Murder mystery sudoku — the daily cases for 19 October 2026

Every detective in the world got these same crime scenes on 2026-10-19 — 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 Mystery Island

A 5×5 grid across 3 rooms: Dock, Lookout, Cliffs. Six statements, six 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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CH — chest · CR — crate · S — shrub

The testimony

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

Enzo was in the bottom row. leaves 2 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 2 of 19.
Ulises was beside the bench. leaves 3 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 3 of 19.
Ulises was in column 2. leaves 1 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ulises: 1 of 19.
Katia was in the leftmost column. leaves 4 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 4 of 19.
Katia was in the dock. leaves 3 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Katia: 3 of 19.
Rosa was in the dock. leaves 6 of 19 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Rosa: 6 of 19.

Show the squares Enzo had left

The squares still open to Enzo once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 19.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Marco can only be in Lookout (row 4, column 4) — down from 19 possible squares.
Enzo can only be in Lookout (row 5, column 5) — down from 2 possible squares.
Katia can only be in Dock (row 3, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Rosa can only be in Dock (row 1, column 3) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Beginner · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 5×5 grid across 4 rooms: Beach, Camp, Dock, Cave. Seven statements, six 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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. B — boulder · C — crocodile · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · T — tent

The testimony

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

Olivia was in column 2. leaves 4 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 4 of 18.
Olivia was in row 4. leaves 1 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Olivia: 1 of 18.
Quentin was in the cave. leaves 6 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 6 of 18.
Quentin was in the leftmost column. leaves 2 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Quentin: 2 of 18.
Marco was in row 2. leaves 3 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 3 of 18.
Ignacio was in row 3. leaves 4 of 18 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ignacio: 4 of 18.
Ignacio was in the beach. leaves 1 of 18 squares

Show the squares Quentin had left

The squares still open to Quentin once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 18.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Nestor can only be in Dock (row 5, column 4) — down from 18 possible squares.
Quentin can only be in Cave (row 1, column 1) — down from 2 possible squares.
Marco can only be in Cave (row 2, column 3) — down from 3 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy — The Mystery Island

A 6×6 grid across 4 rooms: Jungle, Camp, Beach, Cave. Seven statements, eight squares nobody could stand on, and no assumption anywhere: elimination alone closes it.

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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · C — campfire · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub · T — tent

The testimony

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

Greta was beside the palm tree. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 1 of 28.
Octavio was in the cave. leaves 8 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Octavio: 8 of 28.
Marco was in column 3. leaves 5 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 5 of 28.
Marco was in row 4. leaves 1 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marco: 1 of 28.
Ada was beside the campfire. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ada: 4 of 28.
Felix was in row 3. leaves 4 of 28 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 4 of 28.
Felix was in the cave. leaves 1 of 28 squares

Show the squares Ada had left

The squares still open to Ada once their own statements are taken into account — 4 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:

Octavio can only be in Cave (row 6, column 5) — down from 8 possible squares.
Ada can only be in Camp (row 2, column 4) — down from 4 possible squares.
Hugo can only be in Camp (row 1, column 2) — down from 28 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Easy · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 6×6 grid across 5 rooms: Camp, Lagoon, Cave, Dock, Wreck. Five statements, nine squares nobody could stand on, and fewer statements than suspects — every line has to be squeezed twice.

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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub · T — tent

The testimony

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

Percy was in the cave. leaves 9 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Percy: 9 of 27.
Zeno was beside the boulder. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Zeno: 1 of 27.
Delia was beside the chest. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Delia: 1 of 27.
Yago was beside the crate. leaves 1 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Yago: 1 of 27.
Julian was in the lagoon. leaves 6 of 27 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Julian: 6 of 27.

Show the squares Julian had left

The squares still open to Julian once their own statements are taken into account — 6 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:

Percy can only be in Cave (row 2, column 5) — down from 9 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Wreck (row 5, column 1) — down from 27 possible squares.
Julian can only be in Lagoon (row 6, column 3) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Yago, in Wreck (row 1, column 2).

Show the solved board

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

Medium · time attack — The Mystery Island

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Lagoon, Wreck, Dock, Camp, Cliffs, Beach. Nine statements, ten 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 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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CA — campfire · CH — chest · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub · T — tent

The testimony

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

Julian was somewhere east of Wren.
Beatrix was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 6 of 46 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Beatrix: 6 of 46.
Beatrix was somewhere south of Felix.
Nestor was beside the floor lamp. leaves 3 of 46 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 3 of 46.
Hilda was in the same column as the tent. leaves 4 of 46 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Hilda: 4 of 46.
Wren was in the same room as Felix.
Felix was in the same column as the crate. leaves 6 of 46 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Felix: 6 of 46.
Felix was somewhere south of Hilda.
Nobody was in the beach.

Show the squares Nestor had left

The squares still open to Nestor 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:

Julian can only be in Camp (row 2, column 6) — down from 46 possible squares.
Beatrix can only be in Lagoon (row 7, column 7) — down from 6 possible squares.
Cesar can only be in Wreck (row 1, column 1) — down from 46 possible squares.
Nestor can only be in Wreck (row 3, column 2) — down from 3 possible squares.
Hilda can only be in Cliffs (row 5, column 3) — down from 4 possible squares.
Wren can only be in Lagoon (row 4, column 5) — down from 46 possible squares.
Felix can only be in Lagoon (row 6, column 8) — down from 6 possible squares.

The answer

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

Show the solved board

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

Medium — The Mystery Island

An 8×7 grid across 6 rooms: Cave, Dock, Lookout, Wreck, Camp, Beach. Twelve statements, twelve 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 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. Nobody can stand on one, which is why the counts above are of free squares, not of all of them. BE — bench · BO — boulder · CA — campfire · CH — chest · CO — crocodile · CR — crate · F — floor lamp · P — palm tree · S — shrub

The testimony

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

Wanda was in the shipwreck or in the beach. leaves 13 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 13 of 43.
Wanda was in the same column as the bench. leaves 2 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 2 of 43.
Enzo was in the same room as Marina.
Enzo was in the same room as Clara.
Enzo was somewhere east of the Chef.
Clara was in the same row as the campfire. leaves 6 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Clara: 6 of 43.
Marina was somewhere west of the Chef.
Marina was in the same column as the chest. leaves 5 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Marina: 5 of 43.
Nora was in the same row as the crate. leaves 4 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 4 of 43.
Nora was in the same column as the palm tree. leaves 1 of 43 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nora: 1 of 43.
Dora was somewhere west of Nora.
Nobody was in the cave.

Show the squares Wanda had left

The squares still open to Wanda once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 43.

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.

Had Wanda stood in Wreck (row 6, column 4), Clara would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Enzo stood in Lookout (row 4, column 5), Dora would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Clara stood in Wreck (row 5, column 1), Enzo would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Marina in Lookout (row 5, column 3) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 40 squares fell the same way.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Dora, in Dock (row 3, column 5).

Show the solved board

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

Hard — The Mystery Island

A 9×8 grid across 6 rooms: Wreck, Lagoon, Beach, Jungle, Dock, Camp. Eleven statements, twelve 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 9 detectives so far.

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

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

The testimony

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

Boris was beside the campfire. leaves 2 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Boris: 2 of 59.
Dorian was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 6 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 6 of 59.
Dorian was in the same row as the floor lamp. leaves 1 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dorian: 1 of 59.
Kaspar was in the same column as the shrub. leaves 7 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Kaspar: 7 of 59.
Kaspar was in the same room as Quentin.
Luna was in the same row as the bench. leaves 4 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Luna: 4 of 59.
Nestor was exactly 2 columns west of Luna.
Wanda was exactly 3 rows south of Quentin.
Wanda was somewhere north of the Chauffeur.
Wanda was in the same column as the bench. leaves 6 of 59 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wanda: 6 of 59.
Quentin was somewhere east of Boris.

Show the squares Boris had left

The squares still open to Boris once their own statements are taken into account — 2 of 59.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 60 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Boris stood in Camp (row 3, column 4), Luna would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Kaspar in Beach (row 1, column 8) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Luna in Camp (row 3, column 4) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Had Nestor stood in Wreck (row 7, column 2), Wanda would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 56 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.

Boris's motive would have been obsession.
Quentin's motive would have been ambition.
Wanda's motive would have been buried secrets.
Nestor's motive would have been inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by jealousy.
Whoever did it was not driven by blackmail.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Luna, in Beach (row 3, column 9).

The only motive left standing for Luna is debts.

Show the solved board

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

Hard · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 9×8 grid across 7 rooms: Camp, Cave, Wreck, Cliffs, Lagoon, Beach, Jungle. Thirteen 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 2 detectives so far.

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

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

The testimony

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

Zeno was somewhere west of the Journalist.
Zeno was not touching the outer wall. leaves 33 of 56 squares
Zeno was exactly 2 rows north of Dante.
Zeno was somewhere north of Nadia.
Wren was in the same row as the palm tree. leaves 7 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Wren: 7 of 56.
Wren was exactly 1 column west of the Colonel.
Sofia was somewhere west of the Professor.
Estela was in the same room as Vasco.
Vasco was exactly 2 columns west of Estela.
Vasco was in the same column as the crate. leaves 6 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Vasco: 6 of 56.
Nadia was all alone in a room.
Dante was in the same column as the campfire. leaves 6 of 56 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Dante: 6 of 56.
Nobody was in the cave.

Show the squares Vasco had left

The squares still open to Vasco once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 56.

What the testimony settles on its own

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

Wren can only be in Cliffs (row 5, column 3) — down from 7 possible squares.
Estela can only be in Jungle (row 3, column 6) — down from 56 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Jungle (row 1, column 4) — down from 6 possible squares.

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.

Had Zeno stood in Wreck (row 6, column 2), Nadia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Put Sofia in Wreck (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Gaspar in Wreck (row 2, column 1) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.
Put Nadia in Camp (row 4, column 5) and the testimony cannot be satisfied at all. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

Suppose Zeno stood on the dashed square. Nadia 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. 7 motives are in play, and these statements narrow them.

Vasco's motive would have been buried secrets.
Dante's motive would have been blackmail.
Zeno's motive would have been obsession.
Wren's motive would have been debts.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Sofia, in Lagoon (row 7, column 5).

The only motive left standing for Sofia is jealousy.

Show the solved board

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

Expert — The Mystery Island

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Lookout, Beach, Cliffs, Camp, Dock, Lagoon, Cave. Twelve statements, fourteen 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 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.

The testimony

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

Ofelia and Nestor were alone together in one room.
Vasco was somewhere east of the Chauffeur.
Fabio was exactly 2 rows south of the Butler.
Ivan was in the same column as the floor lamp. leaves 8 of 75 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Ivan: 8 of 75.
Julian was exactly 5 rows south of Nestor.
Tamara was somewhere east of Julian.
Nestor was in the same column as the boulder. leaves 8 of 75 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Nestor: 8 of 75.
Nestor was exactly 7 rows north of the Diva.
Petra was all alone in a room.
Petra was exactly 4 columns west of Tamara.
Petra was exactly 2 rows south of the Gardener.
Exactly 3 people were in the cliffs.

Show the squares Ivan had left

The squares still open to Ivan once their own statements are taken into account — 8 of 75.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 217 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Ofelia stood in Cave (row 2, column 5), Nestor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Vasco stood in Cave (row 1, column 2), Nestor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Fabio stood in Lookout (row 3, column 1), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Rita stood in Lookout (row 1, column 1), Ofelia would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 213 squares fell the same way.

Ofelia can only be in Lookout (row 1, column 1) — down from 3 possible squares.
Vasco can only be in Cliffs (row 6, column 9) — down from 3 possible squares.

The motive

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

Tamara's motive would have been blackmail.
Petra's motive would have been buried secrets.
Julian's motive would have been inheritance.
Nestor's motive would have been jealousy.
Vasco's motive would have been ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by debts.
Whoever did it was not driven by revenge.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Ivan, in Dock (row 3, column 10).

The only motive left standing for Ivan is obsession.

Show the solved board

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

Expert · time attack — The Mystery Island

A 10×9 grid across 7 rooms: Cave, Beach, Jungle, Wreck, Cliffs, Lagoon, Lookout. Fourteen statements, seventeen squares nobody could stand on, and one round of assume-and-test after elimination ran dry.

The twist: the accusation also demands the motive, not just the name.

Cracked by 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.

The testimony

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

Vasco was exactly 5 columns east of Kaspar.
Vasco was all alone in a room.
Kaspar was exactly 2 columns west of the Professor.
Enzo was in the same row as the palm tree. leaves 8 of 72 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Enzo: 8 of 72.
Enzo was exactly 5 columns west of the Doctor.
Nestor was all alone in a room.
Nestor was exactly 3 rows south of Sofia.
Nestor was exactly 5 columns west of the Diva.
Dora was all alone in a room.
Sofia was in the same column as the palm tree. leaves 6 of 72 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Sofia: 6 of 72.
Sofia was somewhere north of Greta.
Sofia was exactly 5 rows north of the Doctor.
Greta was in the same column as a crate. leaves 13 of 72 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Greta: 13 of 72.
Celeste was in the same row as a floor lamp. leaves 17 of 72 squares
Show it on the board
The squares this one statement leaves Celeste: 17 of 72.

Show the squares Sofia had left

The squares still open to Sofia once their own statements are taken into account — 6 of 72.

The squares that had to be tested

The rest does not fall out on its own. It takes 84 eliminations of the same move: put someone on a square, follow the consequences, and watch the board contradict itself.

Had Vasco stood in Beach (row 5, column 7), Nestor would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Petra stood in Jungle (row 1, column 2), Kaspar would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Kaspar stood in Jungle (row 2, column 2), Enzo would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.
Had Enzo stood in Jungle (row 2, column 3), Dora would have had nowhere left to stand. So not there.

Show what goes wrong

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

Another 80 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.

Sofia's motive would have been debts.
Vasco's motive would have been jealousy.
Enzo's motive would have been revenge.
Dora's motive would have been obsession.
Kaspar's motive would have been ambition.
Whoever did it was not driven by inheritance.
Whoever did it was not driven by buried secrets.

The answer

That leaves one arrangement, and one person who could have done it: Greta, in Lookout (row 7, column 4).

The only motive left standing for Greta is blackmail.

Show the solved board

The only arrangement the testimony allows. Greta 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

Five Empty Chairs — Whatever was hidden at The Mystery Island is hidden no longer; 2 detectives found it.

The day belonged entirely to The Mystery Island, which staged all ten inquiries across standard and time-attack duties. The opening investigations kept the truth untangled, operating without liars or the need for motive. In standard play, the three-room beginner 5x5 board saw eleven solutions from fifteen attempts, led by a guest detective in nine seconds flat. chentian swept the easy 6x6 board, solving it in ten seconds as all ten contenders closed the file. A guest detective soon regained the lead, conquering the six-room medium 8x7 case in forty-seven seconds, where eleven of thirteen succeeded.

The atmosphere shifted on the larger grids, where uncovering a motive became mandatory. On the standard 9x8 hard board, eight of nine players succeeded, topped by a guest detective in fifty-nine seconds. The 10x9 expert challenge proved narrower, yielding three successes from five attempts, with a guest detective posting the benchmark at two minutes and thirty seconds.

Across the time-attack investigations, chentian claimed four of the five quickest marks: eight seconds on the four-room beginner 5x5, eleven seconds on the five-room easy 6x6, forty-three seconds on the medium 8x7, and a lone triumph of seven minutes and twenty seconds on the seven-room expert 10x9. Only the seven-room hard time attack interrupted that run, where Nicole secured the day's record in three minutes and eight seconds, closing one of just two successful runs from four attempts.

Fastest detectives of the day

Beginner: a guest detective — 0m 09s · Easy: chentian — 0m 10s · Medium: a guest detective — 0m 47s · Hard: a guest detective — 0m 59s · Expert: a guest detective — 2m 30s · Beginner · time attack: chentian — 0m 08s · Easy · time attack: chentian — 0m 11s · Medium · time attack: chentian — 0m 43s · Hard · time attack: Nicole — 3m 08s · Expert · time attack: chentian — 7m 20s

The solutions

The solved boards — spoilers for every case of 19 October 2026

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

Beginner — The Mystery Island

11 detectives put Enzo (gardener) away before the day was out.

Easy — The Mystery Island

Ada (doctor) is in custody — the case was closed by 10 detectives.

Medium — The Mystery Island

Dora (chef) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 11 detectives.

Hard — The Mystery Island

Luna (professor) was named and charged; 8 detectives closed this one. The motive — debts — was proved along with the name.

Expert — The Mystery Island

The cell door shut on Ivan (butler), on the evidence of 3 detectives. The motive — obsession — was proved along with the name.

Beginner · time attack — The Mystery Island

4 detectives put Olivia (chef) away before the day was out.

Easy · time attack — The Mystery Island

Yago (colonel) is in custody — the case was closed by 3 detectives.

Medium · time attack — The Mystery Island

Nestor (gardener) ended the day behind bars — convicted by 4 detectives.

Hard · time attack — The Mystery Island

Sofia (chef) was named and charged; 2 detectives closed this one. The motive — jealousy — was proved along with the name.

Expert · time attack — The Mystery Island

The cell door shut on Greta (professor), on the evidence of one detective. The motive — blackmail — was proved along with the name.

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Every day's cases — the calendar · ← the cases for 18 October

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