Divine the past

[Adjoint]

What are the most useful spells to learn about the past? As I understand, augury and [i]divination[i] can only give advices about what to do in the future, do not answer about questions on the present or past.

For a specific example, let's consider a following example. A person has been killed and their body was taken away somewhere. How to find out who killed them?

[Taja the Barbarian]

Easy divining of the past basically ruins any 'mystery' plotline, so it's not an easy option. Spells like Legend Lore and Vision are generally out of reach of most individuals.

Object Reading is probably a better option at lower levels, if you have an actual item to read and psychic magic is available.

Of course, if the victim happens to be a bishop, you could always just call The Church Police...

[blahpers]

Divination might still be useful, depending on how you word your question.

Q: "Where should I look for Bob Johnson's killer"?
A: "If you'd see justice done, eschew/the path around the grove of yew."

[Meraki]

If there are bloodstains where they were killed, you could give blood biography a shot.

[Ring_of_Gyges]

What level spell do you have access to?

Discern Location is pretty unstoppable as a way to find the body.
Commune is very powerful for getting precise information.
True Resurrection can return the victim to life to ask questions.

[Kayerloth]

Well I'd start with usual detective work. Perhaps someone with Tracking/Survival skills can deduce where the body was dragged off to. Judicious use of Sense Motive to narrow it down to whom to use Discern Lies or Zone of Truth on while questioning those in the area of the killing. Locate Object on some of the victims known possessions could be worth a shot (might also be needed if you do have access to Discern Location mentioned above). Speak with Animals might offer some clues depending on the area around the killing (i.e. in or near a barn, stable or pasture). Speak with Plants and Stone Tell are similar to Speak with Animals and might provide further clues. While Augury and Divination might not seem so useful they might narrow down what sort of tack would prove useful to take now and in the immediate future to find out what did happen and or where the body lies now.