Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 9 October 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-10-09 — 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 — Movie Night

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Guest Room, Laundry, Study. Six statements, five 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. B — bonsai · R — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Ruben was in row 2. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    RBSRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 5 of 22.
  2. Ruben was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    RBSRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 1 of 22.
  3. Jimena was in the study. leaves 14 of 22 squares
  4. Jimena was in column 4. leaves 3 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    RBSRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 3 of 22.
  5. Kira was in row 3. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    RBSRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 5 of 22.
  6. Ulises was in column 3. leaves 3 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    RBSRW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 3 of 22.
Show the squares Jimena had left
RBSRW
The squares still open to Jimena once their own statements are taken into account — 3 of 22.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
RBSRW✕RJKU
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ulises is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Balcony, Study, Guest Room, Living room. Eight statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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) · C — computer · P — potted plant · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Tamara was in the living room. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 5 of 22.
  2. Tamara was in the leftmost column. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tamara: 1 of 22.
  3. Zaida was in row 3. leaves 4 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 4 of 22.
  4. Zaida was in the balcony. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Zaida: 1 of 22.
  5. Alistair was in the top row. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 5 of 22.
  6. Alistair was in the guest room. leaves 2 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    TCAPW
    The squares this one statement leaves Alistair: 2 of 22.
  7. Ulises was in row 4. leaves 3 of 22 squares
  8. Ulises was in the study. leaves 1 of 22 squares
Show the squares Alistair had left
TCAPW
The squares still open to Alistair once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 22.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

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

Show the solved board
TCAPW✕TZAU
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Alistair is ringed in red.

Easy — Movie Night

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Laundry, Guest Room, Study, Balcony, Kitchen. Seven statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, 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. B — bonsai · C — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Quentin was in the balcony. leaves 6 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 27.
  2. Enzo was in the guest room. leaves 5 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 5 of 27.
  3. Celeste was in the study. leaves 3 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 3 of 27.
  4. Celeste was in column 5. leaves 2 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 2 of 27.
  5. Helena was in the laundry. leaves 7 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 7 of 27.
  6. Helena was in column 3. leaves 1 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    ROBPFSTPRORACW
    The squares this one statement leaves Helena: 1 of 27.
  7. Sofia was beside the bonsai. leaves 3 of 27 squares
Show the squares Celeste had left
ROBPFSTPRORACW
The squares still open to Celeste 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:

The answer

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

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

Easy · time attack — Movie Night

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Study, Hallway, TV Den, Balcony. Six statements, ten squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

Cracked by 4 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Delia was in the study. leaves 13 of 29 squares
  2. Cesar was in row 3. leaves 4 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    COROBOCASRABKBOROW
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 4 of 29.
  3. Abel was seated on the sofa. leaves 2 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    COROBOCASRABKBOROW
    The squares this one statement leaves Abel: 2 of 29.
  4. Bianca was on the carpet. leaves 4 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    COROBOCASRABKBOROW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 4 of 29.
  5. Gaspar was in row 4. leaves 6 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    COROBOCASRABKBOROW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 6 of 29.
  6. Gaspar was in the balcony. leaves 1 of 29 squares
    Show it on the board
    COROBOCASRABKBOROW
    The squares this one statement leaves Gaspar: 1 of 29.
Show the squares Abel had left
COROBOCASRABKBOROW
The squares still open to Abel once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 29.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Gaspar, in Balcony (row 4, column 5).

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

Medium · time attack — Movie Night

An 8×7 grid across 5 rooms: Pantry, Hallway, Study, Guest Room, Living room. Twelve statements, thirteen 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 · C — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Julian was in column 6. leaves 5 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 5 of 46.
  2. Julian was in the pantry or in the living room. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 1 of 46.
  3. Ruben was in the same row as a window. leaves 15 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 15 of 46.
  4. Ruben was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Ruben: 1 of 46.
  5. Ruben was in the same room as Frida.
  6. Dorian was in the same row as a window. leaves 15 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 15 of 46.
  7. Dorian was in the guest room. leaves 1 of 46 squares
    Show it on the board
    PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 46.
  8. Zeno was beside the sofa. leaves 4 of 46 squares
  9. Zeno was in the same row as the sofa. leaves 3 of 46 squares
  10. Lidia was somewhere west of the Chauffeur.
  11. Lidia was in the same row as the bonsai. leaves 6 of 46 squares
  12. Frida was somewhere east of Julian.
Show the squares Zeno had left
PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWW
The squares still open to Zeno once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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: Dorian, in Guest Room (row 7, column 2).

Show the solved board
PROBKSCRABOFTCRAWWJR✕DZLF
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Dorian is ringed in red.

Medium — Movie Night

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Study, Laundry, Kitchen, Hallway, TV Den, Balcony. Eight statements, thirteen 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 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. B — bookshelf · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Wilfred was in the same room as the Magician.
  2. Elias was seated on the sofa. leaves 2 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Elias: 2 of 40.
  3. Conrad was beside the bookshelf. leaves 3 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Conrad: 3 of 40.
  4. Petra was somewhere south of the Heiress.
  5. Jimena was beside the radio. leaves 2 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 2 of 40.
  6. Xavier was somewhere east of Conrad.
  7. Xavier was in the kitchen or in the hallway. leaves 13 of 40 squares
    Show it on the board
    BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Xavier: 13 of 40.
  8. Xavier was somewhere south of Petra.
Show the squares Elias had left
BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPA
The squares still open to Elias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 40.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 61 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 57 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Xavier, in Kitchen (row 6, column 5).

Show the solved board
BSRORAFPOCAPOROCOFWPAWECPJ✕X
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Xavier is ringed in red.

Hard — Movie Night

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: TV Den, Pantry, Study, Living room, Hallway, Kitchen, Guest Room. Sixteen statements, fourteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the eight was lying throughout.

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

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. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (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. Hilda was somewhere south of Sofia.
  2. Hilda was in the same column as the armchair. if true, leaves 8 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 8 of 54.
  3. Hilda was somewhere south of the Chauffeur.
  4. Hilda was somewhere north of Tristan.
  5. Irene was in the same row as the armchair. if true, leaves 7 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 7 of 54.
  6. Irene was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 3 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 3 of 54.
  7. Irene was in the pantry or in the study. if true, leaves 2 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 2 of 54.
  8. Kaspar was in the same row as the computer. if true, leaves 6 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 6 of 54.
  9. Yago was in the same row as the floor lamp. if true, leaves 49 of 54
  10. Yago was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 30 of 54
  11. Tristan was in the kitchen or in the guest room. if true, leaves 18 of 54
    Show it on the board
    ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tristan: 18 of 54.
  12. Tristan was somewhere east of Dante.
  13. Sofia was in the same column as the round table. if true, leaves 7 of 54
  14. Sofia was somewhere south of Kaspar.
  15. Dante was somewhere west of Yago.
  16. Dante was in column 4. if true, leaves 7 of 54
Show the squares Irene had left
ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW
The squares still open to Irene once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 54.
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 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Yago actually told you:

  1. Yago was NOT in the same row as the floor lamp.
  2. Yago was NOT in the same column as a window.
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: Tristan, in Kitchen (row 5, column 6). Yago lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board
ARACFTSBKROPPBOBOWW✕HIKYTSD
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Tristan is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — Movie Night

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Guest Room, Balcony, Study, Hallway, TV Den, Living room, Laundry. Ten statements, fifteen 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 one detective so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · P — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Bruno was beside the sofa. leaves 5 of 61 squares
    Show it on the board
    BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
    The squares this one statement leaves Bruno: 5 of 61.
  2. Julia was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 6 of 61 squares
    Show it on the board
    BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 6 of 61.
  3. Julia was in the same room as Ulises.
  4. Ximena was all alone in a room.
  5. Ximena was exactly 3 rows north of Bruno.
  6. Tobias was in the same column as the potted plant. leaves 6 of 61 squares
    Show it on the board
    BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 6 of 61.
  7. Ulises was exactly 1 column west of the Doctor.
  8. Ulises was exactly 4 columns west of Julia.
  9. Lorenzo was in the same row as the round table. leaves 7 of 61 squares
    Show it on the board
    BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
    The squares this one statement leaves Lorenzo: 7 of 61.
  10. Nadia was in the same row as the bonsai. leaves 6 of 61 squares
    Show it on the board
    BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
    The squares this one statement leaves Nadia: 6 of 61.
Show the squares Bruno had left
BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTW
The squares still open to Bruno once their own statements are taken into account — 5 of 61.
What the testimony settles on its own

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

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 63 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 59 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. Julia's motive would have been obsession.
  2. Ximena's motive would have been inheritance.
  3. Tobias's motive would have been blackmail.
  4. Ulises's motive would have been revenge.
  5. Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
The answer

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

The only motive left standing for Nadia is jealousy.

Show the solved board
BKATFROCASPCOBORABKCOTWBJXT✕ULN
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nadia is ringed in red.

Expert — Movie Night

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: TV Den, Hallway, Living room, Kitchen, Guest Room, Study, Pantry, Balcony. 24 statements, twenty 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. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (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. Cesar was in the study. if true, leaves 56 of 68
  2. Cesar was in the same row as a bookshelf. if true, leaves 44 of 68
  3. Queralt was somewhere east of the Magician.
  4. Queralt was in the same row as the carpet. if true, leaves 18 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Queralt: 18 of 68.
  5. Simon was in the same column as the carpet. if true, leaves 7 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 7 of 68.
  6. Simon and Julia were in different rooms.
  7. Simon was somewhere north of Queralt.
  8. Tobias was in the same column as a window. if true, leaves 16 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 16 of 68.
  9. Tobias was in the same row as the computer. if true, leaves 2 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Tobias: 2 of 68.
  10. Tobias and Wanda were in different rooms.
  11. Julia was in the same column as a sofa. if true, leaves 25 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 25 of 68.
  12. Julia and Estela were in different rooms.
  13. Julia was somewhere north of the Diva.
  14. Julia was in the same row as a window. if true, leaves 6 of 68
    Show it on the board
    SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 6 of 68.
  15. Estela was somewhere north of the Diva.
  16. Estela was somewhere south of the Professor.
  17. Milo was somewhere south of the Gardener.
  18. Milo was in the same row as a sofa. if true, leaves 21 of 68
  19. Milo was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 2 of 68
  20. Wanda was somewhere west of the Magician.
  21. Wanda was in the same column as the television. if true, leaves 6 of 68
  22. Wanda was somewhere south of Queralt.
  23. Exactly 2 people were in the TV den.
  24. Exactly 2 people were in the balcony.
Show the squares Tobias had left
SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPA
The squares still open to Tobias once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 68.
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 Cesar survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Cesar actually told you:

  1. Cesar was NOT in the study.
  2. Cesar was NOT in the same row as a bookshelf.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 131 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 127 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. Simon's motive would have been jealousy.
  2. Estela's motive would have been debts.
  3. Queralt's motive would have been buried secrets.
  4. Tobias's motive would have been inheritance.
  5. Julia's motive would have been obsession.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Milo, in TV Den (row 5, column 1). Cesar lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Milo is ambition.

Show the solved board
SCAROBOPOCOBKTAFRABKFSRORABOWWPACQ✕STJEMW
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Milo is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — Movie Night

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Kitchen, Living room, TV Den, Balcony, Study, Pantry, Laundry. Thirteen statements, 21 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 one detective so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. A — armchair (square stays free) · BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · CA — carpet (square stays free) · CO — computer · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · RA — radio · RO — round table · S — sofa (square stays free) · T — television · W — window (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Ximena was exactly 6 columns west of the Doctor.
  2. Margot was somewhere east of Delia.
  3. Oscar was exactly 4 rows south of the Diva.
  4. Oscar was in the western half of the scene. leaves 39 of 76 squares
  5. Delia was exactly 4 rows south of Ines.
  6. Delia was exactly 1 row north of the Chauffeur.
  7. Rufus and Sofia were alone together in one room.
  8. Jonas was exactly 2 columns east of the Chef.
  9. Jonas was exactly 5 rows north of Oscar.
  10. Ines was somewhere east of Oscar.
  11. Sofia was exactly 9 columns west of the Diva.
  12. Exactly 2 people were in the study.
  13. Exactly 3 people were in the living room.
Show the squares Oscar had left
ROCOTCABKBOSARAPOFCOABOPOTBKRAWPAW
The squares still open to Oscar once their own statements are taken into account — 39 of 76.
The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 168 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 164 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. Oscar's motive would have been ambition.
  2. Sofia's motive would have been obsession.
  3. Rufus's motive would have been debts.
  4. Margot's motive would have been revenge.
  5. Ines's motive would have been buried secrets.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Delia, in Study (row 6, column 7).

The only motive left standing for Delia is blackmail.

Show the solved board
ROCOTCABKBOSARAPOFCOABOPOTBKRAWPAWXMOD✕RJIS
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Delia 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 Hollow Order — The lie at Movie Night did not survive 4 readings. A charge needs 3; this one had room to spare.

The Movie Night setting set the stage for all ten investigations on 9 October 2026, offering five standard untimed boards alongside five time-attack trials. Standard investigations opened on a 5x5 layout with three rooms, where a guest detective was fastest at 0m 16s across 19 plays and 12 solves. Chentian swiftly handled the 6x6 case in 0m 21s and the 7x7 board in 1m 00s. Deception entered the 8x8 hard trial with a liar among seven rooms, though chentian still led the four successful investigations in 2m 17s. The 9x9 expert standard case combined eight rooms, a liar, and a required motive, with all three attempts succeeding as a guest detective clocked the day's best time of 5m 28s.

Against the clock, participation was light, shifting focus to the intricacies of the boards. Chentian claimed the fastest time across every timed bracket, starting with a four-room 5x5 board in 0m 10s and a four-room 6x6 layout in 0m 53s. The 8x7 medium puzzle fell in 0m 15s across three clean solves. The hard 9x8 board introduced motive requirements across seven rooms, producing a single solve in 1m 29s out of two attempts. Finally, the expansive 10x9 expert challenge demanded a motive among seven rooms, solved in its lone attempt at 7m 57s.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 16s · Easy: chentian — 0m 21s · Medium: chentian — 1m 00s · Hard: chentian — 2m 17s · Expert: a guest detective — 5m 28s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 10s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 53s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 15s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 1m 29s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 7m 57s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 9 October 2026

Key: red ring = the murderer · amber dashes = the lying accomplice · ✕ = the victim · initials mark where each suspect was proved to stand.

Beginner — Movie Night

✕RJKU
Ulises (Colonel)Ulises (colonel) was named and charged; 12 detectives closed this one.

Easy — Movie Night

Q✕ECHS
Helena (Journalist)The cell door shut on Helena (journalist), on the evidence of 10 detectives.

Medium — Movie Night

WECPJ✕X
Xavier (Curator)8 detectives put Xavier (curator) away before the day was out.

Hard — Movie Night

✕HIKYTSD
Tristan (Curator)Tristan (curator) is in custody — the case was closed by 4 detectives. Yago lied for them and was never charged.

Expert — Movie Night

CQ✕STJEMW
Milo (Butler)Milo (butler) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 3 detectives. The motive — ambition — was proved along with the name. Cesar lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — Movie Night

✕TZAU
Alistair (Magician)Alistair (magician) was named and charged; 4 detectives closed this one.

Easy · time attack — Movie Night

✕DCABG
Gaspar (Colonel)The cell door shut on Gaspar (colonel), on the evidence of 4 detectives.

Medium · time attack — Movie Night

JR✕DZLF
Dorian (Chauffeur)3 detectives put Dorian (chauffeur) away before the day was out.

Hard · time attack — Movie Night

BJXT✕ULN
Nadia (Doctor)Nadia (doctor) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name.

Expert · time attack — Movie Night

XMOD✕RJIS
Delia (Chef)Delia (chef) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 8 October

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