Solving the Mystery

For every mystery explained, the walls of reality shift as though pretending to be solid —Lance Petersen

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Welcome to a comprehensive look into the world of plotting, suspense and justice. Plus, a few tricks of the trade. The purpose of this guide is to help anyone, and everyone who is intrigued by the ever-present mystery.

Inside you'll learn to become your own detective and crack difficult cases even Sherlock Holmes would be jealous of. You’ll gather much insight and expertise after using my applicable methods. I’ll even show you how to make a proper and legal citizen’s arrest when necessary. (allowed in most U.S. states.) Prepare to take part in fast-tracking to quick resolutions without the need for law enforcement training.

Please forward any questions regarding content to [email protected]

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DISCOVERING

*Not all mysteries/crimes are equal. Be careful of the cases you choose to crack.

After determining that a mystery has unfolded, follow these first steps to get started:

1) Try not to panic. Everything will be just fine.

2) Take notice of your proximity. —you could be standing near the first clue.

3) Grab a pen and pad of paper. (You'll need them later to document details.)

4) Focus on the task at hand. Never allow dirty dishes or the television to distract you from remaining focused.

5) Be vigilant without placing yourself in harm’s way. (I don't recommend sharing knowledge of your lawful intentions with anyone who could be a potential suspect.)

6) Never let personal feelings, hangups or fear get in the way of investigating. You'll lose track of things, and the case may fall apart.

7) Bring your poker face. Great detectives have great poker faces. (Not to be confused with 'Resting Bitch face'.) Practice in the mirror if necessary.

Gathering and processing clues

(My personal favorite.)

To successfully find clues you must always:

• Look everywhere —some clues may be found in plain sight, but you never know what can be found in the most-peculiar places.

• Remember that trash receptacles are valuable sources of information. Question yourself on the things found there. Example#1: Why is there a pharmacy receipt for Xanax in the garbage can? I keep all receipts in shoe boxes under the bed, no exceptions. Example#2: Why is there an empty soda bottle in the trash? I recycle and would never throw away stuff that can be reused.

• Check every inch of your house to see if something else is missing or out of place. (You can never be too sure about these things.)

*Once you have found a clue or anything else missing, begin documenting using the pen and pad you already have waiting on the desk you always keep clean and organized.

Questioning Witnesses (if any)

*Determining if there were any witnesses is a necessary step. Reliable witnesses may be the key to opening and shutting any case in record time.

• Schedule an interview with any available witness. (Your significant other or offspring are likely to know something. Start with them)

• Prepare a cohesive list of questions beforehand.

• Be thorough, considerate, and precise. (You are conducting an interview, not interrogating.)

• If the only possible witness is a cat or dog, it does not matter. Even if their answers are incoherent, I recommend questioning them. (You might get lucky.)

*This may not be the first time attempting to solve a similar case. Refer to past notes. Read them aloud. Twice if necessary. Trust me, you will save time.

Following a lead

Leads come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless, they are there to help you move forward. Follow them.

An Example of a great lead would be finding an empty bottle of Xanax in your son's car. I know all his friends and none of them are on drugs. So, how did the empty bottle get there?

I solved that mystery but it’s within everyone’s interest that I withhold the explanation. For now.

1) If the lead is a person, never get too close. Watch their actions from afar. Document what they do with their time using the note pad. Follow them when necessary- *They may lead you to incriminating evidence.

2) If the lead is an object, never touch it without using protective gloves. You will inadvertently leave your prints, turning the investigator into the investigated.

***Depending on where the mystery originated, you may have already compiled a list of suspects. Narrowing the field is necessary. The suspected culprits cannot all be guilty. (Unless it’s a conspiracy to make you look foolish) ***

1) Narrow the list down to 2-3 suspects. Of the remaining ones, which one is most likely to have a motive to mess with your mind?

2) Laughing for no reason is a great narrowing tactic. Those who laugh when nothing is funny, are hiding something.

*Remember: Thieves are creatures of habit. Some return to the scene of the crime. Keep a watchful eye out but don't deprive yourself of sleep. (all the time. )

Resolutions

If for some odd reason you find, let's say, the missing keys in the refrigerator, who put them there? I sure didn't! Which can only mean one thing: Someone else put them there. Keep investigating why the keys weren’t hanging by the front door where I always put them—a habit I never deviate from. Check the entire house again. If you still can’t find, let's say, your wallet this time, check the mailbox. Criminals have been known to just take the money and return the property to its rightful owner. If it’s not in the mailbox either, declare a state of emergency. Panic, if it helps alleviate the anxiety. But I recommend staying calm. Panicking wastes time and can make others around you uncomfortable. (I still have yet to understand why. It's not them who this is happening to.) Feel free to expand your search using neighborhood volunteers. Divide your property and the surrounding properties into a grid, making sure to triple check every quadrant using the volunteers who show up this time. Hypothetically, if you find the wallet under the dining room table, how the hell did it get there? Keep investigating until that part of the mystery is solved as well.

*There is an answer for everything, and those answers are waiting to be found... At any cost.

You too may be facing unexplained phenomena happening in your life. Trust your gut, use these tactics and go solve that mystery!

Closing Note: If your doctor tells you no crimes have ever been committed against you, don't believe them. The act of discouragement makes them a prime suspect.