What Is A Red Herring? Definition, Examples And Tips

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“I’m kind of like a combination of a red herring and a fake-out.”

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False clues are some of the best means a writer has for keeping a reader guessing. In psychological thrillers, mysteries and detective stories, red herrings are used by authors to keep a book interesting, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions but not check out too early by guessing the final conclusions. When done successfully, red herrings make mysteries more engaging by subverting a reader’s expectations and dealing a final reveal that is both shocking but also layered enough for it to be just about guessable. But, what exactly do we mean when we ask: ‘What is a red herring’? And how do you go about writing a red herring that is effective in your stories? Join us today at What We Reading as we run you through everything you need to know about red herrings, including our definition, examples and key tips for writing the best false clues! 

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What Is A Red Herring? 

In literature, a red herring is an intentional false or misleading clue. It is one of the most popular devices used by mystery and thriller authors to distract readers away from the main plot points and down wrong avenues. 

Red herrings aren’t limited to murder mysteries or espionage thrillers, but they are especially prevalent in these genres where authors want to keep readers hooked until the end. By including details that are intended to subvert readers, writers are able to ensure they are unable to predict the true outcome. Therefore, red herrings are some of the most crucial components for surprising readers when a major twist is revealed. 

A red herring can also pique a reader’s interest by suggesting an explanation that might not be true. If pulled off the right way, they will enjoy the thrill of being misdirected and will have learned something new about a character or a setting during the course. This is why, when we emphasise it’s vital you get your red herrings right, we really mean it. 

Origins Of Red Herrings In Literature

English journalist William Cobbett was the first person to coin the term ‘red herring’ in an 1807 story. When the local press prematurely reported the defeat of Napoleon, Cobbett compared it to using stinky red herrings to distract dogs from other scents. In this case, he was accusing the press of using a fallacy to distract the public. 

 5 Examples Of Red Herrings In Books 

Writers use red herrings to subvert, confuse and shock readers, as well as to build suspense over what’s to come in their story. Here are some of the most effective examples of red herrings in literature.

• Shutter Island – Dennis Lehane 
  • Red Herring: The investigation into Rachel Solando’s disappearance. 
  • Why it works: The search for the missing patient distracts readers from the protagonist’s own delusions and the truth behind his identity. 
• Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban – J.K. Rowling
  • Red Herring: Sirius Black.
  • Why it works: Sirius Black is depicted as a dangerous murderer hunting Harry. But, it is eventually revealed he is, in fact, protecting him from the real traitor.
• Before I Go To Sleep – S.J. Watson 
  • Red Herring: Dr. Nash. 
  • Why it works: Dr. Nash first appears to have dubious intentions as the protagonist’s therapist. However, this is a distraction away from the true antagonist of the story.
• Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier 
  • Red Herring: Rebecca’s death as a drowning accident.
  • Why it works: The story leads readers to believe Rebecca’s death was an accident. However, it is later revealed she was murdered by her husband, Maxim. 
• The Girl On The Train – Paula Hawkins 
  • Red Herring: Scott Hipwell. 
  • Why it works: Scott’s controlling behaviour and his wife’s infidelity make him the prime suspect. But, it is later revealed he is innocent and the true culprit is elsewhere. 

Types Of Red Herrings 

Red herrings are pieces of information that mislead the reader (and sometimes the characters), leading them to expect one outcome over another. Some of the most common types of red herrings include.

• A character who is presented as shifty, suspicious or evil. 
• An event that appears to be significant to a character or the story. 
• An item or object that is presented as important. 
• A clue placed by the villain intended to send investigators down the wrong path. 

5 Tips For Writing An Effective Red Herring 

Because they are so popular and have been around for so long, readers have gotten used to red herrings in stories. This means that there is a fine line between making them clear enough for readers to pick up on them, but also convincing enough that they follow down its path. Here are some of the best tips for writing a believable red herring: 

1. Give Innocent Characters Means, Motive And Opportunity 

If you’re intending to present an innocent character as a red herring, you’ll need to convince a reader that they are capable of being guilty. To achieve this, this character might: 

• Benefit from a crime.
• Have a strong motive for committing the crime.
• Have the means and opportunity to commit it.
• All of the above. 

2. Focus A Reader’s Attention Elsewhere 

There’s nothing more frustrating than a supposedly shocking twist that feels impossible to guess. Misdirection isn’t about withholding information. Rather, it’s about giving readers extra information and honing their focus on that as opposed to the truth.

Don’t hold information back from a reader. Find a way of subtly planting the truth in the story, but also distracting a reader from that truth with other interesting components. 

3. Incorporate Your Red Herrings Into The Story 

Red herrings have specific purposes and need to feel like a natural part of a story. Rather than have them pulled suddenly out of the blue when you need a big shocking moment, they should be layered in so that, when they are revealed, they feel logical and leave an impact. 

4. Make Your Guilty Characters Appear Innocent 

We mentioned above the importance of giving readers a reason to suspect your innocent characters of being guilty. The same is the case for guilty characters appearing innocent. If a character doesn’t appear to have any means, motive or opportunity, a reader is unlikely to suspect them. You may want to present them as shifty or suspicious, but your character can’t figure out why to keep the spotlight on them. 

Another way of subverting expectations is by giving guilty characters traits that don’t fit a typical villain. For example, the criminal mastermind might hide in plain sight by acting stupid or silly to avoid suspicion. 

5. Play Fair With Readers

Again, an effective red herring works best for a reader when they can see that they have been told the truth. Readers pick up on information left by an author and use what they’ve learned to build a big picture of what they think is going on, and what they think will happen next. 

Misleading readers is fun for both parties, but not giving them a fair shot at correctly guessing an outcome by withholding crucial details isn’t playing fair.