Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 24 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-24 — 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 — Blackbriar Manor

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Kitchen, Foyer, Conservatory, Library. Six statements, six squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 42 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.

Ruben was in the foyer. leaves 7 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 7 of 21.
Ruben was in column 2. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 1 of 21.
Yolanda was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 3 of 21.
Flora was in the kitchen. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 4 of 21.
Flora was in column 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 1 of 21.
Luna was in the conservatory. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 3 of 21.

Show the squares Yolanda had left

The squares still open to Yolanda 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:

Yolanda can only be in Library (row 3, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Greta can only be in Foyer (row 2, column 5) — down from 21 possible squares.
Luna can only be in Conservatory (row 4, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ruben, in Foyer (row 1, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Night Express

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

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.

The testimony

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

Octavio was in column 2. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 4 of 21.
Dorian was in row 2. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 3 of 21.
Dorian was in column 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 21.
Paloma was in the bottom row. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 4 of 21.
Paloma was in the platform. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 1 of 21.
Bruno was in the corridor. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 4 of 21.

Show the squares Octavio had left

The squares still open to Octavio once their own statements are taken into account — 4 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:

Octavio can only be in Platform (row 1, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Clara can only be in Locomotive (row 3, column 5) — down from 21 possible squares.
Bruno can only be in Corridor (row 4, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dorian, in Locomotive (row 2, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Atelier, Sculpture Hall, Gallery, Kiln Room, Print Room. Seven statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 35 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.

Ivan was in the atelier. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 3 of 28.
Quentin was in column 3. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 5 of 28.
Quentin was in row 2. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 1 of 28.
Horacio was in the kiln room. leaves 6 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 28.
Nico was in the kiln room. leaves 6 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 6 of 28.
Nico was beside a mirror. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 1 of 28.
Alma was in the print room. leaves 3 of 28 squares

Show the squares Ivan had left

The squares still open to Ivan once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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:

Ivan can only be in Atelier (row 5, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.
Clara can only be in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 5) — down from 28 possible squares.
Horacio can only be in Kiln Room (row 4, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.
Alma can only be in Print Room (row 6, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Quentin, in Sculpture Hall (row 2, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Royal Greenhouse

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Orchid room, Seed bank, Potting shed, Arbor, Apiary. Seven statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. A — armchair (square stays free) · C — carpet (square stays free) · D — desk · F — flower bush · M — mirror (square stays free) · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Bianca was in the arbor. leaves 4 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 4 of 29.
Bianca was in row 5. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 1 of 29.
Clara was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 1 of 29.
Pablo was beside the flower bush. leaves 3 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 3 of 29.
Pablo was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 1 of 29.
Ada was in the seed bank. leaves 7 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 7 of 29.
Victor was beside the sofa. leaves 1 of 29 squares

Show the squares Ada had left

The squares still open to Ada once their own statements are taken into account — 7 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:

Ada can only be in Seed bank (row 4, column 2) — down from 7 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Orchid room (row 2, column 5) — down from 29 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Clara, in Orchid room (row 3, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Night Express

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Locomotive, Saloon, Galley, Corridor, Sleeper. Nine statements, sixteen 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bed (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Sofia was on the carpet. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 2 of 39.
Cesar was beside the armchair. leaves 3 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 3 of 39.
Cesar was in the same column as a window. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 1 of 39.
Bruno was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 6 of 39.
Bruno was in the same row as a window. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 2 of 39.
Rosa was in the saloon car or in the sleeper car. leaves 17 of 39 squares
Abel was in row 6. leaves 7 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 7 of 39.
Abel was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Ximena was beside the chest. leaves 1 of 39 squares

Show the squares Sofia had left

The squares still open to Sofia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 39.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Sofia can only be in Saloon (row 7, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Bruno can only be in Corridor (row 2, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Greta can only be in Corridor (row 3, column 5) — down from 39 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Saloon (row 5, column 6) — down from 17 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Mystery Island

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Cave, Wreck, Dock, Cliffs, Jungle, Camp. Eight statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 29 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 · CA — campfire · CH — chest · CO — crocodile · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub · T — tent

The testimony

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

Kira was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 5 of 34.
Kira was in the same room as the Gardener.
Ulises was in the same column as the crocodile. leaves 8 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 8 of 34.
Bianca was beside the boulder. leaves 2 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 2 of 34.
Ximena was in column 2. leaves 6 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 6 of 34.
Ximena was in the same row as the campfire. leaves 1 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 1 of 34.
Walter was in the same column as the chest. leaves 6 of 34 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 6 of 34.
Rufus was beside the chest. leaves 3 of 34 squares

Show the squares Bianca had left

The squares still open to Bianca once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 34.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Kira can only be in Cliffs (row 7, column 4) — down from 5 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Cliffs (row 5, column 7) — down from 8 possible squares.
Bianca can only be in Dock (row 4, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Jungle (row 2, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.
Jimena can only be in Dock (row 3, column 1) — down from 34 possible squares.
Rufus can only be in Cliffs (row 6, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Kiln Room, Sculpture Hall, Life-Drawing Room, Courtyard, Supply Closet, Print Room, Locker Room. Twelve statements, seventeen 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. 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.

Gaspar was exactly 5 columns west of the Magician.
Gaspar was in the same row as the garbage can. leaves 5 of 48 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 5 of 48.
Quentin was in the same row as the crate. leaves 5 of 48 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 5 of 48.
Paloma was in the same room as the Chef.
Paloma was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Jimena was somewhere east of Ignacio.
Jimena was in the same row as a floor lamp. leaves 11 of 48 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 11 of 48.
Jimena was in the same room as Ignacio.
Hugo was somewhere east of the Chauffeur.
Lidia was somewhere north of the Magician.
Lidia was exactly 3 columns east of the Curator.
Ignacio was exactly 4 rows north of the Heiress.

Show the squares Gaspar had left

The squares still open to Gaspar once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 48.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 84 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Gaspar stood in Kiln Room (row 3, column 2), Paloma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Quentin in Supply Closet (row 6, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Paloma in Supply Closet (row 6, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Marina stood in Kiln Room (row 1, column 1), Jimena would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 80 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. 7 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Hugo's motive would have been debts.
Ignacio's motive would have been jealousy.
Gaspar's motive would have been ambition.
Paloma's motive would have been blackmail.
Quentin was not driven by revenge.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.

The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Quentin is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — A Walk in the Park

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Kiosk, Lawn, Rose garden, Duck pond, Bandstand, Path, Playground. Fourteen 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.

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.

Conrad was somewhere south of the Diva.
Olivia was in the same column as a window. leaves 20 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 20 of 66.
Olivia was exactly 2 rows north of Hugo.
Gaspar was exactly 1 row south of the Heiress.
Gaspar was in the same room as Ximena.
Kurt was in the same column as the bench. leaves 5 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 5 of 66.
Kurt was somewhere west of the Chauffeur.
Kurt was exactly 4 rows north of Conrad.
Vivienne was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 6 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 6 of 66.
Vivienne was beside a window. leaves 1 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 1 of 66.
Hugo was all alone in a room.
Hugo was somewhere west of Kurt.
Hugo was somewhere south of Ximena.
Ximena was exactly 5 columns east of the Butler.

Show the squares Kurt had left

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

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 99 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Conrad stood in Lawn (row 8, column 1), Gaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Olivia in Playground (row 2, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Gaspar in Playground (row 3, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Kurt in Path (row 4, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 95 squares fell the same way.

Conrad can only be in Path (row 6, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Conrad, in Path (row 6, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Backyard Garden

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Kitchen, Backyard, Sunroom, Patio, Shed, Garden, Pond, Living room. Eighteen statements, twenty 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 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 · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · T — tree · 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.

Vasco was somewhere east of Sofia.
Vasco was somewhere west of the Butler.
Dante was somewhere south of the Chef.
Dante was in the same row as the tree. if true, leaves 8 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 8 of 67.
Dante was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 1 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 1 of 67.
Clara was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 7 of 67.
Queralt was somewhere north of the Journalist.
Marco was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 5 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 5 of 67.
Marco was somewhere west of the Chef.
Ursula was somewhere west of the Chef.
Ursula was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 7 of 67.
Sofia was in row 5. if true, leaves 60 of 67
Sofia was somewhere east of Dante.
Julian was in the same row as a sofa. if true, leaves 32 of 67
Julian was in the same column as a sofa. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 7 of 67.
Julian was somewhere east of Dante.
Exactly 2 people were in the patio.
Exactly 2 people were in the garden.

Show the squares Marco had left

The squares still open to Marco once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 67.

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 Vasco were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Dante were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Clara were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Queralt were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Sofia actually told you:

Sofia was NOT in row 5.
Sofia was NOT east of Dante.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 96 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Vasco stood in Kitchen (row 1, column 2), Clara would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Clara stood in Kitchen (row 1, column 1), Sofia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Queralt stood in Sunroom (row 1, column 4), Clara would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Marco in Patio (row 8, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 92 squares fell the same way.

Clara can only be in Living room (row 1, 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. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Clara's motive would have been buried secrets.
Julian's motive would have been revenge.
Dante's motive would have been inheritance.
Vasco's motive would have been jealousy.
Sofia's motive would have been ambition.
Marco was not driven by debts.
Marco was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Marco, in Garden (row 8, column 7). Sofia lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Marco is obsession.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Old Observatory

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Dome, Lounge, Garden, Workshop, Library, Cellar, Archive. Eighteen statements, 21 squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the nine was lying throughout.

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

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 · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · TE — telescope · TR — tree · 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.

Kurt was right beside Selma, in the same room.
Kurt was touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 40 of 66
Kurt was in the same row as the flower bush. if true, leaves 35 of 66
Ulises was somewhere north of Boris.
Xavier was somewhere east of Selma.
Vivienne was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 7 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 7 of 66.
Vivienne was beside the crate. if true, leaves 1 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 1 of 66.
Dora was somewhere north of the Curator.
Dora was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 8 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 8 of 66.
Dora was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 1 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 1 of 66.
Boris was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 22 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 22 of 66.
Selma was somewhere north of the Diva.
Selma was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 7 of 66
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 7 of 66.
Yolanda was somewhere east of the Curator.
Yolanda was in the same column as the tree. if true, leaves 7 of 66
Yolanda was somewhere east of Boris.
Exactly 2 people were in the archive.
Exactly 2 people were in the workshop.

Show the squares Selma had left

The squares still open to Selma once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 66.

Unmasking the liar

If Ulises were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Xavier were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Rosa were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Vivienne were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Kurt actually told you:

Kurt was NOT right beside Selma in the same room.
Kurt was NOT touching the outer wall.
Kurt was NOT in the same row as the flower bush.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Yolanda can only be in Archive (row 6, 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 54 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Kurt stood in Workshop (row 2, column 2), Boris would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ulises stood in Workshop (row 1, column 1), Boris would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Xavier stood in Cellar (row 9, column 2), Boris would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Rosa in Workshop (row 1, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 50 squares fell the same way.

Kurt can only be in Lounge (row 3, column 7) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kurt 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 docket for 24 August 2026 offered ten varied inquiries across the standard and time attack boards. In the untimed matters, forty investigators cleared the 5x5 halls of Blackbriar Manor, led by a guest detective in eleven seconds. A return to The Art School on a 6x6 grid yielded thirty-three solutions, topped by a guest detective in eighteen seconds, while twenty-eight cracked the 7x7 case at The Mystery Island, where a guest detective set the pace at forty-one seconds. Complexity deepened back at The Art School on an 8x8 layout requiring motive, solved just six times with a guest detective posting three minutes and ten seconds. At The Backyard Garden, an expert 9x9 puzzle presenting both a liar and motive saw only one successful inquiry out of three attempts, wrapped by a guest detective in three minutes and thirty seconds.

The timed investigations proved brief and exacting. Dirk_M led the 5x5 run on The Night Express in twenty-three seconds and later conquered the 7x7 carriage in thirty-two seconds. At The Royal Greenhouse, david secured the quickest 6x6 solution in thirty seconds. The larger trials went unanswered against the clock: a 10x8 inquiry titled A Walk in the Park drew zero plays, while an expert 9x9 mystery featuring a liar at The Old Observatory saw a single attempt with zero solutions.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 11s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 18s · Medium: a guest detective — 0m 41s · Hard: a guest detective — 3m 10s · Expert: a guest detective — 3m 30s · Beginner · time attack: Dirk_M — 0m 23s · Easy · time attack: david — 0m 30s · Medium · time attack: Dirk_M — 0m 32s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 24 August 2026

Key: red ring = the murderer · amber dashes = the lying accomplice · ✕ = the victim · initials mark where each suspect was proved to stand.

Beginner — Blackbriar Manor

Ruben (chauffeur) is in custody — the case was closed by 40 detectives.

Easy — The Art School

Quentin (curator) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 33 detectives.

Medium — The Mystery Island

Bianca (chef) was named and charged; 28 detectives closed this one.

Hard — The Art School

The cell door shut on Quentin (curator), on the evidence of 6 detectives. The motive — buried secrets — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Backyard Garden

one detective put Marco (curator) away before the day was out. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name. Sofia lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Night Express

Dorian (chauffeur) is in custody — the case was closed by 3 detectives.

Easy · time attack — The Royal Greenhouse

Clara (heiress) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 3 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Night Express

Bruno (gardener) was named and charged; 5 detectives closed this one.

Hard · time attack — A Walk in the Park

Conrad (butler) slipped away — no detective cracked this board. A berth on the sleeper train was booked that evening under a name nobody recognized.

Expert · time attack — The Old Observatory

Kurt (magician) was never charged — the day produced no conviction. The harbormaster remembers a late rowboat and no lantern. Kurt lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 23 August

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