Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 7 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-07 — each difficulty published twice, once untimed and once as time attack. Each case is procedurally generated and then proved to have exactly one logical solution before it is published, including the cases where somebody is lying. You place every suspect back on the map using only their testimony: exactly one person per row, never two in a column. Whoever is left alone with the victim did it.

Beginner — The Steamship Aurora

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Lounge, Dining, Saloon, Galley. Seven statements, four squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Nora was in the dining room. leaves 8 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 8 of 23.
Nora was in column 2. leaves 2 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 2 of 23.
Enzo was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 5 of 23.
Enzo was in the saloon car. leaves 1 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 23.
Lorenzo was in row 2. leaves 4 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 4 of 23.
Sofia was in the galley. leaves 4 of 23 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 4 of 23.
Sofia was in column 3. leaves 1 of 23 squares

Show the squares Nora had left

The squares still open to Nora once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 23.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Nora can only be in Dining (row 3, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Saloon (row 4, column 5) — down from 23 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Dining (row 2, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Enzo, in Saloon (row 1, column 1).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Enzo is ringed in red.

Easy — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Print Room, Kiln Room, Gallery, Locker Room. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Wren was in column 3. leaves 4 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 4 of 31.
Wren was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 1 of 31.
Tristan was in row 4. leaves 5 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 5 of 31.
Tristan was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 1 of 31.
Boris was beside the mirror. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 1 of 31.
Abel was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 2 of 31.
Percy was in the print room or in the locker room. leaves 17 of 31 squares

Show the squares Abel had left

The squares still open to Abel once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 31.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Julia can only be in Kiln Room (row 5, column 1) — down from 31 possible squares.
Abel can only be in Gallery (row 1, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Percy can only be in Print Room (row 3, column 5) — down from 17 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Wren, in Kiln Room (row 6, column 3).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Wren is ringed in red.

Medium — The Repair Shop

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Storeroom, Repair Bay, Car Lift, Pit Lane, Office, Yard. Thirteen statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the seven was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false.

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 7 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Oscar was in the pit lane or in the yard. if true, leaves 20 of 43
Oscar was in row 6. if true, leaves 2 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 2 of 43.
Quentin was in the same row as the computer. if true, leaves 6 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 43.
Quentin was not in the car lift.
Quentin was in the pit lane or in the office. if true, leaves 2 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 2 of 43.
Rufus was in the same column as the radio. if true, leaves 37 of 43
Rufus was in the office or in the yard. if true, leaves 25 of 43
Rufus was on the oil slick.
Gaspar was in the storeroom or in the car lift. if true, leaves 7 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 7 of 43.
Gaspar was in the same column as the window. if true, leaves 2 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 2 of 43.
Kaspar was on the oil slick. if true, leaves 4 of 43
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 4 of 43.
Kaspar was beside the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 43
Beatrix was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 5 of 43

Show the squares Oscar had left

The squares still open to Oscar once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 43.

Unmasking the liar

One of these 7 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

If Oscar were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Quentin were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Gaspar were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Ada were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 2 candidates collapse the same way.

Only Rufus survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Rufus actually told you:

Rufus was NOT in the same column as the radio.
Rufus was in neither the office nor the yard.
Rufus was NOT on the oil slick.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Oscar can only be in Pit Lane (row 6, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Office (row 1, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Rufus can only be in Repair Bay (row 4, column 5) — down from 25 possible squares.
Gaspar can only be in Car Lift (row 7, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ada can only be in Yard (row 3, column 7) — down from 43 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Repair Bay (row 5, column 4) — down from 5 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kaspar, in Yard (row 2, column 6). Rufus lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kaspar is ringed in red.

Hard — Blackbriar Manor

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Foyer, Cellar, Study, Gallery, Lounge, Ballroom, Library. Fourteen statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — floor lamp · H — harp · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · SO — stove · ST — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.

Olivia was somewhere west of the Curator.
Olivia was exactly 6 rows north of Tristan.
Dante was somewhere north of Wanda.
Dante was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 7 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 7 of 56.
Dante was all alone in a room.
Dante was somewhere north of Yago.
Elias was all alone in a room.
Katia was somewhere north of the Magician.
Katia was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 7 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 7 of 56.
Tristan was somewhere south of the Diva.
Tristan was in the same column as the harp. leaves 6 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 6 of 56.
Yago was in the same column as the stove. leaves 7 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 7 of 56.
Yago was all alone in a room.
Wanda was all alone in a room.

Show the squares Tristan had left

The squares still open to Tristan once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 56.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Tristan can only be in Gallery (row 7, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 56 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Olivia stood in Library (row 1, column 2), Katia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Dante stood in Library (row 4, column 1), Elias would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Elias stood in Library (row 2, column 3), Dante would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Katia in Library (row 1, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Olivia stood on the dashed square. Katia then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 52 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Olivia, in Study (row 1, column 6).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Olivia is ringed in red.

Expert — The Steamship Aurora

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Saloon, Bridge, Lounge, Dining, Hold, Cabin, Deck. Sixteen statements, fifteen squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the nine was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false.

Cracked by one detective so far.

How this case was cracked — the full solution to this board, step by step

Every step below is the solver’s own — the same one that proved this board has exactly one answer. The counts are real: you can check them against the grid.

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bed (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · M — mirror (square stays free) · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Wren was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 17 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 17 of 73.
Dorian was in the same column as the sofa. if true, leaves 18 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 18 of 73.
Dorian was in the same row as a crate. if true, leaves 4 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 4 of 73.
Marco was beside the mirror. if true, leaves 1 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 1 of 73.
Rosa was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 8 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 8 of 73.
Rosa was in the same row as the bed. if true, leaves 1 of 73
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 1 of 73.
Simon was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 56 of 73
Simon was in the same column as the chest. if true, leaves 50 of 73
Katia was not touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 45 of 73
Katia was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 7 of 73
Katia was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 1 of 73
Vivienne was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 6 of 73
Vivienne was in the same row as the stove. if true, leaves 1 of 73
Estela was in the same row as the chest. if true, leaves 8 of 73
Exactly 2 people were in the deck.
Exactly 4 people were in the saloon car.

Show the squares Dorian had left

The squares still open to Dorian once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 73.

Unmasking the liar

One of these 9 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

If Ignacio were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Wren were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Dorian were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Marco were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

Only Simon survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Simon actually told you:

Simon was NOT in the same row as the carpet.
Simon was NOT in the same column as the chest.

What the testimony settles on its own

Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:

Dorian can only be in Deck (row 2, column 8) — down from 4 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 27 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ignacio stood in Lounge (row 4, column 1), Wren would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Wren in Deck (row 4, column 9) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Simon in Lounge (row 1, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Estela in Dining (row 6, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Ignacio stood on the dashed square. Wren then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 23 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dorian, in Deck (row 2, column 8). Simon lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dorian is ringed in red.

How to read a case above

The grid size is the size of the crime scene, so a 10×9 expert case is a far larger search than a 5×5 beginner one — but the difficulty is really carried by the clues, not the square count. A beginner case tells you almost directly where somebody stood. An expert case tells you where somebody was not, three times, and expects you to do the rest — and on half of them one of those statements is a lie told to protect the killer. If a case lists a motive, naming the right person is not enough on its own; you have to prove why.

How to play · Solving cases with a liar · Techniques

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