Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 23 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-23 — 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 3 rooms: Jury Box, Courtroom, Judge's Chambers. Seven statements, six squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 12 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · C — carpet (square stays free) · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · S — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Tristan was in row 3. leaves 3 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 3 of 22.
  2. Tristan was in the judge's chambers. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 1 of 22.
  3. Delia was in row 4. leaves 4 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 4 of 22.
  4. Delia was in the judge's chambers. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 1 of 22.
  5. Boris was in row 2. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 5 of 22.
  6. Boris was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    SFCAGW
    The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 1 of 22.
  7. Marco was beside the armchair. leaves 3 of 22 squares
Show the squares Marco had left
SFCAGW
The squares still open to Marco once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 22.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
SFCAGWTDBM✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Boris is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Press Room, Hallway, Judge's Chambers. Five statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bookshelf · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · 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.

  1. Gordon was in the judge's chambers. leaves 10 of 20 squares
  2. Hugo was in the top row. leaves 5 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOGFPBBWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 5 of 20.
  3. Hugo was in column 4. leaves 1 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOGFPBBWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 1 of 20.
  4. Nestor was beside the window. leaves 1 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOGFPBBWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 1 of 20.
  5. Estela was in row 2. leaves 4 of 20 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOGFPBBWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 4 of 20.
Show the squares Estela had left
WOGFPBBWI
The squares still open to Estela once their own statements are taken into account — 4 of 20.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
WOGFPBBWIGHN✕E
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Estela is ringed in red.

Easy — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Judge's Chambers, Archive, Holding Cell, Gallery, Courtroom. Eight statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 9 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · 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.

  1. Ulises was in the courtroom. leaves 11 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 11 of 29.
  2. Fabio was beside the painting. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 1 of 29.
  3. Luna was in column 4. leaves 6 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 6 of 29.
  4. Luna was in the gallery. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 1 of 29.
  5. Rita was beside the carpet. leaves 3 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 3 of 29.
  6. Rita was beside the computer. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
    The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 1 of 29.
  7. Nadia was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 29 squares
  8. Nadia was in row 4. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show the squares Ulises had left
CLCODSCABKCLBOWP
The squares still open to Ulises once their own statements are taken into account — 11 of 29.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Rita, in Judge's Chambers (row 5, column 6).

Show the solved board
CLCODSCABKCLBOWP✕UFLRN
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Rita is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Holding Cell, Hallway, Press Room, Archive. Seven statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · 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.

  1. Queralt was on the carpet. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 2 of 29.
  2. Queralt was beside the bonsai. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 1 of 29.
  3. Greta was beside the window. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 2 of 29.
  4. Delia was in column 5. leaves 6 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 6 of 29.
  5. Delia was beside the computer. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 1 of 29.
  6. Walter was beside the floor lamp. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOBCODFCADPSWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 2 of 29.
  7. Kurt was in the press room. leaves 8 of 29 squares
Show the squares Greta had left
WOBCODFCADPSWI
The squares still open to Greta once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 29.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

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

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Judge's Chambers, Archive, Holding Cell, Gallery, Hallway. Eight statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by one detective so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. 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 · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Luna was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 47 squares
    Show it on the board
    DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 2 of 47.
  2. Bruno was beside a window. leaves 3 of 47 squares
    Show it on the board
    DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 3 of 47.
  3. Bruno was in the same room as Elena.
  4. Quentin was beside the statue. leaves 3 of 47 squares
    Show it on the board
    DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 3 of 47.
  5. Elena was in the same column as the painting. leaves 7 of 47 squares
    Show it on the board
    DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 7 of 47.
  6. Clara was in the same room as Ursula.
  7. Ursula was in the same row as the bonsai. leaves 7 of 47 squares
    Show it on the board
    DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 7 of 47.
  8. Nobody was in the archive.
Show the squares Luna had left
DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPA
The squares still open to Luna 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.

Show what goes wrong
DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPAB
Suppose Bruno stood on the dashed square. Bruno 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: Luna, in Holding Cell (row 2, column 8).

Show the solved board
DSBOPOBKCLCAFCOCLWWPALBQEC✕U
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Luna is ringed in red.

Medium — The Courtroom

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Holding Cell, Archive, Gallery, Jury Box, Evidence Room, Judge's Chambers. Eight statements, ten 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 8 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Fabio was in the leftmost column. leaves 6 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 6 of 41.
  2. Fabio was in the same room as Quentin.
  3. Olivia was in the holding cell or in the gallery. leaves 15 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 15 of 41.
  4. Ada was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 2 of 41.
  5. Ada was in the same column as the computer. leaves 1 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 1 of 41.
  6. Quentin was beside the grandfather clock. leaves 3 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 3 of 41.
  7. Gordon was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 41 squares
    Show it on the board
    CODCAPBFSGFW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gordon: 6 of 41.
  8. Estela was in the holding cell. leaves 6 of 41 squares
Show the squares Quentin had left
CODCAPBFSGFW
The squares still open to Quentin once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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:

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gordon, in Jury Box (row 1, column 6).

Show the solved board
CODCAPBFSGFWFOAQGE✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Gordon is ringed in red.

Hard — The Courtroom

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Hallway, Courtroom, Press Room, Gallery, Judge's Chambers, Evidence Room, Archive. Eleven statements, sixteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

Cracked by 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · 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, and how much of the board it rules out.

  1. Marina was in the same row as the wooden chair. leaves 10 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 10 of 69.
  2. Marina was exactly 4 columns east of the Heiress.
  3. Alma was in the same row as the window. leaves 9 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 9 of 69.
  4. Alma was in the same room as Victor.
  5. Victor was in the same column as the window. leaves 7 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 7 of 69.
  6. Julian was somewhere east of the Heiress.
  7. Wilfred was all alone in a room.
  8. Wilfred was beside the bonsai. leaves 1 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 1 of 69.
  9. Rosa was exactly 3 rows north of Julian.
  10. Rosa was in the same column as the painting. leaves 7 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 7 of 69.
  11. Katia was in the same row as the carpet. leaves 18 of 69 squares
    Show it on the board
    WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 18 of 69.
Show the squares Victor had left
WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPA
The squares still open to Victor once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 69.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 44 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 40 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Marina, in Judge's Chambers (row 5, column 6).

Show the solved board
WOSBKCOFCADAPOBOCOSBKPOWIPAMAVJWR✕K
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Marina is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Holding Cell, Hallway, Judge's Chambers, Jury Box, Press Room, Evidence Room, Archive. Fourteen 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 one detective so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Dante was exactly 4 rows north of the Curator.
  2. Dante was all alone in a room.
  3. Gordon was somewhere south of Octavio.
  4. Rosa was exactly 3 columns east of Gordon.
  5. Rosa was exactly 5 columns east of Octavio.
  6. Julian was in the same room as the Curator.
  7. Julian was exactly 1 column east of the Magician.
  8. Julian was somewhere west of Kira.
  9. Julian was in the same row as the painting. leaves 9 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    COBFSACLDCAPOCLCOBWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 9 of 70.
  10. Octavio was somewhere east of Dante.
  11. Abel was in the same row as the carpet. leaves 18 of 70 squares
    Show it on the board
    COBFSACLDCAPOCLCOBWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 18 of 70.
  12. Kira was somewhere north of Octavio.
  13. Kira was exactly 1 row north of Rosa.
  14. Nobody was in the evidence room.
Show the squares Julian had left
COBFSACLDCAPOCLCOBWPA
The squares still open to Julian once their own statements are taken into account — 9 of 70.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 104 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 100 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kira, in Judge's Chambers (row 4, column 9).

Show the solved board
COBFSACLDCAPOCLCOBWPADGRJ✕OAK
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kira is ringed in red.

Expert — The Courtroom

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Evidence Room, Holding Cell, Courtroom, Judge's Chambers, Press Room, Jury Box, Hallway. 21 statements, sixteen 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 3 detectives so far.

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Courtroom, Archive, Jury Box, Gallery, Hallway, Holding Cell, Press Room. Fourteen statements, eighteen squares nobody could stand on, 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.

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 · 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.

  1. Clara was somewhere west of Walter.
  2. Jimena and the Diva were in different rooms.
  3. Octavio was somewhere west of Tesa.
  4. Gaspar was exactly 8 rows south of the Heiress.
  5. Tesa was touching the outer wall. leaves 29 of 76 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLBKADCABOFWOSPCOPCODBOCLFWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Tesa: 29 of 76.
  6. Tesa was exactly 1 row north of the Gardener.
  7. Frida was exactly 1 column east of Jimena.
  8. Katia was all alone in a room.
  9. Katia was exactly 2 rows north of the Journalist.
  10. Katia was in the same column as the window. leaves 8 of 76 squares
    Show it on the board
    CLBKADCABOFWOSPCOPCODBOCLFWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 8 of 76.
  11. Katia was exactly 1 column west of the Colonel.
  12. Walter was exactly 3 rows north of the Diva.
  13. Walter was exactly 6 columns east of Katia.
  14. Exactly 3 people were in the courtroom.
Show the squares Katia had left
CLBKADCABOFWOSPCOPCODBOCLFWI
The squares still open to Katia once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 76.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 72 eliminations across 2 rounds of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 68 squares fell the same way.

The motive

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

  1. Walter's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Gaspar's motive would have been jealousy.
  3. Clara's motive would have been revenge.
  4. Frida's motive would have been debts.
  5. Octavio's motive would have been ambition.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Jimena is obsession.

Show the solved board
CLBKADCABOFWOSPCOPCODBOCLFWICJOGTFKW✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Jimena 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 Archivist’s Silence — 3 detectives named the same liar at The Courtroom, exactly the 3 a charge takes. It sticks.

All ten cases on 23 September 2026 brought investigators to The Courtroom. The standard docket began simply enough, where a guest detective claimed the quickest marks on the 5x5 beginner grid in nine seconds and the 6x6 easy room in twelve seconds. From there, chentian took firm control of the floor, securing the 7x7 medium board in eighteen seconds and untangling the 10x8 hard inquiry in one minute and eighteen seconds. The standard expert case raised the stakes considerably, demanding not only an eye for motive on a 9x9 floor but also vigilance against an active liar; only three of seven attempts succeeded, with chentian posting the day's best mark at fourteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds.

Against the clock, participation was quiet, but chentian swept every single board. Swift work resolved the 5x5 beginner challenge in twelve seconds, the 6x6 easy layout in thirteen seconds, and the 8x7 medium room in one minute and fifty-three seconds. The larger assignments proved equally manageable in chentian's hands, concluding with the 10x8 hard case solved in eight minutes and eleven seconds, followed by a tidy four-minute, five-second resolution on the 10x9 expert challenge, where motive once again proved essential to closing the file.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 09s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 12s · Medium: chentian — 0m 18s · Hard: chentian — 1m 18s · Expert: chentian — 14m 27s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 12s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 1m 53s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 8m 11s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 4m 05s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 23 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

TDBM✕
Boris (Chauffeur)Boris (chauffeur) is in custody — the case was closed by 12 detectives.

Easy — The Courtroom

✕UFLRN
Rita (Journalist)Rita (journalist) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 9 detectives.

Medium — The Courtroom

FOAQGE✕
Gordon (Chauffeur)Gordon (chauffeur) was named and charged; 8 detectives closed this one.

Hard — The Courtroom

MAVJWR✕K
Marina (Journalist)The cell door shut on Marina (journalist), on the evidence of 6 detectives.

Expert — The Courtroom

ECHXJD✕BO
Celeste (Journalist)3 detectives put Celeste (journalist) away before the day was out. The motive — inheritance — was proved along with the name. Celeste lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

GHN✕E
Estela (Diva)Estela (diva) is in custody — the case was closed by 2 detectives.

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

Q✕GDWK
Queralt (Heiress)Queralt (heiress) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

LBQEC✕U
Luna (Journalist)Luna (journalist) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

DGRJ✕OAK
Kira (Chef)The cell door shut on Kira (chef), on the evidence of one detective.

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

CJOGTFKW✕
Jimena (Journalist)one detective put Jimena (journalist) away before the day was out. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 22 September

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