Terry Pratchett. Feet of clay (№ 287510)

The the Samuel Vimes dreamed about clues.
To the evidence, he had a sarcastic attitude. He instinctively didn't trust them. They were always in the way and obstructed the investigation.
And he didn't trust people, who, leaving the passer-by a single look, confidently said to his assistant: "Alas, my dear sir, I can't say anything special, except that this man is a left - handed bricklayer, a few years sailed on merchant ships, and recently he started to have difficult times." Followed by intricate fabrications about calluses, manner and condition of the shoes, while in fact, everything could be interpreted quite differently. For example, the man could wear clothes shabbier, because at the moment the home built with his own hands (the very proud) brick barbecue, and the tattoo had once in his youth when he was drunk and seventeen. And rocked him except on wet pavement. Judge for yourself, what arrogance! What an insult to the rich variety of human experience!
As was the case with more substantial evidence. Footprints in the flowerbed IN the REAL WORLD could leave with ordinary window cleaner. And a terrible cry in the night can emit the person who rose the dark night of bed and stepped on lying next to the hair brush.
The real world is too real to condescend to subtle hints. It happens too many events. Eliminating the impossible until the truth, however improbable it may be, you will not reach. We must act somewhat differently, namely: to take turns to eliminate all possible. Patiently ask questions and carefully study. Go and talk with everyone, and somewhere deep down I hope that the offender will not withstand the nerves, and he'll give himself away.