Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 11 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-11 — 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 — Blackbriar Manor

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Foyer, Cellar, Library. Six statements, six squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 19 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 · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · 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 in the foyer. leaves 6 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSGCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 6 of 22.
  2. Wanda was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSGCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 1 of 22.
  3. Octavio was seated on the sofa. leaves 2 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSGCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 2 of 22.
  4. Bianca was in the cellar. leaves 6 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSGCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 6 of 22.
  5. Bianca was in column 4. leaves 2 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSGCWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 2 of 22.
  6. Cesar was in the library. leaves 10 of 22 squares
Show the squares Octavio had left
PSGCWW
The squares still open to Octavio once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 22.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

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

Beginner · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Cellar, Foyer, Ballroom, Kitchen. Seven statements, six squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. C — carpet (square stays free) · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · P — painting (square stays free) · 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. Hugo was in the kitchen. leaves 4 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 4 of 23.
  2. Hugo was in column 3. leaves 2 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 2 of 23.
  3. Gaspar was in row 2. leaves 4 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 4 of 23.
  4. Jonas was in column 4. leaves 5 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 5 of 23.
  5. Jonas was in the cellar. leaves 1 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 1 of 23.
  6. Conrad was in row 4. leaves 5 of 23 squares
    Show it on the board
    CSHGWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Conrad: 5 of 23.
  7. Conrad was on the carpet. leaves 1 of 23 squares
Show the squares Hugo had left
CSHGWP
The squares still open to Hugo once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 23.
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: Gaspar, in Foyer (row 2, column 5).

Show the solved board
CSHGWPHG✕JC
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Gaspar is ringed in red.

Easy — Blackbriar Manor

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Study, Cellar, Lounge, Ballroom. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 14 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) · C — carpet (square stays free) · G — grandfather clock · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · S — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Marco was in the ballroom. leaves 10 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 10 of 32.
  2. Elena was in column 3. leaves 5 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 5 of 32.
  3. Elena was in row 5. leaves 1 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 1 of 32.
  4. Tamara was beside the stove. leaves 1 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 1 of 32.
  5. Abel was in the lounge. leaves 5 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 5 of 32.
  6. Quentin was in row 3. leaves 4 of 32 squares
    Show it on the board
    CPIAGSPOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 4 of 32.
  7. Quentin was in column 5. leaves 1 of 32 squares
Show the squares Abel had left
CPIAGSPOW
The squares still open to Abel once their own statements are taken into account — 5 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CPIAGSPOWMETA✕Q
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Tamara is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Library, Kitchen, Foyer, Gallery, Conservatory. Six statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. C — carpet (square stays free) · F — floor lamp · H — harp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Wren was in the conservatory. leaves 5 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 5 of 30.
  2. Quentin was in column 3. leaves 4 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 4 of 30.
  3. Elias was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 2 of 30.
  4. Clara was in row 2. leaves 4 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 4 of 30.
  5. Clara was in the library. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 1 of 30.
  6. Percy was beside the sofa. leaves 2 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 2 of 30.
Show the squares Elias had left
PICFHSOPOSVSTWPA
The squares still open to Elias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 30.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
PICFHSOPOSVSTWPAWQECP✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Quentin is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Ballroom, Study, Conservatory, Gallery, Library, Kitchen. Eleven statements, thirteen 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 2 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Julia was in the same column as the window. leaves 7 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 7 of 46.
  2. Julia was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 1 of 46.
  3. Bruno was beside the armchair. leaves 2 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 2 of 46.
  4. Bruno was touching the outer wall. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 1 of 46.
  5. Dorian was in the same column as the chest. leaves 6 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 6 of 46.
  6. Dorian was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 46.
  7. Horacio was in the same room as the Journalist.
  8. Horacio was in the same row as the chest. leaves 3 of 46 squares
  9. Nadia was on the carpet. leaves 2 of 46 squares
  10. Paloma was beside the potted plant. leaves 4 of 46 squares
  11. Nobody was in the conservatory.
Show the squares Nadia had left
ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOW
The squares still open to Nadia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 46.
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: Bruno, in Kitchen (row 7, column 3).

Show the solved board
ACHFSOGCASTPHHBSOWJB✕DHNP
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Bruno is ringed in red.

Medium — Blackbriar Manor

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Ballroom, Library, Cellar, Lounge, Study. Ten statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 12 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — floor lamp · H — harp · P — piano · 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. Olivia was somewhere south of the Colonel.
  2. Olivia was beside the statue. leaves 2 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 2 of 44.
  3. Selma was in the ballroom or in the lounge. leaves 14 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Selma: 14 of 44.
  4. Victor was somewhere west of Dora.
  5. Victor was in the same row as the chest. leaves 6 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 6 of 44.
  6. Dora was in the same room as Margot.
  7. Margot was in the same row as a window. leaves 13 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 13 of 44.
  8. Margot was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 4 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 4 of 44.
  9. Horacio was on the carpet. leaves 3 of 44 squares
    Show it on the board
    PSTCHHCASOAFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 3 of 44.
  10. Nobody was in the lounge.
Show the squares Olivia had left
PSTCHHCASOAFWW
The squares still open to Olivia once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 44.
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: Horacio, in Library (row 6, column 2).

Show the solved board
PSTCHHCASOAFWWO✕SVDMH
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Horacio is ringed in red.

Hard — Blackbriar Manor

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Cellar, Lounge, Ballroom, Study, Conservatory, Foyer, Library. Thirteen 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 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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · H — harp · M — mirror (square stays free) · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Marco was somewhere south of the Heiress.
  2. Selma was exactly 5 rows north of the Journalist.
  3. Selma was exactly 7 rows north of Marco.
  4. Wren was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 55 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHGSOCASVFBHPOSTPIWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 6 of 55.
  5. Wren was somewhere south of Conrad.
  6. Wren was in the same room as Elena.
  7. Dorian was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 7 of 55 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHGSOCASVFBHPOSTPIWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 7 of 55.
  8. Conrad was exactly 3 columns west of Dorian.
  9. Conrad was somewhere east of Marco.
  10. Conrad was exactly 1 column west of the Diva.
  11. Elena was exactly 1 row south of Lorenzo.
  12. Lorenzo was in the same column as the carpet. leaves 14 of 55 squares
    Show it on the board
    CHGSOCASVFBHPOSTPIWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 14 of 55.
  13. Nobody was in the lounge.
Show the squares Wren had left
CHGSOCASVFBHPOSTPIWWM
The squares still open to Wren once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 55.
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 10 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 6 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. Marco's motive would have been jealousy.
  2. Lorenzo's motive would have been debts.
  3. Elena's motive would have been inheritance.
  4. Selma's motive would have been buried secrets.
  5. Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Conrad is blackmail.

Show the solved board
CHGSOCASVFBHPOSTPIWWMM✕SWDCEL
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Conrad is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Cellar, Ballroom, Lounge, Conservatory, Kitchen, Foyer. Eleven statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · F — floor lamp · H — harp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Lorenzo was exactly 7 rows south of Elias.
  2. Elias was in the same column as the sofa. leaves 13 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 13 of 69.
  3. Selma was in the same room as Ulises.
  4. Ulises was exactly 6 columns east of the Chauffeur.
  5. Ulises was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 3 of 69.
  6. Pablo was in the same row as the chest. leaves 7 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Pablo: 7 of 69.
  7. Pablo was all alone in a room.
  8. Frida was exactly 7 columns west of the Doctor.
  9. Marina was all alone in a room.
  10. Marina was exactly 1 row north of Frida.
  11. Marina was in the same column as the painting. leaves 7 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 7 of 69.
Show the squares Ulises had left
HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPA
The squares still open to Ulises once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 69.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 73 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 69 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Elias, in Gallery (row 1, column 10).

Show the solved board
HACHBCACLPOFSOSTSVCLSVSTWPAL✕ESUPFM
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Elias is ringed in red.

Expert — Blackbriar Manor

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Library, Conservatory, Foyer, Gallery, Kitchen, Lounge, Ballroom, Cellar. Eighteen statements, seventeen 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 4 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Rufus was somewhere north of the Diva.
  2. Marina was somewhere north of Nora.
  3. Irene and the Journalist were in different rooms.
  4. Irene was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 8 of 70.
  5. Irene was somewhere north of the Chauffeur.
  6. Irene was somewhere east of the Professor.
  7. Yago was somewhere west of Marina.
  8. Yago was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 7 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 7 of 70.
  9. Yago was somewhere east of the Magician.
  10. Ursula was somewhere east of the Heiress.
  11. Ursula was not touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 29 of 70
  12. Ursula was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 27 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 27 of 70.
  13. Gilda was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 8 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 8 of 70.
  14. Gilda was in the same row as the chest. if true, leaves 1 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 1 of 70.
  15. Nora was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 17 of 70
    Show it on the board
    AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
    The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 17 of 70.
  16. Leo was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 8 of 70
  17. Exactly 3 people were in the cellar.
  18. Exactly 2 people were in the conservatory.
Show the squares Yago had left
AFSVPICHGSOCAHPOSTPOBBWWM
The squares still open to Yago once their own statements are taken into account — 7 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 Ursula survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Ursula actually told you:

  1. Ursula was NOT east of the Heiress.
  2. Ursula WAS touching the outer wall.
  3. Ursula was NOT in the same row as the armchair.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 129 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 125 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. Nora's motive would have been blackmail.
  2. Irene's motive would have been revenge.
  3. Yago's motive would have been debts.
  4. Rufus's motive would have been jealousy.
  5. Leo's motive would have been ambition.
  6. Ursula was not driven by inheritance.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ursula, in Conservatory (row 6, column 1). Ursula lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Ursula is obsession.

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

Expert · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Lounge, Library, Foyer, Cellar, Kitchen, Ballroom, Study. Eleven statements, eighteen squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds 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) · B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CH — chest · CL — clock · F — floor lamp · H — harp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PI — piano · PO — potted plant · SO — sofa (square stays free) · ST — statue · SV — stove · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Alma was exactly 2 rows south of the Diva.
  2. Nestor was exactly 1 row south of Quentin.
  3. Bruno was somewhere north of the Gardener.
  4. Zeno was exactly 2 columns west of Bruno.
  5. Ignacio was exactly 1 row south of the Professor.
  6. Kira was exactly 7 columns east of Quentin.
  7. Wren was somewhere south of Quentin.
  8. Wren was somewhere west of Zeno.
  9. Quentin was all alone in a room.
  10. Exactly 2 people were in the cellar.
  11. Exactly 3 people were in the study.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 200 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 196 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board
FSVHSTACABSOCLCHPOPIFBSTCLWPAA✕NBZIKWQ
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nestor 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

Five Empty Chairs — 2 of 3 at Blackbriar Manor. The nearest thing to a charge that is still not one.

All ten investigations on 11 September 2026 brought investigators to the halls of Blackbriar Manor. The standard inquiries began simply enough on a 5x5 grid with three rooms, where chentian clocked the fastest time of 0m 15s, followed by an easy 6x6 case solved by chentian in 0m 11s. The medium 7x7 case saw detective2201 lead the field in 2m 27s. Complexity deepened on the 8x8 hard board, which required identifying a motive, solved quickest by chentian in 2m 28s. The expert 9x9 case introduced both a liar and a required motive, where chentian posted the top mark of 6m 59s among two successful solutions.

The time attack division also unfolded entirely across Blackbriar Manor. Chentian swept every fastest mark against the clock, navigating the four-room beginner grid in 0m 11s, the five-room easy board in 0m 21s, and the 8x7 medium layout in 0m 16s. The larger boards were handled with equal dispatch, as chentian cleared the 10x8 hard case in 2m 32s and finished the 10x9 expert challenge in 5m 43s, securing the only solve out of two attempts.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 15s · Easy: chentian — 0m 11s · Medium: detective2201 — 2m 27s · Hard: chentian — 2m 28s · Expert: chentian — 6m 59s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 21s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 16s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 2m 32s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 5m 43s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 11 September 2026

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

Beginner — Blackbriar Manor

WOB✕C
Bianca (Chef)Bianca (chef) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 17 detectives.

Easy — Blackbriar Manor

META✕Q
Tamara (Professor)Tamara (professor) was named and charged; 13 detectives closed this one.

Medium — Blackbriar Manor

O✕SVDMH
Horacio (Colonel)The cell door shut on Horacio (colonel), on the evidence of 10 detectives.

Hard — Blackbriar Manor

M✕SWDCEL
Conrad (Butler)6 detectives put Conrad (butler) away before the day was out. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name.

Expert — Blackbriar Manor

RMIYUGN✕L
Ursula (Diva)Ursula (diva) is in custody — the case was closed by 2 detectives. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name. Ursula lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

HG✕JC
Gaspar (Chauffeur)Gaspar (chauffeur) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives.

Easy · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

WQECP✕
Quentin (Magician)Quentin (magician) was named and charged; 2 detectives closed this one.

Medium · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

JB✕DHNP
Bruno (Colonel)The cell door shut on Bruno (colonel), on the evidence of 2 detectives.

Hard · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

L✕ESUPFM
Elias (Colonel)2 detectives put Elias (colonel) away before the day was out.

Expert · time attack — Blackbriar Manor

A✕NBZIKWQ
Nestor (Colonel)Nestor (colonel) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 10 September

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