A famous pianist was found murdered in his soundproof studio. The sheet music on the stand was soaked with spilled ink, obscuring the notes. The door was bolted from the inside. The windows were nailed shut because of the winter chill. The detective noticed the victim's wristwatch was shattered at 4:15, yet the grandfather clock in the room chimed 5:00. The detective knew it was murder, not suicide, because of the ink. Why?
The ink was spilled in a specific pattern, or the ink bottle was empty, or you cannot spill ink if your hands are bound.
The ink was spilled across the sheet music in a direction that required a sweeping motion from right to left, but the pianist's right arm was broken, making it physically impossible for him to have knocked the ink over himself.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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