Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 16 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-16 — 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 3 rooms: Saloon, Cabin, Dining. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 21 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.

Rufus was in row 4. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 4 of 20.
Rufus was on the carpet. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 1 of 20.
Pablo was in the rightmost column. leaves 5 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 5 of 20.
Queralt was in row 2. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 4 of 20.
Queralt was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 1 of 20.
Ines was in the saloon car. leaves 6 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 6 of 20.
Ines was in column 3. leaves 2 of 20 squares

Show the squares Ines had left

The squares still open to Ines once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 20.

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 Dining (row 3, column 4) — down from 20 possible squares.
Pablo can only be in Cabin (row 1, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Ines can only be in Saloon (row 5, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Rufus, in Dining (row 4, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Suite, Terrace, Lobby. 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.

The testimony

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

Marina was in the suite. leaves 7 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 7 of 21.
Marina was in the leftmost column. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 2 of 21.
Alistair was beside a window. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 2 of 21.
Estela was in the terrace. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 6 of 21.
Olivia was in the terrace. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 6 of 21.
Olivia was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 1 of 21.

Show the squares Marina had left

The squares still open to Marina once their own statements are taken into account — 2 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:

Cesar can only be in Lobby (row 1, column 2) — down from 21 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Suite (row 2, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Alistair can only be in Lobby (row 3, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Estela can only be in Terrace (row 4, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Alistair, in Lobby (row 3, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Hiking Trip

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Ranger Station, Cave, Riverbank, Campsite. Seven statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 13 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. B — boulder · C — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · R — radio · T — tree

The testimony

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

Gilda was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 3 of 28.
Gilda was in the leftmost column. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 2 of 28.
Victor was in the riverbank. leaves 10 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 10 of 28.
Xavier was beside the desk. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 3 of 28.
Margot was in row 5. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 4 of 28.
Yago was in the riverbank. leaves 10 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 10 of 28.
Yago was in column 3. leaves 1 of 28 squares

Show the squares Gilda had left

The squares still open to Gilda once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 28.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Gilda can only be in Cave (row 4, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Riverbank (row 3, column 6) — down from 10 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Ranger Station (row 2, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
Margot can only be in Riverbank (row 5, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.
Rita can only be in Ranger Station (row 1, column 5) — down from 28 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Ranger Station (row 2, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Dock, Lagoon, Camp, Wreck, Cliffs. Nine statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. CA — campfire · CH — chest · CO — crocodile · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · S — shrub · T — tent

The testimony

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

Leo was in the rightmost column. leaves 4 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 4 of 26.
Helena was in row 4. leaves 5 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 5 of 26.
Helena was in column 4. leaves 1 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 1 of 26.
Ofelia was in row 3. leaves 5 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 5 of 26.
Ofelia was in the cliffs. leaves 3 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 3 of 26.
Yolanda was in column 2. leaves 4 of 26 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 4 of 26.
Yolanda was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 26 squares
Tobias was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 26 squares
Tobias was beside the tent. leaves 1 of 26 squares

Show the squares Ofelia had left

The squares still open to Ofelia once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 26.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Elias can only be in Wreck (row 5, column 3) — down from 26 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Cliffs (row 2, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.
Ofelia can only be in Cliffs (row 3, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Yolanda, in Wreck (row 6, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Bunker

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Watchtower, Pantry, Hydroponics, Generator Room, Radio Room, Shelter. Fifteen 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 — and one of the seven was lying throughout.

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

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 — bed (square stays free) · CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — carpet (square stays free) · CT — crate · G — garbage can · P — potted plant · R — radio · S — stove

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.

Beatrix was in the same row as the radio. if true, leaves 6 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 6 of 42.
Beatrix was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 1 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 1 of 42.
Beatrix was in the watchtower or in the shelter.
Paloma was in the generator room or in the radio room. if true, leaves 15 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 15 of 42.
Paloma was beside the cabinet. if true, leaves 2 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 2 of 42.
Hugo was not in the shelter. if true, leaves 40 of 42
Hugo was in the watchtower or in the shelter. if true, leaves 5 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 5 of 42.
Ruben was not in the shelter. if true, leaves 40 of 42
Ruben was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 6 of 42
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 6 of 42.
Ruben was in the same column as the computer. if true, leaves 1 of 42
Walter was in the pantry or in the radio room. if true, leaves 13 of 42
Walter was beside the carpet. if true, leaves 5 of 42
Walter was in the bottom row. if true, leaves 2 of 42
Yolanda was in the watchtower or in the hydroponics bay. if true, leaves 20 of 42
Yolanda was in the same row as the garbage can. if true, leaves 17 of 42

Show the squares Paloma had left

The squares still open to Paloma once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 42.

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 Beatrix were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Paloma were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Hugo were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Ruben were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 1 candidates collapse the same way.

Yolanda is the accomplice. Placement alone leaves 2 readings standing here, so it is the accusation itself that settles which — but everything Yolanda said is read backwards from now on.

Read backwards, Yolanda actually told you:

Yolanda was in neither the watchtower nor the hydroponics bay.
Yolanda was NOT in the same row as the garbage can.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Paloma can only be in Generator Room (row 2, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Hugo can only be in Watchtower (row 1, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Milo can only be in Hydroponics (row 5, column 6) — down from 42 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Radio Room (row 7, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Yolanda can only be in Radio Room (row 6, column 3) — down from 17 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ruben, in Hydroponics (row 3, column 7). Yolanda lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Botanical Garden

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Lily Pond, Cactus House, Palm Pavilion, Seed Vault, Orchid House, Tropical House. Twelve statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 7 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.

Bruno was beside the lily pad. leaves 5 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 5 of 45.
Bruno was in the same row as the lily pad. leaves 2 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 2 of 45.
Kaspar was in the same column as the shrub. leaves 6 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 6 of 45.
Kaspar was somewhere south of Yago.
Greta was in row 6. leaves 7 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 7 of 45.
Greta was in the same room as the Heiress.
Greta was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 1 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 1 of 45.
Nadia was somewhere west of Bruno.
Milo was beside the flower bush. leaves 2 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 2 of 45.
Milo was in the same row as the flower bush. leaves 1 of 45 squares
Milo was somewhere south of Kaspar.
Yago was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 45 squares

Show the squares Bruno had left

The squares still open to Bruno once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 45.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Bruno can only be in Lily Pond (row 3, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Kaspar can only be in Orchid House (row 2, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Cactus House (row 7, column 4) — down from 45 possible squares.
Yago can only be in Lily Pond (row 1, column 7) — down from 6 possible squares.
Tesa can only be in Tropical House (row 5, column 2) — down from 45 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Milo, in Tropical House (row 4, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Backyard Garden

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Kitchen, Sunroom, Patio, Living room, Shed, Garden, Pond. Eleven statements, nineteen 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) · BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · P — painting (square stays free) · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Rosa was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 1 of 59.
Selma was all alone in a room.
Katia was in the same row as the desk. leaves 8 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 8 of 59.
Felix was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 7 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 7 of 59.
Ignacio was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 4 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 4 of 59.
Ignacio was somewhere north of the Professor.
Ignacio was exactly 1 row south of the Chef.
Ofelia was in the same column as the tree. leaves 6 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 6 of 59.
Dante was somewhere west of the Heiress.
Dante was somewhere south of Ignacio.
Dante was exactly 2 columns east of the Magician.

Show the squares Ignacio had left

The squares still open to Ignacio once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 59.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Selma can only be in Sunroom (row 3, column 1) — down from 59 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Patio (row 5, column 9) — down from 8 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Shed (row 4, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 5 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Felix stood in Kitchen (row 2, column 4), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Elias in Kitchen (row 1, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Ofelia stood in Pond (row 6, column 4), Dante would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Dante in Patio (row 7, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 1 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Felix, in Kitchen (row 2, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Print Room, Gallery, Supply Closet, Life-Drawing Room, Courtyard, Atelier. Thirteen statements, eighteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight 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.

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 · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 8 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Selma was beside an easel. if true, leaves 3 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 3 of 48.
Selma was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 1 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 1 of 48.
Yolanda was in the northern half of the scene. if true, leaves 22 of 48
Yolanda was in the print room or in the gallery. if true, leaves 10 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 10 of 48.
Yolanda was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 9 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 9 of 48.
Felix was in the same row as an easel. if true, leaves 10 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 10 of 48.
Felix was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 2 of 48
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 2 of 48.
Ofelia was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 5 of 48
Wilfred was in the same row as the painting. if true, leaves 7 of 48
Wilfred was in the courtyard or in the atelier. if true, leaves 3 of 48
Dorian was beside the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 48
Vasco was in column 6. if true, leaves 8 of 48
Vasco was in the same row as a bookshelf. if true, leaves 2 of 48

Show the squares Felix had left

The squares still open to Felix once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 48.

Unmasking the liar

One of these 8 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 Pablo 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 Felix were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Ofelia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Yolanda actually told you:

Yolanda was NOT in the northern half of the scene.
Yolanda was in neither the print room nor the gallery.
Yolanda was NOT in the same column as the crate.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Pablo can only be in Courtyard (row 1, column 5) — down from 48 possible squares.
Yolanda can only be in Atelier (row 7, column 4) — down from 9 possible squares.
Felix can only be in Gallery (row 5, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ofelia can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 3, column 8) — down from 5 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Atelier (row 8, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Print Room (row 4, column 6) — 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. 7 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Selma's motive would have been jealousy.
Ofelia's motive would have been obsession.
Wilfred's motive would have been inheritance.
Vasco's motive would have been debts.
Dorian was not driven by blackmail.
Dorian was not driven by ambition.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dorian, in Courtyard (row 2, column 7). Yolanda lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Dorian is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Courtroom

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Press Room, Gallery, Judge's Chambers, Archive, Hallway, Holding Cell, Jury Box. Eleven statements, 22 squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

The twist: 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. 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) · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Celeste was exactly 5 columns east of Tesa.
Ada and Irene were alone together in one room.
Tesa was exactly 1 row north of the Journalist.
Tesa was somewhere south of the Butler.
Felix was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 8 of 74 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 8 of 74.
Felix was exactly 6 columns east of Ruben.
Yago was exactly 4 columns west of Irene.
Ruben was all alone in a room.
Wilfred was exactly 4 rows north of Ruben.
Irene was in the same column as an armchair. leaves 18 of 74 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 18 of 74.
Exactly 3 people were in the jury box.

Show the squares Felix had left

The squares still open to Felix once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 74.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 188 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Celeste in Jury Box (row 1, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Ada stood in Judge's Chambers (row 3, column 8), Irene would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Tesa stood in Archive (row 2, column 2), Celeste would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Felix stood in Holding Cell (row 7, column 7), Ada would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 184 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.

Felix's motive would have been jealousy.
Ruben's motive would have been inheritance.
Wilfred's motive would have been ambition.
Tesa's motive would have been obsession.
Celeste's motive would have been buried secrets.
Yago was not driven by blackmail.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Yago, in Gallery (row 9, column 3).

The only motive left standing for Yago is debts.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Gallery, Ballroom, Suite, Office, Bar, Terrace, Lobby, Cellar. Sixteen statements, 23 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.

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 · CL — clock · D — desk · F — floor lamp · 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. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Greta was in the same row as the window. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 7 of 65.
Greta was in the same column as a chest. if true, leaves 2 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 2 of 65.
Nestor was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 7 of 65.
Nestor was not in the lobby. if true, leaves 5 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 5 of 65.
Nestor was in the same row as a clock. if true, leaves 1 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 1 of 65.
Luna was in the same column as a chest. if true, leaves 13 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 13 of 65.
Beatrix was in the same row as the piano. if true, leaves 5 of 65
Xavier was in the same column as the mirror. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Xavier was in the same row as a clock. if true, leaves 2 of 65
Jonas was not in the ballroom. if true, leaves 5 of 65
Jonas was beside a chest.
Estela was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Ignacio was in the same column as the sofa. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Ignacio was in the same row as the painting. if true, leaves 1 of 65
Exactly 2 people were in the suite.
Exactly 2 people were in the lobby.

Show the squares Greta had left

The squares still open to Greta once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 65.

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 Greta were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Nestor were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Luna were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Rosa were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Jonas actually told you:

Jonas WAS in the ballroom.
Jonas was NOT beside a 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:

Greta can only be in Terrace (row 4, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Luna can only be in Lobby (row 2, column 4) — down from 13 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Suite (row 5, column 8) — down from 65 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Terrace (row 6, column 6) — down from 5 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Suite (row 3, column 9) — down from 2 possible squares.
Jonas can only be in Ballroom (row 8, column 1) — down from 5 possible squares.
Estela can only be in Lobby (row 1, column 2) — down from 7 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.

Beatrix's motive would have been obsession.
Nestor's motive would have been debts.
Ignacio's motive would have been revenge.
Estela's motive would have been inheritance.
Jonas's motive would have been blackmail.
Xavier was not driven by ambition.
Xavier was not driven by jealousy.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Suite (row 3, column 9). Jonas lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Xavier is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Xavier 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

The day in review

The day opened on familiar ground with standard investigations across five varied scenes. Aboard The Steamship Aurora, twenty investigators successfully navigated the three rooms, led by a guest detective who wrapped up the inquiry in just 56 seconds. Another guest detective made quick work of The Hiking Trip, logging a leading time of 1 minute and 18 seconds across its four rooms. Deeper in the foliage at The Botanical Garden, five solvers untangled the six-room grounds, with david setting the standard at 5 minutes and 15 seconds. The Backyard Garden proved far more demanding, yielding only a single solution from a guest detective after 15 minutes and 52 seconds. Meanwhile, The Courtroom presented a stern seven-room layout requiring a motive, holding off its lone investigator entirely.

Against the clock, the time attack boards sat untouched, waiting for willing sleuths. These quiet assignments included a three-room inquiry at The Hotel Meridian and a five-room puzzle on The Mystery Island. Farther down the docket lay three treacherous cases featuring deceitful suspects: a six-room search through The Bunker with an active liar, a six-room scenario at The Art School demanding both a liar unmasked and a motive established, and an expansive eight-room return to The Hotel Meridian that likewise paired an untruthful witness with a required motive.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 56s · Easy: a guest detective — 1m 18s · Medium: david — 5m 15s · Hard: a guest detective — 15m 52s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 16 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 Steamship Aurora

Rufus (gardener) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 20 detectives.

Easy — The Hiking Trip

Xavier (colonel) was named and charged; 12 detectives closed this one.

Medium — The Botanical Garden

The cell door shut on Milo (curator), on the evidence of 5 detectives.

Hard — The Backyard Garden

one detective put Felix (magician) away before the day was out.

Expert — The Courtroom

Yago (magician) slipped away — no detective cracked this board. The morning mail brought a postcard with no signature and a foreign stamp. The debts were settled in full, in cash.

Beginner · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

Alistair (gardener) was never charged — the day produced no conviction. A hired car left the coast road before dawn and was never returned.

Easy · time attack — The Mystery Island

Yolanda (diva) walked free: nobody closed this case. Last seen boarding the night ferry with a single case.

Medium · time attack — The Bunker

Ruben (butler) is still at large — the day ended without a conviction. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized. Yolanda lied for them and was never charged.

Hard · time attack — The Art School

Nobody named Dorian (butler); the file stays open. The harbormaster remembers a late rowboat and no lantern. The buried secrets stay buried. Yolanda lied for them and was never charged.

Expert · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

Xavier (chauffeur) slipped away — no detective cracked this board. The morning mail brought a postcard with no signature and a foreign stamp. The buried secrets stay buried. Jonas lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 15 August

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