DETECTIVE SCHOOL
How to solve Case 08
Plain Vanilla
One step at a time. Stop whenever you like and finish it yourself. xoxo, Mae
Step 1 of 9Book: step 1
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Thea → G7
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Odell's clue links Thea and Odell: “He was south and west of Thea.” Odell is not placed yet, but he can still be on 45 squares. So check Thea's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Odell's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only G7 passes, so Thea stood there.
Step 2 of 9Book: step 2
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Odell → D8
○ 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 Harmony needs a square where exactly one other person can join her. At C2, D2, C3, D3, E3, D4, H4, D5, H5 or D6, nobody could join her: nobody else can still stand in those rooms. So Harmony can't be at C2, D2, C3, D3, E3, D4, H4, D5, H5 or D6.
- Rule 3 again: Harmony needs a square where exactly one other person can join her. At A8, B8, C8, D8 or E8, only Odell could reach the Soda Bar, but he would stand in her row or column there, and nobody shares a row or column. So Harmony can't be at A8, B8, C8, D8 or E8.
- Look at column D. Every column holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in column D yet. Who can still go there? Only Odell: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Odell's only square in column D is D8, so he stood there.
Step 3 of 9Book: step 3
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Gertrude → F3
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Could Flora stand at H1? Rule 3 says no: the victim needs exactly one visitor in her room. With Flora at H1 (and her row and column crossed out), Harmony, the victim, could then still be on 16 squares, and none of those works:
- At A2: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at B6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and Harmony ends up with India and Jodie in the Shady Patio; with Jodie at C4, B5 or B6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At E2: both Flora and Gertrude would be in her room.
- At F2, F3, F4 or F6: Gertrude would have no square left.
- At B3: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at A6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and Harmony ends up with India and Jodie in the Shady Patio; with Jodie at C4, A5 or A6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At A4: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at B6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and nobody could stand in column C; with Jodie at B5 or B6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At C4: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at A6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and nobody could stand in column B; with India at B6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and nobody could stand in column A; with Jodie at A5, B5, A6 or B6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At A5: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at B6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and Gertrude runs out of squares; with Jodie at C4 or B6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At B5: only India and Jodie could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with India at A6 as the visitor, follow the forced moves and Gertrude runs out of squares; with Jodie at C4 or A6 as the visitor, India has no square left.
- At C5: Odell at D8 would already be her visitor (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and then follow the forced moves and Gertrude runs out of squares.
- At E5: only Jodie and Roscoe could join her (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and every way fails: with Roscoe at F4 or F6 as the visitor, Gertrude has no square left; with Jodie at F6 as the visitor, Roscoe has no square left.
- At A6, B6 or E6: India would have no square left.
- Look at column H. Every column holds exactly one person, and only Harmony can still stand in column H (H1 or H6). So Harmony must be in column H, even though her clue allows other squares. All her other squares are out.
- Look at column C: only Jodie can still stand in column C (C1 or C4). So Jodie must be in column C, even though her clue allows other squares. All her other squares are out.
- Look at row 3. Every row holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in row 3 yet. Who can still go there? Only Gertrude: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Gertrude's only square in row 3 is F3, so she stood there.
Step 4 of 9Book: step 4
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Roscoe → E5
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Roscoe said: “He or Thea was in the Back Room, but not both.” With Thea at G7, the clue leaves G3, F4, G4, E5 and F6. G3 is in row 3, where Gertrude already stands. F4 and F6 are in column F, where Gertrude already stands. G4 is in column G, where Thea already stands. One square is left: E5. So Roscoe stood there.
Step 5 of 9Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Flora → A2
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at row 2. Every row holds exactly one person, and nobody stands in row 2 yet. Who can still go there? Only Flora: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Flora's only square in row 2 is A2, so she stood there.
Step 6 of 9Book: step 6
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
India → B6
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- India said: “She was on the Shady Patio, in row 6.” That fits A6 and B6. A6 is in column A, where Flora already stands. One square is left: B6. So India stood there.
Step 7 of 9Book: step 7
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Harmony → H1
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Harmony is the victim: her card gives no square, only Rule 3. Rows 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and columns A, D, E, F and G already have their person, so those squares are crossed out. C1 and C4 were ruled out in step 3. H4 was ruled out in step 2. One square is left: H1. So Harmony stood there.
Step 8 of 9Book: step 8
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Jodie → C4
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Jodie said: “She was in a room with an ice cream, but not beside one.” Rows 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 already have their person, so those squares are crossed out. One square is left: C4. So Jodie stood there.
Step 9 of 9
Case closed!
Everyone is placed. Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. Who shares the Tasting Bar with Harmony? Only Gertrude.
Gertrude did itGUILTY
Lesson 5 · The victim's room: one visitor© Mae Wonder · maewonder.com