · corruption · blackmail · whiskey · nightclub · alley · gangster
- sleuthsamateur detective, private eye, gumshoe, armchair detective, Sherlock Holmes
- crime fictiondetective fiction, murder mystery, detective novels, detective novel, detective
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, whodunit
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, murder mystery, detective novel, detective fiction
- collective nounsflock, herd, school, pack, swarm
- Detectivesdetective, investigator, private eye, gumshoe, PI
sleuthcriminal
Person who breaks laws
perpetrator · culprit · suspect · fugitive · wrongdoer
sleuthbeat cop
Officer assigned regular route
patrol officer · patrolman · traffic cop · constable · police officer
- amateur sleuthNonprofessional crime investigator