Deduction·Intermediate
The Locked Room
A man is found dead inside a locked study. Three people were in the house. One of them is lying.
The Case
At 10:30 PM, Elias Voss was found dead inside his study.
The door was locked from the inside.
The only window was closed and latched.
No weapon was found inside the room.
Three people were in the house that night.
The Evidence
Investigators noticed several details:
- A cup of tea was sitting on Elias's desk.
- The tea was still warm.
- The fireplace was burning despite the warm evening.
- A wet footprint was found beside the desk.
- The study door was locked from the inside.
- The housekeeper's shoes were completely dry.
- Daniel's book was found open to the same page he claimed he had been reading for thirty minutes.
Investigation stage 01
Study the suspects
Examine each person before committing to a conclusion. Look for contradictions between their statements and the evidence.
Investigation stage 02
Form your hypothesis
Before choosing a suspect, write down what you believe happened and which evidence supports your explanation.