Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 3 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-03 — 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 Theatre Royal

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Stage, Balcony, Dressing. Eight statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 15 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) · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — piano · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Ivan was in column 3. leaves 4 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 4 of 20.
  2. Ivan was in row 2. leaves 1 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 1 of 20.
  3. Elena was in column 2. leaves 4 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 4 of 20.
  4. Elena was on the stage. leaves 2 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 2 of 20.
  5. Bianca was in row 4. leaves 4 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 4 of 20.
  6. Bianca was in the balcony. leaves 2 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    CAFGPCRCHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 2 of 20.
  7. Lorenzo was in the bottom row. leaves 4 of 20 squares
  8. Lorenzo was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show the squares Elena had left
CAFGPCRCHW
The squares still open to Elena 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CAFGPCRCHW✕IEBL
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ivan is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — The Theatre Royal

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Dressing, Office, Stage. Six statements, six 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · C — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · 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. Percy was in the dressing room. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 5 of 22.
  2. Percy was in column 4. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 1 of 22.
  3. Celeste was on the stage. leaves 6 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 6 of 22.
  4. Celeste was in row 2. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 1 of 22.
  5. Jimena was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 1 of 22.
  6. Horacio was on the stage. leaves 6 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCSADW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 22.
Show the squares Horacio had left
FCSADW
The squares still open to Horacio once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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: Jimena, in Office (row 5, column 5).

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

Easy — The Theatre Royal

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Bar, Wings, Balcony, Workshop, Foyer. Five statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and fewer statements than suspects — every line has to be squeezed twice.

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) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Horacio was beside the desk. leaves 3 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCRCADGACHCHHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 3 of 29.
  2. Rufus was in the bar. leaves 5 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCRCADGACHCHHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 5 of 29.
  3. Elena was beside the armchair. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCRCADGACHCHHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 1 of 29.
  4. Ines was beside the grandfather clock. leaves 3 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCRCADGACHCHHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 3 of 29.
  5. Gordon was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    FCRCADGACHCHHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 3 of 29.
Show the squares Horacio had left
FCRCADGACHCHHW
The squares still open to Horacio once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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: Elena, in Balcony (row 3, column 6).

Show the solved board
FCRCADGACHCHHWHR✕EIG
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Elena is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Theatre Royal

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Foyer, Office, Dressing, Wings, Bar. Seven statements, nine 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · C — carpet (square stays free) · D — desk · F — floor lamp · H — harp · P — 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. Julia was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 2 of 31.
  2. Tristan was beside the carpet. leaves 2 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 2 of 31.
  3. Victor was in the top row. leaves 6 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 6 of 31.
  4. Victor was in the office. leaves 1 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 1 of 31.
  5. Ofelia was in column 4. leaves 6 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 6 of 31.
  6. Ofelia was in the wings. leaves 1 of 31 squares
    Show it on the board
    DPHCSAFPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 1 of 31.
  7. Gaspar was in the bar. leaves 8 of 31 squares
Show the squares Julia had left
DPHCSAFPW
The squares still open to Julia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 31.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
DPHCSAFPWJTVOG✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ofelia is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — The Theatre Royal

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Pit, Bar, Stage, Dressing, Office, Foyer. Seven 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 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · P — 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. Wanda was beside the piano. leaves 2 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 2 of 41.
  2. Ulises was beside the grandfather clock. leaves 3 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 3 of 41.
  3. Estela was beside the carpet. leaves 3 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 3 of 41.
  4. Yolanda was beside the desk. leaves 3 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 3 of 41.
  5. Dorian was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 13 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 13 of 41.
  6. Nico was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 6 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 6 of 41.
  7. Nico was beside the armchair. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Show the squares Wanda had left
CHCAGADHPFSCHCRW
The squares still open to Wanda once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 41.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CHCAGADHPFSCHCRWW✕UEYDN
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nico is ringed in red.

Medium — The Theatre Royal

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Office, Workshop, Pit, Foyer, Wings. Eleven statements, fifteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the seven was lying throughout.

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

Cracked by 9 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. One of these 7 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

  1. Jonas was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 5 of 40
    Show it on the board
    FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 5 of 40.
  2. Jonas was in the same row as the sofa. if true, leaves 1 of 40
    Show it on the board
    FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 1 of 40.
  3. Octavio was in the same room as Abel.
  4. Frida was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 34 of 40
  5. Frida was in the eastern half of the scene. if true, leaves 24 of 40
  6. Abel was somewhere north of the Chauffeur.
  7. Abel was in the same room as the Magician.
  8. Dorian was beside a window. if true, leaves 3 of 40
    Show it on the board
    FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 3 of 40.
  9. Beatrix was on the carpet. if true, leaves 2 of 40
    Show it on the board
    FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 2 of 40.
  10. Beatrix was somewhere west of the Chauffeur.
  11. Beatrix was beside the armchair. if true, leaves 1 of 40
    Show it on the board
    FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 1 of 40.
Show the squares Dorian had left
FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPA
The squares still open to Dorian once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 40.
Unmasking the liar

One of these 7 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 2 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Frida actually told you:

  1. Frida was NOT in the same column as the armchair.
  2. Frida was NOT in the eastern half of the scene.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 45 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 41 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board
FACHPIHGDCASCRDCRWWPAJOFADB✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Jonas is ringed in red.

Hard — The Theatre Royal

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Workshop, Foyer, Stage, Wings, Bar, Pit, Office. Fourteen 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.

The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 7 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · P — 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. Irene was in the same row as a crate. leaves 17 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 17 of 70.
  2. Irene was exactly 3 columns east of the Journalist.
  3. Abel was exactly 4 rows north of the Chauffeur.
  4. Abel was exactly 1 column east of Irene.
  5. Horacio was all alone in a room.
  6. Horacio was in the same column as the chest. leaves 7 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 7 of 70.
  7. Horacio was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 1 of 70.
  8. Nadia was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 9 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 9 of 70.
  9. Nadia was in the same column as the piano. leaves 1 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 1 of 70.
  10. Nadia was exactly 6 columns east of Luna.
  11. Sol was all alone in a room.
  12. Sol was somewhere east of Luna.
  13. Luna was all alone in a room.
  14. Wilfred was somewhere east of Irene.
Show the squares Irene had left
DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW
The squares still open to Irene once their own statements are taken into account — 17 of 70.
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 squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 3 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 1 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.

  1. Luna's motive would have been obsession.
  2. Sol's motive would have been ambition.
  3. Horacio's motive would have been blackmail.
  4. Nadia's motive would have been jealousy.
  5. Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Wilfred, in Stage (row 8, column 9).

The only motive left standing for Wilfred is buried secrets.

Show the solved board
DAHSGPCRFCHCACRDHW✕IAHNSLW
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Wilfred is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Theatre Royal

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Pit, Office, Workshop, Balcony, Wings, Stage. Ten 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · CR — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · H — harp · P — 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. Horacio was somewhere south of Yolanda.
  2. Ofelia was somewhere east of the Magician.
  3. Ofelia was exactly 4 rows north of the Chauffeur.
  4. Sol was exactly 3 columns west of the Chef.
  5. Sol was in the same row as the chest. leaves 7 of 53 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 7 of 53.
  6. Celeste was beside the harp. leaves 3 of 53 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 3 of 53.
  7. Yolanda was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 7 of 53 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 7 of 53.
  8. Vasco was somewhere north of the Professor.
  9. Vasco was in the same column as the desk. leaves 6 of 53 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 6 of 53.
  10. Tobias was beside the desk. leaves 3 of 53 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 3 of 53.
Show the squares Celeste had left
CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPW
The squares still open to Celeste once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 53.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 72 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 68 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ofelia, in Balcony (row 2, column 5).

Show the solved board
CHHPCLCRADFCASFCRCLPWHOSCYV✕T
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ofelia is ringed in red.

Expert — The Theatre Royal

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Wings, Foyer, Bar, Stage, Pit, Balcony, Dressing. Nineteen statements, fifteen 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 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 · P — piano · S — sofa (square stays free) · 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.

  1. Ursula was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 8 of 70.
  2. Ursula was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 1 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 1 of 70.
  3. Ursula was in the same room as Zeno.
  4. Frida was somewhere south of the Curator.
  5. Frida was in the same row as a chest. if true, leaves 15 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Frida: 15 of 70.
  6. Frida was in the same column as the sofa. if true, leaves 4 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Frida: 4 of 70.
  7. Zeno was in the bottom row. if true, leaves 63 of 70
  8. Zeno was in the same room as Nestor.
  9. Nestor was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 8 of 70.
  10. Nestor was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 1 of 70
    Show it on the board
    HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 1 of 70.
  11. Gaspar was in the same row as a chest. if true, leaves 15 of 70
  12. Ofelia was somewhere south of Alma.
  13. Ofelia was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 14 of 70
  14. Simon was somewhere north of the Butler.
  15. Simon was in the same column as the harp. if true, leaves 8 of 70
  16. Alma was somewhere east of Zeno.
  17. Alma was somewhere west of the Curator.
  18. Alma was somewhere north of the Journalist.
  19. Exactly 3 people were in the orchestra pit.
Show the squares Frida had left
HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFW
The squares still open to Frida once their own statements are taken into account — 4 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 Zeno survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Zeno actually told you:

  1. Zeno was NOT in the bottom row.
  2. Zeno was NOT in the same room as Nestor.
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 squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 50 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 46 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. Alma's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Ofelia's motive would have been revenge.
  3. Frida's motive would have been obsession.
  4. Simon's motive would have been blackmail.
  5. Ursula's motive would have been inheritance.
  6. Nestor was not driven by ambition.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Nestor is debts.

Show the solved board
HCHSFDACAPCRGPCHDFWUFZNGOSA✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nestor is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Theatre Royal

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Pit, Bar, Foyer, Stage, Workshop, Balcony, Office. Eighteen 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.

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

  1. Quentin was in the same column as a piano. if true, leaves 15 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 15 of 70.
  2. Quentin was somewhere west of the Diva.
  3. Ximena was somewhere north of Estela.
  4. Ruben was somewhere south of the Colonel.
  5. Ruben was somewhere west of the Butler.
  6. Tesa was somewhere west of the Butler.
  7. Tesa was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Tesa: 8 of 70.
  8. Tesa was somewhere east of the Diva.
  9. Estela was right beside the Butler, in the same room.
  10. Estela was somewhere east of Dora.
  11. Kurt was somewhere east of the Heiress.
  12. Kurt was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 8 of 70.
  13. Kurt was in the same row as the window. if true, leaves 1 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 1 of 70.
  14. Dora was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 6 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 6 of 70.
  15. Vasco was in column 8. if true, leaves 9 of 70
    Show it on the board
    GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 9 of 70.
  16. Vasco was in row 5. if true, leaves 1 of 70
  17. Exactly 2 people were in the workshop.
  18. Exactly 3 people were in the foyer.
Show the squares Dora had left
GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPA
The squares still open to Dora once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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 Estela survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Estela actually told you:

  1. Estela was NOT right beside the Butler in the same room.
  2. Estela was NOT east of Dora.
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 squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 46 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 42 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dora, in Workshop (row 6, column 5). Estela lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board
GDCRASCHCAHPIFPIASHDCHWPAQ✕XRTEKDV
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dora 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 Cartographer’s Debt — The accomplice at The Theatre Royal is charged: 8 independent detectives put the same name to the same lie.

The stage was set entirely at The Theatre Royal on 3 September 2026, where ten distinct investigations unfolded across the boards. Standard cases offered a steady escalation of theatrical deception. The 5x5 beginner and 6x6 easy boards kept matters direct, each solved quickest by a guest detective in 17 seconds and 26 seconds, respectively. Untruths entered the medium 7x7 case, where a liar tripped up several sleuths before a guest detective closed it in 1 minute and 10 seconds. Motive requirements complicated the 10x8 hard grid, solved fastest by a guest detective in 2 minutes and 53 seconds, while the 9x9 expert case demanded both unraveling a liar and establishing motive, cracked by a guest detective in 3 minutes and 32 seconds.

Against the clock, solitary investigator chentian took on every time attack assignment without hesitation. Moving through The Theatre Royal's wings, chentian secured the 5x5 beginner room in 10 seconds, the 6x6 easy layout in 16 seconds, and the 7x7 medium board in 17 seconds. The 8x8 hard grid yielded in 2 minutes and 38 seconds, leaving only the 9x9 expert mystery, where an untruthful witness stretched chentian's final sweep to 4 minutes and 7 seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 17s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 26s · Medium: a guest detective — 1m 10s · Hard: a guest detective — 2m 53s · Expert: a guest detective — 3m 32s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 10s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 16s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 17s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 2m 38s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 4m 07s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 3 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 Theatre Royal

✕IEBL
Ivan (Curator)Ivan (curator) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 14 detectives.

Easy — The Theatre Royal

HR✕EIG
Elena (Professor)Elena (professor) was named and charged; 10 detectives closed this one.

Medium — The Theatre Royal

JOFADB✕
Jonas (Chauffeur)The cell door shut on Jonas (chauffeur), on the evidence of 8 detectives. Frida lied for them and was never charged.

Hard — The Theatre Royal

✕IAHNSLW
Wilfred (Magician)6 detectives put Wilfred (magician) away before the day was out. The motive — buried secrets — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Theatre Royal

UFZNGOSA✕
Nestor (Butler)Nestor (butler) is in custody — the case was closed by 5 detectives. The motive — debts — was proved along with the name. Zeno lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Theatre Royal

P✕CJH
Jimena (Diva)Jimena (diva) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective.

Easy · time attack — The Theatre Royal

JTVOG✕
Ofelia (Chef)Ofelia (chef) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Medium · time attack — The Theatre Royal

W✕UEYDN
Nico (Curator)The cell door shut on Nico (curator), on the evidence of one detective.

Hard · time attack — The Theatre Royal

HOSCYV✕T
Ofelia (Chef)one detective put Ofelia (chef) away before the day was out.

Expert · time attack — The Theatre Royal

Q✕XRTEKDV
Dora (Heiress)Dora (heiress) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective. Estela lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 2 September

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