What Is a Mystery?

All mysteries have a problem that needs to be solved or a question that needs to be answered. Sometimes this problem is a crime. Other times it’s something we don’t know and need to find out.

Detectives work to solve a mystery. They try to find out what happened, who did it, and why. The detective in this play is Sherlock Holmes. He is a famous fictional character, not a real person. He first appeared in stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the 1800s.

Holmes appears in four novels and 56 short stories written by Doyle. Hundreds of movies, TV shows, and plays have been based on these stories—including the play you’re about to read!

To solve mysteries, detectives look for clues, or pieces of information that help answer questions. If something was stolen, did the thief leave anything behind? Are there any clues that can help us figure out who the thief might be?   

Sherlock Holmes is famous for using a magnifying glass to find clues. He was the first fictional detective to use one! Holmes works with his partner, Dr. John Watson, to look for clues like footprints, fingerprints, and more.

At the end of a mystery is a conclusion. This usually solves the mystery for the reader. Readers learn what happened, why, and who is responsible for the crime.

In this play, you’ll follow Holmes and Watson as they try to solve a mystery about a cheating student. Will they find the cheater?