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Lesson
B1ENSolve the Crime: Mystery Investigation English
Practice past tenses and modals for deduction by investigating a crime from start to finish. Interview witnesses, analyse contradictions, identify the suspect, and present your theory. A practical B1/B2 English lesson on past narrative tenses, must have / could have / might have, and logical argumentation. Ideal for adult learners, English tutors, and language schools.
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The Crime — What Do We Know? Content Block
Content Block
At 8:15 AM on Wednesday morning, the manager of Pearson's Jewellery Shop on King Street arrived at work and found the front door unlocked. Inside, the main display case had been smashed and approximately £120,000 worth of diamonds and watches were missing. The alarm system had been switched off — not broken, switched off. This means someone had the security code. The police found no signs of forced entry. There was no broken glass on the outside, only on the inside — the case had been smashed from within the shop. A coffee cup from a nearby cafe was found on the counter with lipstick on the rim. CCTV from the street shows four people entering or leaving King Street between 11 PM and 6 AM, but the camera inside the shop had been turned to face the wall. The shop has three keyholders: the manager (David Pearson, 54), the assistant manager (Rachel Torres, 31), and the weekend sales assistant (Jamie Okonkwo, 22). All three know the alarm code. All three were questioned. None of them have a criminal record. Your job: investigate. Who did it?
Discussion questions
- Based on what you know so far, who do you think is the most likely suspect? Why?
- What does the coffee cup tell us? What does the turned camera tell us?
- What questions would you ask each of the three keyholders?
Crime and Investigation Vocabulary. Speed Match
Speed Match
- Suspect→A person the police think may have committed the crime
- Evidence→Objects, facts, or information that help prove what happened
- Alibi→A claim that you were somewhere else when the crime happened
- Motive→The reason why someone would commit a crime
- Witness→A person who saw or heard something related to the crime
- Fingerprints→Unique marks left by a person's fingers on a surface
- Forensic→Scientific methods used to investigate crimes
- Interrogation→Formal, detailed questioning of a suspect by police
- Testimony→A formal statement from a witness about what they saw or heard
- Surveillance→Watching a person or place using cameras or other equipment
- Breakthrough→An important discovery that helps solve the case
- Accomplice→A person who helps someone commit a crime
Lesson Board
Lesson Board
Make the Deduction. Word Choice
Word Choice
- The alarm was switched off, not broken. Someone can't havemight havemust have had the code.
- She says she was at home, but her car washas beenhad been seen on CCTV near the shop at midnight.
- He can'tmightmust have done it alone — the display case is too heavy for one person to move.
- When the manager arrived, the thief hadwashas already left — the shop was empty.
- The coffee cup mustcan'tshouldn't have belonged to the thief — it wasn't there when the shop closed.
- While the police washad beenwere examining the crime scene, a neighbour came forward with new information.
- She mustcan'tcould have given the code to someone outside the company — but why?
- The CCTV camera hadwashas been turned to face the wall before the break-in — this was deliberate.
- He says he washad beenhas been sleeping at the time, but nobody can confirm that.
- The thief mightmustcan't have known the layout of the shop — they went straight to the most valuable items.
Four Witnesses, Four Stories — Who Is Lying? Jigsaw Reading
Jigsaw Reading
David Pearson — The Manager
David told police he left the shop at 6:30 PM on Tuesday and went straight home. He said he had dinner with his wife, watched television, and went to bed at 11 PM. He said he hadn't given the alarm code to anyone outside the company. When asked about the coffee cup, he said the staff sometimes bought coffee from that cafe but he didn't recognise the lipstick. He seemed calm during questioning — almost too calm. Police noted that David's shop had been struggling financially. Insurance would cover the full value of the stolen goods.
Rachel Torres — Assistant Manager
Rachel said she was at a friend's birthday dinner on Tuesday evening from 7 PM until midnight. She gave the friend's name and address. She said she had not been near King Street since leaving work at 5 PM. When asked about the alarm code, she said she had changed her personal PIN last month because she thought someone had seen her entering it. She couldn't explain why the coffee cup had lipstick that matched the shade she usually wears. She said: "Lots of women wear that colour." She became defensive when asked about her relationship with David.
Jamie Okonkwo — Sales Assistant
Jamie said he was at home playing video games online on Tuesday night. He said his gaming account would show he was logged in from 9 PM until 3 AM. When asked about the alarm code, he said he only worked weekends and rarely used it — he usually arrived after David had already opened the shop. He seemed nervous during questioning but police noted he was naturally shy. A search of his social media showed he had recently posted about wanting to buy an expensive car. He earned minimum wage.
The Neighbour — Mrs. Chen
Mrs. Chen lives in the flat above the dress shop next to Pearson's. She told police she heard a car pull up outside at about 12:30 AM. She looked out of the window and saw a woman in a dark coat walk towards Pearson's. She couldn't see the woman's face but noticed she walked confidently, as if she knew where she was going. She heard a faint smashing sound about 15 minutes later. She didn't call the police because she thought it was probably nothing. She went back to bed. She didn't hear the car leave.
Comprehension questions
- Where do the four accounts contradict each other?
- Who has the weakest alibi and why?
- Based on all four statements, what is your theory about what happened?
The Interrogation. Hidden Role
Hidden Role
Scenario
The police have brought all three keyholders back for a second round of questioning — together this time. The detective believes one of them committed the crime, possibly with help from another. The detective will present new evidence during the interrogation. One of the three suspects is guilty. The guilty person must try to stay calm, deflect suspicion, and blame the others — without getting caught.
The Detective
You have been investigating for 48 hours. You have new evidence you haven't revealed yet: fingerprints on the smashed display case that match one of the three suspects, and a bank record showing a large cash deposit into one suspect's account two days after the robbery.
Secret goal: Present the evidence piece by piece. Watch their reactions. Ask: "Can you explain why...?", "Where exactly were you at...?", "You said X, but the evidence shows Y." Use modals: "You must have been...", "You can't have been at home because..." Don't accuse directly until you are sure.
David Pearson — The Manager
You are innocent. But you are hiding something: the shop is in serious financial trouble and you were considering filing a fraudulent insurance claim BEFORE the robbery happened. You never went through with it, but if this comes out, you look guilty.
Secret goal: Stay calm. Answer questions directly. If they mention the insurance, explain you considered it but never acted. You suspect Rachel because of the lipstick. Use: "I've worked here for 20 years — why would I..."
Rachel Torres — Assistant Manager
SpyYou committed the crime. You entered the shop at 12:30 AM using your alarm code. You smashed the case, took the jewellery, and hid it in your sister's garage. The lipstick on the cup is yours — you forgot to take it. You left your friend's dinner party at 11:30 PM, not midnight as you claimed.
Secret goal: Act confused, not defensive. Subtly point suspicion at Jamie — his social media posts about expensive things. If pressed about the lipstick, say "It's a common brand — that proves nothing." If confronted with the fingerprints, stay calm and say "Of course my prints are there — I work there." Never confess.
Jamie Okonkwo — Sales Assistant
You are innocent. You were genuinely at home gaming. But you are nervous because last month you accidentally told your friend the alarm code when he asked how security systems work. You didn't think anything of it at the time.
Secret goal: You are scared you'll be blamed because you're young and earn the least. If they mention the car posts, explain you were saving for it — dreaming isn't a crime. If they pressure you, mention that you told a friend the alarm code by accident. Use: "I didn't do anything wrong, I swear..."
Present Your Verdict. Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch
Useful phrases
- Based on the evidence, I believe...
- The suspect must have...
- This can't be a coincidence because...
- The timeline shows that...
- The witness testified that...
- There is no other explanation for...
- The defence will argue that... but...
- All the evidence points to...
You are the detective. Present your conclusion to your senior officer. Name the suspect, explain the evidence, describe how the crime was committed, and recommend what happens next.
Use past tenses for the narrative and modals for deductions: "She must have entered at 12:30 because...", "The lipstick can't be a coincidence because...", "He can't have done it because..." Speak for 90 seconds.
You are the defence lawyer for the accused suspect. Your client says they are innocent. Present the case for why the evidence is not strong enough.
Challenge every piece of evidence: "The fingerprints could have been there from normal work...", "The witness might have been mistaken...", "There is no direct proof that..." Speak for 90 seconds.
You are a journalist reporting on the case for the evening news. Summarise what happened, who was arrested, and whether the case seems solid.
Use past narrative: "The break-in occurred...", "Police have arrested...", "Evidence suggests..." Be neutral — don't say guilty or innocent. Speak for 60 seconds.
You are the suspect. You are making a final statement to the detective before the case goes to court. Whether you are guilty or innocent — convince them.
If guilty: deny everything convincingly using "I couldn't have..." and "I would never..." If innocent: express frustration and point to the real evidence: "You should be looking at..." Speak for 60 seconds.
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Turn your lessons into experiences.
Edugine helps tutors create and run live learning experiences where students actively participate, interact and collaborate — while tutors see what students are doing and guide the lesson in real time.