Field manual · Corkboard · 4 min read
How to use an evidence corkboard to crack a case
A corkboard is not decoration. It is external memory: it lets you see relationships that will not fit in your head while you are reading a fifth witness statement.
Pin people, places, and objects — in that order
Put suspects across the top, locations down one side, and physical evidence in the middle. A consistent layout means a glance tells you which suspect has nothing tying them to anywhere.
String only what you can justify
Every string should stand for a specific reason: this suspect handled this object, this witness places this person in this room. A board full of speculative connections is as useless as no board at all.
Read the board for shape, not for content
Once the strings are up, stop reading labels and look at the geometry. Two patterns matter: the suspect who connects to the scene, the weapon, and the motive at once, and the pair of suspects whose only support is each other.
Add notes for the questions you have not answered
Sticky notes are for open threads: unexplained noises, missing objects, gaps in the timeline. Clearing your notes one by one is usually the last stretch before the accusation writes itself.
Questions from the bullpen
- What is the red string board detectives use called?
- It is usually called an evidence corkboard or a murder board — a pinboard where clues are connected with string to make relationships between suspects, places, and evidence visible.
- How do I avoid an unreadable corkboard?
- Keep one string per justified fact, group suspects and locations in fixed positions, and cut any connection you can no longer explain out loud.