Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 1 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-01 — 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 Golf Course

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Rough, Bunker, Green, Pro Shop. Six statements, seven 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.

The testimony

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

Lorenzo was in the rough. leaves 5 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 5 of 19.
Lorenzo was in column 2. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 1 of 19.
Greta was in column 3. leaves 4 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 4 of 19.
Greta was in the green. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 1 of 19.
Abel was in the pro shop. leaves 2 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 2 of 19.
Walter was in the sand bunker. leaves 4 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 4 of 19.

Show the squares Abel had left

The squares still open to Abel 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:

Yolanda can only be in Green (row 5, column 1) — down from 19 possible squares.
Abel can only be in Pro Shop (row 2, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Bunker (row 4, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Hiking Trip

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Ranger Station, Overlook, Forest Path. Seven statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. F — floor lamp · R — radio · S — shrub · T — tree

The testimony

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

Ada was in the ranger station. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 4 of 20.
Ursula was in row 4. leaves 4 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 4 of 20.
Ursula was in the forest path. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 1 of 20.
Kurt was in row 2. leaves 3 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 3 of 20.
Kurt was in the overlook. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 1 of 20.
Oscar was in the forest path. leaves 11 of 20 squares
Oscar was in column 4. leaves 2 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 2 of 20.

Show the squares Oscar had left

The squares still open to Oscar once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 20.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Ada can only be in Ranger Station (row 5, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Overlook (row 3, column 5) — down from 20 possible squares.
Oscar can only be in Forest Path (row 1, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Backyard Garden

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Garden, Backyard, Sunroom, Shed. 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. BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · C — chest · D — desk · F — flower bush · P — painting (square stays free) · S — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Abel was in column 2. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 5 of 30.
Abel was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 1 of 30.
Tamara was beside the stove. leaves 3 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 3 of 30.
Victor was in column 4. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 5 of 30.
Victor was in the garden. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 2 of 30.
Cesar was beside the desk. leaves 3 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 3 of 30.
Paloma was in row 2. leaves 4 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:

Tamara can only be in Sunroom (row 4, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Garden (row 1, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Cesar can only be in Sunroom (row 5, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in Backyard (row 2, column 1) — down from 4 possible squares.
Sofia can only be in Garden (row 3, column 3) — down from 30 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Victor, in Garden (row 1, column 4).

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Repair Bay, Yard, Car Lift, Waiting Room. Seven statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Horacio was beside the window. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 1 of 29.
Selma was in the waiting room. leaves 5 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 5 of 29.
Kurt was in column 3. leaves 5 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 5 of 29.
Kurt was in the car lift. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 1 of 29.
Elias was in column 5. leaves 5 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 5 of 29.
Elias was in the yard. leaves 2 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 2 of 29.
Tobias was beside the potted plant. leaves 4 of 29 squares

Show the squares Elias had left

The squares still open to Elias 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:

Selma can only be in Waiting Room (row 6, column 6) — down from 5 possible squares.
Elias can only be in Yard (row 1, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Car Lift (row 3, column 4) — down from 29 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Repair Bay (row 2, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kurt, in Car Lift (row 5, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Kitchen, Bedroom, Backyard, Garden, Sunroom. Eight statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

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 · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · F — flower bush · P — painting (square stays free) · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Pablo was in the same room as Tamara.
Marina was beside the sofa. leaves 4 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 4 of 42.
Abel was beside a painting. leaves 2 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 2 of 42.
Tamara was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 6 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 6 of 42.
Tamara was in the same room as Selma.
Kaspar was in the kitchen or in the backyard. leaves 8 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 8 of 42.
Kaspar was somewhere south of the Heiress.
Selma was in the same column as the stove. leaves 5 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 5 of 42.

Show the squares Abel had left

The squares still open to Abel once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 42.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 75 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Pablo stood in Sunroom (row 1, column 1), Tamara would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Frida stood in Sunroom (row 1, column 1), Kaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Marina in Sunroom (row 1, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Abel in Sunroom (row 1, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 71 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Backyard Garden

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Patio, Living room, Garden, Shed, Kitchen, Pond. Nine statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 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) · BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — flower bush · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Beatrix was in the same room as Tobias.
Rita was in row 2. leaves 6 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 6 of 42.
Rita was in the same column as the window. leaves 1 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 1 of 42.
Estela was in the patio or in the garden. leaves 17 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 17 of 42.
Estela was in the same row as the chest. leaves 2 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 2 of 42.
Milo was in the same column as the carpet. leaves 13 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 13 of 42.
Tobias was beside the sofa. leaves 2 of 42 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 2 of 42.
Quentin was somewhere south of the Doctor.
Quentin was lying on the bed. leaves 2 of 42 squares

Show the squares Estela had left

The squares still open to Estela once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 42.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Felix can only be in Garden (row 3, column 3) — down from 42 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Living room (row 1, column 5) — down from 42 possible squares.
Estela can only be in Garden (row 5, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Milo can only be in Kitchen (row 7, column 2) — down from 13 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Living room (row 4, column 7) — down from 2 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Living room (row 6, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Royal Greenhouse

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Fountain, Potting shed, Shed, Seed bank, Palm house, Apiary. Twelve statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by 7 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Rita was somewhere south of Ximena.
Sol was somewhere east of Rita.
Sol was in the same column as a mirror. leaves 15 of 70 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 15 of 70.
Bianca was exactly 3 rows south of the Doctor.
Nadia was in the same column as the stove. leaves 7 of 70 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 7 of 70.
Wanda was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 9 of 70 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 9 of 70.
Ximena was in the same row as the crate. leaves 9 of 70 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 9 of 70.
Clara was somewhere east of Ximena.
Clara was all alone in a room.
Clara was exactly 1 column west of Wanda.
Clara was exactly 3 columns west of Rita.
Nobody was in the tool shed.

Show the squares Nadia had left

The squares still open to Nadia once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 70.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 93 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Rita stood in Seed bank (row 4, column 5), Clara would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ulises stood in Seed bank (row 1, column 6), Wanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Sol in Seed bank (row 2, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Bianca stood in Fountain (row 6, column 2), Wanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 89 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Sol, in Apiary (row 1, column 8).

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Conservatory, Library, Gallery, Cellar, Kitchen, Foyer, Ballroom. Twelve statements, fourteen 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 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 · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · 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, and how much of the board it rules out.

Ruben was somewhere west of the Diva.
Ofelia was in the same row as the statue. leaves 6 of 54 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 6 of 54.
Yago was exactly 4 rows north of Ivan.
Yago was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 7 of 54 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 7 of 54.
Celeste was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 54 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 6 of 54.
Celeste was somewhere west of the Diva.
Celeste was all alone in a room.
Greta was somewhere north of Yago.
Greta was exactly 1 column west of Ofelia.
Ivan was in the same column as the carpet. leaves 16 of 54 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 16 of 54.
Lorenzo was exactly 1 column west of Ivan.
Lorenzo was all alone in a room.

Show the squares Ofelia had left

The squares still open to Ofelia once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 54.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 94 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ruben stood in Ballroom (row 1, column 1), Greta would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ofelia stood in Gallery (row 5, column 2), Ruben would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Yago stood in Gallery (row 2, column 1), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Celeste stood in Foyer (row 8, column 3), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 90 squares fell the same way.

Ruben can only be in Gallery (row 4, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Royal Greenhouse

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Terrace, Palm house, Orchid room, Seed bank, Apiary, Fountain, Shed. Seventeen statements, seventeen 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 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 · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Petra was in the same column as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 15 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 15 of 68.
Petra was somewhere east of the Gardener.
Petra was somewhere west of Sol.
Tesa was in the same room as the Chauffeur.
Tesa was somewhere west of Leo.
Elias was somewhere north of Petra.
Elias was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Elias was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 8 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 8 of 68.
Leo was in the same row as the chest. if true, leaves 61 of 68
Leo was somewhere north of the Curator.
Rita was in the same column as the sofa. if true, leaves 17 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 17 of 68.
Rita was in the same row as the flower bush. if true, leaves 2 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 2 of 68.
Alistair was somewhere south of the Chef.
Sol was in the same row as the sofa. if true, leaves 7 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 7 of 68.
Sol was beside the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 1 of 68.
Fabio was in the same column as the tree. if true, leaves 7 of 68
Exactly 3 people were in the fountain court.

Show the squares Rita had left

The squares still open to Rita once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 68.

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 Petra were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Tesa were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Elias were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Rita were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Leo actually told you:

Leo was NOT in the same row as the chest.
Leo was NOT north of the Curator.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 147 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Petra stood in Seed bank (row 3, column 7), Tesa would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Tesa stood in Orchid room (row 2, column 3), Elias would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Elias stood in Shed (row 2, column 4), Alistair would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Leo stood in Orchid room (row 3, column 3), Rita would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 143 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Sol, in Seed bank (row 1, column 9). Leo lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Cookie Thief

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Cellar, Attic, Sunroom, Kitchen, Guest Room, Dining Room, Hallway, Living room. 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 · CL — clock · G — gift · 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.

Walter was somewhere west of Ignacio.
Walter was in the same column as the Christmas tree. if true, leaves 62 of 69
Ofelia was somewhere west of the Colonel.
Ofelia was in the same row as a gift. if true, leaves 13 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 13 of 69.
Ofelia and the Doctor were in different rooms.
Yago was not beside a gift. if true, leaves 66 of 69
Yago was in the hallway or in the living room. if true, leaves 17 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 17 of 69.
Yago was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 2 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 2 of 69.
Estela was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 8 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 8 of 69.
Victor was in the same column as a clock. if true, leaves 7 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 7 of 69.
Victor was somewhere east of Ignacio.
Victor was somewhere east of the Doctor.
Petra was in the same column as the Christmas tree. if true, leaves 7 of 69
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 7 of 69.
Petra was in the same row as a bookshelf. if true, leaves 2 of 69
Petra was somewhere south of Ignacio.
Quentin was somewhere south of the Professor.
Quentin was in the same column as the stove. if true, leaves 8 of 69
Ignacio was not beside the armchair. if true, leaves 65 of 69
Exactly 2 people were in the attic.
Exactly 2 people were in the guest room.

Show the squares Yago had left

The squares still open to Yago once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 69.

Unmasking the liar

If Ofelia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Yago were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Marina were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Estela were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Walter actually told you:

Walter was NOT west of Ignacio.
Walter was NOT in the same column as the Christmas tree.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 139 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Walter stood in Sunroom (row 1, column 4), Estela would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ofelia stood in Hallway (row 3, column 8), Yago would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Yago in Hallway (row 5, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Marina stood in Attic (row 1, column 1), Estela would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 135 squares fell the same way.

Walter can only be in Guest Room (row 2, column 9) — down from 5 possible squares.
Ofelia can only be in Cellar (row 7, column 6) — down from 6 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Attic (row 6, column 2) — down from 3 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.

Ofelia's motive would have been blackmail.
Ignacio's motive would have been ambition.
Quentin's motive would have been jealousy.
Walter's motive would have been obsession.
Victor's motive would have been debts.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Petra, in Attic (row 5, column 3). Walter lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Petra is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Petra 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 the first of September saw a single guest detective clear every scene. Proceedings began on the 5x5 greens of The Golf Course in 0m 16s, followed by two rounds in The Backyard Garden—a 6x6 layout solved in 0m 20s and a 7x7 grid cracked in 1m 06s. The docket moved next to The Royal Greenhouse, where a 10x8 hard case was solved in 2m 22s and an expert 9x9 board with seven rooms and a liar was settled in 2m 09s.

In time attack, chentian handled the active cases with quiet precision. A 5x5 route along The Hiking Trip went down in 0m 08s, followed by a 6x6 task at The Repair Shop in 0m 14s. Chentian then tackled a 7x7 board at The Backyard Garden in 2m 00s, and negotiated the seven rooms of an 8x8 Blackbriar Manor in 6m 06s. The final case, an eight-room 9x9 puzzle titled The Cookie Thief, carried both a liar and a required motive, but drew no attempts and zero solvers.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 16s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 20s · Medium: a guest detective — 1m 06s · Hard: a guest detective — 2m 22s · Expert: a guest detective — 2m 09s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 08s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 14s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 2m 00s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 6m 06s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 1 September 2026

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

Beginner — The Golf Course

Greta (journalist) was named and charged; 9 detectives closed this one.

Easy — The Backyard Garden

The cell door shut on Victor (gardener), on the evidence of 9 detectives.

Medium — The Backyard Garden

8 detectives put Estela (diva) away before the day was out.

Hard — The Royal Greenhouse

Sol (colonel) is in custody — the case was closed by 5 detectives.

Expert — The Royal Greenhouse

Sol (magician) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 4 detectives. Leo lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Hiking Trip

Kurt (chauffeur) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

The cell door shut on Kurt (magician), on the evidence of one detective.

Medium · time attack — The Backyard Garden

2 detectives put Marina (doctor) away before the day was out.

Hard · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

Greta (professor) is in custody — the case was closed by 2 detectives.

Expert · time attack — The Cookie Thief

Nobody named Petra (doctor); the file stays open. The harbormaster remembers a late rowboat and no lantern. The buried secrets stay buried. Walter lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 31 August

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