DETECTIVE SCHOOL
How to solve Case 04
Piece and Quiet
One step at a time. Stop whenever you like and finish it yourself. xoxo, Mae
Step 1 of 8Book: step 1
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Godfrey → C6
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Godfrey said: “He was in row 6, column C.” Only one square on the whole plan fits that: C6. So he stood there.
Step 2 of 8Book: step 2
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Holly → A2
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at column B. Every column holds exactly one person, and only Watson can still stand in column B (B1, B2, B4 or B7). So Watson must be in column B, even though his clue allows other squares. All his other squares are out.
- Look at column A: only Holly can still stand in column A (A1 or A2). So Holly must be in column A, even though her clue allows other squares. Holly can't be at E1, E2, E5, G5 or G7 any more.
- Look at column G: only Ursula can still stand in column G (G5 or G7). So Ursula must be in column G, even though her clue allows other squares. All her other squares are out.
- Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. So Watson needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At B2 or B4, nobody could join him: nobody else can still stand in the Back Room. So Watson can't be at B2 or B4.
- Look at row 2. Every row holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in row 2 yet. Who can still go there? Only Holly: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Holly's only square in row 2 is A2, so she stood there.
Step 3 of 8Book: step 3
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Watson → B1
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at row 1. Every row holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in row 1 yet. Who can still go there? Only Watson: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Watson's only square in row 1 is B1, so he stood there.
Step 4 of 8Book: step 4
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Felix → F3
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Could Felix stand at E4? Rule 3 says no: the victim needs exactly one visitor in his room. With Felix at E4 (and his row and column crossed out), Holly at A2 would already be his visitor (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and then follow the forced moves and Carla runs out of squares. So Felix can't be at E4.
- Look at row 4. Every row holds exactly one person, and only Nadia can still stand in row 4 (D4 or E4). So Nadia must be in row 4, even though her clue allows other squares. Nadia can't be at E3 or D5 any more.
- Look at row 3: nobody stands in row 3 yet. Who can still go there? Only Felix: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Felix's only square in row 3 is F3, so he stood there.
Step 5 of 8Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Carla → D5
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Carla said: “She was sitting on a shop stool.” That fits D5 and F5. F5 is in column F, where Felix already stands. One square is left: D5. So Carla stood there.
Step 6 of 8Book: step 6
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Nadia → E4
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Nadia said: “She was in a room with a big jigsaw.” That fits E3, C4, D4, E4 and D5. E3 is in row 3, where Felix already stands. D5 is in row 5, where Carla already stands. C4 is in column C, where Godfrey already stands. D4 is in column D, where Carla already stands. One square is left: E4. So Nadia stood there.
Step 7 of 8Book: step 7
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Ursula → G7
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Ursula said: “She was at the Counter or in the Puzzle Room.” Rows 3, 4, 5 and 6 and column F already have their person, so those squares are crossed out. One square is left: G7. So Ursula stood there.
Step 8 of 8
Case closed!
Everyone is placed. Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. Who shares the Piece Nook with Watson? Only Holly.
Holly did itGUILTY
Lesson 5 · The victim's room: one visitor© Mae Wonder · maewonder.com