Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 12 August 2026
Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-12 — 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 Hotel Meridian
A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Ballroom, Office, Kitchen. Eight statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.
Cracked by 5 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 — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · P — potted plant · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Helena was in column 4. leaves 4 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Helena: 4 of 23.
Helena was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Helena: 1 of 23.
Nora was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Nora: 5 of 23.
Nora was in the top row. leaves 1 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Nora: 1 of 23.
Fabio was in the kitchen. leaves 11 of 23 squares
Fabio was in row 3. leaves 3 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 3 of 23.
Abel was in the kitchen. leaves 11 of 23 squares
Abel was in row 4. leaves 1 of 23 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Abel: 1 of 23.
Show the squares Fabio had leftThe squares still open to Fabio once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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:
Delia can only be in Office (row 2, column 2) — down from 23 possible squares.
Fabio can only be in Kitchen (row 3, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Nora, in Office (row 1, column 1).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Nora is ringed in red.
Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop
A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Pit Lane, Waiting Room, Paint Booth, Repair Bay. Six statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.
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 — car · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Marco was in column 4. leaves 4 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Marco: 4 of 21.
Marco was in the paint booth. leaves 1 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Marco: 1 of 21.
Luna was in the repair bay. leaves 5 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Luna: 5 of 21.
Tobias was in column 3. leaves 5 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 5 of 21.
Tobias was in the waiting room. leaves 1 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 1 of 21.
Delia was in the pit lane. leaves 3 of 21 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Delia: 3 of 21.
Show the squares Delia had leftThe squares still open to Delia once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 21.
What the testimony settles on its own
Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:
Luna can only be in Repair Bay (row 4, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Selma can only be in Waiting Room (row 3, column 1) — down from 21 possible squares.
Delia can only be in Pit Lane (row 5, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tobias, in Waiting Room (row 2, column 3).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Tobias is ringed in red.
Easy — The Mystery Island
A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Lookout, Wreck, Cave, Cliffs. Eight 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.
Lettered squares are objects. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · S — shrub
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Vivienne was in row 5. leaves 6 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 6 of 29.
Vivienne was in the shipwreck. leaves 4 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 4 of 29.
Nestor was in the shipwreck. leaves 7 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 7 of 29.
Walter was in the cliffs. leaves 8 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Walter: 8 of 29.
Walter was in row 2. leaves 2 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Walter: 2 of 29.
Lorenzo was beside the boulder. leaves 2 of 29 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 2 of 29.
Marina was in the shipwreck. leaves 7 of 29 squares
Marina was in column 5. leaves 2 of 29 squares
Show the squares Walter had leftThe squares still open to Walter once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 29.
What the testimony settles on its own
Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:
Vivienne can only be in Wreck (row 5, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Nestor can only be in Wreck (row 4, column 3) — down from 7 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Cliffs (row 2, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Octavio can only be in Cave (row 3, column 6) — down from 29 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Cave (row 1, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Wreck (row 6, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Lorenzo, in Cave (row 1, column 4).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Lorenzo is ringed in red.
Easy · time attack — The Golf Course
A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Fairway, Water Hazard, Cart Path, Clubhouse. Six statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.
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) · BE — bench · BO — boulder · D — desk · G — golf tee (square stays free) · S — shrub · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Dora was beside the boulder. leaves 3 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Dora: 3 of 31.
Bruno was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 1 of 31.
Wren was beside the shrub. leaves 4 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Wren: 4 of 31.
Abel was in the water hazard. leaves 8 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Abel: 8 of 31.
Xavier was beside the shrub. leaves 4 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 4 of 31.
Xavier was in row 3. leaves 1 of 31 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 1 of 31.
Show the squares Dora had leftThe squares still open to Dora once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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:
Dora can only be in Fairway (row 4, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Fairway (row 2, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Abel can only be in Water Hazard (row 5, column 1) — down from 8 possible squares.
Kurt can only be in Clubhouse (row 1, column 6) — down from 31 possible squares.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Bruno, in Clubhouse (row 6, column 5).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Bruno is ringed in red.
Medium · time attack — The Old Observatory
An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Lounge, Dome, Library, Workshop, Terrace, Archive. Eleven statements, nine 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.
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 · C — chest · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Tamara was in the same room as the Heiress.
Tamara was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 7 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 7 of 50.
Walter was in the same row as the statue. leaves 6 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Walter: 6 of 50.
Felix was in the telescope dome or in the archive. leaves 20 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Felix: 20 of 50.
Felix was in the same row as the flower bush. leaves 4 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Felix: 4 of 50.
Helena was in the lounge or in the library. leaves 17 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Helena: 17 of 50.
Margot was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 6 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Margot: 6 of 50.
Margot was somewhere north of Helena.
Nico was beside the sofa. leaves 3 of 50 squares
Nico was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 1 of 50 squares
Nobody was in the terrace.
Show the squares Felix had leftThe squares still open to Felix once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 50.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 20 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Had Tamara stood in Lounge (row 1, column 7), Helena would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Walter in Lounge (row 3, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Felix stood in Dome (row 6, column 2), Margot would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Helena in Library (row 3, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Tamara stood on the dashed square. Helena then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 16 squares fell the same way.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Walter, in Workshop (row 3, column 4).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Walter is ringed in red.
Medium — The Art School
A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Atelier, Gallery, Print Room, Kiln Room, Life-Drawing Room, Sculpture Hall. Eight statements, nine 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 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. B — bookshelf · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Dora was in the atelier or in the kiln room. leaves 11 of 41 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Dora: 11 of 41.
Gordon was beside the garbage can. leaves 1 of 41 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 1 of 41.
Flora was beside the crate. leaves 4 of 41 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Flora: 4 of 41.
Flora was somewhere east of Dora.
Beatrix was in the gallery or in the life-drawing room. leaves 18 of 41 squares
Lorenzo was in the same room as Celeste.
Lorenzo was beside the statue. leaves 2 of 41 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 2 of 41.
Celeste was somewhere south of Flora.
Show the squares Lorenzo had leftThe squares still open to Lorenzo once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 41.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 33 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Had Dora stood in Atelier (row 6, column 2), Lorenzo would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Elias in Sculpture Hall (row 7, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Flora stood in Life-Drawing Room (row 3, column 3), Lorenzo would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Beatrix in Life-Drawing Room (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Dora stood on the dashed square. Lorenzo then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 29 squares fell the same way.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gordon, in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 6).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Gordon is ringed in red.
Hard — The Zoo
An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Gift shop, Elephant yard, Entrance, Aviary, Bear pit, Lion den. Ten statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.
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. BE — bear · BN — bench · BO — boulder · CO — crocodile · CR — crate · D — desk · E — elephant · F — floor lamp · S — shrub · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Ursula was somewhere north of the Heiress.
Jimena was in the same column as the bench. leaves 5 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 5 of 50.
Cesar was all alone in a room.
Cesar was somewhere south of Bruno.
Cesar was exactly 3 columns east of the Doctor.
Cesar was exactly 1 row south of Ignacio.
Elena was somewhere south of the Professor.
Bruno was in the same column as the shrub. leaves 7 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 7 of 50.
Ignacio was beside the elephant. leaves 5 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 5 of 50.
Yago was beside the crocodile. leaves 4 of 50 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Yago: 4 of 50.
Show the squares Yago had leftThe squares still open to Yago once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 50.
What the testimony settles on its own
Nobody shares a row or a column, so each placement narrows everyone else. Before a single guess:
Ignacio can only be in Lion den (row 4, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 63 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Had Ursula stood in Gift shop (row 1, column 1), Yago would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Jimena stood in Lion den (row 1, column 2), Yago would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Cesar stood in Bear pit (row 5, column 6), Ursula would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Elena in Gift shop (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Ursula stood on the dashed square. Yago then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 59 squares fell the same way.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Elena, in Aviary (row 8, column 6).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Elena is ringed in red.
Hard · time attack — A Walk in the Park
A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Lawn, Playground, Path, Duck pond, Kiosk, Picnic area, Bandstand. Eleven statements, twelve 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.
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. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CR — crate · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · FU — fountain · S — shrub · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Marina was in column 8. leaves 8 of 64 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Marina: 8 of 64.
Yago was in the same column as the crate. leaves 6 of 64 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Yago: 6 of 64.
Delia was exactly 5 columns west of the Diva.
Nico was all alone in a room.
Nico was exactly 1 row south of the Diva.
Jimena was exactly 1 row south of Gordon.
Jimena was all alone in a room.
Quentin was exactly 1 row north of the Doctor.
Gordon was somewhere south of Delia.
Gordon was exactly 2 columns east of Quentin.
Nobody was in the path.
Show the squares Yago had leftThe squares still open to Yago once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 64.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 111 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Had Beatrix stood in Bandstand (row 1, column 3), Yago would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Marina stood in Lawn (row 5, column 8), Delia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Yago stood in Bandstand (row 1, column 3), Nico would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Delia stood in Bandstand (row 1, column 1), Nico would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Beatrix stood on the dashed square. Yago then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 107 squares fell the same way.
Beatrix can only be in Picnic area (row 5, column 5) — down from 27 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Kiosk (row 2, column 8) — down from 2 possible squares.
Yago can only be in Bandstand (row 3, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Delia can only be in Duck pond (row 4, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Nico can only be in Lawn (row 8, column 9) — down from 6 possible squares.
Jimena can only be in Playground (row 7, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gordon, in Picnic area (row 6, column 4).
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Gordon is ringed in red.
Expert — The Mystery Island
A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Cave, Wreck, Lookout, Jungle, Lagoon, Beach, Camp, Cliffs. Fifteen statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, 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; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.
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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CA — campfire · CH — chest · CO — crocodile · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub · T — tent
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.
Conrad was in the same row as the tent. if true, leaves 8 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Conrad: 8 of 66.
Selma was in the same column as a palm tree. if true, leaves 14 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Selma: 14 of 66.
Selma was in the same row as the crocodile. if true, leaves 4 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Selma: 4 of 66.
Ignacio was in the same row as a chest. if true, leaves 15 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 15 of 66.
Elias was in the same row as the tent. if true, leaves 58 of 66
Elias was touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 32 of 66
Milo was in the jungle or in the lagoon. if true, leaves 10 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Milo: 10 of 66.
Julia was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 4 of 66Show it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Julia: 4 of 66.
Julia was in the same column as a shrub. if true, leaves 1 of 66
Vasco was in the same column as the crocodile. if true, leaves 6 of 66
Vasco was in the same row as a palm tree. if true, leaves 1 of 66
Zaida was in the same column as the campfire. if true, leaves 6 of 66
Exactly 3 people were in the lookout.
Exactly 2 people were in the beach.
Exactly 2 people were in the cliffs.
Show the squares Selma had leftThe squares still open to Selma once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 66.
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 Conrad were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Selma were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Alistair were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Ignacio were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.
Only Elias survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.
Read backwards, Elias actually told you:
Elias was NOT in the same row as the tent.
Elias was NOT touching the outer wall.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 90 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Had Selma stood in Lookout (row 8, column 4), Zaida would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Alistair stood in Cliffs (row 1, column 4), Zaida would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ignacio stood in Beach (row 3, column 4), Zaida would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Elias stood in Beach (row 2, column 4), Zaida would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Selma stood on the dashed square. Zaida then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 86 squares fell the same way.
Conrad can only be in Cliffs (row 4, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Alistair can only be in Cliffs (row 1, column 8) — down from 2 possible squares.
The motive
This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.
Zaida's motive would have been obsession.
Vasco's motive would have been revenge.
Julia's motive would have been blackmail.
Milo's motive would have been inheritance.
Elias's motive would have been buried secrets.
Conrad was not driven by ambition.
Conrad was not driven by jealousy.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Conrad, in Cliffs (row 4, column 5). Elias lied throughout and was never charged.
The only motive left standing for Conrad is debts.
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Conrad is ringed in red.
Expert · time attack — The Hotel Meridian
A 10×9 grid across 8 rooms: Lobby, Bar, Office, Terrace, Gallery, Ballroom, Kitchen, Suite. Thirteen statements, fourteen 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.
The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.
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 · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)
The testimony
What each person said, and how much of the board it rules out.
Rosa was in the same column as the bed. leaves 17 of 84 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 17 of 84.
Rosa and Ada were alone together in one room.
Lorenzo and Nico were alone together in one room.
Lorenzo was in the same column as the desk. leaves 8 of 84 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 8 of 84.
Nico was exactly 3 rows south of Bruno.
Jimena was all alone in a room.
Bruno was exactly 7 columns east of the Journalist.
Ada was exactly 4 columns west of Bruno.
Horacio was in the same column as the chest. leaves 8 of 84 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 8 of 84.
Horacio was exactly 1 row north of the Doctor.
Zaida was exactly 5 rows north of Jimena.
Zaida was in the same column as the bed. leaves 17 of 84 squaresShow it on the boardThe squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 17 of 84.
Exactly 2 people were in the office.
Show the squares Lorenzo had leftThe squares still open to Lorenzo once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 84.
The squares that had to be tested
The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 32 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.
Put Rosa in Kitchen (row 5, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Lorenzo stood in Bar (row 3, column 10), Horacio would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Nico in Bar (row 4, column 9) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Jimena in Ballroom (row 8, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Show what goes wrongSuppose Rosa stood on the dashed square. Rosa then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.
Another 28 squares fell the same way.
The motive
This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.
Ada's motive would have been blackmail.
Nico's motive would have been obsession.
Zaida's motive would have been revenge.
Lorenzo's motive would have been jealousy.
Jimena's motive would have been buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
The answer
That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Horacio, in Office (row 3, column 2).
The only motive left standing for Horacio is inheritance.
Show the solved boardThe only arrangement the testimony allows. Horacio 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.
The twelfth of August proved a quiet day on the docket, with only a few standard boards seeing any footwork at all. At The
Fastest detectives of the day
Beginner: david — 0m 33s · Easy: david — 1m 23s · Medium: david — 5m 25s
The solutions
The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 12 August 2026
Key: red ring = the murderer · amber dashes = the lying accomplice · ✕ = the victim · initials mark where each suspect was proved to stand.
Beginner — The Hotel Meridian
Nora (professor) was named and charged; 4 detectives closed this one.
Easy — The Mystery Island
The cell door shut on Lorenzo (butler), on the evidence of 3 detectives.
Medium — The Art School
2 detectives put Gordon (magician) away before the day was out.
Hard — The Zoo
Elena (heiress) walked free: nobody closed this case. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized.
Expert — The Mystery Island
Conrad (magician) is still at large — the day ended without a conviction. The harbormaster remembers a late rowboat and no lantern. The debts were settled in full, in cash. Elias lied for them and was never charged.
Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop
Nobody named Tobias (chauffeur); the file stays open. The morning mail brought a postcard with no signature and a foreign stamp.
Easy · time attack — The Golf Course
Bruno (colonel) slipped away — no detective cracked this board. A hired car left the coast road before dawn and was never returned.
Medium · time attack — The Old Observatory
Walter (colonel) was never charged — the day produced no conviction. Last seen boarding the night ferry with a single case.
Hard · time attack — A Walk in the Park
Gordon (gardener) walked free: nobody closed this case. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized.
Expert · time attack — The Hotel Meridian
Horacio (magician) is still at large — the day ended without a conviction. The harbormaster remembers a late rowboat and no lantern. The inheritance was quietly claimed.
Nora (professor) was named and charged; 4 detectives closed this one.
The cell door shut on Lorenzo (butler), on the evidence of 3 detectives.
2 detectives put Gordon (magician) away before the day was out.
Elena (heiress) walked free: nobody closed this case. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized.
Nobody named Tobias (chauffeur); the file stays open. The morning mail brought a postcard with no signature and a foreign stamp.
Bruno (colonel) slipped away — no detective cracked this board. A hired car left the coast road before dawn and was never returned.
Gordon (gardener) walked free: nobody closed this case. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized.