Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 28 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-28 — 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 — A Walk in the Park

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Picnic area, Rose garden, Path, Duck pond. Four statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and fewer statements than suspects — every line has to be squeezed twice.

Cracked by 17 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. B — bench · C — crate · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · S — shrub

The testimony

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

Leo was in column 2. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 4 of 20.
Gordon was in the duck pond. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 4 of 20.
Xavier was in the bottom row. leaves 3 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 3 of 20.
Selma was in the top row. leaves 3 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 3 of 20.

Show the squares Xavier had left

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

Yolanda can only be in Picnic area (row 4, column 3) — down from 20 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Rose garden (row 3, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Gordon can only be in Duck pond (row 2, column 1) — down from 4 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Picnic area (row 5, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Selma can only be in Path (row 1, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Picnic area (row 5, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: TV Den, Kitchen, Study. Six statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Octavio was in the study. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 4 of 20.
Leo was in column 2. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 4 of 20.
Leo was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 1 of 20.
Paloma was in the TV den. leaves 6 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 6 of 20.
Bruno was in row 3. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 4 of 20.
Bruno was in column 4. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 1 of 20.

Show the squares Octavio had left

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

Octavio can only be in Study (row 2, column 1) — down from 4 possible squares.
Elias can only be in Kitchen (row 1, column 5) — down from 20 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in TV Den (row 4, column 3) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Royal Greenhouse

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

Cracked by 14 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) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — flower bush · P — potted plant · SO — stove · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Rita was in row 3. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 5 of 28.
Rita was in the apiary. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 1 of 28.
Tristan was beside a window. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 2 of 28.
Wilfred was in the tool shed. leaves 7 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 7 of 28.
Wilfred was in the top row. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 3 of 28.
Ximena was in the apiary. leaves 6 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 6 of 28.
Simon was beside the armchair. leaves 2 of 28 squares

Show the squares Tristan had left

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

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Tristan can only be in Palm house (row 6, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Shed (row 1, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Frida can only be in Palm house (row 2, column 1) — down from 28 possible squares.
Ximena can only be in Apiary (row 5, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.
Simon can only be in Potting shed (row 4, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Storeroom, Repair Bay, Yard, Paint Booth. Seven statements, nine 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. CO — computer · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Tobias was in the repair bay. leaves 7 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 7 of 30.
Bianca was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 5 of 30.
Bianca was beside the crate. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 1 of 30.
Victor was beside the radio. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 2 of 30.
Katia was on the oil slick. leaves 4 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 4 of 30.
Irene was in row 3. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 5 of 30.
Irene was in the paint booth. leaves 1 of 30 squares

Show the squares Victor had left

The squares still open to Victor once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 30.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Tobias can only be in Repair Bay (row 5, column 1) — down from 7 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Storeroom (row 2, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Storeroom (row 1, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Dorian can only be in Yard (row 4, column 4) — down from 30 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Lookout, Jungle, Lagoon, Wreck, Dock, Cliffs. Ten statements, eleven 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 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 — bench · BO — boulder · CA — campfire · CH — chest · 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.

Sofia was beside the boulder. leaves 3 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 3 of 38.
Sofia was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 1 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 1 of 38.
Celeste was in the same row as the tent. leaves 6 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 6 of 38.
Celeste was in the shipwreck or in the cliffs. leaves 4 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 4 of 38.
Xavier was in the same column as the bench. leaves 6 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 6 of 38.
Ignacio was touching the outer wall. leaves 18 of 38 squares
Ignacio was in the same column as the crate. leaves 1 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 1 of 38.
Boris was in the same column as the chest. leaves 5 of 38 squares
Boris was in the lookout or in the dock. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Nora was beside the tent. leaves 3 of 38 squares

Show the squares Boris had left

The squares still open to Boris 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:

Gilda can only be in Dock (row 2, column 3) — down from 38 possible squares.
Celeste can only be in Cliffs (row 4, column 7) — down from 4 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Lagoon (row 7, column 6) — down from 6 possible squares.
Boris can only be in Dock (row 3, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Nora can only be in Jungle (row 5, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Art School

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Sculpture Hall, Atelier, Supply Closet, Kiln Room, Life-Drawing Room. Ten statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 12 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 · M — mirror (square stays free) · 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.

Selma was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 3 of 39.
Bianca was in the same column as the easel. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 6 of 39.
Bianca was in the same room as the Curator.
Ignacio was somewhere south of the Diva.
Ignacio was in the same column as the statue. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 6 of 39.
Victor was in the sculpture hall or in the supply closet. leaves 13 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 13 of 39.
Victor was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 1 of 39.
Quentin was in the same row as the crate. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 39.
Elena was in the sculpture hall or in the life-drawing room. leaves 13 of 39 squares
Elena was in column 5. leaves 1 of 39 squares

Show the squares Selma had left

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

Selma can only be in Supply Closet (row 3, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 2, column 4) — down from 39 possible squares.
Bianca can only be in Atelier (row 6, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Atelier (row 7, column 2) — down from 6 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Kiln Room (row 5, column 6) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Elena, in Life-Drawing Room (row 1, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Old Observatory

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Workshop, Lounge, Terrace, Dome, Garden, Library. Eleven statements, fifteen 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 11 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 · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · S — statue · TE — telescope · TR — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Victor was all alone in a room.
Victor was in the same column as the telescope. leaves 7 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 7 of 69.
Ofelia was all alone in a room.
Katia was in the same row as the statue. leaves 8 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 8 of 69.
Tamara was exactly 7 rows south of Abel.
Tamara was exactly 6 columns east of Katia.
Wanda was in the same row as the chest. leaves 9 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 9 of 69.
Helena was exactly 2 columns east of the Gardener.
Helena was exactly 2 rows north of the Professor.
Abel was in the same column as a window. leaves 16 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 16 of 69.
Nobody was in the lounge.

Show the squares Victor had left

The squares still open to Victor once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 69.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Abel can only be in Library (row 1, column 5) — down from 16 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 16 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Fabio stood in Terrace (row 2, column 1), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Victor stood in Terrace (row 4, column 3), Katia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ofelia in Garden (row 6, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Katia stood in Terrace (row 5, column 1), Victor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 12 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.

Wanda's motive would have been jealousy.
Katia's motive would have been obsession.
Victor's motive would have been debts.
Tamara's motive would have been inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.

The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Abel is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Locker Room, Print Room, Courtyard, Kiln Room, Sculpture Hall, Life-Drawing Room. Nine statements, fifteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by one detective so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bookshelf · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue

The testimony

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

Walter was in the same room as the Professor.
Victor was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 5 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 5 of 51.
Ivan was beside the painting. leaves 1 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 1 of 51.
Ivan was exactly 1 column east of Jimena.
Petra was beside the potted plant. leaves 4 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 4 of 51.
Greta was in the same column as the garbage can. leaves 7 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 7 of 51.
Jimena was in the same room as Ada.
Ada was somewhere south of Jimena.
Ada was in the same row as an easel. leaves 12 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 12 of 51.

Show the squares Petra had left

The squares still open to Petra once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 51.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 62 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Walter in Print Room (row 2, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Dante stood in Print Room (row 2, column 3), Jimena would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Victor in Kiln Room (row 3, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Petra in Sculpture Hall (row 5, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 58 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Botanical Garden

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Cactus House, Visitor Center, Lily Pond, Compost Yard, Seed Vault, Orchid House, Palm Pavilion. 23 statements, twelve 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.

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 · C — cactus · F — flower bush · L — lily pad (square stays free) · P — potted plant · SH — shrub · ST — statue · T — tree

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.

Fabio was somewhere east of Helena.
Fabio was not touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 40 of 70
Fabio was in the same row as the lily pad. if true, leaves 12 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 12 of 70.
Walter was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Walter and the Colonel were in different rooms.
Walter was in the same room as the Doctor.
Elena was in the same column as a potted plant. if true, leaves 14 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 14 of 70.
Elena was in the same row as the flower bush. if true, leaves 2 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 2 of 70.
Elena was somewhere south of the Journalist.
Elena was somewhere east of Gaspar.
Gaspar was somewhere north of Lorenzo.
Gaspar was somewhere east of the Journalist.
Helena was in the same column as the cactus. if true, leaves 6 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 6 of 70.
Helena was not in the orchid house. if true, leaves 2 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 2 of 70.
Lorenzo was in the same row as the boulder. if true, leaves 6 of 70
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 6 of 70.
Lorenzo was not in the lily pond. if true, leaves 4 of 70
Lorenzo was touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 1 of 70
Celeste was somewhere north of the Chef.
Celeste was somewhere east of Walter.
Beatrix was in the same column as the shrub. if true, leaves 6 of 70
Beatrix was somewhere north of the Butler.
Exactly 3 people were in the cactus house.
Exactly 2 people were in the seed vault.

Show the squares Elena had left

The squares still open to Elena once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 70.

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 Fabio were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Walter 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 Gaspar were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Celeste actually told you:

Celeste was NOT north of the Chef.
Celeste was NOT east of Walter.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Fabio can only be in Lily Pond (row 6, column 7) — down from 12 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Cactus House (row 3, column 5) — down from 70 possible squares.
Elena can only be in Seed Vault (row 8, column 8) — down from 2 possible squares.
Gaspar can only be in Cactus House (row 1, column 6) — down from 70 possible squares.
Kaspar can only be in Seed Vault (row 7, column 9) — down from 70 possible squares.
Helena can only be in Visitor Center (row 5, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Celeste can only be in Palm Pavilion (row 9, column 3) — down from 70 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Cactus House (row 4, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Elena, in Seed Vault (row 8, column 8). Celeste lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Movie Studio

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Wardrobe, Backlot, Sound Stage, Green Room, Desert Set, Editing Bay, Cafeteria. Twenty statements, eighteen 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. BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — cactus · CO — computer · CR — carpet (square stays free) · CT — crate · FI — film camera · FL — floor lamp · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — painting (square stays free) · T — television

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.

Beatrix was in the same column as a film camera. if true, leaves 15 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 15 of 69.
Beatrix was somewhere east of Tristan.
Beatrix was somewhere north of the Doctor.
Beatrix was in the same row as a mirror. if true, leaves 3 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 3 of 69.
Beatrix and Wanda were in different rooms.
Flora was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 8 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 8 of 69.
Marco was in the same row as a mirror. if true, leaves 15 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 15 of 69.
Marco was somewhere east of the Gardener.
Marco was somewhere east of the Curator.
Luna was in column 2. if true, leaves 9 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 9 of 69.
Luna was somewhere west of Flora.
Luna was somewhere east of the Gardener.
Tristan was somewhere south of the Curator.
Dante was in the same row as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 15 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 15 of 69.
Wanda was somewhere south of Dante.
Wanda was somewhere north of the Colonel.
Quentin was somewhere east of the Professor.
Quentin was not beside a bookshelf. if true, leaves 4 of 69
Exactly 2 people were in the cafeteria.
Exactly 2 people were in the backlot.

Show the squares Beatrix had left

The squares still open to Beatrix once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 69.

Unmasking the liar

If Selma were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Beatrix were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Flora were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Marco were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Quentin actually told you:

Quentin was NOT east of the Professor.
Quentin WAS beside a bookshelf.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Selma can only be in Backlot (row 2, column 4) — down from 69 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Editing Bay (row 4, column 8) — down from 3 possible squares.
Flora can only be in Backlot (row 1, column 7) — down from 8 possible squares.
Marco can only be in Sound Stage (row 9, column 9) — down from 15 possible squares.
Luna can only be in Wardrobe (row 5, column 2) — down from 9 possible squares.
Dante can only be in Cafeteria (row 6, column 1) — down from 15 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Green Room (row 3, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

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

Put Tristan in Cafeteria (row 8, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Wanda in Cafeteria (row 7, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

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.

Tristan's motive would have been jealousy.
Luna's motive would have been debts.
Quentin's motive would have been blackmail.
Beatrix's motive would have been inheritance.
Marco's motive would have been buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
Flora was not driven by ambition.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Flora, in Backlot (row 1, column 7). Quentin lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Flora is revenge.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Flora 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 standard docket for August 28 presented five distinct investigations. Solvers opened with A Walk in the Park, where a guest detective led the field in twenty-five seconds. The Royal Greenhouse saw chentian clear the board in seventeen seconds, while another guest detective set the mark at The Art School in one minute and sixteen seconds. Complications mounted at The Old Observatory, where determining motive was required; a guest detective solved it in two minutes and fourteen seconds. Finally, a liar was loose at The Botanical Garden, resolved best by a guest detective in four minutes and forty-five seconds.

Against the clock, speed dictated the day across five alternative boards. Anika claimed the fastest run at Movie Night, finishing in twelve seconds flat. Chentian swept the remaining timed investigations, taking The Repair Shop in sixteen seconds, The Mystery Island in twenty-nine seconds, and the timed variation of The Art School in two minutes and twenty-five seconds.

The day concluded with a demanding timed inquiry at The Movie Studio, which combined both a liar and a required motive. Chentian secured the lone solution in nine minutes and fifteen seconds, wrapping up the ledger.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 25s · Easy: chentian — 0m 17s · Medium: a guest detective — 1m 16s · Hard: a guest detective — 2m 14s · Expert: a guest detective — 4m 45s · Beginner · time attack: anika — 0m 12s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 16s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 29s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 2m 25s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 9m 15s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 28 August 2026

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

Beginner — A Walk in the Park

Xavier (curator) was named and charged; 17 detectives closed this one.

Easy — The Royal Greenhouse

The cell door shut on Tristan (colonel), on the evidence of 14 detectives.

Medium — The Art School

12 detectives put Elena (heiress) away before the day was out.

Hard — The Old Observatory

Abel (gardener) is in custody — the case was closed by 10 detectives. The motive — buried secrets — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Botanical Garden

Elena (chef) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 5 detectives. Celeste lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

Bruno (colonel) was named and charged; 7 detectives closed this one.

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

The cell door shut on Bianca (heiress), on the evidence of 4 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Mystery Island

2 detectives put Boris (chauffeur) away before the day was out.

Hard · time attack — The Art School

Victor (curator) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective.

Expert · time attack — The Movie Studio

Flora (diva) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective. The motive — revenge — was proved along with the name. Quentin lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 27 August

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