Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 31 August 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-08-31 — 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 Courtroom

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Evidence Room, Judge's Chambers, Courtroom. Seven statements, five 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. C — carpet (square stays free) · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Irene was in the courtroom. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 5 of 22.
  2. Irene was in row 2. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 1 of 22.
  3. Kira was in the bottom row. leaves 4 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 4 of 22.
  4. Queralt was in the rightmost column. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 5 of 22.
  5. Queralt was in the evidence room. leaves 3 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 3 of 22.
  6. Sol was in the evidence room. leaves 8 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 8 of 22.
  7. Sol was in column 2. leaves 2 of 22 squares
Show the squares Sol had left
PCGFW
The squares still open to Sol once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 22.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kira, in Judge's Chambers (row 5, column 3).

Show the solved board
PCGFWIKQ✕S
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kira is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Kitchen, Living room, Pantry, Study. Seven statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. 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 · C — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Gilda was in the pantry. leaves 4 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 4 of 19.
  2. Octavio was in the study. leaves 4 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 4 of 19.
  3. Octavio was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 1 of 19.
  4. Percy was in row 4. leaves 5 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 5 of 19.
  5. Percy was in column 3. leaves 1 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 1 of 19.
  6. Vivienne was in row 2. leaves 3 of 19 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPTAFBCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 3 of 19.
  7. Vivienne was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show the squares Gilda had left
CPTAFBCWW
The squares still open to Gilda once their own statements are taken into account — 4 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CPTAFBCWWG✕OPV
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Percy is ringed in red.

Easy — The Cookie Thief

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Hallway, Dining Room, Kitchen, Attic, Guest Room. Seven statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 10 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 · C — Christmas tree · PA — painting (square stays free) · PL — plate of cookies · PO — potted plant · S — stove

The testimony

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

  1. Oscar was beside the Christmas tree. leaves 2 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 2 of 30.
  2. Luna was in the guest room. leaves 4 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 4 of 30.
  3. Simon was beside the stove. leaves 3 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 3 of 30.
  4. Simon was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 1 of 30.
  5. Ignacio was in row 3. leaves 6 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 6 of 30.
  6. Ignacio was in the dining room. leaves 3 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 3 of 30.
  7. Bianca was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show the squares Oscar had left
ACPOSPLPLBPAPA
The squares still open to Oscar 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
ACPOSPLPLBPAPAOLS✕IB
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Simon is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Office, Terrace, Bar, Lobby, Kitchen. Eight statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Delia was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 2 of 29.
  2. Vasco was in the terrace or in the bar. leaves 8 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 8 of 29.
  3. Rufus was in the top row. leaves 6 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 6 of 29.
  4. Rufus was in the bar. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 2 of 29.
  5. Ursula was in column 2. leaves 5 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 5 of 29.
  6. Ursula was in the lobby. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACADFCHFPOPIGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 2 of 29.
  7. Julian was in row 3. leaves 3 of 29 squares
  8. Julian was beside the desk. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show the squares Delia had left
ACADFCHFPOPIGW
The squares still open to Delia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
ACADFCHFPOPIGW✕DVRUJ
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ursula is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — The Hiking Trip

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Clara was in the same row as the crate. leaves 3 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 3 of 36.
  2. Clara was in the same room as Milo.
  3. Clara was beside the campfire. leaves 1 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 1 of 36.
  4. Milo was in the southern half of the scene. leaves 14 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 14 of 36.
  5. Wanda was in the same column as the crate. leaves 5 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 5 of 36.
  6. Wanda was in the same row as the tent. leaves 1 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 1 of 36.
  7. Sofia was in the same column as the desk. leaves 5 of 36 squares
    Show it on the board
    TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
    The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 5 of 36.
  8. Ignacio was in the same row as the tree. leaves 6 of 36 squares
  9. Ignacio was in the cave or in the campsite. leaves 3 of 36 squares
  10. Elias was beside the bear. leaves 2 of 36 squares
Show the squares Elias had left
TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFS
The squares still open to Elias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 36.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
TRSTECRDRCABOBEBOFFSCMWSIE✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Sofia is ringed in red.

Medium — The Zoo

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Elephant yard, Aviary, Penguin pool, Main path, Gift shop. Nine statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 10 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 · P — penguin · S — shrub · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Vera was in the same row as the crocodile. leaves 4 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 4 of 40.
  2. Vera was beside the tree. leaves 1 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 1 of 40.
  3. Percy was beside a window. leaves 3 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 3 of 40.
  4. Greta was in the same row as the crate. leaves 7 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 7 of 40.
  5. Greta was in the same room as Tobias.
  6. Boris was in the same row as the bear. leaves 5 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 5 of 40.
  7. Boris was in the aviary or in the main path. leaves 2 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 2 of 40.
  8. Tobias was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 40 squares
  9. Jimena was beside the penguin. leaves 2 of 40 squares
Show the squares Boris had left
PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW
The squares still open to Boris once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 40.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
PCRBOEBESFCOTSBNDWW✕VPGBTJ
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Jimena is ringed in red.

Hard — The Theatre Royal

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Bar, Foyer, Stage, Dressing, Balcony, Pit, Wings. Twelve statements, sixteen 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 6 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. 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 · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PI — piano · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Gilda was all alone in a room.
  2. Beatrix was somewhere north of the Professor.
  3. Estela was somewhere south of the Heiress.
  4. Estela was in the same column as the window. leaves 8 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 8 of 69.
  5. Queralt was all alone in a room.
  6. Queralt was exactly 5 columns west of the Heiress.
  7. Dante was in column 9. leaves 7 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 7 of 69.
  8. Dante was in the same row as the carpet. leaves 1 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 1 of 69.
  9. Ines was in the same row as the harp. leaves 8 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 8 of 69.
  10. Ines was exactly 6 columns west of Gilda.
  11. Percy was exactly 3 columns east of Ines.
  12. Percy was exactly 3 rows south of the Chef.
Show the squares Estela had left
ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPA
The squares still open to Estela once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 69.
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.

Show what goes wrong
ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPADG
Suppose Gilda stood on the dashed square. Queralt 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: Dante, in Bar (row 3, column 9).

Show the solved board
ACACHFPIGSDHCRCRDFCHWPAGBEQD✕IP
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dante is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Royal Greenhouse

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Palm house, Shed, Orchid room, Seed bank, Apiary, Fountain. Sixteen statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

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) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — 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 8 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

  1. Irene was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 7 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 7 of 53.
  2. Irene was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 1 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 1 of 53.
  3. Irene was not seated on anything.
  4. Boris was in the same column as the flower bush. if true, leaves 5 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 5 of 53.
  5. Boris was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 1 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 1 of 53.
  6. Cesar was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 46 of 53
  7. Cesar was somewhere east of Irene.
  8. Leo was in the palm house or in the tool shed. if true, leaves 14 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 14 of 53.
  9. Leo was somewhere north of the Chauffeur.
  10. Wilfred was somewhere north of Cesar.
  11. Wilfred was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 7 of 53
    Show it on the board
    AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 7 of 53.
  12. Wilfred was touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 2 of 53
  13. Julia was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 6 of 53
  14. Julia was somewhere north of the Heiress.
  15. Ulises was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 7 of 53
  16. Ulises was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 53
Show the squares Wilfred had left
AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWM
The squares still open to Wilfred once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 53.
Unmasking the liar

One of these 8 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Cesar actually told you:

  1. Cesar was NOT in the same row as the crate.
  2. Cesar was NOT east of Irene.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

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.

  1. Ulises's motive would have been debts.
  2. Irene's motive would have been ambition.
  3. Leo's motive would have been obsession.
  4. Wilfred's motive would have been inheritance.
  5. Boris was not driven by revenge.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Boris, in Apiary (row 3, column 8). Cesar lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Boris is blackmail.

Show the solved board
AFLGPFOCRTDCHCASOCHSTTWMIBCLW✕JU
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Boris is ringed in red.

Expert — The Courtroom

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Jury Box, Holding Cell, Press Room, Evidence Room, Hallway, Archive, Gallery. Twelve 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 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Hilda was exactly 1 row south of the Heiress.
  2. Luna and Yago were alone together in one room.
  3. Rufus was exactly 3 columns east of the Professor.
  4. Dora was exactly 2 rows south of Luna.
  5. Dora was exactly 3 columns east of Boris.
  6. Wren was all alone in a room.
  7. Boris was somewhere south of Rufus.
  8. Boris was exactly 1 row south of the Diva.
  9. Yago was exactly 4 columns west of the Diva.
  10. Yago was in the same column as a carpet. leaves 29 of 77 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCAPOADSCOCLBCLCOCABFDPOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 29 of 77.
  11. Vivienne was in the same column as a window. leaves 22 of 77 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCAPOADSCOCLBCLCOCABFDPOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 22 of 77.
  12. Vivienne was exactly 3 rows south of Hilda.
Show the squares Vivienne had left
FCAPOADSCOCLBCLCOCABFDPOWWPA
The squares still open to Vivienne once their own statements are taken into account — 22 of 77.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 233 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Show what goes wrong
FCAPOADSCOCLBCLCOCABFDPOWWPAH
Suppose Hilda stood on the dashed square. Yago then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 229 squares fell the same way.

The motive

This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

  1. Hilda's motive would have been obsession.
  2. Wren's motive would have been debts.
  3. Yago's motive would have been blackmail.
  4. Vivienne's motive would have been buried secrets.
  5. Rufus's motive would have been ambition.
  6. Dora was not driven by revenge.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Dora is jealousy.

Show the solved board
FCAPOADSCOCLBCLCOCABFDPOWWPAHLRD✕WBYV
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dora is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Cookie Thief

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Dining Room, Living room, Hallway, Guest Room, Cellar, Kitchen, Nursery, Sunroom. Twenty statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the nine was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — Christmas tree · GI — gift · GR — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · PL — plate of cookies · PO — potted plant · S — stove

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.

  1. Ignacio was in the same row as a stove. if true, leaves 12 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 12 of 70.
  2. Ignacio was somewhere west of the Journalist.
  3. Wanda was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 8 of 70.
  4. Wanda was in the same row as a bookshelf. if true, leaves 2 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 2 of 70.
  5. Wanda was somewhere north of Milo.
  6. Kira was somewhere west of the Magician.
  7. Kira was not beside the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 68 of 70
  8. Kira was in the same row as the bed. if true, leaves 13 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 13 of 70.
  9. Selma was beside a painting. if true, leaves 2 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 2 of 70.
  10. Yago was somewhere east of Petra.
  11. Yago was in row 3. if true, leaves 9 of 70
    Show it on the board
    PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 9 of 70.
  12. Yago was in the same column as a painting. if true, leaves 2 of 70
  13. Bianca was somewhere east of Selma.
  14. Bianca was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 18 of 70
  15. Bianca was in the same column as the plate of cookies. if true, leaves 2 of 70
  16. Milo was in the same column as a bookshelf. if true, leaves 7 of 70
  17. Petra was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 52 of 70
  18. Petra was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 46 of 70
  19. Exactly 2 people were in the nursery.
  20. Exactly 2 people were in the hallway.
Show the squares Wanda had left
PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPA
The squares still open to Wanda 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.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Petra actually told you:

  1. Petra was NOT in the same row as the carpet.
  2. Petra was NOT in the same column as the potted plant.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 44 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Show what goes wrong
PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPAK
Suppose Kira stood on the dashed square. Ignacio then has nowhere left to stand: every square still open to them is shaded out.

Another 40 squares fell the same way.

The motive

This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 8 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

  1. Ignacio's motive would have been revenge.
  2. Yago's motive would have been buried secrets.
  3. Kira's motive would have been ambition.
  4. Selma's motive would have been inheritance.
  5. Wanda's motive would have been obsession.
  6. Milo was not driven by blackmail.
  7. Milo was not driven by debts.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Milo is jealousy.

Show the solved board
PLGRBEPOCHBOASGICACHBOSGIPAPAIWK✕SYBMP
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Milo 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

On the untimed docket for the thirty-first of August, chentian set the pace early across three scenes, closing The Courtroom in 13 seconds, The Cookie Thief in 26 seconds, and The Zoo in 47 seconds. The investigative work expanded at The Theatre Royal, resolved in 35 seconds by a guest detective, while an expert return to The Courtroom introduced a motive requirement, mastered by a guest detective in 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

Against the clock, a guest detective claimed every recorded clearance. Swift inquiries settled Movie Night in 37 seconds, The Hotel Meridian in 38 seconds, and The Hiking Trip in 37 seconds. Complexity deepened inside The Royal Greenhouse, where both a liar and a required motive stretched the winning effort by a guest detective to 11 minutes and 38 seconds. The day concluded with an expert time-attack board at The Cookie Thief, featuring eight rooms, a liar, and a motive requirement, which saw no plays and went unsolved.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 13s · Easy: chentian — 0m 26s · Medium: chentian — 0m 47s · Hard: a guest detective — 0m 35s · Expert: a guest detective — 2m 36s · Beginner · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 37s · Easy · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 38s · Medium · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 37s · Hard · time attack: a guest detective — 11m 38s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 31 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 Courtroom

IKQ✕S
Kira (Journalist)The cell door shut on Kira (journalist), on the evidence of 11 detectives.

Easy — The Cookie Thief

OLS✕IB
Simon (Curator)9 detectives put Simon (curator) away before the day was out.

Medium — The Zoo

✕VPGBTJ
Jimena (Journalist)Jimena (journalist) is in custody — the case was closed by 9 detectives.

Hard — The Theatre Royal

GBEQD✕IP
Dante (Colonel)Dante (colonel) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 5 detectives.

Expert — The Courtroom

HLRD✕WBYV
Dora (Heiress)Dora (heiress) was named and charged; 3 detectives closed this one. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name.

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

G✕OPV
Percy (Butler)The cell door shut on Percy (butler), on the evidence of 2 detectives.

Easy · time attack — The Hotel Meridian

✕DVRUJ
Ursula (Professor)2 detectives put Ursula (professor) away before the day was out.

Medium · time attack — The Hiking Trip

CMWSIE✕
Sofia (Chef)Sofia (chef) is in custody — the case was closed by 3 detectives.

Hard · time attack — The Royal Greenhouse

IBCLW✕JU
Boris (Chauffeur)Boris (chauffeur) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name. Cesar lied for them and was never charged.

Expert · time attack — The Cookie Thief

IWK✕SYBMP
Milo (Magician)Nobody named Milo (magician); the file stays open. Last seen boarding the night ferry with a single case. The jealousy has nothing left to feed on. Petra lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 30 August

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