Layperson picking up clues in a mystery

With shows like CSI and all the Law and Order stuff on television, most of us think we know a bit about solving crimes or prosecuting a witness. So I suppose someone may be a couch potato and recall espisodes of their favourite shows to solve a mystery. Same could probably be said of someone who loves to read mystery/thriller type books.

JJ

One downside to having some specialist knowledge (besides JJ Cooper's excellent suggestion there, which I think has a lot of potential, especially if you wanted to be slightly humorous), is that some mystery novels then end up with clues that only they know about, that just happen to be the key to the whole mystery. If the person is a layman, that can get to the silly stage. I mean, I love the Cadfael books to pieces, but the number of times one of the main clues just happened to be a plant that only grows in one particular place... That sort of thing.

If they are just an ordinary person it could be that the mystery itself is more personal to them, involving friends or family maybe where they would recognise oddness in people's behaviour or things missing or the likes before a professional would. Same with maybe the area they're from, they might be more inclined to notice a particular shop being closed at a certain time when it's meant to be open or such likes. There is always a possibility too that they spot something odd, some clue at the scene, and could find people who do have more knowledge to speak to, even if it's google or their CSI fan friend!

Verr often, the protag uses their specialist knowledge to solve. Because the person is a gardener of chef or vet, they *know* that the vic would never have given something with xylitol to a dog or it's a red herring that one suspect has an eight-hundred dollar knife or that all those plastic bags and shovels might not indicate hiding a body but rather transplanting some azaleas. Tie in their cool career or hobby. And sometimes it's pretty strong, like Aaron Elkins' Skeleton Detective, Gideon Oliver.

Even "lay people" have their interests and specialities. As long as the clue makes sense that they would pick up on it--maybe a barista can smell the difference in coffee strengths, or a model railroader sees the differences in locomotives others ignore. I think it's those interests each of us has that would help in a given sticky situation.

A person on the run or falsely accused of something will have a heightened sense of things going around them and be more likely to question small details that most of us would overlook if it's not our butt on the line.

You can be a very ordinary person with very perceptive skills or street smarts that can serve you well in a tight jam. Just having a very shady girlfriend or boyfriend for years can turn you into a cynical person who will look at some things differently from others under diress.

There are all kinds of traits, environmental influences, and backgrounds for normal people that will make them very observant MCs in a story and could serve them well in resolving a mystery.

Most any concerned amateur investigator could access the web, local libraries, TV, etc and pick up information on body decomposition rates, lifecycles of insects, etc.

If the person is an artist or photographer that person would also be more observant since 'seeing' is part of their work.

Don't knock us ordinary people. It's amazing how much you can keep learning, access past abilites not used in a while, and be motivated to get to the bottom of the mystery! :}

One common technique is a buddy or somebody he knows indirectly or knew in school or drinks at his bar or something. He approaches this expert with questions and gets answers.

This provides the opportunity to sketch in a character. And can be a great way to bring in backstory or deepen our take on the MC's character.
(The expert remembers him as a louse, there was a woman long ago, he did something really good or bad before and it gets brought up, etc.)
This expert character has the advantage of detachment and can just spiel off all sorts of insights otherwise hard to shoehorn in.

These experts VERY often come to a ghastly end, often just as they are going to get back the MC with significant findings they dug up for him.

PS That's a way cool banner, Strongbear. Do it yourself?

They could just be a naturally observant and/or detailed oriented person. Maybe he could have a job that would show that nature, like an engineer or analyst. I used to think I was observant, but my hubby is way more observant and detail oriented than I am. He picks up on the most subtle changes, small things out of place, or someone (even if they keep their distance) following him. Now, he's a soldier (sniper to be more specific) so he is trained to be watchful and aware, but honestly, he's always been like this. And before he decided to be a soldier, he was actually going to study mechanical engineering. So that might give you some ideas at least.