Murder Mystery Puzzle

The Coldwater Files | Choose Your Quest
Case Files // Open to the Public

THE COLDWATER FILES

Welcome to Coldwater. Population: dropping.

Fifty visitors came to this pleasant little town. None of them left. Below are three cases the book could not hold. Solve even one, and a free mystery novel is yours to keep.

BONUS CASE No. 51

The Diner After Dark

The body of a health inspector was found in the back office of the Coldwater Diner, hours after closing. He had given the diner a failing grade that afternoon. The grade did not survive the night. Neither did he. Three residents were inside when it happened. Each was in one room, holding one item.

The Suspects
Belle Odum63" tall · green eyes · owns the diner and hears every secret in town before noon
Gus Warren73" tall · brown eyes · his hands are always stained with oil, and sometimes with more
Fern Adler58" tall · gray eyes · the librarian. Quiet, patient, and owed too many late fees
The Items

Rolling pin  |  Crowbar  |  Hatpin

The Rooms

Kitchen  |  Counter  |  Back office

The Clues
  • The rolling pin was found in the kitchen.
  • Fern Adler never set foot in the kitchen.
  • The suspect holding the crowbar is taller than Belle Odum.
  • Belle Odum was not in the back office.
  • The hatpin was nowhere near the back office.
  • The body was discovered in the back office.
Deduction Grid

Tap a square to cycle: blank → X (eliminate) → O (confirm). The grid is your scratchpad; only the accusation is judged.

 BelleGusFernKitchenCounterBack office
Rolling pin
Crowbar
Hatpin
Kitchen
Counter
Back office

Make Your Accusation

BONUS CASE No. 52

The Vanishing Projectionist

The projectionist of the Coldwater Cinema never started the nine o'clock picture. They found the poor man in his own projection booth as the crowd filed out grumbling. He had been threatening to sell the cinema's antique projector to a collector out of state. In Coldwater, some things are not for sale. Three residents were in the building after the lobby emptied.

The Suspects
Ruby Sloane66" tall · green eyes · the actress. Every tear is rehearsed, every alibi performed
Otis Penn67" tall · gray eyes · the barber knows everything. A razor loosens every tongue
Nadia Voss68" tall · blue eyes · the heiress. Everything in town is for sale, and she has receipts
The Items

Letter opener  |  Walking cane  |  Glass paperweight

The Rooms

Projection booth  |  Balcony  |  Lobby

The Clues
  • The glass paperweight was found in the projection booth.
  • Otis Penn was seen in the lobby.
  • The suspect in the balcony is taller than Otis Penn.
  • The walking cane was nowhere near the lobby.
  • The body was discovered in the projection booth.
Deduction Grid

Tap a square to cycle: blank → X (eliminate) → O (confirm).

 RubyOtisNadiaBoothBalconyLobby
Letter opener
Walking cane
Paperweight
Booth
Balcony
Lobby

Make Your Accusation

BONUS CASE No. 53

The Long Walk Off the Short Pier

A boat salesman from the city spent all week at Coldwater Lake promising folks a marina, a resort, and progress. On Friday morning he was pulled from the water by the fishing pier. The lake keeps its own counsel, but three residents were at the dock the night before.

The Suspects
Walt Deeds74" tall · blue eyes · right-handed · the postman reads more mail than he delivers
Betty Crane62" tall · gray eyes · left-handed · the seamstress. Her needles are sharp and her alibis sharper
Sam Rigby70" tall · brown eyes · right-handed · the grocer weighs his thumb along with the meat
The Items

Coil of rope  |  Ice pick  |  Horseshoe

The Rooms

Boathouse  |  Fishing pier  |  Bait shack

The Clues
  • A left-handed grip was found on the ice pick.
  • Sam Rigby was seen in the boathouse.
  • The horseshoe was found in the boathouse.
  • The suspect on the fishing pier is taller than Sam Rigby.
  • The body was discovered at the fishing pier.
Deduction Grid

Tap a square to cycle: blank → X (eliminate) → O (confirm).

 WaltBettySamBoathousePierBait shack
Coil of rope
Ice pick
Horseshoe
Boathouse
Pier
Bait shack

Make Your Accusation

CASE CLOSED

Detective Flint tips his hat. Your reward, as promised.

FREE MYSTERY NOVEL — YOURS TO KEEP

Paws & Pages: A Texas Bookstore Cozy Mystery. Three women, three cats, and a whole lot of secrets. If you enjoyed cracking Coldwater's cases, this full-length cozy mystery is on the house.

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The Full Case Load

Fifty crimes. Twenty suspects. One detective: you.

  • 50 verified logic puzzles, from open-and-shut cases to the Impossible Files
  • A deduction grid for every crime, the classic cross-off system
  • A recurring cast of twenty residents you will learn not to trust
  • Every case has exactly one solution. No guessing, ever
  • Full solutions in the back showing the complete picture
While You Are Here

More worlds to get lost in

The Coldwater Files is part of the Choose Your Quest library by Dr. Rabea Hadi.

Coldwater is fictional. Please do not attempt to visit. For your own sake.