Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 5 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-05 — 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 Museum of Curiosities

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

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. C — chest · F — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · P — painting (square stays free) · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Boris was in the garden. leaves 7 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 7 of 21.
  2. Boris was in column 4. leaves 2 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 2 of 21.
  3. Tobias was in row 2. leaves 5 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 5 of 21.
  4. Tobias was in the office. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 1 of 21.
  5. Gordon was in column 3. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 4 of 21.
  6. Gordon was in the garden. leaves 2 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    FSGCTWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 2 of 21.
  7. Ivan was in the workshop. leaves 11 of 21 squares
  8. Ivan was in the bottom row. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show the squares Boris had left
FSGCTWP
The squares still open to Boris once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 21.
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 Workshop (row 5, column 2).

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

Beginner · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Vault, Workshop, Atrium, Rotunda. Six statements, seven 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. B — bookshelf · D — desk · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Conrad was in the vault. leaves 6 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Conrad: 6 of 21.
  2. Abel was in the workshop. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 4 of 21.
  3. Abel was in column 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 1 of 21.
  4. Kaspar was in the leftmost column. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 4 of 21.
  5. Kaspar was in the rotunda. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 1 of 21.
  6. Delia was in the atrium. leaves 3 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOSTBSTDWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 3 of 21.
Show the squares Delia had left
SOSTBSTDWW
The squares still open to Delia once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 21.
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: Kaspar, in Rotunda (row 1, column 1).

Show the solved board
SOSTBSTDWWC✕AKD
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kaspar is ringed in red.

Easy — The Museum of Curiosities

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Workshop, Archive, Library, Atrium, Vault. Nine statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 8 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 · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Ruben was in the atrium or in the vault. leaves 12 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 12 of 29.
  2. Ruben was in the library or in the vault. leaves 5 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 5 of 29.
  3. Ofelia was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 3 of 29.
  4. Ofelia was on the carpet. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 1 of 29.
  5. Ignacio was in row 2. leaves 5 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 5 of 29.
  6. Ignacio was in column 4. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 1 of 29.
  7. Bianca was beside the window. leaves 1 of 29 squares
  8. Percy was in row 4. leaves 4 of 29 squares
  9. Percy was in the vault. leaves 2 of 29 squares
Show the squares Percy had left
CHCASOFGSTCRCHDW
The squares still open to Percy once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 29.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CHCASOFGSTCRCHDWROI✕BP
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Bianca is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Library, Rotunda, Office, Vault, Workshop. Eight statements, ten 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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — painting (square stays free) · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Quentin was in column 4. leaves 5 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 5 of 30.
  2. Quentin was in the library. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 1 of 30.
  3. Margot was in the rightmost column. leaves 4 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 4 of 30.
  4. Leo was in the library or in the office. leaves 10 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 10 of 30.
  5. Leo was touching the outer wall. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 1 of 30.
  6. Gaspar was beside the carpet. leaves 3 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 3 of 30.
  7. Oscar was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 30 squares
  8. Oscar was in the vault. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show the squares Gaspar had left
BCAGSOFSTSTCRWP
The squares still open to Gaspar once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 30.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Margot, in Workshop (row 4, column 6).

Show the solved board
BCAGSOFSTSTCRWPQM✕LGO
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Margot is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Archive, Garden, Office, Atrium, Rotunda. Nine statements, eleven 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. CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Delia was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 6 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 6 of 48.
  2. Olivia was somewhere south of Alistair.
  3. Olivia was beside the chest. leaves 2 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 2 of 48.
  4. Gilda was in the office or in the atrium. leaves 15 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 15 of 48.
  5. Gilda was in the same column as the carpet. leaves 3 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 3 of 48.
  6. Pablo was beside the flower bush. leaves 3 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 3 of 48.
  7. Alistair was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 13 of 48 squares
    Show it on the board
    CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 13 of 48.
  8. Jonas was beside the carpet. leaves 4 of 48 squares
  9. Nobody was in the rotunda.
Show the squares Olivia had left
CRSOTPCASTFOFLCHCRW
The squares still open to Olivia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 48.
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 43 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 39 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

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

Medium — The Museum of Curiosities

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Office, Garden, Vault, Rotunda, Atrium, Library. Ten 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 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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Selma was in the rotunda or in the atrium. leaves 16 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 16 of 39.
  2. Pablo was in the same room as the Curator.
  3. Pablo was somewhere west of Selma.
  4. Jimena was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 12 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 12 of 39.
  5. Jimena was beside the sofa. leaves 2 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 2 of 39.
  6. Elena was in the same room as Tristan.
  7. Elena was in the same row as the statue. leaves 5 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 5 of 39.
  8. Rosa was in the office or in the vault. leaves 10 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 10 of 39.
  9. Rosa was in the same row as the chest. leaves 2 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 2 of 39.
  10. Tristan was somewhere east of the Doctor.
Show the squares Jimena had left
CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM
The squares still open to Jimena once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 39.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 65 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 61 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CACHSTFOFLBSOTDCRGPWM✕SPJERT
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Selma is ringed in red.

Hard — The Museum of Curiosities

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Vault, Archive, Garden, Workshop, Gallery, Rotunda. Fourteen statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight was lying throughout.

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

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. B — bookshelf · CH — chest · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · G — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 8 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

  1. Queralt was somewhere north of Octavio.
  2. Cesar was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 7 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 7 of 52.
  3. Cesar was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 1 of 52.
  4. Leo was in the same room as the Diva.
  5. Leo was in the same column as the tree. if true, leaves 6 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 6 of 52.
  6. Leo was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 1 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 1 of 52.
  7. Bianca was in the same column as the flower bush. if true, leaves 46 of 52
  8. Bianca was in the same room as Yolanda.
  9. Yolanda was in the same column as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 7 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 7 of 52.
  10. Ivan was beside a window. if true, leaves 2 of 52
    Show it on the board
    GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 2 of 52.
  11. Octavio was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 6 of 52
  12. Octavio was somewhere north of Leo.
  13. Octavio was somewhere west of the Journalist.
  14. Octavio was somewhere east of Cesar.
Show the squares Ivan had left
GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPA
The squares still open to Ivan once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 52.
Unmasking the liar

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

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Bianca actually told you:

  1. Bianca was NOT in the same column as the flower bush.
  2. Bianca was NOT in the same room as Yolanda.
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: Queralt, in Workshop (row 3, column 4). Bianca lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board
GCRDSTBFOSOPOCHTFLBCRWWPAQCLBYI✕O
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Queralt is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Library, Workshop, Office, Archive, Garden, Rotunda, Gallery. Twelve statements, thirteen 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 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 — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Horacio was all alone in a room.
  2. Horacio was in the same row as the crate. leaves 4 of 62 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 4 of 62.
  3. Tobias was all alone in a room.
  4. Tobias was exactly 5 columns west of Lorenzo.
  5. Tobias was in the same row as the tree. leaves 8 of 62 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 8 of 62.
  6. Julian was all alone in a room.
  7. Julian was in the same column as the carpet. leaves 8 of 62 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 8 of 62.
  8. Nora was all alone in a room.
  9. Estela was exactly 1 column west of Nora.
  10. Estela was somewhere south of Olivia.
  11. Olivia was beside the tree. leaves 3 of 62 squares
    Show it on the board
    SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW
    The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 3 of 62.
  12. Lorenzo was somewhere south of the Butler.
Show the squares Olivia had left
SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW
The squares still open to Olivia once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 62.
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 37 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 33 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board
SOCACRCHTCLFLSTPDFOCLW✕HTJNEOL
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Olivia is ringed in red.

Expert — The Museum of Curiosities

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Gallery, Office, Vault, Workshop, Rotunda, Garden, Atrium, Library. Twenty statements, twenty 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.

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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · CR — crate · D — desk · FL — floor lamp · FO — flower bush · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · T — tree · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Walter was somewhere north of the Heiress.
  2. Rita was not seated on anything. if true, leaves 64 of 66
  3. Rita was somewhere east of the Magician.
  4. Rita was not beside the sofa. if true, leaves 61 of 66
  5. Nico was somewhere south of Kaspar.
  6. Nico and the Curator were in different rooms.
  7. Nico was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 6 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 6 of 66.
  8. Nico was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 1 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 1 of 66.
  9. Beatrix was not seated on anything. if true, leaves 2 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 2 of 66.
  10. Beatrix was in the same column as the carpet.
  11. Cesar was somewhere south of Jonas.
  12. Cesar was somewhere west of Rita.
  13. Cesar was in the same column as a chest. if true, leaves 13 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 13 of 66.
  14. Kaspar was somewhere north of the Chef.
  15. Jonas was somewhere south of the Journalist.
  16. Jonas was somewhere south of the Gardener.
  17. Jonas was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 8 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 8 of 66.
  18. Queralt was somewhere south of Nico.
  19. Queralt was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 8 of 66
    Show it on the board
    CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 8 of 66.
  20. Nobody was in the garden.
Show the squares Beatrix had left
CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMM
The squares still open to Beatrix once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 66.
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 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Beatrix actually told you:

  1. Beatrix WAS seated on something.
  2. Beatrix was NOT in the same column as the carpet.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The motive

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

  1. Rita's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Cesar's motive would have been inheritance.
  3. Queralt's motive would have been jealousy.
  4. Kaspar's motive would have been ambition.
  5. Nico's motive would have been revenge.
  6. Beatrix was not driven by obsession.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Beatrix, in Workshop (row 7, column 4). Beatrix lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Beatrix is debts.

Show the solved board
CAPFOTCHCRSOBDCLSTFLCHCLPBCRWMMW✕RNBCKJQ
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Beatrix is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Atrium, Garden, Vault, Archive, Workshop, Office, Gallery. Thirteen statements, 22 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 one detective so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Irene was all alone in a room.
  2. Greta was in the same column as the grandfather clock. leaves 7 of 72 squares
    Show it on the board
    GPFLCRSTTBFOCASODCHCRDCHFOFLPSTBWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 7 of 72.
  3. Marco was somewhere east of Xavier.
  4. Flora was exactly 5 columns west of the Heiress.
  5. Rufus and Xavier were alone together in one room.
  6. Tristan was exactly 1 column east of Greta.
  7. Lidia was in the same column as the window. leaves 8 of 72 squares
    Show it on the board
    GPFLCRSTTBFOCASODCHCRDCHFOFLPSTBWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 8 of 72.
  8. Lidia was exactly 7 rows south of the Heiress.
  9. Lidia was exactly 4 columns east of Irene.
  10. Lidia was exactly 2 rows south of the Professor.
  11. Xavier was exactly 3 rows south of Tristan.
  12. Exactly 2 people were in the archive.
  13. Exactly 2 people were in the atrium.
Show the squares Greta had left
GPFLCRSTTBFOCASODCHCRDCHFOFLPSTBWM
The squares still open to Greta once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 72.
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 65 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 61 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. Xavier's motive would have been debts.
  2. Irene's motive would have been obsession.
  3. Greta's motive would have been jealousy.
  4. Marco's motive would have been ambition.
  5. Rufus's motive would have been buried secrets.
  6. Flora was not driven by inheritance.
  7. Flora was not driven by blackmail.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Flora, in Archive (row 7, column 3).

The only motive left standing for Flora is revenge.

Show the solved board
GPFLCRSTTBFOCASODCHCRDCHFOFLPSTBWMIGMFRTLX✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Flora is ringed in red.

How to read a case above

The grid size is the size of the crime scene, so a 10×9 expert case is a far larger search than a 5×5 beginner one — but the difficulty is really carried by the clues, not the square count. A beginner case tells you almost directly where somebody stood. An expert case tells you where somebody was not, three times, and expects you to do the rest — and on half of them one of those statements is a lie told to protect the killer. If a case lists a motive, naming the right person is not enough on its own; you have to prove why.

How to play · Solving cases with a liar · Techniques

The day in review

The Cartographer’s Debt — Charged at The Museum of Curiosities. It took 3 detectives to agree and 4 did, which is the difference between a suspicion and a file.

The Museum of Curiosities set the stage for all ten investigations on 5 September 2026. In the untimed standard wing, the cases grew steadily more treacherous. The 5x5 beginner case saw 9 solutions from 11 attempts, led by chentian in 0m 16s, who also topped the 6x6 easy board in 0m 12s and the 7x7 medium grid in 2m 03s. Complications emerged on the 8x8 hard case, which introduced a liar into its 6 rooms; a guest detective cracked it fastest in 1m 02s. The 9x9 expert case proved even harsher, demanding both a liar unmasked and a motive established, leaving only 2 solvers from 4 plays, with a guest detective pacing the field in 4m 06s.

Against the clock, the time attack boards drew solitary, precise sweeps across the museum's varied halls. Chentian claimed every single speed record: finishing the 5x5 beginner in 0m 11s, the 6x6 easy in 0m 13s, and the 8x7 medium in 1m 37s. The larger time attack challenges proved considerably more demanding, with chentian navigating the 9x8 hard board in 10m 43s before conquering the 10x9 expert case, complete with its mandatory motive requirement, in 8m 04s.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 16s · Easy: chentian — 0m 12s · Medium: chentian — 2m 03s · Hard: a guest detective — 1m 02s · Expert: a guest detective — 4m 06s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 1m 37s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 10m 43s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 8m 04s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 5 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 Museum of Curiosities

BT✕GI
Ivan (Gardener)The cell door shut on Ivan (gardener), on the evidence of 9 detectives.

Easy — The Museum of Curiosities

ROI✕BP
Bianca (Doctor)8 detectives put Bianca (doctor) away before the day was out.

Medium — The Museum of Curiosities

✕SPJERT
Selma (Professor)Selma (professor) is in custody — the case was closed by 6 detectives.

Hard — The Museum of Curiosities

QCLBYI✕O
Queralt (Heiress)Queralt (heiress) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 4 detectives. Bianca lied for them and was never charged.

Expert — The Museum of Curiosities

W✕RNBCKJQ
Beatrix (Heiress)Beatrix (heiress) was named and charged; 2 detectives closed this one. The motive — debts — was proved along with the name. Beatrix lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

C✕AKD
Kaspar (Colonel)The cell door shut on Kaspar (colonel), on the evidence of one detective.

Easy · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

QM✕LGO
Margot (Diva)one detective put Margot (diva) away before the day was out.

Medium · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

✕DOGPAJ
Jonas (Curator)Jonas (curator) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective.

Hard · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

✕HTJNEOL
Olivia (Doctor)Olivia (doctor) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective.

Expert · time attack — The Museum of Curiosities

IGMFRTLX✕
Flora (Professor)Flora (professor) was named and charged; one detective closed this one. The motive — revenge — was proved along with the name.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 4 September

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