Starts to see inconsistencies throughout elaborate plot (4)
I believe the answer is:
site
'plot' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'starts to see inconsistencies throughout elaborate' is the wordplay.
'starts to' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'see inconsistencies throughout elaborate' is 'SITE'.
(Other definitions for site that I've seen before include "internet location" , "setting" , "Locale" , "Place for building" , "Location; locate" .)