DETECTIVE SCHOOL
How to solve Case 09
One Shot Only
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?
Maggie → E6
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Clara's clue links Maggie and Clara: “She was exactly two rows north of Maggie.” Clara is not placed yet, but she can still be on 23 squares. So check Maggie's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Clara's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only E6 passes, so Maggie stood there.
Step 2 of 7Book: step 2
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Rory → A2
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Winnie's clue links Winnie and Rory: “She was in the same room as Rory.” Rory is not placed yet, but he can still be at A2 or A3. So check Winnie's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Rory's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only B1, D1, F1 or D2 pass: Winnie can only be there.
- Rule 3: the victim's room holds exactly two people, the victim and the murderer. So Bram needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At F4, both Maggie and Percy would have to be in his room (each has no other squares left), and that is one visitor too many. So Bram can't be at F4.
- Rule 3 again: Bram needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At D3 or D4, only Clara could reach the Studio, but she would stand in his row or column there, and nobody shares a row or column. So Bram can't be at D3 or D4.
- Rule 3 again: Bram needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At B4, only Percy and Clara could reach the Darkroom, but they would stand in his row or column there, and nobody shares a row or column. So Bram can't be at B4.
- Could Winnie stand at D2? Rule 3 says no: the victim needs exactly one visitor in his room. With Winnie at D2 (and her row and column crossed out), Bram, the victim, could then only be at B1, F1, A3, B3, C3, F3 or C5, and none of those works:
- At B1 or F1: nobody could join him.
- At A3, B3, C3 or F3: Rory would have no square left.
- At C5: Maggie at E6 would already be his visitor (everyone else must then stay out of that room), and then follow the forced moves and Clara runs out of squares.
- Winnie's clue links Rory and Winnie: “She was in the same room as Rory.” Winnie is not placed yet, but she can still be at B1, D1 or F1. So check Rory's squares: a square only stays if at least one of Winnie's squares fits with it (in another row and column). Only A2 passes, so Rory stood there.
Step 3 of 7Book: step 3
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Percy → C5
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Look at row 3. Every row holds exactly one person, and only Bram can still stand in row 3 (B3, C3 or F3). So Bram must be in row 3, even though his clue allows other squares. Bram can't be at B1, D1, F1, C5 or D5 any more.
- Look at row 5: nobody stands in row 5 yet. Who can still go there? Only Percy: everyone else either has it crossed out or is kept away by their own clue. Percy's only square in row 5 is C5, so he stood there.
Step 4 of 7Book: step 4
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Bram → F3
○ 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 Bram needs a square where exactly one other person can join him. At B3, nobody could join him: nobody else can still stand in the Prop Room. So Bram can't be at B3.
- Bram is the victim: his card gives no square, only Rule 3. Rows 2, 5 and 6 and columns A, C and E already have their person, so those squares are crossed out. B1, D1 and F1 were ruled out in step 3. B3 was ruled out above. D3, B4, D4 and F4 were ruled out in step 2. One square is left: F3. So Bram stood there.
Step 5 of 7Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Clara → D4
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Rule 3: somebody must join Bram, the victim, in the Studio. Who still can? Only Clara: nobody else can still stand there. So Clara must be in the Studio (D4), and her other squares are out: B4.
- Clara said: “She was exactly two rows north of Maggie.” With Maggie at E6, the clue leaves B4, D4 and F4. F4 is in column F, where Bram already stands. B4 was ruled out above. One square is left: D4. So Clara stood there.
Step 6 of 7Book: step 5
Read the reasons first. Can you see who goes where?
Winnie → B1
○ placed✕ ruled out (for whom: the letter)▢ look here⊙ still possible
- Winnie said: “She was in the same room as Rory.” With Rory at A2, the clue leaves B1, D1, E1, F1 and A2. A2 is in row 2, where Rory already stands. D1 is in column D, where Clara already stands. E1 is in column E, where Maggie already stands. F1 is in column F, where Bram already stands. One square is left: B1. So Winnie 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 Studio with Bram? Only Clara.
Clara did itGUILTY
Lesson 5 · The victim's room: one visitor© Mae Wonder · maewonder.com