Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 14 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-14 — 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 Courtroom

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Jury Box, Holding Cell, Hallway, Courtroom. Eight statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 60 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 in the holding cell. leaves 6 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 6 of 22.
Nadia was in column 3. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 1 of 22.
Enzo was in the jury box. leaves 4 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 4 of 22.
Enzo was in row 3. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 22.
Lidia was in the courtroom. leaves 5 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 5 of 22.
Lidia was in row 4. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 1 of 22.
Simon was in column 2. leaves 4 of 22 squares
Simon was in the hallway. leaves 2 of 22 squares

Show the squares Simon had left

The squares still open to Simon 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:

Simon can only be in Hallway (row 1, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Holding Cell (row 2, column 4) — down from 22 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Gallery, Courtroom, Jury Box, Hallway. Six 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.

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 — bonsai · C — carpet (square stays free) · G — grandfather clock · P — painting (square stays free) · S — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Vera was in column 2. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 4 of 21.
Vera was in the courtroom. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 2 of 21.
Katia was in the jury box. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 3 of 21.
Lorenzo was in the rightmost column. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 3 of 21.
Sofia was in column 4. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 5 of 21.
Sofia was in row 4. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 1 of 21.

Show the squares Vera had left

The squares still open to Vera 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:

Vera can only be in Courtroom (row 5, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wilfred can only be in Courtroom (row 2, column 1) — down from 21 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Jury Box (row 1, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Hallway (row 3, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Gallery, Courtroom, Holding Cell, Press Room. Eight statements, twelve squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 52 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) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Sol was in the press room. leaves 4 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 4 of 27.
Sol was in column 4. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 1 of 27.
Milo was in the holding cell. leaves 9 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 9 of 27.
Julian was beside the statue. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 1 of 27.
Ada was in the gallery. leaves 8 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 8 of 27.
Ada was in column 2. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 1 of 27.
Clara was in row 4. leaves 3 of 27 squares
Clara was beside the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 27 squares

Show the squares Milo had left

The squares still open to Milo once their own statements are taken into account — 9 of 27.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Milo can only be in Holding Cell (row 2, column 1) — down from 9 possible squares.
Dora can only be in Gallery (row 6, column 6) — down from 27 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Judge's Chambers, Gallery, Archive, Press Room. 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.

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. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — computer · D — desk · G — grandfather clock · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Quentin was in row 3. leaves 3 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 3 of 30.
Quentin was beside the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 1 of 30.
Horacio was in the archive. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 30.
Horacio was in the top row. leaves 3 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 3 of 30.
Ignacio was in column 3. leaves 6 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 6 of 30.
Ignacio was in the archive. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 2 of 30.
Percy was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Jimena was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 30 squares

Show the squares Ignacio had left

The squares still open to Ignacio 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:

Horacio can only be in Archive (row 1, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Archive (row 2, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Elena can only be in Judge's Chambers (row 5, column 5) — down from 30 possible squares.
Percy can only be in Press Room (row 4, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Jimena can only be in Gallery (row 6, column 1) — down from 5 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Quentin, in Judge's Chambers (row 3, column 6).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Judge's Chambers, Jury Box, Press Room, Gallery, Hallway, Holding Cell. Nine statements, fourteen 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 5 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) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Elena was beside the carpet. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 2 of 39.
Nico was seated on the armchair. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 1 of 39.
Sol was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 5 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 5 of 39.
Sol was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 1 of 39.
Horacio was in the same room as Margot.
Horacio was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 2 of 39.
Percy was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 2 of 39.
Percy was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Margot was somewhere north of Percy.

Show the squares Elena had left

The squares still open to Elena once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 39.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Elena can only be in Gallery (row 1, column 7) — down from 2 possible squares.
Horacio can only be in Jury Box (row 6, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Margot can only be in Jury Box (row 3, column 6) — down from 39 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Hallway (row 2, column 2) — down from 39 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Courtroom

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Holding Cell, Archive, Gallery, Press Room, Jury Box, Evidence Room. Nine statements, fourteen 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 45 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) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — carpet (square stays free) · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Enzo was in the same column as the armchair. leaves 7 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 7 of 41.
Enzo was in the holding cell or in the archive. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 41.
Yolanda was beside a window. leaves 2 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 2 of 41.
Ursula was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 5 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 5 of 41.
Ursula was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 1 of 41.
Wren was in row 5. leaves 7 of 41 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 7 of 41.
Percy was seated on the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 41 squares
Marina was beside the bonsai. leaves 3 of 41 squares
Marina was somewhere east of the Diva.

Show the squares Yolanda had left

The squares still open to Yolanda once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 41.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Sol can only be in Gallery (row 6, column 7) — down from 41 possible squares.
Yolanda can only be in Jury Box (row 2, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Archive (row 5, column 5) — down from 7 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Press Room (row 3, column 6) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ursula, in Gallery (row 7, column 4).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Courtroom

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Holding Cell, Judge's Chambers, Hallway, Jury Box, Evidence Room, Archive. Fourteen statements, fourteen 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; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 16 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) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (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.

Nadia was in the same room as Horacio.
Nadia was in row 5. if true, leaves 8 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 8 of 55.
Leo was in the same row as the wooden chair. if true, leaves 8 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 8 of 55.
Leo was somewhere west of Nadia.
Walter was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 7 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 7 of 55.
Walter was somewhere north of Vasco.
Walter was somewhere south of Horacio.
Vasco was in column 6. if true, leaves 7 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 7 of 55.
Octavio was somewhere west of Leo.
Octavio was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 21 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 21 of 55.
Marina was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 48 of 55
Marina was not touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 22 of 55
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 22 of 55.
Horacio was somewhere south of Marina.
Horacio was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 55

Show the squares Walter had left

The squares still open to Walter once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 55.

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.

If Nadia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Katia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Leo were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Walter were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Marina actually told you:

Marina was NOT in the same column as the armchair.
Marina WAS touching the outer wall.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Nadia can only be in Holding Cell (row 5, column 4) — down from 8 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Judge's Chambers (row 2, column 7) — down from 55 possible squares.
Leo can only be in Evidence Room (row 3, column 2) — down from 8 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Hallway (row 7, column 8) — down from 7 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Hallway (row 8, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.
Octavio can only be in Archive (row 4, column 1) — down from 21 possible squares.
Marina can only be in Judge's Chambers (row 1, column 5) — down from 22 possible squares.
Horacio can only be in Holding Cell (row 6, column 3) — down from 7 possible squares.

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.

Nadia's motive would have been blackmail.
Leo's motive would have been revenge.
Walter's motive would have been debts.
Octavio's motive would have been ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.
Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Marina, in Judge's Chambers (row 1, column 5). Marina lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Marina is jealousy.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Archive, Press Room, Jury Box, Judge's Chambers, Gallery, Evidence Room. Twenty statements, fifteen 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; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (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.

Ivan was in the same room as the Butler.
Ivan was somewhere west of Rosa.
Ivan was somewhere east of Boris.
Simon was in the same row as the computer. if true, leaves 7 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 7 of 54.
Simon was somewhere west of Celeste.
Simon was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 1 of 54.
Rosa was somewhere west of Celeste.
Rosa was not beside the computer. if true, leaves 1 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 1 of 54.
Vasco was in the same column as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 7 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 7 of 54.
Vasco was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 1 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 1 of 54.
Vasco was somewhere east of the Curator.
Boris was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 7 of 54
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 7 of 54.
Boris was somewhere west of Celeste.
Boris was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 1 of 54
Celeste was in the jury box or in the gallery. if true, leaves 17 of 54
Celeste was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 3 of 54
Celeste was somewhere north of the Magician.
Celeste was somewhere north of Ivan.
Octavio was somewhere south of the Chauffeur.
Octavio was somewhere east of the Butler.

Show the squares Celeste had left

The squares still open to Celeste once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 54.

Unmasking the liar

If Ivan were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Simon were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Vasco were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Boris were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 2 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Rosa actually told you:

Rosa was NOT west of Celeste.
Rosa WAS beside the computer.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Ivan can only be in Press Room (row 7, column 5) — down from 54 possible squares.
Wanda can only be in Judge's Chambers (row 1, column 1) — down from 54 possible squares.
Celeste can only be in Gallery (row 4, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Octavio can only be in Archive (row 8, column 6) — down from 54 possible squares.

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.

Vasco's motive would have been revenge.
Rosa's motive would have been ambition.
Boris's motive would have been blackmail.
Celeste's motive would have been inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.
Simon was not driven by obsession.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Simon, in Judge's Chambers (row 2, column 2). Rosa lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Simon is jealousy.

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Courtroom

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Hallway, Judge's Chambers, Press Room, Archive, Jury Box, Evidence Room, Holding Cell. Seventeen statements, 21 squares nobody could stand on, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the nine was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (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.

Ines was somewhere south of the Diva.
Ines was in the same column as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 7 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 7 of 68.
Ines was somewhere west of the Heiress.
Lorenzo was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 8 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 8 of 68.
Lorenzo was in the same column as a desk. if true, leaves 2 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 2 of 68.
Rosa was in the same column as a desk. if true, leaves 54 of 68
Rosa was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 42 of 68
Katia was somewhere north of Queralt.
Katia was in the same column as a desk. if true, leaves 14 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 14 of 68.
Alistair was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 8 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 8 of 68.
Alistair was in the same row as the wooden chair. if true, leaves 1 of 68
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 1 of 68.
Percy was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 6 of 68
Wren was in the same row as a carpet. if true, leaves 29 of 68
Wren was somewhere west of Percy.
Wren was somewhere north of Rosa.
Queralt was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 7 of 68
Exactly 3 people were in the press room.

Show the squares Lorenzo had left

The squares still open to Lorenzo once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 68.

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.

If Ines were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Lorenzo were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Dante were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Katia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Rosa actually told you:

Rosa was NOT in the same column as a desk.
Rosa was NOT in the same row as a window.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Percy can only be in Holding Cell (row 8, column 9) — down from 6 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 71 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ines stood in Evidence Room (row 4, column 6), Dante would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Lorenzo stood in Hallway (row 7, column 5), Dante would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Rosa stood in Archive (row 4, column 1), Wren would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Dante stood in Archive (row 1, column 1), Queralt would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 67 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.

Wren's motive would have been jealousy.
Ines's motive would have been blackmail.
Percy's motive would have been debts.
Alistair's motive would have been inheritance.
Rosa's motive would have been revenge.
Katia was not driven by ambition.
Katia was not driven by buried secrets.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Katia, in Archive (row 2, column 5). Rosa lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Katia is obsession.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Jury Box, Press Room, Courtroom, Hallway, Judge's Chambers, Gallery, Archive, Holding Cell. Eighteen 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 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) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (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.

Kira was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 7 of 67.
Hugo was somewhere east of the Butler.
Hugo was in the same room as the Doctor.
Hugo was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 7 of 67.
Hugo was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 2 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 2 of 67.
Rufus was in the same room as Leo.
Rufus was right beside Ines, in the same room.
Pablo was somewhere north of the Chauffeur.
Pablo was somewhere west of Queralt.
Ines was in the same row as the grandfather clock. if true, leaves 8 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 8 of 67.
Zaida was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 6 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 6 of 67.
Zaida was in the same column as the painting. if true, leaves 1 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 1 of 67.
Queralt was somewhere south of the Chauffeur.
Leo was somewhere north of Zaida.
Leo was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 14 of 67
Leo was somewhere south of the Diva.
Exactly 2 people were in the gallery.
Exactly 2 people were in the jury box.

Show the squares Hugo had left

The squares still open to Hugo once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 67.

Unmasking the liar

If Kira were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Hugo were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Abel were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Pablo were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Rufus actually told you:

Rufus was NOT in the same room as Leo.
Rufus was NOT right beside Ines in the same room.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Hugo can only be in Holding Cell (row 9, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ines can only be in Jury Box (row 2, column 6) — down from 8 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 12 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Kira in Jury Box (row 3, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Rufus in Gallery (row 6, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Abel stood in Gallery (row 4, column 4), Leo would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Pablo in Press Room (row 1, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 8 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.

Ines's motive would have been blackmail.
Hugo's motive would have been jealousy.
Kira's motive would have been inheritance.
Leo's motive would have been ambition.
Zaida's motive would have been revenge.
Rufus was not driven by debts.
Rufus was not driven by buried secrets.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Rufus, in Gallery (row 7, column 1). Rufus lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Rufus is obsession.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Rufus 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 Midnight Garden — 15 detectives named the same liar at The Courtroom, 12 more than the 3 a charge takes. It sticks.

The Courtroom served as the backdrop for all ten inquiries today, testing investigators across standard proceedings and time attacks alike. The simpler dockets moved swiftly without deception or motive requirements. chentian dominated the earlier boards, posting times of eight seconds on the standard beginner 5x5, sixteen seconds on standard medium, and sweeping four time attacks from beginner through hard in thirteen, fourteen, nineteen, and twenty-six seconds. Meanwhile, NXH claimed the fastest mark on standard easy at ten seconds.

Matters grew thorny once a liar entered the proceedings and an established motive became necessary to close the file. The standard hard case, laid out across an 8x8 grid with six rooms, saw david untangle the falsehoods in three minutes and six seconds. Over on the standard expert 9x9 board, where seven rooms complicated the search, gyr finished first in five minutes and twelve seconds.

The timed trials grew considerably quieter in their upper tiers, where play counts thinned. Only three investigators solved the timed hard case, while the eight-room timed expert inquiry saw just two successful deductions from nine attempts. There, amid deceit and necessary motives, gyr once again led the way, concluding the investigation in fifty-seven seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 08s · Easy: NXH — 0m 10s · Medium: chentian — 0m 16s · Hard: david — 3m 06s · Expert: gyr — 5m 12s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 14s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 19s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 0m 26s · Expert · time attack: gyr — 0m 57s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 14 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 Courtroom

59 detectives put Nadia (professor) away before the day was out.

Easy — The Courtroom

Ada (chef) is in custody — the case was closed by 51 detectives.

Medium — The Courtroom

Ursula (chef) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 43 detectives.

Hard — The Courtroom

Marina (diva) was named and charged; 15 detectives closed this one. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name. Marina lied for them and was never charged.

Expert — The Courtroom

The cell door shut on Katia (diva), on the evidence of 8 detectives. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name. Rosa lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

8 detectives put Vera (heiress) away before the day was out.

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

Quentin (magician) is in custody — the case was closed by 8 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

Nico (gardener) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 5 detectives.

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

Simon (curator) was named and charged; 3 detectives closed this one. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name. Rosa lied for them and was never charged.

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

The cell door shut on Rufus (butler), on the evidence of 2 detectives. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name. Rufus lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 13 September

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