Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 4 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-04 — 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 Backyard Garden

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Living room, Bedroom, Patio, Garden. Seven statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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.

Irene was in row 2. leaves 5 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 5 of 24.
Irene was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 1 of 24.
Katia was in the patio. leaves 9 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 9 of 24.
Katia was in the rightmost column. leaves 2 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 2 of 24.
Pablo was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 5 of 24.
Pablo was in column 2. leaves 1 of 24 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 1 of 24.
Cesar was in column 4. leaves 5 of 24 squares

Show the squares Katia had left

The squares still open to Katia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 24.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Dora can only be in Bedroom (row 1, column 3) — down from 24 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Patio (row 4, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Cesar can only be in Patio (row 3, column 4) — down from 5 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Irene, in Bedroom (row 2, column 1).

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Kitchen, Bedroom, Pond. Eight statements, six 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.

The testimony

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

Ignacio was in the bedroom. leaves 8 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 8 of 22.
Ignacio was in column 3. leaves 2 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 2 of 22.
Enzo was in column 2. leaves 3 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 3 of 22.
Enzo was in the pond. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 22.
Sol was in row 2. leaves 4 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 4 of 22.
Sol was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 1 of 22.
Celeste was in row 4. leaves 4 of 22 squares
Celeste was in the kitchen. leaves 1 of 22 squares

Show the squares Ignacio had left

The squares still open to Ignacio 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:

Ignacio can only be in Bedroom (row 5, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ada can only be in Bedroom (row 3, column 4) — down from 22 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Backyard Garden

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Backyard, Pond, Shed, Sunroom, Patio. Seven statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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) · B — bed (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Dora was in the top row. leaves 6 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 6 of 32.
Dora was in column 5. leaves 1 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 1 of 32.
Boris was in the tool shed or in the patio. leaves 11 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 11 of 32.
Julian was in row 3. leaves 6 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 6 of 32.
Julian was in the backyard or in the patio. leaves 1 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 1 of 32.
Walter was in the sunroom. leaves 7 of 32 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 7 of 32.
Katia was beside the flower bush. leaves 1 of 32 squares

Show the squares Walter had left

The squares still open to Walter once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 32.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Boris can only be in Shed (row 4, column 2) — down from 11 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Sunroom (row 5, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.
Selma can only be in Pond (row 2, column 4) — down from 32 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Garden, Pond, Bedroom, Shed. Seven statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. 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 · C — chest · FL — floor lamp · FO — 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.

Alma was in the pond. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 6 of 30.
Gordon was beside the flower bush. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 2 of 30.
Vera was in column 5. leaves 4 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 4 of 30.
Vera was in the tool shed. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 2 of 30.
Wilfred was beside the bed. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 2 of 30.
Elena was in column 2. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 6 of 30.
Elena was in the top row. leaves 1 of 30 squares

Show the squares Gordon had left

The squares still open to Gordon 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:

Ursula can only be in Bedroom (row 2, column 3) — down from 30 possible squares.
Alma can only be in Pond (row 6, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Gordon can only be in Garden (row 5, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Vera can only be in Shed (row 3, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Shed (row 4, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Elena, in Bedroom (row 1, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Backyard Garden

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Shed, Patio, Bedroom, Backyard, Living room, Pond. Eleven statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 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. BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · F — flower bush · S — stove · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Hilda was on the carpet. leaves 4 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 4 of 49.
Hilda was beside the desk. leaves 1 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 1 of 49.
Milo was in row 2. leaves 7 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 7 of 49.
Milo was in column 2. leaves 1 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 1 of 49.
Milo was somewhere south of Greta.
Lidia was in the same room as Julia.
Greta was in the bedroom. leaves 10 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 10 of 49.
Julia was on the carpet. leaves 4 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 4 of 49.
Alma was in the same row as the bookshelf. leaves 5 of 49 squares
Alma was in the same column as a window. leaves 1 of 49 squares
Nobody was in the backyard.

Show the squares Julia had left

The squares still open to Julia once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 49.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Yago can only be in Patio (row 3, column 1) — down from 49 possible squares.
Lidia can only be in Shed (row 7, column 5) — down from 49 possible squares.
Greta can only be in Bedroom (row 1, column 8) — down from 10 possible squares.
Julia can only be in Shed (row 6, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Backyard Garden

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Shed, Bedroom, Pond, Living room, Kitchen. Twelve statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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) · B — bed (square stays free) · C — chest · D — desk · F — floor lamp · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Oscar was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 6 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 6 of 50.
Lorenzo was in the same row as a window. leaves 16 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 16 of 50.
Lorenzo was in the same column as the bed. leaves 4 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 4 of 50.
Simon was beside the stove. leaves 2 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 2 of 50.
Simon was somewhere south of the Magician.
Nico was in the tool shed or in the pond. leaves 16 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 16 of 50.
Wren was somewhere south of the Chauffeur.
Wren was in the western half of the scene. leaves 25 of 50 squares
Wren was in the same row as the armchair. leaves 4 of 50 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 4 of 50.
Wren was in the tool shed or in the living room. leaves 1 of 50 squares
Zaida was in the same row as the bed. leaves 7 of 50 squares
Zaida was somewhere east of Nico.

Show the squares Simon had left

The squares still open to Simon once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 50.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Oscar can only be in Bedroom (row 3, column 6) — down from 6 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Living room (row 5, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Simon can only be in Living room (row 6, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Nico can only be in Pond (row 1, column 7) — down from 16 possible squares.
Zaida can only be in Kitchen (row 4, column 8) — down from 7 possible squares.
Estela can only be in Kitchen (row 7, column 5) — down from 50 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Zaida, in Kitchen (row 4, column 8).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Backyard Garden

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Sunroom, Pond, Backyard, Garden, Living room, Patio, Bedroom. Twelve statements, fifteen 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) · BE — bed (square stays free) · BO — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — 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.

Quentin was somewhere south of the Butler.
Quentin was somewhere north of the Magician.
Quentin was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 8 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 8 of 63.
Rosa was exactly 4 columns east of the Doctor.
Rosa was in the sunroom or in the backyard. leaves 17 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 17 of 63.
Gaspar was exactly 1 column east of Rosa.
Ines was exactly 3 rows north of the Colonel.
Nico was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 17 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 17 of 63.
Nico was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 2 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 2 of 63.
Vasco was in the same column as the desk. leaves 7 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 7 of 63.
Walter was in the same row as the stove. leaves 7 of 63 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 7 of 63.
Walter was somewhere east of the Magician.

Show the squares Nico had left

The squares still open to Nico once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 63.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Quentin can only be in Bedroom (row 2, column 9) — down from 8 possible squares.
Nico can only be in Sunroom (row 3, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Patio (row 1, column 5) — down from 7 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 32 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Rosa stood in Backyard (row 5, column 7), Gaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ada stood in Garden (row 4, column 7), Walter would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Gaspar in Pond (row 7, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Ines in Living room (row 4, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 28 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 9×8 grid across 6 rooms: Patio, Shed, Garden, Backyard, Sunroom, Pond. Eleven statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

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. 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 · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — 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.

Walter was in the same column as the tree. leaves 6 of 64 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 6 of 64.
Kurt was exactly 3 rows north of Boris.
Kurt was in the same room as the Diva.
Estela was exactly 1 column west of the Doctor.
Estela was somewhere north of the Journalist.
Cesar was exactly 7 columns east of the Curator.
Cesar was in the same row as the bed. leaves 8 of 64 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 8 of 64.
Queralt was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 8 of 64 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 8 of 64.
Queralt was exactly 1 row north of the Curator.
Jimena was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 64 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 6 of 64.
Boris was exactly 6 rows south of Walter.

Show the squares Walter had left

The squares still open to Walter once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 64.

The squares that had to be tested

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

Put Walter in Backyard (row 1, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Kurt stood in Shed (row 4, column 4), Cesar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Estela in Backyard (row 2, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Cesar in Pond (row 4, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 79 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Cesar, in Pond (row 4, column 9).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Backyard Garden

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Sunroom, Patio, Bedroom, Garden, Kitchen, Pond, Living room. Fourteen statements, sixteen 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 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. 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 · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — 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.

Percy and Beatrix were alone together in one room.
Percy was exactly 2 rows south of the Diva.
Rosa and Ivan were alone together in one room.
Beatrix was exactly 2 columns west of Percy.
Beatrix was exactly 2 rows south of the Journalist.
Beatrix was exactly 5 columns west of the Heiress.
Dorian was not beside the desk. leaves 80 of 81 squares
Dorian and Marina were alone together in one room.
Marina was somewhere north of the Professor.
Kira was somewhere east of Rosa.
Ivan was exactly 7 rows north of Percy.
Frida was in the same column as the tree. leaves 8 of 81 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Frida: 8 of 81.
Frida was all alone in a room.
Frida was exactly 1 column west of the Journalist.

Show the squares Frida had left

The squares still open to Frida once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 81.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 104 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Percy stood in Bedroom (row 8, column 3), Ivan would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Rosa in Pond (row 1, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Beatrix stood in Bedroom (row 8, column 2), Percy would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Dorian stood in Living room (row 2, column 5), Rosa would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 100 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.

Dorian's motive would have been buried secrets.
Rosa's motive would have been blackmail.
Ivan's motive would have been inheritance.
Percy's motive would have been jealousy.
Beatrix's motive would have been revenge.
Kira was not driven by ambition.
Kira was not driven by debts.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kira, in Garden (row 6, column 9).

The only motive left standing for Kira is obsession.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Backyard Garden

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Patio, Garden, Sunroom, Backyard, Kitchen, Shed, Living room. Thirteen 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 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. 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 · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — 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.

Ignacio was exactly 8 columns east of the Chauffeur.
Ignacio was exactly 3 rows north of Sol.
Ignacio was exactly 6 rows north of Paloma.
Paloma was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 18 of 78 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 18 of 78.
Vasco was in the same row as the chest. leaves 9 of 78 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 9 of 78.
Nora was all alone in a room.
Nora was exactly 3 rows south of the Chauffeur.
Nora was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 9 of 78 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 9 of 78.
Sol and Hilda were alone together in one room.
Xavier was all alone in a room.
Hilda was exactly 1 column west of the Gardener.
Dorian was in row 7. leaves 10 of 78 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 10 of 78.
Dorian was in the same column as a window. leaves 2 of 78 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 2 of 78.

Show the squares Dorian had left

The squares still open to Dorian once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 78.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Nora can only be in Sunroom (row 4, column 5) — down from 9 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 79 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Rita stood in Garden (row 1, column 1), Vasco would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ignacio in Living room (row 2, column 9) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Paloma stood in Shed (row 8, column 4), Dorian would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Vasco stood in Garden (row 1, column 2), Ignacio would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 75 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.

Xavier's motive would have been obsession.
Nora's motive would have been buried secrets.
Ignacio's motive would have been debts.
Hilda's motive would have been blackmail.
Vasco's motive would have been jealousy.
Dorian was not driven by inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.

The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Dorian is revenge.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dorian 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 — A cache opened at The Backyard Garden. It is not what was taken first, and it never is.

All ten inquiries on 4 September 2026 unfolded across the quiet grounds of The Backyard Garden. Witnesses remained honest throughout the day with no liars reported, though unraveling the sprawling ten-by-nine expert cases required unmasking an underlying motive. In the standard untimed dockets, chentian set the pace on the five-by-five beginner case in 0m 12s and the eight-by-seven medium board in 1m 19s. A guest detective claimed the remaining standard files, logging 0m 13s on easy, 1m 57s on the seven-room hard case, and 3m 04s on the motive-bound expert board.

Against the clock, chentian swept the entire time attack roster. Swift footwork yielded matching 0m 13s finishes on both the beginner and easy layouts, followed by a 0m 29s clearance through the six-room medium garden. As the grounds expanded, chentian unraveled the hard case in 2m 33s before finally piecing together the motive and suspect on the expert board in 7m 36s.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 12s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 13s · Medium: chentian — 1m 19s · Hard: a guest detective — 1m 57s · Expert: a guest detective — 3m 04s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 29s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 2m 33s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 7m 36s