Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 25 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-25 — 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 3 rooms: Courtyard, Gallery, Locker Room. Six statements, seven 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. BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · F — floor lamp · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Walter was in the gallery. leaves 7 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 7 of 21.
Quentin was in column 2. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 4 of 21.
Quentin was in row 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 1 of 21.
Enzo was in row 2. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 5 of 21.
Enzo was in column 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 21.
Ximena was in row 4. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 3 of 21.

Show the squares Ximena had left

The squares still open to Ximena 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:

Ada can only be in Courtyard (row 1, column 4) — down from 21 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Gallery (row 5, column 1) — down from 7 possible squares.
Ximena can only be in Locker Room (row 4, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Art School

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Print Room, Locker Room, Sculpture Hall, Kiln Room. Six statements, six 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.

The testimony

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

Enzo was in the locker room. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 6 of 21.
Quentin was in row 3. leaves 5 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 5 of 21.
Quentin was in the kiln room. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 2 of 21.
Alma was in the locker room. leaves 6 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 6 of 21.
Alma was in the top row. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 1 of 21.
Greta was in row 4. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 3 of 21.

Show the squares Quentin had left

The squares still open to Quentin 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:

Enzo can only be in Locker Room (row 2, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.
Luna can only be in Print Room (row 5, column 1) — down from 21 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Kiln Room (row 3, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Greta can only be in Print Room (row 4, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Art School

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

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. B — bookshelf · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Kaspar was in row 4. leaves 3 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 3 of 29.
Kaspar was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 1 of 29.
Octavio was in the atelier. leaves 10 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 10 of 29.
Octavio was in the leftmost column. leaves 2 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 2 of 29.
Wren was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 3 of 29.
Ruben was beside the statue. leaves 3 of 29 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 3 of 29.
Luna was in row 3. leaves 6 of 29 squares
Luna was in column 2. leaves 1 of 29 squares

Show the squares Octavio had left

The squares still open to Octavio 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:

Octavio can only be in Atelier (row 5, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Atelier (row 6, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ruben can only be in Locker Room (row 2, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.
Helena can only be in Gallery (row 1, column 5) — down from 29 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kaspar, in Gallery (row 4, column 6).

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Atelier, Sculpture Hall, Courtyard, Locker Room, Gallery. Six statements, eleven 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. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — crate · 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.

Gaspar was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 2 of 28.
Gaspar was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 1 of 28.
Abel was beside the statue. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 2 of 28.
Lidia was in row 3. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 4 of 28.
Tristan was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 3 of 28.
Nadia was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 2 of 28.

Show the squares Abel had left

The squares still open to Abel 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:

Abel can only be in Gallery (row 4, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Lidia can only be in Atelier (row 3, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Locker Room (row 5, column 2) — down from 28 possible squares.
Tristan can only be in Gallery (row 1, column 4) — down from 3 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Gallery (row 2, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gaspar, in Locker Room (row 6, column 1).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Art School

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Print Room, Supply Closet, Kiln Room, Courtyard, Locker Room. Eight statements, thirteen 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. 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 · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Milo was in the same room as the Curator.
Milo was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Milo: 2 of 39.
Ivan was beside the wooden chair. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 2 of 39.
Alma was in the same column as the bookshelf. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 6 of 39.
Pablo was somewhere east of the Magician.
Pablo was in the same room as the Gardener.
Lorenzo was in the same column as the painting. leaves 6 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 6 of 39.
Tristan was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 5 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 5 of 39.

Show the squares Milo had left

The squares still open to Milo 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:

Milo can only be in Courtyard (row 2, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Kira can only be in Print Room (row 6, column 6) — down from 39 possible squares.
Ivan can only be in Supply Closet (row 4, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.
Alma can only be in Kiln Room (row 5, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.
Pablo can only be in Courtyard (row 3, column 4) — down from 39 possible squares.
Lorenzo can only be in Courtyard (row 1, column 5) — down from 6 possible squares.
Tristan can only be in Print Room (row 7, column 7) — down from 5 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tristan, in Print Room (row 7, column 7).

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Art School

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Atelier, Supply Closet, Courtyard, Print Room, Gallery. Nine statements, fourteen 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. 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.

Estela was in the same room as Delia.
Delia was beside the bonsai. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 2 of 39.
Delia was in the same room as Boris.
Alma was beside the desk. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 2 of 39.
Alma was in the same column as the bonsai. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 1 of 39.
Hilda was beside the garbage can. leaves 4 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 4 of 39.
Boris was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 4 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 4 of 39.
Xavier was in the atelier or in the supply closet. leaves 15 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 15 of 39.
Xavier was in the same row as the painting. leaves 2 of 39 squares

Show the squares Delia had left

The squares still open to Delia 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:

Estela can only be in Courtyard (row 6, column 2) — down from 39 possible squares.
Delia can only be in Courtyard (row 5, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Print Room (row 2, column 7) — down from 39 possible squares.
Hilda can only be in Supply Closet (row 4, column 6) — down from 4 possible squares.
Boris can only be in Courtyard (row 7, column 1) — down from 4 possible squares.
Xavier can only be in Atelier (row 3, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Life-Drawing Room, Locker Room, Atelier, Supply Closet, Sculpture Hall, Kiln Room. Ten statements, seventeen 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 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. 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.

Jonas was exactly 5 rows north of the Journalist.
Jonas was in the same column as a painting. leaves 12 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 12 of 51.
Hilda was somewhere east of Selma.
Hilda was beside a painting. leaves 2 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 2 of 51.
Selma was exactly 1 row south of Yago.
Victor was in the same column as the boombox. leaves 7 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 7 of 51.
Yago was exactly 2 rows south of Estela.
Estela was in the same column as the easel. leaves 6 of 51 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 6 of 51.
Alma was exactly 2 columns west of the Chauffeur.
Alma was exactly 6 rows north of Selma.

Show the squares Hilda had left

The squares still open to Hilda once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 51.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 88 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Jonas stood in Gallery (row 2, column 4), Alma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Hilda in Locker Room (row 1, column 6) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Selma stood in Kiln Room (row 7, column 1), Estela would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Victor stood in Locker Room (row 1, column 7), Alma would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 84 squares fell the same way.

The motive

This case demands the why as well as the who: naming the killer without proving the motive counts for nothing. 7 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Estela's motive would have been ambition.
Selma's motive would have been buried secrets.
Hilda's motive would have been debts.
Alma's motive would have been jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Victor, in Life-Drawing Room (row 3, column 7).

The only motive left standing for Victor is revenge.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Gallery, Kiln Room, Courtyard, Sculpture Hall, Atelier, Life-Drawing Room, Locker Room. Eleven statements, seventeen 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. 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.

Paloma was somewhere west of the Journalist.
Ruben was in the same row as the mirror. leaves 6 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 6 of 49.
Sofia was exactly 6 rows south of Ruben.
Sofia was somewhere east of Gaspar.
Vera was exactly 3 rows north of Nestor.
Vera was exactly 3 columns west of the Doctor.
Nestor was all alone in a room.
Nestor was in the same column as the mirror. leaves 7 of 49 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 7 of 49.
Gaspar was exactly 3 columns east of the Colonel.
Julia was all alone in a room.
Julia was somewhere south of Nestor.

Show the squares Ruben had left

The squares still open to Ruben once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 49.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Sofia can only be in Kiln Room (row 8, column 8) — down from 49 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 57 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Paloma stood in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1), Vera would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ruben in Sculpture Hall (row 2, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Clara in Sculpture Hall (row 1, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Vera in Locker Room (row 3, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 53 squares fell the same way.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Art School

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Kiln Room, Courtyard, Locker Room, Print Room, Life-Drawing Room, Supply Closet, Atelier. 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 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. 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. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Estela was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 8 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 8 of 63.
Estela was in the same column as a boombox. if true, leaves 2 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 2 of 63.
Kurt was somewhere north of the Doctor.
Lidia was in the same row as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 14 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 14 of 63.
Lidia was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 2 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Lidia: 2 of 63.
Lidia was somewhere west of the Colonel.
Sofia was in the same row as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 14 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 14 of 63.
Sofia was somewhere west of Oscar.
Gilda was in the same row as a boombox. if true, leaves 12 of 63
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 12 of 63.
Gilda was somewhere south of the Curator.
Nico was in the same column as the easel. if true, leaves 7 of 63
Nico was somewhere south of the Colonel.
Ruben was beside the wooden chair. if true, leaves 2 of 63
Oscar was somewhere north of the Doctor.
Oscar was in the same column as the easel. if true, leaves 56 of 63
Exactly 3 people were in the courtyard.
Exactly 2 people were in the atelier.

Show the squares Estela had left

The squares still open to Estela once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 63.

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 Estela were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Kurt were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Lidia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Sofia were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Oscar actually told you:

Oscar was NOT north of the Doctor.
Oscar was NOT in the same column as the easel.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 113 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Kurt stood in Life-Drawing Room (row 1, column 5), Estela would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Lidia in Kiln Room (row 3, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Sofia stood in Life-Drawing Room (row 3, column 2), Nico would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Gilda in Atelier (row 5, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 109 squares fell the same way.

Estela can only be in Print Room (row 1, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Kurt can only be in Life-Drawing Room (row 2, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.

The motive

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

Kurt's motive would have been blackmail.
Nico's motive would have been revenge.
Oscar's motive would have been buried secrets.
Gilda's motive would have been ambition.
Estela's motive would have been jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Lidia, in Atelier (row 8, column 4). Oscar lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Lidia is debts.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Art School

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Supply Closet, Sculpture Hall, Locker Room, Atelier, Print Room, Gallery, Life-Drawing Room, Courtyard. Eighteen statements, eighteen 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 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 · 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. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Boris was somewhere south of the Professor.
Boris was in the same row as the wooden chair. if true, leaves 9 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 9 of 65.
Clara was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 57 of 65
Clara was in the same room as Jimena.
Abel was somewhere west of Petra.
Abel was in the same column as an easel. if true, leaves 14 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 14 of 65.
Abel was somewhere north of the Journalist.
Fabio was in the same row as the mirror. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 7 of 65.
Jimena was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 6 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 6 of 65.
Walter was somewhere west of Petra.
Walter was somewhere west of Boris.
Walter was in the same row as the garbage can. if true, leaves 7 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Walter: 7 of 65.
Tamara was in the same column as the mirror. if true, leaves 8 of 65
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 8 of 65.
Tamara was in the same row as the crate. if true, leaves 1 of 65
Petra was in the print room or in the gallery. if true, leaves 11 of 65
Petra was somewhere west of Fabio.
Exactly 2 people were in the print room.
Exactly 2 people were in the atelier.

Show the squares Jimena had left

The squares still open to Jimena once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 65.

Unmasking the liar

If Boris 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 Fabio were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Quentin were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Clara actually told you:

Clara was NOT in the same row as the bookshelf.
Clara was NOT in the same room as Jimena.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Boris can only be in Courtyard (row 6, column 9) — down from 9 possible squares.
Clara can only be in Atelier (row 2, column 7) — down from 57 possible squares.
Abel can only be in Supply Closet (row 3, column 5) — down from 14 possible squares.
Fabio can only be in Sculpture Hall (row 9, column 8) — down from 7 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Print Room (row 7, column 4) — down from 65 possible squares.
Jimena can only be in Locker Room (row 4, column 2) — down from 6 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Print Room (row 8, column 3) — down from 7 possible squares.
Petra can only be in Gallery (row 5, column 6) — down from 11 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.

Fabio's motive would have been debts.
Clara's motive would have been revenge.
Boris's motive would have been jealousy.
Jimena's motive would have been buried secrets.
Abel's motive would have been blackmail.
Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Walter, in Print Room (row 8, column 3). Clara lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Walter is inheritance.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Walter 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 — 4 of them saw through the testimony at The Art School. 3 was the bar; 4 leaves nothing to argue about.

All ten investigations unfolded at The Art School, offering five standard boards and five against the clock. The standard docket began simply enough on smaller grids, where chentian swept the earliest inquiries, logging fifteen seconds on the 5x5 beginner layout, twenty-four seconds on the 6x6 easy floor, and a brisk thirteen seconds across the 7x7 medium rooms. Complications arrived with the 8x8 hard case, which demanded an uncovered motive; david claimed the quickest resolution there in one minute and forty seconds. The 9x9 expert scene introduced both a motive requirement and a liar among its seven rooms, a knot heni untangled fastest in two minutes and four seconds.

The timed attacks saw lighter traffic but sharp work. David struck early, clocking nine seconds on the four-room beginner grid and twenty seconds on the 6x6 easy assignment. From there, chentian reclaimed the field, finishing the 7x7 medium board in sixteen seconds and closing the 8x8 hard layout in one minute and forty-eight seconds. The final timed challenge—a sprawling 9x9 expert floor with eight rooms, a deceitful tongue, and motive required—proved grueling, yielding only a single success when chentian finally cracked it after fourteen minutes and thirty seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 15s · Easy: chentian — 0m 24s · Medium: chentian — 0m 13s · Hard: david — 1m 40s · Expert: heni — 2m 04s · Beginner · time attack: david — 0m 09s · Easy · time attack: david — 0m 20s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 16s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 1m 48s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 14m 30s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 25 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 Art School

9 detectives put Enzo (magician) away before the day was out.

Easy — The Art School

Kaspar (colonel) is in custody — the case was closed by 7 detectives.

Medium — The Art School

Alma (journalist) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 8 detectives.

Hard — The Art School

Victor (butler) was named and charged; 5 detectives closed this one. The motive — revenge — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Art School

The cell door shut on Lidia (heiress), on the evidence of 4 detectives. The motive — debts — was proved along with the name. Oscar lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Art School

2 detectives put Greta (doctor) away before the day was out.

Easy · time attack — The Art School

Gaspar (colonel) is in custody — the case was closed by 2 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Art School

Tristan (butler) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives.

Hard · time attack — The Art School

Sofia (doctor) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Expert · time attack — The Art School

The cell door shut on Walter (magician), on the evidence of one detective. The motive — inheritance — was proved along with the name. Clara lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 24 September

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