Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 18 October 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-10-18 — each difficulty published twice, once untimed and once as time attack. Each case is procedurally generated and then proved to have exactly one logical solution before it is published, including the cases where somebody is lying. You place every suspect back on the map using only their testimony: exactly one person per row, never two in a column. Whoever is left alone with the victim did it.

Beginner — The Art School

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Locker Room, Print Room, Gallery. Seven statements, five squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. D — desk · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Nico was in the print room. leaves 13 of 22 squares
  2. Luna was in row 4. leaves 4 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 4 of 22.
  3. Luna was in the print room. leaves 3 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 3 of 22.
  4. Kurt was in the locker room. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 5 of 22.
  5. Kurt was in column 2. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 1 of 22.
  6. Greta was in column 4. leaves 5 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 5 of 22.
  7. Greta was in row 3. leaves 1 of 22 squares
    Show it on the board
    POSWDPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 1 of 22.
Show the squares Luna had left
POSWDPA
The squares still open to Luna 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: Kurt, in Locker Room (row 1, column 2).

Show the solved board
POSWDPANLK✕G
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kurt is ringed in red.

Beginner · time attack — The Art School

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Atelier, Print Room, Kiln Room. Seven statements, six 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. B — boombox · E — easel · F — floor lamp · P — painting (square stays free) · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Oscar was in the print room. leaves 7 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 7 of 21.
  2. Oscar was in row 4. leaves 2 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 2 of 21.
  3. Irene was in the print room. leaves 7 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 7 of 21.
  4. Irene was in the leftmost column. leaves 3 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Irene: 3 of 21.
  5. Cesar was in the atelier. leaves 6 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 6 of 21.
  6. Cesar was in the top row. leaves 3 of 21 squares
    Show it on the board
    EWSFBP
    The squares this one statement leaves Cesar: 3 of 21.
  7. Alma was beside the easel. leaves 2 of 21 squares
Show the squares Oscar had left
EWSFBP
The squares still open to Oscar 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: Alma, in Kiln Room (row 5, column 4).

Show the solved board
EWSFBPOICA✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Alma is ringed in red.

Easy — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Locker Room, Sculpture Hall, Kiln Room, Courtyard. Nine statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

Cracked by 7 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. B — bookshelf · C — crate · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Sol was in the sculpture hall. leaves 6 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Sol: 6 of 30.
  2. Gilda was in column 3. leaves 5 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 5 of 30.
  3. Gilda was in the sculpture hall. leaves 3 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Gilda: 3 of 30.
  4. Fabio was in the top row. leaves 6 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 6 of 30.
  5. Fabio was in the locker room. leaves 1 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Fabio: 1 of 30.
  6. Jimena was in the kiln room. leaves 10 of 30 squares
    Show it on the board
    WPSFGCBM
    The squares this one statement leaves Jimena: 10 of 30.
  7. Jimena was in row 2. leaves 1 of 30 squares
  8. Boris was in the courtyard. leaves 6 of 30 squares
  9. Boris was in column 5. leaves 2 of 30 squares
Show the squares Boris had left
WPSFGCBM
The squares still open to Boris once their own statements are taken into account — 2 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: Fabio, in Locker Room (row 1, column 1).

Show the solved board
WPSFGCBMS✕GFJB
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Fabio is ringed in red.

Easy · time attack — The Art School

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Life-Drawing Room, Locker Room, Courtyard, Supply Closet. Seven statements, twelve 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. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Estela was beside the crate. leaves 3 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Estela: 3 of 27.
  2. Dorian was beside the statue. leaves 3 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 3 of 27.
  3. Dorian was in the bottom row. leaves 1 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 27.
  4. Nestor was in row 2. leaves 3 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 3 of 27.
  5. Nestor was in column 5. leaves 1 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 1 of 27.
  6. Hilda was in the life-drawing room. leaves 9 of 27 squares
    Show it on the board
    CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 9 of 27.
  7. Ximena was beside the statue. leaves 3 of 27 squares
Show the squares Estela had left
CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPA
The squares still open to Estela once their own statements are taken into account — 3 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: Nestor, in Supply Closet (row 2, column 5).

Show the solved board
CWPOBOSBKBMDFEPAPAE✕DNHX
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Nestor is ringed in red.

Medium · time attack — The Art School

A 7×7 grid across 5 rooms: Courtyard, Gallery, Locker Room, Atelier, Life-Drawing Room. Nine 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. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · F — floor lamp · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Simon was in the same room as the Professor.
  2. Simon was beside a painting. leaves 2 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 2 of 39.
  3. Vera was in the same row as the wooden chair. leaves 5 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 5 of 39.
  4. Vera was in the same room as the Magician.
  5. Vera was in the same column as a painting. leaves 2 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Vera: 2 of 39.
  6. Wilfred was in the courtyard or in the gallery. leaves 11 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 11 of 39.
  7. Rosa was somewhere east of Cesar.
  8. Cesar was in the atelier or in the life-drawing room. leaves 24 of 39 squares
  9. Julia was beside the wooden chair. leaves 2 of 39 squares
    Show it on the board
    PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julia: 2 of 39.
Show the squares Simon had left
PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPA
The squares still open to Simon 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:

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Julia, in Atelier (row 5, column 1).

Show the solved board
PODBMCBKFBOWFBODPAPASVW✕RCJ
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Julia is ringed in red.

Medium — The Art School

A 7×7 grid across 6 rooms: Locker Room, Life-Drawing Room, Gallery, Courtyard, Sculpture Hall, Print Room. Ten statements, eleven squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and enough testimony that the surplus is what pins the last two down.

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. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · E — easel · F — floor lamp · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Luna was in the courtyard. leaves 5 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 5 of 42.
  2. Ines was somewhere west of the Journalist.
  3. Kurt was in the sculpture hall or in the print room. leaves 16 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 16 of 42.
  4. Kurt was in the same row as a painting. leaves 4 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kurt: 4 of 42.
  5. Kurt was somewhere east of Ada.
  6. Ada was in row 4. leaves 7 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 7 of 42.
  7. Ursula was beside the easel. leaves 3 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ursula: 3 of 42.
  8. Ursula was somewhere west of Ada.
  9. Simon was somewhere north of the Doctor.
  10. Simon was beside the boombox. leaves 2 of 42 squares
    Show it on the board
    SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Simon: 2 of 42.
Show the squares Simon had left
SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPA
The squares still open to Simon once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 42.
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: Ada, in Locker Room (row 4, column 4).

Show the solved board
SPOEFBMBKWBOMPAPALIKAU✕S
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Ada is ringed in red.

Hard — The Art School

An 8×8 grid across 7 rooms: Kiln Room, Print Room, Sculpture Hall, Locker Room, Atelier, Gallery, Supply Closet. 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 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. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Hugo was somewhere north of Kaspar.
  2. Bianca was in the same row as the garbage can. if true, leaves 7 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 7 of 53.
  3. Bianca was in the same column as the easel. if true, leaves 1 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Bianca: 1 of 53.
  4. Bianca was somewhere west of the Colonel.
  5. Julian was in the same column as the garbage can. if true, leaves 46 of 53
  6. Julian was in the same row as a mirror. if true, leaves 33 of 53
  7. Julian was somewhere west of Hugo.
  8. Alma was in the same row as the bookshelf. if true, leaves 5 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Alma: 5 of 53.
  9. Alma was somewhere east of the Chauffeur.
  10. Enzo was in the same column as the crate. if true, leaves 6 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 6 of 53.
  11. Enzo was touching the outer wall. if true, leaves 1 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 1 of 53.
  12. Kaspar was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 5 of 53
    Show it on the board
    BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 5 of 53.
  13. Vera was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 6 of 53
  14. Vera was in the same column as the garbage can. if true, leaves 1 of 53
  15. Vera was somewhere north of the Curator.
  16. Vera was somewhere south of Hugo.
Show the squares Alma had left
BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMM
The squares still open to Alma once their own statements are taken into account — 5 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 3 candidates collapse the same way.

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

Read backwards, Julian actually told you:

  1. Julian was NOT in the same column as the garbage can.
  2. Julian was NOT in the same row as a mirror.
  3. Julian was NOT west of Hugo.
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: Kaspar, in Atelier (row 6, column 1). Julian lied throughout and was never charged.

Show the solved board
BKGPEWBOSCFBMBMDMMHBJAE✕KV
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Kaspar is ringed in red.

Hard · time attack — The Art School

A 10×8 grid across 6 rooms: Courtyard, Gallery, Kiln Room, Life-Drawing Room, Supply Closet, Print Room. Eleven statements, sixteen 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. BK — bookshelf · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · P — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Queralt was exactly 5 columns east of Kira.
  2. Dorian was exactly 2 columns west of Queralt.
  3. Dorian was all alone in a room.
  4. Oscar was somewhere north of Queralt.
  5. Oscar was in the same row as the bookshelf. leaves 8 of 66 squares
    Show it on the board
    FWGPBOEBKDCSPDCBOSM
    The squares this one statement leaves Oscar: 8 of 66.
  6. Kira was in the same room as the Diva.
  7. Margot was exactly 2 columns west of Dorian.
  8. Ignacio was all alone in a room.
  9. Ignacio was in column 7. leaves 7 of 66 squares
    Show it on the board
    FWGPBOEBKDCSPDCBOSM
    The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 7 of 66.
  10. Zaida was exactly 9 columns west of Oscar.
  11. Zaida was exactly 1 row north of the Heiress.
Show the squares Ignacio had left
FWGPBOEBKDCSPDCBOSM
The squares still open to Ignacio once their own statements are taken into account — 7 of 66.
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 50 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 46 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. Kira's motive would have been buried secrets.
  2. Zaida's motive would have been inheritance.
  3. Margot's motive would have been obsession.
  4. Dorian's motive would have been debts.
  5. Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Queralt, in Life-Drawing Room (row 6, column 8).

The only motive left standing for Queralt is jealousy.

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

Expert — The Art School

A 9×9 grid across 7 rooms: Sculpture Hall, Print Room, Life-Drawing Room, Gallery, Courtyard, Kiln Room, Supply Closet. Eighteen statements, twenty 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 2 detectives so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Paloma was somewhere east of the Diva.
  2. Ursula was somewhere north of the Curator.
  3. Wilfred was in the same column as the desk. if true, leaves 6 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 6 of 65.
  4. Wilfred was in the same row as the easel. if true, leaves 1 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Wilfred: 1 of 65.
  5. Alma was somewhere north of Ursula.
  6. Celeste was in the same row as a crate. if true, leaves 51 of 65
  7. Celeste was somewhere west of the Doctor.
  8. Celeste was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 46 of 65
  9. Ines was somewhere south of the Doctor.
  10. Ines was in the same column as a statue. if true, leaves 14 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Ines: 14 of 65.
  11. Ines was somewhere north of the Chef.
  12. Julian was somewhere south of the Journalist.
  13. Julian was in the same column as a bonsai. if true, leaves 14 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 14 of 65.
  14. Julian was in the same row as the painting. if true, leaves 2 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 2 of 65.
  15. Quentin was in the same column as the easel. if true, leaves 8 of 65
    Show it on the board
    FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
    The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 8 of 65.
  16. Quentin was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 65
  17. Exactly 2 people were in the courtyard.
  18. Exactly 2 people were in the life-drawing room.
Show the squares Julian had left
FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMM
The squares still open to Julian once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 65.
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 Celeste survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Celeste actually told you:

  1. Celeste was NOT in the same row as a crate.
  2. Celeste was NOT west of the Doctor.
  3. Celeste was NOT in the same column as the potted plant.
The squares that had to be tested

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

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

Another 40 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. Celeste's motive would have been obsession.
  2. Ines's motive would have been buried secrets.
  3. Ursula's motive would have been debts.
  4. Paloma's motive would have been jealousy.
  5. Quentin's motive would have been ambition.
  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: Julian, in Courtyard (row 6, column 1). Celeste lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Julian is inheritance.

Show the solved board
FPOBKSGBOWCBMDECBOSBMFBKPAMMPUWACIJQ✕
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Julian is ringed in red.

Expert · time attack — The Art School

A 9×9 grid across 8 rooms: Supply Closet, Atelier, Life-Drawing Room, Gallery, Print Room, Kiln Room, Sculpture Hall, Courtyard. Eighteen statements, eighteen squares nobody could stand on, almost as many rooms as suspects, so a room claim nearly names a square, and two rounds of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry — and one of the nine was lying throughout.

The twist: one suspect is an accomplice — every statement they make is false; the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by one detective so far.

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

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

Lettered squares are objects. Most take the square out of play — which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them — but the ones marked below do not: their square is still in play. BK — bookshelf · BM — boombox · BO — bonsai · C — crate · D — desk · E — easel · F — floor lamp · G — garbage can · M — mirror (square stays free) · PA — painting (square stays free) · PO — potted plant · S — statue · W — wooden chair (square stays free)

The testimony

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

  1. Julian was in the same row as the statue. if true, leaves 6 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 6 of 66.
  2. Vivienne was in the same row as the boombox. if true, leaves 59 of 66
  3. Vivienne was somewhere east of the Doctor.
  4. Nico was somewhere south of the Heiress.
  5. Nico was in the same column as the potted plant. if true, leaves 8 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Nico: 8 of 66.
  6. Nico was somewhere south of the Butler.
  7. Kira was in the same column as the mirror. if true, leaves 7 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 7 of 66.
  8. Kira was in the same row as the potted plant. if true, leaves 1 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Kira: 1 of 66.
  9. Ada was in the same row as the painting. if true, leaves 8 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 8 of 66.
  10. Dante was somewhere east of the Curator.
  11. Celeste was somewhere west of Ada.
  12. Celeste was in the same column as the bonsai. if true, leaves 7 of 66
    Show it on the board
    POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
    The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 7 of 66.
  13. Celeste was in the same row as an easel. if true, leaves 2 of 66
  14. Tristan was somewhere west of the Doctor.
  15. Tristan was somewhere east of the Heiress.
  16. Tristan was in the same column as a floor lamp. if true, leaves 14 of 66
  17. Tristan was in the same row as the garbage can. if true, leaves 2 of 66
  18. Exactly 2 people were in the supply closet.
Show the squares Celeste had left
POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPA
The squares still open to Celeste once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 66.
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 Vivienne survives the test. That is the accomplice, and everything they said is now read backwards.

Read backwards, Vivienne actually told you:

  1. Vivienne was NOT in the same row as the boombox.
  2. Vivienne was NOT east 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 squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 48 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

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

Another 44 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. Dante's motive would have been inheritance.
  2. Vivienne's motive would have been obsession.
  3. Nico's motive would have been jealousy.
  4. Celeste's motive would have been blackmail.
  5. Ada's motive would have been debts.
  6. Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
  7. Whoever did it was not driven by ambition.
The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Tristan, in Supply Closet (row 6, column 2). Vivienne lied throughout and was never charged.

The only motive left standing for Tristan is buried secrets.

Show the solved board
POCWBMBKSEBOFDGDEFCBKMPAJVNK✕ADCT
The only arrangement the testimony allows. Tristan 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 Cartographer’s Debt — 6 of them saw through the testimony at The Art School. 3 was the bar; 6 leaves nothing to argue about. The road ends at a door, and the door is answered. The chapter concludes with the cartographer's secret road dismantled, its quiet checkpoints raided and its architect unmasked behind an unlisted door. Yet the true prize remains elusive: the stolen ledger page has not emerged from the plaster, and the Fence who bought thirty miles of silenced vellum has already begun surveying fresh ground.

18 October 2026 put 10 sealed scenes in front of the world's detectives — the same 10 for everyone, as always. The day led with The Art School and climbed to The Art School on the Expert rung — a 9×9 scene across 7 rooms, with an accomplice lying through every statement, and a motive to prove on top of the name.

46 investigations were opened across the 10 cases and 35 closed with the right accusation — a 76% conviction rate for the day. 3 cases hid a liar, which is where conviction rates usually go to die: an accomplice's testimony is false from the first word, and finding the lie is the case.

The day is published in two halves: 5 cases to work at your own pace, and 5 more of the same difficulties run as time attack — different boards, same ladder, the clock watching.

More than one of the day's cases demanded a motive as well as a name — naming the killer without proving the why counts for nothing on those boards.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 19s · Easy: chentian — 0m 14s · Medium: chentian — 0m 29s · Hard: chentian — 2m 00s · Expert: a guest detective — 6m 32s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 13s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 21s · Hard · time attack: chentian — 6m 58s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 1m 14s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 18 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 Art School

NLK✕G
Kurt (Chauffeur)Kurt (chauffeur) was named and charged; 7 detectives closed this one.

Easy — The Art School

S✕GFJB
Fabio (Magician)The cell door shut on Fabio (magician), on the evidence of 7 detectives.

Medium — The Art School

LIKAU✕S
Ada (Journalist)8 detectives put Ada (journalist) away before the day was out.

Hard — The Art School

HBJAE✕KV
Kaspar (Curator)Kaspar (curator) is in custody — the case was closed by 6 detectives. Julian lied for them and was never charged.

Expert — The Art School

PUWACIJQ✕
Julian (Curator)Julian (curator) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 2 detectives. The motive — inheritance — was proved along with the name. Celeste lied for them and was never charged.

Beginner · time attack — The Art School

OICA✕
Alma (Chef)Alma (chef) was named and charged; one detective closed this one.

Easy · time attack — The Art School

E✕DNHX
Nestor (Gardener)The cell door shut on Nestor (gardener), on the evidence of one detective.

Medium · time attack — The Art School

SVW✕RCJ
Julia (Heiress)one detective put Julia (heiress) away before the day was out.

Hard · time attack — The Art School

✕QDOKMIZ
Queralt (Heiress)Queralt (heiress) is in custody — the case was closed by one detective. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name.

Expert · time attack — The Art School

JVNK✕ADCT
Tristan (Chauffeur)Tristan (chauffeur) ended the day behind bars — convicted by one detective. The motive — buried secrets — was proved along with the name. Vivienne lied for them and was never charged.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 17 October

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