Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 23 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-23 — 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 Night Express

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Corridor, Observation, Locomotive, Baggage. Six statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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.

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 · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — painting (square stays free) · S — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Ada was in the corridor. leaves 3 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 3 of 20.
Nestor was in the locomotive. leaves 5 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 5 of 20.
Rosa was in the locomotive. leaves 5 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 5 of 20.
Rosa was in column 4. leaves 2 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 2 of 20.
Ximena was in row 3. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 4 of 20.
Ximena was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 1 of 20.

Show the squares Rosa had left

The squares still open to Rosa 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:

Ada can only be in Corridor (row 4, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Nestor can only be in Locomotive (row 1, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Locomotive (row 2, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Observation (row 5, column 2) — down from 20 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ximena, in Observation (row 3, column 1).

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Royal Greenhouse

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Palm house, Arbor, Potting shed, Apiary. Six statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. CH — chest · CR — crate · F — flower bush · M — mirror (square stays free) · 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.

Marco was in the leftmost column. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 4 of 21.
Marco was in the apiary. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 2 of 21.
Rufus was in row 4. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 4 of 21.
Elena was in the rightmost column. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 5 of 21.
Elena was in the potting room. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 1 of 21.
Julian was in the apiary. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 3 of 21.

Show the squares Marco had left

The squares still open to Marco 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:

Marco can only be in Apiary (row 2, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Rufus can only be in Palm house (row 4, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Bruno can only be in Palm house (row 1, column 4) — down from 21 possible squares.
Julian can only be in Apiary (row 3, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Rufus, in Palm house (row 4, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Backyard Garden

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Backyard, Garden, Kitchen, Shed. Six statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 20 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 · C — carpet (square stays free) · D — desk · F — flower bush · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Zaida was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 1 of 31.
Vera was in the garden. leaves 9 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 9 of 31.
Rufus was in the kitchen. leaves 6 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 6 of 31.
Irene was in the bottom row. leaves 6 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 6 of 31.
Irene was in column 4. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 1 of 31.
Gordon was beside a window. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 1 of 31.

Show the squares Rufus had left

The squares still open to Rufus once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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:

Vera can only be in Garden (row 1, column 3) — down from 9 possible squares.
Cesar can only be in Backyard (row 5, column 2) — down from 31 possible squares.
Rufus can only be in Kitchen (row 3, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Irene, in Backyard (row 6, column 4).

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Hiking Trip

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Campsite, Riverbank, Meadow, Cave, Trailhead. Seven statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 6 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 — bear · BO — boulder · F — floor lamp · R — radio · S — shrub · TE — tent · TR — tree

The testimony

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

Kaspar was in the riverbank. leaves 7 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 7 of 27.
Hilda was in column 2. leaves 6 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 6 of 27.
Vivienne was in the riverbank. leaves 7 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 7 of 27.
Vivienne was in column 3. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 1 of 27.
Sol was beside the tree. leaves 2 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 2 of 27.
Marco was in the rightmost column. leaves 6 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 6 of 27.
Marco was in row 3. leaves 1 of 27 squares

Show the squares Sol had left

The squares still open to Sol once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 27.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Kaspar can only be in Riverbank (row 6, column 5) — down from 7 possible squares.
Hilda can only be in Meadow (row 2, column 2) — down from 6 possible squares.
Zaida can only be in Campsite (row 1, column 4) — down from 27 possible squares.
Sol can only be in Trailhead (row 5, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Hiking Trip

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Campsite, Ranger Station, Overlook, Meadow, Forest Path. Ten statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bear · BO — boulder · C — campfire · D — desk · F — floor lamp · R — radio · S — shrub · TE — tent · TR — tree

The testimony

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

Oscar was in the overlook or in the forest path. leaves 16 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 16 of 44.
Oscar was in column 7. leaves 2 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 2 of 44.
Walter was not touching the outer wall. leaves 24 of 44 squares
Walter was in the same room as Dora.
Dora was in column 3. leaves 7 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 7 of 44.
Dora was in the same row as the shrub. leaves 1 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 1 of 44.
Selma was in the same column as the campfire. leaves 4 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 4 of 44.
Marina was beside the tent. leaves 1 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 1 of 44.
Xavier was in the western half of the scene. leaves 24 of 44 squares
Xavier was in the same row as the desk. leaves 3 of 44 squares

Show the squares Oscar had left

The squares still open to Oscar once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 44.

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 Forest Path (row 3, column 7) — down from 2 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Overlook (row 2, column 2) — down from 24 possible squares.
Selma can only be in Campsite (row 5, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.
Jonas can only be in Ranger Station (row 6, column 6) — down from 44 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Ranger Station (row 7, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Ranger Station (row 7, column 1).

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Hiking Trip

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Ranger Station, Campsite, Summit, Meadow, Riverbank, Cave. Ten 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.

Cracked by 16 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 — bear · BO — boulder · CA — campfire · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · R — radio · S — shrub · T — tree

The testimony

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

Marco was in the same room as Cesar.
Marco was in the same column as the campfire. leaves 5 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 5 of 44.
Yago was in column 6. leaves 7 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 7 of 44.
Yago was in the same room as Tristan.
Tristan was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 5 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 5 of 44.
Elena was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 6 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 6 of 44.
Cesar was in column 5. leaves 6 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 6 of 44.
Cesar was in the same row as the boulder. leaves 1 of 44 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 1 of 44.
Ines was in the same row as the campfire. leaves 5 of 44 squares
Nobody was in the cave.

Show the squares Marco had left

The squares still open to Marco once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 44.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Marco can only be in Ranger Station (row 4, column 3) — down from 5 possible squares.
Yago can only be in Campsite (row 5, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 18 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Nora stood in Meadow (row 1, column 1), Ines would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Tristan stood in Campsite (row 1, column 8), Ines would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Elena stood in Meadow (row 1, column 2), Ines would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ines in Meadow (row 1, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 14 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — Blackbriar Manor

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Lounge, Library, Cellar, Conservatory, Kitchen, Foyer. Thirteen statements, eighteen 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.

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.

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 · G — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · 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.

Xavier was in the same column as the chest. leaves 5 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 5 of 66.
Xavier was somewhere north of the Chef.
Delia was exactly 2 rows north of Vera.
Delia was in the same column as the piano. leaves 6 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 6 of 66.
Delia was in the same room as Helena.
Fabio was all alone in a room.
Elias was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 7 of 66.
Helena was in the same row as the chest. leaves 9 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 9 of 66.
Selma was all alone in a room.
Selma was in the western half of the scene. leaves 35 of 66 squares
Selma was exactly 3 rows south of Fabio.
Vera was somewhere north of the Colonel.
Nobody was in the kitchen.

Show the squares Xavier had left

The squares still open to Xavier once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 66.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Xavier can only be in Lounge (row 1, column 8) — down from 5 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 77 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Fabio in Library (row 2, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Elias in Foyer (row 5, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Pablo stood in Conservatory (row 2, column 1), Delia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Helena stood in Library (row 4, column 3), Delia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 73 squares fell the same way.

Delia can only be in Conservatory (row 5, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Fabio can only be in Foyer (row 3, column 9) — 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 obsession.
Elias's motive would have been buried secrets.
Xavier's motive would have been revenge.
Delia's motive would have been inheritance.
Vera was not driven by jealousy.
Vera was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Vera, in Library (row 7, column 3).

The only motive left standing for Vera is debts.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Vault, Rotunda, Office, Gallery, Archive, Garden. Eleven statements, seventeen squares nobody could stand on, 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. B — bookshelf · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Xavier was exactly 1 row south of Nadia.
Xavier was exactly 5 columns east of the Magician.
Xavier was all alone in a room.
Jonas was exactly 3 rows south of the Doctor.
Jonas was all alone in a room.
Simon was in the same column as the crate. leaves 5 of 65 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 5 of 65.
Nadia was exactly 4 columns west of Estela.
Nadia was in the same row as the statue. leaves 7 of 65 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 7 of 65.
Kira was somewhere west of Xavier.
Leo was in the same room as Estela.
Estela was exactly 5 rows north of the Heiress.

Show the squares Simon had left

The squares still open to Simon once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 65.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Simon can only be in Rotunda (row 5, column 6) — down from 5 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 19 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Bruno stood in Archive (row 8, column 3), Xavier would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Xavier in Gallery (row 4, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Jonas in Office (row 6, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Nadia stood in Office (row 3, column 1), Jonas would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 15 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kira, in Office (row 7, column 1).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Botanical Garden

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Tropical House, Cactus House, Lily Pond, Seed Vault, Garden Path, Orchid House, Palm Pavilion. Fifteen statements, twenty squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

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. BE — bench · BO — boulder · C — cactus · FL — flower bush · FO — fountain · L — lily pad (square stays free) · P — potted plant · SH — shrub · ST — statue · T — tree

The testimony

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

Ivan was exactly 3 rows north of the Professor.
Ivan and Sol were alone together in one room.
Dorian and Julian were alone together in one room.
Percy was exactly 2 columns west of the Curator.
Percy was exactly 4 columns west of the Professor.
Percy was exactly 2 rows north of Ivan.
Flora was somewhere west of Julian.
Victor was exactly 3 rows north of Sol.
Victor was exactly 3 columns east of Ivan.
Victor was all alone in a room.
Tesa was in the same row as a lily pad. leaves 28 of 72 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tesa: 28 of 72.
Julian was somewhere west of the Curator.
Julian was exactly 6 rows south of the Colonel.
Sol was somewhere north of the Professor.
Exactly 2 people were in the orchid house.

Show the squares Tesa had left

The squares still open to Tesa once their own statements are taken into account — 28 of 72.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Ivan can only be in Lily Pond (row 3, column 1) — down from 72 possible squares.
Flora can only be in Tropical House (row 8, column 3) — down from 72 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Garden Path (row 2, column 4) — down from 72 possible squares.
Sol can only be in Lily Pond (row 5, column 2) — down from 72 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 Elena stood in Orchid House (row 4, column 6), Julian would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Dorian in Seed Vault (row 9, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Percy stood in Palm Pavilion (row 1, column 5), Dorian would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Tesa stood in Orchid House (row 6, column 9), Percy would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 1 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.

Ivan's motive would have been buried secrets.
Sol's motive would have been debts.
Julian's motive would have been inheritance.
Flora's motive would have been revenge.
Dorian's motive would have been blackmail.
Tesa was not driven by jealousy.
Tesa was not driven by obsession.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tesa, in Orchid House (row 6, column 10).

The only motive left standing for Tesa is ambition.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Zoo

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Entrance, Elephant yard, Café, Main path, Gift shop, Lion den, Aviary. Fifteen statements, 21 squares nobody could stand on, 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 — 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.

Ignacio was exactly 2 columns east of the Colonel.
Dora was exactly 3 rows north of the Butler.
Vera was exactly 2 columns west of the Diva.
Horacio and Julian were alone together in one room.
Horacio was exactly 3 columns west of the Colonel.
Horacio was exactly 3 rows south of the Butler.
Wilfred was somewhere south of the Journalist.
Wilfred was not touching the outer wall. leaves 44 of 68 squares
Margot and the Professor were in different rooms.
Gilda was somewhere north of the Curator.
Gilda was in the same row as a shrub. leaves 18 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 18 of 68.
Gilda was exactly 3 columns west of the Doctor.
Gilda was exactly 4 columns west of Vera.
Julian was somewhere west of the Diva.
Exactly 2 people were in the entrance.

Show the squares Gilda had left

The squares still open to Gilda once their own statements are taken into account — 18 of 68.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 146 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ignacio stood in Lion den (row 4, column 6), Julian would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Dora stood in Lion den (row 1, column 7), Ignacio would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Vera stood in Lion den (row 1, column 7), Ignacio would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Horacio in Main path (row 7, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 142 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dora, in Entrance (row 2, column 8).

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dora 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's untimed investigations opened aboard The Night Express, where a guest detective claimed the quickest solution in seventeen seconds among twenty successful inquiries. The Backyard Garden proved gentle, seeing nineteen solutions led by a guest detective in nineteen seconds. At The Hiking Trip, Dirk_M set the pace at one minute and seven seconds across fourteen clearances. Complexity deepened as motive requirements came into play: Dirk_M cracked Blackbriar Manor in three minutes and nine seconds across six solutions, while a guest detective led the two successful inquiries at The Botanical Garden in five minutes and eleven seconds. No untimed boards featured a liar.

Against the clock, speed was paramount across scenes devoid of liars or motive demands. A guest detective swept the recorded top times, finishing The Royal Greenhouse in eighteen seconds, an alternate board at The Hiking Trip in twenty-one seconds, and a larger layout at The Hiking Trip in one minute and twenty seconds.

The heavier timed inquiries yielded quieter corridors. A single attempt at The Museum of Curiosities went unsolved, while the 10x9 grounds of The Zoo saw no investigators step forward before the close of the day.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 17s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 19s · Medium: Dirk_M — 1m 07s · Hard: Dirk_M — 3m 09s · Expert: a guest detective — 5m 11s · Beginner · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 18s · Easy · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 21s · Medium · time attack: a guest detective — 1m 20s