Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 16 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-16 — 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 Art School

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Courtyard, Kiln Room, Atelier, Gallery. Five statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 29 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 · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · P — painting (square stays free) · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Yolanda was in the gallery. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 6 of 21.
Yolanda was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 1 of 21.
Nadia was beside the wooden chair. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 3 of 21.
Zeno was in the atelier. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zeno: 3 of 21.
Boris was in column 2. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 4 of 21.

Show the squares Nadia had left

The squares still open to Nadia once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 21.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Petra can only be in Gallery (row 2, column 4) — down from 21 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Courtyard (row 5, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Zeno can only be in Atelier (row 4, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Boris can only be in Kiln Room (row 3, column 2) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Art School

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Locker Room, Kiln Room, Sculpture Hall, Atelier. Six statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bonsai · C — crate · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — painting (square stays free) · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Queralt was in column 4. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 4 of 21.
Kaspar was in the locker room. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 3 of 21.
Felix was in row 4. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 4 of 21.
Felix was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 1 of 21.
Leo was in column 3. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 5 of 21.
Leo was in the top row. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Leo: 1 of 21.

Show the squares Kaspar had left

The squares still open to Kaspar once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 21.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Queralt can only be in Sculpture Hall (row 3, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.
Kaspar can only be in Locker Room (row 5, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Zaida can only be in Atelier (row 2, column 2) — down from 21 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Supply Closet, Print Room, Life-Drawing Room, Locker Room. Six statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 23 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. BM — boombox · BO — bookshelf · C — crate · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Fabio was in the life-drawing room. leaves 6 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 6 of 29.
Nora was in column 5. leaves 5 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 5 of 29.
Gaspar was seated on the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 1 of 29.
Hilda was in the top row. leaves 6 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 6 of 29.
Hilda was in column 2. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 1 of 29.
Dorian was in the supply closet. leaves 7 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 7 of 29.

Show the squares Nora had left

The squares still open to Nora once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 29.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Fabio can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 6, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.
Nora can only be in Print Room (row 2, column 5) — down from 5 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in Locker Room (row 3, column 1) — down from 29 possible squares.
Dorian can only be in Supply Closet (row 4, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Kiln Room, Atelier, Sculpture Hall, Courtyard. Eight statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Dorian was in column 5. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 4 of 28.
Dorian was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 28.
Victor was in the leftmost column. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 5 of 28.
Victor was beside the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 1 of 28.
Bruno was in column 2. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 5 of 28.
Bruno was in the courtyard. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 1 of 28.
Tobias was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Sofia was in the kiln room. leaves 9 of 28 squares

Show the squares Tobias had left

The squares still open to Tobias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 28.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Queralt can only be in Atelier (row 3, column 3) — down from 28 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Courtyard (row 1, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Sofia can only be in Kiln Room (row 5, column 6) — down from 9 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Art School

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Supply Closet, Gallery, Locker Room, Life-Drawing Room, Print Room. Nine statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, 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.

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. BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Ines was beside the easel. leaves 2 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 2 of 45.
Ines was in the same room as the Diva.
Hugo was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 6 of 45.
Abel was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 7 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 7 of 45.
Abel was in the supply closet or in the life-drawing room. leaves 3 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 3 of 45.
Tamara was seated on the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 1 of 45.
Milo was in the same row as the statue. leaves 6 of 45 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 6 of 45.
Milo was beside the crate. leaves 1 of 45 squares
Greta was in the same column as the mirror. leaves 7 of 45 squares

Show the squares Ines had left

The squares still open to Ines once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 45.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Ines can only be in Gallery (row 2, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Hugo can only be in Locker Room (row 6, column 8) — down from 6 possible squares.
Abel can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 4, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Greta can only be in Gallery (row 1, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.
Kurt can only be in Locker Room (row 5, column 7) — down from 45 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Hugo, in Locker Room (row 6, column 8).

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Art School

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Locker Room, Gallery, Print Room, Life-Drawing Room, Atelier, Supply Closet. Nine 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 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. BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Octavio was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 2 of 47.
Enzo was in row 3. leaves 7 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 7 of 47.
Enzo was in the same room as Wanda.
Wanda was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 5 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 5 of 47.
Petra was in the same column as the painting. leaves 7 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 7 of 47.
Petra was in the same row as the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 1 of 47.
Victor was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 47 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 3 of 47.
Nestor was beside the wooden chair. leaves 1 of 47 squares
Nobody was in the atelier.

Show the squares Octavio had left

The squares still open to Octavio once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 47.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 22 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Octavio stood in Life-Drawing Room (row 1, column 3), Victor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Enzo stood in Locker Room (row 3, column 1), Bianca would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Wanda in Supply Closet (row 2, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Bianca in Supply Closet (row 1, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 18 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Octavio, in Life-Drawing Room (row 2, column 4).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Art School

A 9×8 grid across 6 rooms: Life-Drawing Room, Atelier, Supply Closet, Courtyard, Locker Room, Sculpture Hall. Nine statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

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. BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Wilfred was all alone in a room.
Wilfred was in the same row as the statue. leaves 6 of 58 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 6 of 58.
Beatrix was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 8 of 58 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 8 of 58.
Beatrix was in the same room as Julia.
Pablo was somewhere west of Wilfred.
Yago was in the same room as Luna.
Julia was somewhere west of the Butler.
Irene was exactly 8 columns west of Beatrix.
Luna was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 58 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 6 of 58.

Show the squares Wilfred had left

The squares still open to Wilfred once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 58.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Beatrix can only be in Courtyard (row 4, column 9) — down from 8 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 58 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Wilfred stood in Atelier (row 8, column 3), Julia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Marco stood in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1), Irene would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Pablo stood in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1), Irene would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Yago stood in Sculpture Hall (row 2, column 8), Luna would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 54 squares fell the same way.

Wilfred can only be in Atelier (row 8, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Pablo, in Life-Drawing Room (row 6, column 3).

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Art School

A 9×8 grid across 6 rooms: Atelier, Supply Closet, Courtyard, Gallery, Sculpture Hall, Print Room. Eleven statements, fourteen 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.

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 · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Gordon was exactly 1 row north of Kurt.
Gordon was in the same column as the wooden chair. leaves 7 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 7 of 60.
Elias was exactly 2 rows south of Sol.
Elias was exactly 5 columns east of Luna.
Elias was exactly 7 columns east of the Gardener.
Nestor was in the same row as the desk. leaves 7 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 7 of 60.
Vivienne was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 8 of 60 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vivienne: 8 of 60.
Sol was exactly 3 columns west of the Chef.
Kurt was somewhere west of the Journalist.
Kurt was touching the outer wall. leaves 25 of 60 squares
Luna was all alone in a room.

Show the squares Gordon had left

The squares still open to Gordon once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 60.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 115 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Gordon stood in Gallery (row 1, column 6), Nestor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Elias stood in Supply Closet (row 4, column 8), Gordon would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Nestor stood in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1), Vivienne would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ines in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 111 squares fell the same way.

Gordon can only be in Supply Closet (row 2, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.
Elias can only be in Supply Closet (row 6, column 9) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ines can only be in Print Room (row 7, column 7) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Vivienne, in Print Room (row 8, column 8).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Art School

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Kiln Room, Atelier, Locker Room, Courtyard, Supply Closet, Gallery, Life-Drawing Room. Thirteen statements, nineteen squares nobody could stand on, and four rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 7 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Flora was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 6 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 6 of 73.
Ivan was exactly 2 columns east of the Magician.
Ivan was all alone in a room.
Greta was exactly 1 column west of the Doctor.
Tobias was exactly 2 rows south of Elias.
Ulises was somewhere east of Beatrix.
Beatrix was not beside the boombox. leaves 71 of 73 squares
Elias was in the same column as a bonsai. leaves 14 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 14 of 73.
Milo was in the same row as the easel. leaves 7 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 7 of 73.
Milo was exactly 2 rows south of Flora.
Exactly 3 people were in the supply closet.
Exactly 2 people were in the life-drawing room.
Exactly 3 people were in the atelier.

Show the squares Flora had left

The squares still open to Flora once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 73.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Flora can only be in Supply Closet (row 1, column 10) — down from 6 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 180 eliminations across 4 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Ivan in Atelier (row 4, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Greta in Courtyard (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Tobias in Courtyard (row 4, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Ulises in Courtyard (row 2, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 176 squares fell the same way.

Greta can only be in Atelier (row 4, column 7) — down from 3 possible squares.
Tobias can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 7, column 6) — down from 5 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Supply Closet (row 9, column 9) — down from 2 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Supply Closet (row 6, column 8) — down from 2 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.

Ulises's motive would have been revenge.
Elias's motive would have been blackmail.
Flora's motive would have been inheritance.
Beatrix's motive would have been ambition.
Greta's motive would have been obsession.
Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
Tobias was not driven by jealousy.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tobias, in Life-Drawing Room (row 7, column 6).

The only motive left standing for Tobias is buried secrets.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Art School

A 10×9 grid across 8 rooms: Gallery, Kiln Room, Locker Room, Life-Drawing Room, Sculpture Hall, Print Room, Supply Closet, Courtyard. Twelve statements, twenty 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 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. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Flora was in the same row as the bookshelf. leaves 8 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 8 of 73.
Flora was all alone in a room.
Alma was exactly 7 columns west of Percy.
Alma and Selma were alone together in one room.
Alma was in the same row as the boombox. leaves 9 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 9 of 73.
Selma and the Chauffeur were in different rooms.
Percy was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 9 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 9 of 73.
Zeno and Olivia were alone together in one room.
Jonas was in the same column as the boombox. leaves 7 of 73 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 7 of 73.
Jonas was exactly 3 rows north of Kurt.
Olivia was exactly 4 columns east of Alma.
Kurt was exactly 5 columns east of Flora.

Show the squares Jonas had left

The squares still open to Jonas once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 73.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 103 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Flora in Kiln Room (row 7, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Alma stood in Print Room (row 1, column 3), Kurt would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Selma stood in Print Room (row 2, column 5), Alma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Percy stood in Locker Room (row 8, column 10), Alma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 99 squares fell the same way.

Flora can only be in Kiln Room (row 7, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.
Alma can only be in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Selma can only be in Sculpture Hall (row 2, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
Percy can only be in Locker Room (row 8, column 8) — down from 2 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.

Selma's motive would have been inheritance.
Flora's motive would have been revenge.
Zeno's motive would have been jealousy.
Kurt's motive would have been ambition.
Olivia's motive would have been blackmail.
Percy was not driven by debts.
Percy was not driven by buried secrets.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Percy, in Locker Room (row 8, column 8).

The only motive left standing for Percy is obsession.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Percy 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 — chapter 4 of 6, day 3. The season so far: 21 charged · 12 suspected · 3 walked. A train ticket stub has not surfaced.

The Art School hosted all ten investigations on the sixteenth of September, and none of the suspects dared to utter a lie. The standard cases drew steady interest, beginning with the 5x5 beginner board where chentian set the pace at fifteen seconds out of thirty-one attempts. A guest detective took the 6x6 easy assignment in twelve seconds, while gyr untangled the six rooms of the 8x7 medium mystery in one minute and eight seconds. chentian struck again on the 9x8 hard board, finishing in fifty-eight seconds. Only the 10x9 expert challenge required an established motive; of ten investigators who stepped into those seven rooms, five solved it, led by detective2201 with a time of eleven minutes and fifty-one seconds.

Against the clock, tiny squads of investigators faced alternate arrangements of the school's studios. chentian dominated the smaller layouts, posting twin eleven-second finishes across the four rooms of both the 5x5 beginner and 6x6 easy drills. The remaining time attack boards belonged entirely to gyr, who dispatched the five-room medium board in twelve seconds, fought through a difficult 9x8 hard case solved by just two detectives in five minutes and twenty-nine seconds, and finally conquered the eight-room expert board—motive required—in two minutes and forty-six seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 15s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 12s · Medium: gyr — 1m 08s · Hard: chentian — 0m 58s · Expert: detective2201 — 11m 51s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Medium · time attack: gyr — 0m 12s · Hard · time attack: gyr — 5m 29s · Expert · time attack: gyr — 2m 46s