Trapped by this crossword? The answer lies in sticks by the hearth

As a detective, my initial thought process when solving the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Sticks by the hearth‘ was to first understand the context of the clue and to think about what objects would conventionally be found near a hearth. The word ‘sticks‘ immediately made me think of firewood, which is usually stacked near a fireplace or hearth. However, the word ‘by‘ indicated a preposition that suggested something placed adjacent to the hearth rather than directly on it. The word ‘hearth‘ reminded me of fire and flames, and my mind quickly turned to the concept of lighting fires using matches. Matches are typically found in a box or container that could be placed near the hearth, providing a ready supply for lighting the fire. This insight allowed me to quickly arrive at the answer – ‘MATCHES‘ – which fits perfectly with the context of the clue. Overall, my determination and focus led me to the correct solution to the crossword clue, cracking the case with ease and providing a satisfying conclusion to the mystery.