Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 30 September 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-09-30 — 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 Repair Shop

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Parts Room, Storeroom, Repair Bay. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 10 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. C — computer · F — floor lamp · R — radio · T — television · 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.

Victor was in the parts room. leaves 9 of 21 squares
Victor was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 1 of 21.
Ofelia was in row 2. leaves 3 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 3 of 21.
Ofelia was in the rightmost column. leaves 1 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ofelia: 1 of 21.
Marco was in the parts room. leaves 9 of 21 squares
Marco was in column 3. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 2 of 21.
Ruben was beside the wooden chair. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 2 of 21.

Show the squares Marco had left

The squares still open to Marco 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:

Marco can only be in Parts Room (row 5, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Julian can only be in Repair Bay (row 1, column 4) — down from 21 possible squares.
Ruben can only be in Storeroom (row 3, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Parts Room, Office, Paint Booth. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. CA — cabinet · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · T — television · WD — wooden table · 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.

Zaida was in the paint booth. leaves 6 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 6 of 20.
Zaida was in row 2. leaves 1 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 1 of 20.
Alma was in row 3. leaves 5 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 5 of 20.
Elias was in the parts room. leaves 6 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 6 of 20.
Elias was in column 2. leaves 2 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 2 of 20.
Wren was in the parts room. leaves 6 of 20 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 6 of 20.
Wren was in column 4. leaves 1 of 20 squares

Show the squares Elias had left

The squares still open to Elias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 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:

Milo can only be in Office (row 1, column 3) — down from 20 possible squares.
Alma can only be in Office (row 3, column 1) — down from 5 possible squares.
Elias can only be in Parts Room (row 5, column 2) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Repair Shop

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Car Lift, Repair Bay, Paint Booth, Waiting Room, Parts Room. Eight statements, ten 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · P — potted plant · T — television · WD — wooden table · 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.

Ivan was in column 5. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 4 of 28.
Ivan was in the repair bay. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 2 of 28.
Felix was in the waiting room. leaves 6 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 6 of 28.
Ruben was beside the computer. leaves 3 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 3 of 28.
Ruben was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 1 of 28.
Marco was in the parts room. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 5 of 28.
Marco was in row 2. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Olivia was beside the wooden chair. leaves 3 of 28 squares

Show the squares Ivan had left

The squares still open to Ivan 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:

Ivan can only be in Repair Bay (row 5, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Felix can only be in Waiting Room (row 3, column 3) — down from 6 possible squares.
Vivienne can only be in Parts Room (row 4, column 4) — down from 28 possible squares.
Olivia can only be in Paint Booth (row 1, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Yard, Parts Room, Repair Bay, Office, Car Lift. Six statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. CA — cabinet · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · WD — wooden table · 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.

Marco was beside the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 1 of 27.
Jonas was in column 4. leaves 5 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 5 of 27.
Jonas was in the office. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Jonas: 1 of 27.
Dora was beside the wooden chair. leaves 2 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 2 of 27.
Kaspar was beside the television. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 1 of 27.
Tesa was in the office. leaves 6 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tesa: 6 of 27.

Show the squares Dora had left

The squares still open to Dora once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 27.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Dora can only be in Repair Bay (row 6, column 3) — down from 2 possible squares.
Walter can only be in Repair Bay (row 4, column 5) — down from 27 possible squares.
Tesa can only be in Office (row 1, column 1) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Office, Storeroom, Repair Bay, Waiting Room, Car Lift. Eight statements, thirteen squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · T — television · WD — wooden table · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

Elena was in the storeroom or in the repair bay. leaves 14 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 14 of 39.
Elena was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Elena: 1 of 39.
Hugo was beside the floor lamp. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 2 of 39.
Queralt was beside the car. leaves 3 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 3 of 39.
Ignacio was in the same column as a window. leaves 12 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 12 of 39.
Paloma was beside the computer. leaves 2 of 39 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 2 of 39.
Nadia was in the same column as the oil slick. leaves 11 of 39 squares
Nadia was beside the oil slick. leaves 2 of 39 squares

Show the squares Hugo had left

The squares still open to Hugo 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:

Hugo can only be in Waiting Room (row 6, column 4) — down from 2 possible squares.
Queralt can only be in Storeroom (row 4, column 5) — down from 3 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Office (row 3, column 1) — down from 12 possible squares.
Paloma can only be in Storeroom (row 2, column 7) — down from 2 possible squares.
Vera can only be in Office (row 5, column 2) — down from 39 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Waiting Room (row 7, column 6) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Repair Shop

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Storeroom, Paint Booth, Parts Room, Repair Bay, Yard. Nine statements, fourteen 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · 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.

Rita was in the same column as the car. leaves 10 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 10 of 38.
Rita was in the same row as the crate. leaves 1 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rita: 1 of 38.
Petra was in row 6. leaves 6 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 6 of 38.
Petra was in the same column as the radio. leaves 1 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 1 of 38.
Fabio was in the same row as the car. leaves 4 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 4 of 38.
Fabio was in the eastern half of the scene. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 2 of 38.
Ignacio was on the oil slick. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Nadia was in the parts room or in the repair bay. leaves 16 of 38 squares
Ulises was beside a window. leaves 2 of 38 squares

Show the squares Fabio had left

The squares still open to Fabio once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 38.

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 Parts Room (row 3, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Ignacio can only be in Storeroom (row 7, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Nadia can only be in Repair Bay (row 5, column 4) — down from 16 possible squares.
Oscar can only be in Yard (row 2, column 2) — down from 38 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Parts Room (row 4, column 7) — down from 2 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Repair Shop

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Waiting Room, Paint Booth, Pit Lane, Car Lift, Office, Storeroom. Twelve statements, seventeen squares nobody could stand on, 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · WD — wooden table · 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.

Fabio was in row 4. leaves 10 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 10 of 66.
Nora was in the same column as the wooden chair. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 7 of 66.
Nora was in the same row as the computer. leaves 1 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 1 of 66.
Nora was in the same room as Sol.
Luna was in the same column as the radio. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 7 of 66.
Luna was in the same row as the crate. leaves 1 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 1 of 66.
Tamara was in the same row as the car. leaves 6 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 6 of 66.
Tamara was all alone in a room.
Sol was somewhere north of the Professor.
Dora was exactly 3 columns east of Tamara.
Conrad was exactly 5 columns east of the Magician.
Conrad was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 8 of 66 squares

Show the squares Tamara had left

The squares still open to Tamara once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 66.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 13 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Put Fabio in Pit Lane (row 4, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Wanda in Pit Lane (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Tamara stood in Pit Lane (row 1, column 2), Sol would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Sol in Car Lift (row 5, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 9 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.

Sol's motive would have been inheritance.
Tamara's motive would have been buried secrets.
Luna's motive would have been ambition.
Nora's motive would have been revenge.
Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.

The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Fabio is blackmail.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 10×8 grid across 7 rooms: Yard, Waiting Room, Pit Lane, Car Lift, Repair Bay, Storeroom, Parts Room. Fourteen 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · WD — wooden table · 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.

Marco was somewhere east of Ursula.
Marco was somewhere north of the Heiress.
Marco was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 7 of 66.
Irene was in the same row as the crate. leaves 9 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 9 of 66.
Kaspar was exactly 4 columns west of Petra.
Zaida was in the same column as the oil slick. leaves 14 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 14 of 66.
Zaida was in the same room as Ursula.
Boris was in the same column as a window. leaves 13 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 13 of 66.
Boris was all alone in a room.
Boris was in the same row as the oil slick. leaves 2 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 2 of 66.
Ursula was somewhere east of the Heiress.
Ursula was in the same row as the wooden table. leaves 9 of 66 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 9 of 66.
Petra was in the same row as the computer. leaves 7 of 66 squares
Nobody was in the yard.

Show the squares Boris had left

The squares still open to Boris once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 66.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 92 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Marco stood in Pit Lane (row 1, column 8), Petra would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Irene stood in Car Lift (row 4, column 5), Petra would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Kaspar in Repair Bay (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Zaida stood in Pit Lane (row 1, column 5), Petra would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 88 squares fell the same way.

Irene can only be in Parts Room (row 4, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Kaspar, in Storeroom (row 7, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Repair Shop

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Pit Lane, Yard, Parts Room, Storeroom, Paint Booth, Repair Bay, Waiting Room, Car Lift. Nineteen statements, seventeen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · WD — wooden table · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Zeno was in the same column as a radio. if true, leaves 51 of 67
Zeno was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 46 of 67
Ines was not beside the car. if true, leaves 63 of 67
Ines was somewhere south of the Curator.
Dorian was somewhere south of Rufus.
Dorian was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 15 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 15 of 67.
Dorian and Marina were in different rooms.
Marina was somewhere east of the Gardener.
Marina was in the same column as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 7 of 67.
Marina was in the same row as the television. if true, leaves 1 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 1 of 67.
Rufus was somewhere west of the Diva.
Rufus was somewhere east of the Curator.
Rufus was in the same row as the oil slick. if true, leaves 9 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rufus: 9 of 67.
Percy was in the same row as a radio. if true, leaves 13 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 13 of 67.
Percy was in the same column as the wooden table. if true, leaves 2 of 67
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 2 of 67.
Gaspar was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 15 of 67
Gaspar was in the same row as the computer. if true, leaves 2 of 67
Olivia was in row 6. if true, leaves 7 of 67
Exactly 2 people were in the car lift.

Show the squares Percy had left

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

Unmasking the liar

One of these 9 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

If Ines were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Dorian were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Marina were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Rufus were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Zeno actually told you:

Zeno was NOT in the same column as a radio.
Zeno was NOT in the same row as the floor lamp.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 101 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Zeno stood in Waiting Room (row 1, column 3), Dorian would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Ines in Paint Booth (row 6, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Dorian stood in Paint Booth (row 5, column 2), Gaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Rufus stood in Storeroom (row 3, column 3), Gaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 97 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.

Gaspar's motive would have been blackmail.
Zeno's motive would have been debts.
Dorian's motive would have been ambition.
Olivia's motive would have been obsession.
Percy's motive would have been jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ines, in Car Lift (row 9, column 7). Zeno lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Ines is inheritance.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Repair Shop

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Paint Booth, Yard, Pit Lane, Parts Room, Repair Bay, Office, Car Lift, Waiting Room. 25 statements, nineteen 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. CA — cabinet · CO — computer · CR — car · CT — crate · F — floor lamp · O — oil slick (square stays free) · P — potted plant · R — radio · T — television · WD — wooden table · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

Dora was in row 5. if true, leaves 9 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dora: 9 of 64.
Dora was somewhere west of Kurt.
Nico and the Gardener were in different rooms.
Nico was in the same row as the car. if true, leaves 7 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 7 of 64.
Beatrix was in the same column as the cabinet. if true, leaves 7 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 7 of 64.
Beatrix and Julian were in different rooms.
Beatrix was in the same row as the oil slick. if true, leaves 1 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 1 of 64.
Julian was in the same row as the oil slick. if true, leaves 50 of 64
Julian was in the same room as the Curator.
Zaida was somewhere north of Nico.
Zaida was in the same row as a television. if true, leaves 11 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 11 of 64.
Zaida was not beside the oil slick.
Ulises was somewhere west of the Gardener.
Ulises was somewhere south of the Doctor.
Ulises was somewhere south of Nico.
Luna was in the same row as the window. if true, leaves 8 of 64
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 8 of 64.
Luna was not beside a floor lamp. if true, leaves 7 of 64
Luna was somewhere west of the Butler.
Luna was in the same column as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 1 of 64
Kurt was somewhere south of Luna.
Kurt was in the same column as a television. if true, leaves 13 of 64
Kurt was beside a television. if true, leaves 3 of 64
Exactly 2 people were in the paint booth.
Exactly 2 people were in the office.
Exactly 2 people were in the car lift.

Show the squares Kurt had left

The squares still open to Kurt once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 64.

Unmasking the liar

If Dora were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Nico were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Beatrix were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.
If Zaida were the one lying, no arrangement satisfies the rest. Not them.

Another 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Julian actually told you:

Julian was NOT in the same row as the oil slick.
Julian was NOT in the same room as the Curator.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Nico can only be in Car Lift (row 3, column 6) — down from 7 possible squares.
Julian can only be in Parts Room (row 6, column 8) — down from 50 possible squares.
Zaida can only be in Paint Booth (row 2, column 5) — down from 11 possible squares.
Ulises can only be in Office (row 8, column 7) — down from 64 possible squares.
Kurt can only be in Office (row 9, column 9) — down from 3 possible squares.

The squares that had to be tested

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

Put Dora in Car Lift (row 5, column 2) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Wanda in Car Lift (row 4, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

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.

Zaida's motive would have been buried secrets.
Luna's motive would have been debts.
Ulises's motive would have been ambition.
Beatrix's motive would have been obsession.
Kurt's motive would have been blackmail.
Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Nico, in Car Lift (row 3, column 6). Julian lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Nico is revenge.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nico 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

What the Tide Keeps — The lie at The Repair Shop did not survive 3 readings. A charge needs 3; this one had room to spare.

All ten investigations on 30 September 2026 brought investigators to The Repair Shop. The untimed docket opened with a modest 5x5 floor plan across three rooms, where chentian took the fastest mark in nine seconds as ten of seventeen attempts found a solution. A guest detective soon claimed the six-by-six easy board in twenty seconds out of eight successful runs, before chentian returned on the medium grid, unraveling five rooms in eighteen seconds with seven of ten attempts solved. The stakes rose on the 10x8 hard case, where five out of five attempts succeeded in establishing a required motive, led by a guest detective in two minutes and two seconds. The untimed expert trial introduced both a liar and a required motive across eight rooms of a 9x9 layout; only three of five attempts solved it, chentian leading in three minutes and four seconds.

Against the clock, solitary assignments ruled the docket, each seeing a single play and a single solve, swept entirely by chentian. The sprint began on the 5x5 beginner layout in seventeen seconds, followed by the easy board in ten seconds and the medium case in fifteen. The hard time-attack grid, expanded to seven rooms, was cleared in three minutes and thirty seconds without motive constraints, while the expert trial demanded both motive and the unmasking of a liar across eight rooms, completed in seven minutes and four seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: chentian — 0m 09s · Easy: a guest detective — 0m 20s · Medium: chentian — 0m 18s · Hard: a guest detective — 2m 02s · Expert: chentian — 3m 04s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 17s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 10s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 15s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 3m 30s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 7m 04s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 30 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 Repair Shop

10 detectives put Ofelia (professor) away before the day was out.

Easy — The Repair Shop

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

Medium — The Repair Shop

Rita (professor) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 7 detectives.

Hard — The Repair Shop

Fabio (magician) was named and charged; 5 detectives closed this one. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Repair Shop

The cell door shut on Ines (heiress), on the evidence of 3 detectives. The motive — inheritance — was proved along with the name. Zeno lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Repair Shop

one detective put Alma (chef) away before the day was out.

Easy · time attack — The Repair Shop

Dora (journalist) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective.

Medium · time attack — The Repair Shop

Ignacio (colonel) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective.

Hard · time attack — The Repair Shop

Kaspar (gardener) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Expert · time attack — The Repair Shop

The cell door shut on Nico (butler), on the evidence of one detective. The motive — revenge — was proved along with the name. Julian lied for them and was never charged.

Read this recap in: العربية · Asturianu · Català · Deutsch · Español · Euskara · فارسی · Français · Galego · हिन्दी · Italiano · 日本語 · ಕನ್ನಡ · 한국어 · Nederlands · Português · Русский · Valencià · 中文

Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 29 September

Play free — no download