DETECTIVE SCHOOL
How to solve Case 05
In a Jam
One step at a time. Stop whenever you like and finish it yourself. xoxo, Mae
Step 1 of 7Book: step 1
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Ruth → C2
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Lorna's clue links Ruth and Lorna: “She was north and west of Ruth.” Lorna is not placed yet, but she can still be on 26 squares. So check Ruth's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Lorna's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only C2 passes, so Ruth stood there.
Step 2 of 7Book: step 2
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Peggy → E6
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Melissa's clue links Melissa and Eliza: “She was exactly two columns west of Eliza.” Eliza is not placed yet, but she can still be on 17 squares. So check Melissa's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Eliza's squares fits with it (in another row and column). 10 squares fail; Melissa keeps 7.
- Melissa's clue links Eliza and Melissa: “She was exactly two columns west of Eliza.” Melissa is not placed yet, but she can still be on 7 squares. So check Eliza's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Melissa's squares fits with it (in another row and column). 10 squares fail; Eliza keeps 7.
- Eliza's clue links Peggy and Eliza: “She was north and west of Peggy.” Eliza is not placed yet, but she can still be on 7 squares. So check Peggy's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Eliza's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only E6 passes, so Peggy stood there.
Step 3 of 7Book: step 3
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Lorna → A1
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at column F. Every column holds exactly one person, and only Ivan can still stand in column F (F1, F3, F4 or F5). So Ivan must be in column F, even though his clue allows other squares. All his other squares are out.
- Look at column A: nobody stands in column A yet. Who can still go there? Only Lorna: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Lorna's only square in column A is A1, so she stood there.
Step 4 of 7Book: step 4
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Melissa → B3
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at column B. Every column holds exactly one person, and only Melissa can still stand in column B (B3, B4 or B5). So Melissa must be in column B, even though her clue allows other squares. Melissa can't be at D4 or D5 any more.
- Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. So Ivan needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At F3, nobody could join him: nobody else can still stand in the Window Nook. So Ivan can't be at F3.
- Look at row 3. Every row holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in row 3 yet. Who can still go there? Only Melissa: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Melissa's only square in row 3 is B3, so she stood there.
Step 5 of 7Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Ivan → F5
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. So Ivan needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At F4, both Peggy and Eliza would have to be in his room (each has no other squares left), and that is one visitor too many. So Ivan can't be at F4.
- Ivan is the victim: his card gives no square, only Rule 3. Rows 1, 2, 3 and 6 and columns B, C and E already have their person, so those squares are crossed out. D4 and D5 were ruled out in step 3. F4 was ruled out above. One square is left: F5. So Ivan stood there.
Step 6 of 7Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Eliza → D4
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Eliza said: “She was north and west of Peggy.” With Melissa at B3, the clue leaves D2, D4, D5 and D6. With Peggy at E6, that leaves D2, D4 and D5. D2 is in row 2, where Ruth already stands. D5 is in row 5, where Ivan already stands. One square is left: D4. So Eliza stood there.
Step 7 of 7
Case closed!
Everyone is placed. Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. Who shares the Cozy Nook with Ivan? Only Peggy.
Peggy did itGUILTY
Lesson 5 · The victim's room: one visitor© Mae Wonder · maewonder.com