Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 27 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-27 — 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 Movie Studio

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Prop Warehouse, Desert Set, Backlot. Seven statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 25 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 — cactus · CO — computer · CR — carpet (square stays free) · CT — crate · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — painting (square stays free) · T — television

The testimony

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

Katia was in the backlot. leaves 4 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 4 of 19.
Katia was in column 2. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 1 of 19.
Hugo was in the desert set. leaves 6 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 6 of 19.
Hugo was in row 3. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 1 of 19.
Margot was in column 3. leaves 3 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 3 of 19.
Dora was in row 4. leaves 5 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 5 of 19.
Dora was in the desert set. leaves 2 of 19 squares

Show the squares Dora had left

The squares still open to Dora once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 19.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Margot can only be in Prop Warehouse (row 5, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Dora can only be in Desert Set (row 4, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Nora can only be in Prop Warehouse (row 2, column 1) — down from 19 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Parts Room, Yard, Storeroom. Six statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

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

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

The testimony

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

Dorian was in the parts room. leaves 8 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 8 of 21.
Lorenzo was in the storeroom. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 4 of 21.
Zaida was in the top row. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 4 of 21.
Zaida was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 1 of 21.
Jimena was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 5 of 21.
Jimena was in column 4. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 1 of 21.

Show the squares Lorenzo had left

The squares still open to Lorenzo 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:

Dorian can only be in Parts Room (row 3, column 2) — down from 8 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Yard (row 4, column 5) — down from 21 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Storeroom (row 2, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Jimena, in Yard (row 5, column 4).

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Jury Box, Press Room, Gallery, Hallway, Holding Cell. Eight statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 23 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) · CO — computer · G — grandfather clock · 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.

Kira was in the top row. leaves 6 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 6 of 31.
Kira was in the press room. leaves 4 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 4 of 31.
Dorian was beside the computer. leaves 2 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 2 of 31.
Leo was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 2 of 31.
Bianca was in the hallway. leaves 3 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 3 of 31.
Bianca was in row 2. leaves 1 of 31 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 1 of 31.
Ruben was in row 4. leaves 6 of 31 squares
Ruben was in the holding cell. leaves 1 of 31 squares

Show the squares Dorian had left

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

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Kira can only be in Press Room (row 1, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Dorian can only be in Press Room (row 3, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Jimena can only be in Holding Cell (row 5, column 5) — down from 31 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Jury Box (row 6, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — Movie Night

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Study, Hallway, TV Den, Pantry, Guest Room. Seven statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. 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 — computer · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · R — radio · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Katia was beside the painting. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 1 of 27.
Alistair was in the TV den. leaves 5 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 5 of 27.
Selma was in row 2. leaves 4 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 4 of 27.
Selma was in the TV den. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 1 of 27.
Tristan was in column 3. leaves 6 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 6 of 27.
Yago was in row 5. leaves 5 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 5 of 27.
Yago was in the pantry. leaves 3 of 27 squares

Show the squares Yago had left

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

Alistair can only be in TV Den (row 4, column 2) — down from 5 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Study (row 3, column 1) — down from 27 possible squares.
Tristan can only be in Study (row 6, column 3) — down from 6 possible squares.
Yago can only be in Pantry (row 5, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — A Walk in the Park

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Boathouse, Kiosk, Duck pond, Rose garden, Path. Nine statements, thirteen 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. 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.

Elias was in the same column as the fountain. leaves 6 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 6 of 38.
Rosa was in the western half of the scene. leaves 17 of 38 squares
Rosa was in the boathouse or in the rose garden. leaves 8 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 8 of 38.
Quentin was in the same room as Wren.
Quentin was in the same column as the bench. leaves 6 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 38.
Quentin was touching the outer wall. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 2 of 38.
Tamara was beside the flower bush. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 2 of 38.
Leo was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 3 of 38.
Wren was on the carpet. leaves 4 of 38 squares

Show the squares Quentin had left

The squares still open to Quentin once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 38.

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 Path (row 2, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Boathouse (row 4, column 3) — down from 8 possible squares.
Fabio can only be in Path (row 3, column 5) — down from 38 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Boathouse (row 7, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Tamara can only be in Rose garden (row 1, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Kiosk (row 5, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Boathouse (row 6, column 1) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Night Express

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Observation, Dining, Corridor, Sleeper, Baggage, Galley. Ten statements, thirteen 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 22 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 · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · 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.

Quentin was beside the sofa. leaves 3 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 3 of 41.
Elena was in the dining room or in the corridor. leaves 12 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 12 of 41.
Walter was in the same column as the window. leaves 6 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 6 of 41.
Walter was somewhere north of Greta.
Julia was beside the grandfather clock. leaves 4 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 4 of 41.
Julia was beside the sofa. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 1 of 41.
Greta was in the same row as the window. leaves 6 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 6 of 41.
Greta was beside the bed. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Tobias was somewhere south of Elena.
Tobias was beside the stove. leaves 2 of 41 squares

Show the squares Tobias had left

The squares still open to Tobias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 41.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Quentin can only be in Dining (row 6, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ada can only be in Observation (row 7, column 2) — down from 41 possible squares.
Elena can only be in Corridor (row 2, column 4) — down from 12 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Baggage (row 1, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Galley (row 3, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Night Express

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Dining, Corridor, Platform, Saloon, Sleeper, Observation. Fourteen statements, nineteen 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 8 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 · P — painting (square stays free) · 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.

Julia was somewhere west of the Doctor.
Delia was somewhere east of Elena.
Delia was all alone in a room.
Delia was exactly 5 rows north of the Chef.
Ivan was exactly 4 columns west of Paloma.
Ivan was exactly 4 rows south of Tobias.
Ivan was in the same column as the window. leaves 6 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 6 of 68.
Yolanda was exactly 3 columns east of Julia.
Tobias was all alone in a room.
Elena was in the same row as the crate. leaves 6 of 68 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 6 of 68.
Elena was somewhere east of the Chef.
Paloma was in the southern half of the scene. leaves 34 of 68 squares
Paloma was exactly 3 columns east of Tobias.
Paloma was all alone in a room.

Show the squares Ivan had left

The squares still open to Ivan once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 68.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 37 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Julia stood in Dining (row 6, column 1), Ivan would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Delia in Saloon (row 3, column 9) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Ivan stood in Dining (row 8, column 1), Yolanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Yolanda in Sleeper (row 8, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 33 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.

Paloma's motive would have been revenge.
Delia's motive would have been buried secrets.
Elena's motive would have been obsession.
Tobias's motive would have been jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
Yolanda was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Yolanda, in Sleeper (row 8, column 7).

The only motive left standing for Yolanda is ambition.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Zoo

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Gift shop, Lion den, Main path, Elephant yard, Bear pit, Café, Aviary. Thirteen 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 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. 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.

Ulises was in the same room as the Magician.
Julia was in the same column as a window. leaves 14 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 14 of 60.
Tobias was exactly 1 row south of the Gardener.
Tobias was in the same room as Gordon.
Bruno was exactly 1 row north of the Heiress.
Bruno was exactly 2 columns east of the Butler.
Celeste was in the same column as the crate. leaves 5 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 5 of 60.
Gordon was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 6 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 6 of 60.
Marina was in the same row as the tree. leaves 6 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 6 of 60.
Marina was somewhere north of the Magician.
Marina was in the same column as the desk. leaves 1 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 1 of 60.
Nobody was in the main path.
Nobody was in the lion den.

Show the squares Celeste had left

The squares still open to Celeste once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 60.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 70 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Queralt stood in Café (row 1, column 5), Julia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ulises in Elephant yard (row 2, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Julia in Café (row 2, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Tobias stood in Elephant yard (row 7, column 3), Bruno would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 66 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Julia, in Café (row 1, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — Blackbriar Manor

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Ballroom, Cellar, Study, Conservatory, Gallery, Library, Lounge, Kitchen. Eighteen statements, 21 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.

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 — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · M — mirror (square stays free) · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Margot was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 8 of 65.
Margot was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 1 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 1 of 65.
Margot was somewhere south of Nestor.
Margot was somewhere south of Ximena.
Nestor was somewhere east of the Journalist.
Nestor was in column 6. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 7 of 65.
Vasco was somewhere north of Ximena.
Vasco was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 8 of 65.
Wren was in column 5. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 8 of 65.
Wren was somewhere north of Margot.
Wren was somewhere west of Yago.
Paloma was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 6 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 6 of 65.
Jimena was somewhere west of the Diva.
Ximena was in the same column as the window. if true, leaves 9 of 65
Yago was somewhere north of Paloma.
Yago was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 57 of 65
Exactly 2 people were in the conservatory.
Exactly 2 people were in the study.

Show the squares Paloma had left

The squares still open to Paloma once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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 Margot 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 Vasco were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Wren were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Yago actually told you:

Yago was NOT north of Paloma.
Yago was NOT in the same column as the armchair.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 83 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Nestor in Library (row 1, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Vasco stood in Cellar (row 2, column 3), Nestor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Wren in Library (row 1, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Paloma in Ballroom (row 8, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 79 squares fell the same way.

Nestor can only be in Study (row 3, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Yago, in Gallery (row 9, column 7). Yago lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Office, Garden, Rotunda, Vault, Atrium, Library. Nineteen statements, 22 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; 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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · 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.

Nico was somewhere west of Gilda.
Nico and the Doctor were in different rooms.
Nico was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 6 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 6 of 64.
Jonas was somewhere west of Kurt.
Jonas was in the same row as the chest. if true, leaves 6 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 6 of 64.
Elena was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 22 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 22 of 64.
Elena was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 5 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 5 of 64.
Kurt was somewhere east of the Heiress.
Kurt was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 7 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 7 of 64.
Kurt was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 1 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 1 of 64.
Beatrix was somewhere north of Gilda.
Beatrix was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 7 of 64
Gilda was somewhere west of the Diva.
Gilda was in the same row as the sofa. if true, leaves 9 of 64
Lidia was somewhere south of Xavier.
Xavier was somewhere north of Elena.
Xavier was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Exactly 2 people were in the office.
Exactly 2 people were in the library.

Show the squares Elena had left

The squares still open to Elena once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 64.

Unmasking the liar

If Nico were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Jonas were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Elena were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Kurt were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Xavier actually told you:

Xavier was NOT north of Elena.
Xavier was NOT west of the Gardener.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Nico can only be in Vault (row 3, column 7) — down from 6 possible squares.
Jonas can only be in Rotunda (row 7, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Elena can only be in Rotunda (row 6, column 4) — down from 5 possible squares.
Milo can only be in Library (row 4, column 5) — down from 64 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Office (row 2, column 2) — down from 7 possible squares.
Gilda can only be in Library (row 5, column 8) — down from 9 possible squares.
Lidia can only be in Atrium (row 9, column 9) — down from 64 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Gallery (row 8, column 6) — down from 64 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.

Xavier's motive would have been inheritance.
Elena's motive would have been jealousy.
Lidia's motive would have been revenge.
Beatrix's motive would have been obsession.
Jonas's motive would have been buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
Gilda was not driven by ambition.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gilda, in Library (row 5, column 8). Xavier lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Gilda is blackmail.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Gilda 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 standard docket opened with a quick stroll through The Movie Studio, where a guest detective set the benchmark at ten seconds across forty attempts. Proceedings moved briskly through The Courtroom in eighteen seconds and boarded The Night Express, resolved in thirty-six seconds. The tracks grew treacherous on the larger ten-by-eight layout of The Night Express, where uncovering a motive halved the field, though a guest detective still cracked it in three minutes and twenty seconds. At Blackbriar Manor, the presence of a liar tested the remaining investigators, with a guest detective leading the four solutions in five minutes and sixteen seconds.

Against the clock, the pressure mounted across varied terrain. The Repair Shop was mended in seventeen seconds, Movie Night saw a flawless run topped at thirty seconds, and A Walk in the Park yielded five clearances, the best at fifty-seven seconds. Investigators then navigated the seven rooms of The Zoo in three minutes and thirteen seconds. The day concluded at The Museum of Curiosities, a nine-by-nine puzzle featuring both a liar and a required motive, where only two detectives ventured and a guest detective claimed the sole recorded solution in eleven minutes and twenty-six seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 10s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 18s · Medium: a guest detective — 0m 36s · Hard: a guest detective — 3m 20s · Expert: a guest detective — 5m 16s · Beginner · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 17s · Easy · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 30s · Medium · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 57s · Hard · time attack: a guest detective — 3m 13s · Expert · time attack: a guest detective — 11m 26s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 27 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 Movie Studio

Margot (professor) is in custody — the case was closed by 24 detectives.

Easy — The Courtroom

Ruben (curator) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 22 detectives.

Medium — The Night Express

Greta (professor) was named and charged; 21 detectives closed this one.

Hard — The Night Express

The cell door shut on Yolanda (chef), on the evidence of 7 detectives. The motive — ambition — was proved along with the name.

Expert — Blackbriar Manor

4 detectives put Yago (magician) away before the day was out. Yago lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop

Jimena (journalist) is in custody — the case was closed by 4 detectives.

Easy · time attack — Movie Night

Tristan (butler) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 4 detectives.

Medium · time attack — A Walk in the Park

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

Hard · time attack — The Zoo

The cell door shut on Julia (diva), on the evidence of 5 detectives.

Expert · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

one detective put Gilda (doctor) away before the day was out. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name. Xavier lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 26 August

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