Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 1 October 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-10-01 — 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: Judge's Chambers, Jury Box, Courtroom. Seven statements, seven squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 16 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bookshelf · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Margot was in the rightmost column. leaves 5 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 5 of 21.
  2. Margot was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Margot: 1 of 21.
  3. Yolanda was in the leftmost column. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 4 of 21.
  4. Yolanda was in the jury box. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Yolanda: 1 of 21.
  5. Hugo was in the top row. leaves 5 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 5 of 21.
  6. Hugo was in column 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BPWOSGWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Hugo: 1 of 21.
  7. Nora was in column 4. leaves 4 of 21 squares
Show the squares Nora had left
BPWOSGWIWI
The squares still open to Nora once their own statements are taken into account — 4 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:

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Hugo, in Judge's Chambers (row 1, column 3).

Show the solved board
BPWOSGWIWI✕MYHN
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Hugo is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

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

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · B — bookshelf · D — desk · 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. Felix was in the holding cell. leaves 6 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 6 of 21.
  2. Ursula was in the bottom row. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 4 of 21.
  3. Ursula was in column 2. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 1 of 21.
  4. Lorenzo was in the holding cell. leaves 6 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 6 of 21.
  5. Lorenzo was in row 3. leaves 1 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 1 of 21.
  6. Xavier was in the evidence room. leaves 4 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSADPWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 4 of 21.
  7. Xavier was in row 2. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show the squares Xavier had left
BSADPWW
The squares still open to Xavier 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
BSADPWWFULX✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ursula is ringed in red.

Easy — The Courtroom

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Hallway, Archive, Holding Cell, Judge's Chambers. Eight statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 13 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 — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · G — grandfather clock · P — potted plant · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Queralt was in row 4. leaves 5 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 5 of 30.
  2. Queralt was in the hallway. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 1 of 30.
  3. Ada was in the holding cell. leaves 5 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 5 of 30.
  4. Gaspar was beside the computer. leaves 3 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 3 of 30.
  5. Hilda was in the archive. leaves 6 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 6 of 30.
  6. Hilda was in row 3. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    FPCACODGFWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 1 of 30.
  7. Julia was beside the carpet. leaves 5 of 30 squares
  8. Julia was in row 2. leaves 1 of 30 squares
Show the squares Gaspar had left
FPCACODGFWW
The squares still open to Gaspar once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 30.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

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

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

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

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · 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. Flora was in row 4. leaves 6 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 6 of 28.
  2. Flora was beside the bonsai. leaves 1 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 1 of 28.
  3. Rosa was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 2 of 28.
  4. Gaspar was in column 4. leaves 6 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 6 of 28.
  5. Gaspar was in the jury box. leaves 1 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 1 of 28.
  6. Paloma was beside the bonsai. leaves 3 of 28 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
    The squares this one statement leaves Paloma: 3 of 28.
  7. Ivan was beside the floor lamp. leaves 2 of 28 squares
Show the squares Rosa had left
CABKPBOSFACOBKSW
The squares still open to Rosa 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:

The answer

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

Show the solved board
CABKPBOSFACOBKSWFRGP✕I
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Gaspar is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Holding Cell, Judge's Chambers, Archive, Courtroom, Hallway. Ten statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 3 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Victor was in the rightmost column. leaves 6 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 6 of 46.
  2. Ximena was in the same row as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 6 of 46.
  3. Ximena was in column 5. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 1 of 46.
  4. Jimena was in the same room as Bruno.
  5. Wren was in the same row as the carpet. leaves 15 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 15 of 46.
  6. Wren was in the same room as Bruno.
  7. Bruno was somewhere north of Victor.
  8. Bruno was beside the potted plant. leaves 2 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 2 of 46.
  9. Nico was in the same row as the bookshelf. leaves 7 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 7 of 46.
  10. Nico was in the same column as the computer. leaves 1 of 46 squares
Show the squares Bruno had left
BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPA
The squares still open to Bruno once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 46.
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: Victor, in Holding Cell (row 4, column 8).

Show the solved board
BODFSCACOBKPOGBOSWWPAVXJW✕BN
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Victor is ringed in red.

Medium — The Courtroom

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Jury Box, Courtroom, Archive, Holding Cell, Evidence Room, Judge's Chambers. Nine statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 11 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Gilda was beside the statue. leaves 2 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 2 of 38.
  2. Ruben was in the same row as the grandfather clock. leaves 5 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 5 of 38.
  3. Ruben was in the same column as a window. leaves 3 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 3 of 38.
  4. Dante was in the same room as Victor.
  5. Dante was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 5 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 5 of 38.
  6. Abel was in the same row as the statue. leaves 5 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 5 of 38.
  7. Victor was in the archive or in the holding cell. leaves 10 of 38 squares
    Show it on the board
    GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Victor: 10 of 38.
  8. Marina was in the same row as a window. leaves 12 of 38 squares
  9. Marina was in the same column as the computer. leaves 2 of 38 squares
Show the squares Gilda had left
GCFBOSPDWOBKBOPDWIWI
The squares still open to Gilda 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:

The answer

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

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

Hard — The Courtroom

An 8×8 grid across 6 rooms: Judge's Chambers, Archive, Jury Box, Press Room, Hallway, Courtroom. Eighteen statements, seventeen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false.

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) · CL — clock · CO — computer · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · WI — window (square stays free) · WO — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

What each person said. One of these 8 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

  1. Julian was somewhere west of Gaspar.
  2. Julian was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 6 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 6 of 53.
  3. Julian was somewhere west of the Diva.
  4. Gaspar was in the same column as the bonsai. if true, leaves 6 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 6 of 53.
  5. Gaspar was somewhere north of Luna.
  6. Gaspar was somewhere north of the Doctor.
  7. Luna was in the same room as Nico.
  8. Luna was somewhere south of the Doctor.
  9. Nico was somewhere south of the Chauffeur.
  10. Nico was in the same row as the window. if true, leaves 7 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 7 of 53.
  11. Sofia was in the same row as the desk. if true, leaves 7 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 7 of 53.
  12. Sofia was somewhere east of the Chauffeur.
  13. Sofia was in the same room as the Colonel.
  14. Beatrix was beside a painting. if true, leaves 2 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 2 of 53.
  15. Beatrix was somewhere south of Sofia.
  16. Horacio was in the same column as the statue. if true, leaves 6 of 53
    Show it on the board
    FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 6 of 53.
  17. Horacio was somewhere north of the Butler.
  18. Horacio was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 1 of 53
Show the squares Beatrix had left
FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPA
The squares still open to Beatrix once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 53.
Unmasking the liar

One of these 8 people is the killer's accomplice, and every word they said is false — but you are not told which. Take each in turn: read their statements backwards and ask whether the rest of the testimony can still be satisfied.

Another 2 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Luna actually told you:

  1. Luna was NOT in the same room as Nico.
  2. Luna was NOT south of the Doctor.
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: Beatrix, in Press Room (row 5, column 4). Luna lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board
FCLBOCAPOCOSDBKWOACOCLPOWIPAPAJGLNS✕BH
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Beatrix is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

A 9×8 grid across 6 rooms: Hallway, Judge's Chambers, Archive, Evidence Room, Gallery, Courtroom. Eleven statements, fifteen 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 2 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Leo was exactly 1 row north of Horacio.
  2. Flora was in the same column as the desk. leaves 7 of 63 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Flora: 7 of 63.
  3. Nico was exactly 1 column east of Leo.
  4. Nico was in the same column as the painting. leaves 8 of 63 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 8 of 63.
  5. Horacio was in the same column as a window. leaves 14 of 63 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Horacio: 14 of 63.
  6. Ximena was in the same row as a window. leaves 9 of 63 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ximena: 9 of 63.
  7. Ximena was exactly 1 column east of the Curator.
  8. Vasco was somewhere south of Leo.
  9. Vasco was beside the armchair. leaves 3 of 63 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 3 of 63.
  10. Bruno was exactly 2 rows north of Nico.
  11. Nobody was in the courtroom.
Show the squares Vasco had left
POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPA
The squares still open to Vasco once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 63.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 74 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 70 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.

  1. Vasco's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Nico's motive would have been revenge.
  3. Leo's motive would have been ambition.
  4. Ximena's motive would have been blackmail.
  5. Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Flora, in Evidence Room (row 4, column 3).

The only motive left standing for Flora is jealousy.

Show the solved board
POSWOADFCOCAGSCOBWIWIPALFNHX✕VB
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Flora is ringed in red.

Expert — The Courtroom

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Archive, Judge's Chambers, Press Room, Evidence Room, Hallway, Holding Cell, Courtroom. Seventeen statements, eighteen 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. 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. One of these 9 is the killer's accomplice and every word they said is false — but not which one, not yet.

  1. Ivan and the Doctor were in different rooms.
  2. Sofia was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 7 of 67.
  3. Marina was somewhere north of the Journalist.
  4. Marina was in the same row as the bonsai. if true, leaves 8 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 8 of 67.
  5. Gaspar was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 6 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 6 of 67.
  6. Gaspar was in the same column as a potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 1 of 67.
  7. Tristan was in the same row as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 12 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 12 of 67.
  8. Tristan was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 3 of 67
    Show it on the board
    FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 3 of 67.
  9. Tristan was somewhere east of the Butler.
  10. Helena was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 50 of 67
  11. Helena was not touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 17 of 67
  12. Percy was somewhere east of the Butler.
  13. Percy was somewhere west of the Journalist.
  14. Yago was in the same column as the window. if true, leaves 8 of 67
  15. Yago was in the same row as a computer. if true, leaves 2 of 67
  16. Exactly 3 people were in the hallway.
  17. Exactly 2 people were in the courtroom.
Show the squares Yago had left
FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI
The squares still open to Yago 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.

Another 4 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Helena actually told you:

  1. Helena was NOT in the same column as the carpet.
  2. Helena WAS touching the outer wall.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

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. Marina's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Tristan's motive would have been obsession.
  3. Gaspar's motive would have been revenge.
  4. Sofia's motive would have been jealousy.
  5. Yago's motive would have been ambition.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Helena is inheritance.

Show the solved board
FSWOBOCOPBKCLCADAPCOFCLDBKWI✕ISMGTHPY
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Helena is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

A 10×9 grid across 8 rooms: Press Room, Hallway, Judge's Chambers, Gallery, Jury Box, Courtroom, Evidence Room, Holding Cell. Seventeen statements, 23 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 2 detectives so far.

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

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

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

The testimony

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

  1. Nora was exactly 6 columns east of the Butler.
  2. Nora was in the same row as the carpet. leaves 8 of 74 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 8 of 74.
  3. Dante was in the same row as the painting. leaves 8 of 74 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 8 of 74.
  4. Dante was in the same column as the painting. leaves 1 of 74 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 1 of 74.
  5. Petra was in the same column as an armchair. leaves 17 of 74 squares
    Show it on the board
    CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI
    The squares this one statement leaves Petra: 17 of 74.
  6. Petra was all alone in a room.
  7. Fabio and Milo were alone together in one room.
  8. Fabio was exactly 5 rows south of the Journalist.
  9. Walter was all alone in a room.
  10. Walter was exactly 4 columns east of the Butler.
  11. Ignacio was exactly 5 rows north of the Magician.
  12. Abel was somewhere west of the Magician.
  13. Abel was somewhere south of Petra.
  14. Abel was all alone in a room.
  15. Milo was somewhere south of the Colonel.
  16. Exactly 2 people were in the press room.
  17. Exactly 2 people were in the gallery.
Show the squares Nora had left
CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI
The squares still open to Nora once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 74.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 83 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 79 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. Petra's motive would have been ambition.
  2. Ignacio's motive would have been blackmail.
  3. Fabio's motive would have been inheritance.
  4. Dante's motive would have been buried secrets.
  5. Milo's motive would have been debts.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by obsession.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Nora is revenge.

Show the solved board
CABOSCLPOACOFWOBKDDASPOCOFBOCLBKWIPAWI✕NDPFWIAM
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nora 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 — 6 detectives named the same liar at The Courtroom, 3 more than the 3 a charge takes. It sticks.

The Courtroom served as the setting for all ten investigations on the first of October. In the standard proceedings, matters began simply enough on smaller boards, but the late-day docket introduced complications. Untimed hard featured a liar across an 8x8 grid of six rooms, while untimed expert presented a 9x9 layout with seven rooms that demanded both unmasking a liar and establishing a motive. A guest detective took untimed honors at beginner in eight seconds, hard in two minutes and twenty seconds, and expert in one minute and fifteen seconds. The remaining standard briefs went to chentian, who clocked eleven seconds on the 6x6 easy board and one minute and six seconds on the 7x7 medium.

Against the clock, investigators faced different layouts and fewer hands on deck, yet the demands remained sharp. No liars troubled these timed boards, though motives were strictly required on both the 9x8 hard and the expansive 10x9 expert cases. Chentian claimed nearly the entire time-attack board, posting nine seconds at beginner, twelve seconds at easy, twenty-three seconds on the 8x7 medium, and one minute and eighteen seconds on hard. Only the eight-room expert trial escaped that run, closed out instead by a guest detective in two minutes and thirty-nine seconds.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 08s · Easy: chentian — 0m 11s · Medium: chentian — 1m 06s · Hard: a guest detective — 2m 20s · Expert: a guest detective — 1m 15s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 09s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 12s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 23s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 1m 18s · Expert · time attack: a guest detective — 2m 39s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 1 October 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

✕MYHN
Hugo (Curator)The cell door shut on Hugo (curator), on the evidence of 16 detectives.

Easy — The Courtroom

QAGHJ✕
Queralt (Chef)13 detectives put Queralt (chef) away before the day was out.

Medium — The Courtroom

✕GRDAVM
Marina (Diva)Marina (diva) is in custody — the case was closed by 11 detectives.

Hard — The Courtroom

JGLNS✕BH
Beatrix (Doctor)Beatrix (doctor) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 6 detectives. Luna lied for them and was never charged.

Expert — The Courtroom

✕ISMGTHPY
Helena (Doctor)Helena (doctor) was named and charged; 4 detectives closed this one. The motive — inheritance — was proved along with the name. Helena lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Courtroom

FULX✕
Ursula (Diva)The cell door shut on Ursula (diva), on the evidence of 3 detectives.

Easy · time attack — The Courtroom

FRGP✕I
Gaspar (Chauffeur)3 detectives put Gaspar (chauffeur) away before the day was out.

Medium · time attack — The Courtroom

VXJW✕BN
Victor (Gardener)Victor (gardener) is in custody — the case was closed by 3 detectives.

Hard · time attack — The Courtroom

LFNHX✕VB
Flora (Diva)Flora (diva) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name.

Expert · time attack — The Courtroom

✕NDPFWIAM
Nora (Heiress)Nora (heiress) was named and charged; 2 detectives closed this one. The motive — revenge — was proved along with the name.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 30 September

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