In murder on the orient What is the term given to when a reader makes a guess based on clues in the story?

Inference

Explanation:

Inference is an idea, a conclusion or an opinion that is formed on the basis of evidence or clues available.

It is a term that refers to the steps in reasoning; from the premise to the logic.

When an inference is made, a conclusion is being drawn based on clues available.

For example,

A boy walks into his friend’s room, sees every where scattered (books littered on the floor, broken vases and kitchen wares) and a blood stained knife. He also sees that there is a pool of blood on the floor that leads out the back door.

From the clues and evidences present, he can infer that a murder had taken place in the room after a series of struggles.