Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 13 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-13 — 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 Bunker

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Workroom, Pantry, Shelter, Dormitory. Seven statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 62 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.

Sol was in the pantry. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 5 of 21.
Kira was in row 3. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 4 of 21.
Kira was in the pantry. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 1 of 21.
Marina was in column 3. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 4 of 21.
Marina was in the shelter. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 1 of 21.
Jonas was in the dormitory. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 6 of 21.
Jonas was in column 2. leaves 1 of 21 squares

Show the squares Sol had left

The squares still open to Sol once their own statements are taken into account — 5 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:

Sol can only be in Pantry (row 4, column 1) — down from 5 possible squares.
Dora can only be in Dormitory (row 2, column 4) — down from 21 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Bunker

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Watchtower, Generator Room, Hydroponics, Airlock. Seven statements, four squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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 — bed (square stays free) · CA — cabinet · CO — computer · P — potted plant

The testimony

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

Horacio was in the generator room. leaves 3 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 3 of 22.
Enzo was in the bottom row. leaves 5 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 5 of 22.
Enzo was in the airlock. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 22.
Beatrix was in the hydroponics bay. leaves 9 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 9 of 22.
Beatrix was in row 3. leaves 2 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 2 of 22.
Zaida was in column 2. leaves 5 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 5 of 22.
Zaida was in the watchtower. leaves 1 of 22 squares

Show the squares Beatrix had left

The squares still open to Beatrix 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:

Horacio can only be in Generator Room (row 1, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Hydroponics (row 3, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Hydroponics (row 4, column 3) — down from 22 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Bunker

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Workroom, Hydroponics, Pantry, Generator Room, Shelter. Nine statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 49 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.

Vivienne was in column 5. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 6 of 30.
Vivienne was in row 4. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 1 of 30.
Jonas was beside the radio. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 2 of 30.
Jonas was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 1 of 30.
Alistair was beside the carpet. leaves 3 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 3 of 30.
Alistair was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 1 of 30.
Cesar was in the hydroponics bay. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Tristan was in column 3. leaves 4 of 30 squares
Tristan was in the workroom. leaves 1 of 30 squares

Show the squares Cesar had left

The squares still open to Cesar once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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:

Cesar can only be in Hydroponics (row 3, column 2) — down from 6 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Generator Room (row 1, column 4) — down from 30 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Bunker

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Pantry, Radio Room, Shelter, Airlock, Hydroponics. Eight statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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.

The testimony

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

Jimena was in the hydroponics bay. leaves 12 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 12 of 30.
Bianca was in row 4. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 5 of 30.
Bianca was in the airlock or in the hydroponics bay. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 2 of 30.
Marco was in the top row. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 6 of 30.
Marco was beside the bed. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 1 of 30.
Horacio was in column 5. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 30.
Vivienne was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 30 squares
Vivienne was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 30 squares

Show the squares Bianca had left

The squares still open to Bianca 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:

Jimena can only be in Hydroponics (row 5, column 4) — down from 12 possible squares.
Queralt can only be in Airlock (row 2, column 2) — down from 30 possible squares.
Bianca can only be in Hydroponics (row 4, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Horacio can only be in Hydroponics (row 3, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Bunker

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Shelter, Radio Room, Pantry, Hydroponics, Dormitory, Airlock. Eight statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 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.

The testimony

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

Julian was in the same room as Ada.
Julian was in the hydroponics bay or in the airlock. leaves 17 of 40 squares
Ursula was beside the carpet. leaves 1 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 1 of 40.
Horacio was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 40.
Horacio was beside the bed. leaves 1 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 1 of 40.
Beatrix was beside the radio. leaves 1 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 1 of 40.
Zaida was beside the potted plant. leaves 3 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 3 of 40.
Ada was in the same row as the crate. leaves 6 of 40 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 6 of 40.

Show the squares Zaida had left

The squares still open to Zaida once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 40.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Julian can only be in Hydroponics (row 1, column 6) — down from 17 possible squares.
Celeste can only be in Airlock (row 2, column 4) — down from 40 possible squares.
Zaida can only be in Radio Room (row 7, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ada can only be in Hydroponics (row 3, column 2) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Bunker

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Pantry, Generator Room, Hydroponics, Airlock, Radio Room, Watchtower. Eleven statements, eleven 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 31 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.

Tristan was somewhere east of Dora.
Tristan was in the generator room or in the hydroponics bay. leaves 14 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 14 of 47.
Sofia was in the same room as Ines.
Sofia was touching the outer wall. leaves 23 of 47 squares
Sofia was in the same room as Dora.
Ines was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 6 of 47.
Celeste was in the same column as the bed. leaves 6 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 6 of 47.
Celeste was in the same row as the radio. leaves 1 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 1 of 47.
Enzo was on the carpet. leaves 2 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 2 of 47.
Enzo was in row 3. leaves 1 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 47.
Dora was in the same column as the radio. leaves 5 of 47 squares

Show the squares Dora had left

The squares still open to Dora once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 47.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 31 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Tristan stood in Hydroponics (row 1, column 4), Ines would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Sofia stood in Radio Room (row 6, column 1), Dora would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ines stood in Hydroponics (row 1, column 4), Tristan would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Dora stood in Hydroponics (row 1, column 3), Tristan would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 27 squares fell the same way.

Tristan can only be in Hydroponics (row 1, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Bunker

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Watchtower, Workroom, Dormitory, Hydroponics, Airlock, Generator Room, Shelter. 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 13 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.

Alma was somewhere east of Margot.
Alma was in the same room as the Curator.
Victor was in the same column as the garbage can. leaves 6 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 6 of 60.
Kira was in the same column as the bed. leaves 14 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 14 of 60.
Kira was in the same row as the stove. leaves 2 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 2 of 60.
Simon was somewhere north of Victor.
Margot was exactly 2 rows south of the Magician.
Conrad was in the same column as the bed. leaves 14 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Conrad: 14 of 60.
Rufus was in the same column as the radio. leaves 7 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 7 of 60.
Nobody was in the dormitory.

Show the squares Kira had left

The squares still open to Kira once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 60.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 140 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Alma stood in Airlock (row 1, column 3), Conrad would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Victor stood in Hydroponics (row 5, column 9), Alma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Kira stood in Shelter (row 6, column 4), Margot would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Estela in Airlock (row 1, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 136 squares fell the same way.

Alma can only be in Shelter (row 5, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.
Victor can only be in Generator Room (row 3, column 9) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Bunker

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Watchtower, Radio Room, Workroom, Shelter, Generator Room, Airlock. Fourteen statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

The testimony

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

Nadia was exactly 1 column east of the Butler.
Nadia was all alone in a room.
Estela was in the same row as the stove. leaves 9 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 9 of 69.
Estela was in the same column as the garbage can. leaves 1 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 1 of 69.
Ofelia was in the same row as the radio. leaves 8 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 8 of 69.
Ofelia was beside the stove. leaves 1 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 1 of 69.
Ofelia was all alone in a room.
Ofelia was somewhere north of Bruno.
Bruno was exactly 2 columns east of Wanda.
Felix was exactly 5 rows south of the Chef.
Tobias was in column 6. leaves 8 of 69 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 8 of 69.
Tobias was somewhere east of Bruno.
Tobias was all alone in a room.
Wanda was somewhere west of the Heiress.

Show the squares Tobias had left

The squares still open to Tobias once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 69.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 55 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ulises stood in Watchtower (row 1, column 3), Wanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Nadia stood in Shelter (row 1, column 9), Wanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Bruno stood in Generator Room (row 6, column 5), Felix would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Felix in Generator Room (row 6, column 7) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 51 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Bunker

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Watchtower, Radio Room, Workroom, Hydroponics, Pantry, Dormitory, Airlock. Fourteen statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

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.

The testimony

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

Flora was somewhere east of the Colonel.
Flora was exactly 1 column east of the Butler.
Kaspar was exactly 2 rows north of the Heiress.
Rosa was exactly 3 rows south of the Butler.
Nestor was in the same row as the computer. leaves 9 of 79 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 9 of 79.
Nestor was exactly 7 columns west of the Gardener.
Nestor was somewhere south of Conrad.
Tristan was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 8 of 79 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 8 of 79.
Conrad was in the same row as a carpet. leaves 36 of 79 squares
Conrad was exactly 6 columns west of the Professor.
Selma was exactly 1 column west of Rosa.
Zeno was somewhere south of Tristan.
Exactly 4 people were in the watchtower.
Exactly 2 people were in the airlock.

Show the squares Tristan had left

The squares still open to Tristan once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 79.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 153 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Flora stood in Watchtower (row 1, column 2), Kaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Kaspar stood in Watchtower (row 1, column 1), Conrad would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Rosa in Pantry (row 7, column 9) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Nestor stood in Watchtower (row 4, column 1), Flora would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 149 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tristan, in Airlock (row 2, column 8).

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Bunker

A 10×9 grid across 8 rooms: Generator Room, Shelter, Pantry, Airlock, Hydroponics, Radio Room, Workroom, Dormitory. Thirteen 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.

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.

The testimony

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

Oscar was somewhere west of the Journalist.
Ursula was exactly 6 columns west of the Diva.
Zeno was all alone in a room.
Vivienne was exactly 3 columns east of the Butler.
Greta was all alone in a room.
Leo was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 9 of 76 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 9 of 76.
Ruben was in the same column as a bed. leaves 16 of 76 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 16 of 76.
Nora was exactly 4 rows north of the Butler.
Nora was exactly 8 columns east of the Doctor.
Nora was exactly 5 columns east of the Chauffeur.
Nora was exactly 3 rows north of the Magician.
Exactly 3 people were in the shelter.
Exactly 2 people were in the workroom.

Show the squares Leo had left

The squares still open to Leo once their own statements are taken into account — 9 of 76.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 189 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Oscar stood in Hydroponics (row 1, column 5), Vivienne would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Jonas stood in Hydroponics (row 1, column 4), Vivienne would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Ursula stood in Workroom (row 1, column 2), Zeno would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Zeno stood in Shelter (row 7, column 2), Ursula would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 185 squares fell the same way.

Oscar can only be in Shelter (row 7, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.

The motive

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

Zeno's motive would have been revenge.
Oscar's motive would have been inheritance.
Ruben's motive would have been obsession.
Nora's motive would have been jealousy.
Greta's motive would have been ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Ursula is debts.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ursula 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 — The cache at The Bunker came up — found, marked, logged. Not the thing that went missing on day one, but something. One chair left. Tonight it is filled. Chapter 3 concludes with the five séances thoroughly unmasked as a schedule of debts, and ten accomplices now stand formally charged upon the magistrate's ledger. Yet the train ticket stub remains absent from the table, and the Quartermaster's handwriting continues to govern the calendar from afar.

13 September 2026 put 10 sealed scenes in front of the world's detectives — the same 10 for everyone, as always. The day led with The Bunker and climbed to The Bunker on the Expert rung — a 10×9 scene across 7 rooms.

253 investigations were opened across the 10 cases and 174 closed with the right accusation — a 69% conviction rate for the day. No liars on the board this day — every testimony could be taken at face value, which makes the harder grids a pure placement race.

The day is published in two halves: 5 cases to work at your own pace, and 5 more of the same difficulties run as time attack — different boards, same ladder, the clock watching.

One of the day's cases demanded a motive as well as a name — naming the killer without proving the why counts for nothing on those boards.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: david — 0m 12s · Easy: chentian — 0m 10s · Medium: chentian — 1m 08s · Hard: Dirk_M — 2m 20s · Expert: chentian — 6m 51s · Beginner · time attack: a guest detective — 0m 09s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 17s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 20s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 3m 20s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 17m 39s