Mind Skill Games mascot
Mind Skill Games — Sharpen Your Mind, One Game at a Time
Detective riddle

A renowned painter was murdered in her studio. Detective Gable saw four items on her work table: an unlit candle, a wet paintbrush, a fresh tube of titanium white paint, and a calendar turned to yesterday's date. Gable knew right away the crime scene was staged by the killer. Which item gave it away?

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.

More detective riddles

A priceless ruby necklace vanished from a hotel suite. The maid stated she changed the linens at 10:00 AM. The bellhop stated he delivered room service at 11:30 AM. The guest stated she discovered the theft at 1:00 PM when she returned from swimming. Detective Vance checked the balcony door and noticed the patio chairs were covered in heavy morning dew, except for a clean, dry circular patch on one cushion. Vance solved the case. What happened?

A famous explorer was poisoned in his jungle tent. The medic found a half-eaten sandwich and a canteen of water. The explorer's journal contained a dying message pointing to his three companions: 'Leo took my compass. Maya gave me water. Sam made my lunch.' Detective Cruz arrested Maya. What gave her away?

A rare diamond was stolen from a locked museum display case. The guard swore nobody entered or left through the doors. The security footage shows the thief walking straight through the solid north wall without breaking it. How did the thief pull off this supernatural feat?

The red heart is bigger than the pink heart, and the pink heart is bigger than the white heart. Which heart is the biggest?

A stamp collector was found dead in his study, surrounded by hundreds of rare envelopes. His tea was poisoned. A magnifying glass lay on the desk. The detective noticed that one specific envelope on the desk had a modern barcode printed on it, even though the stamp and postmark were dated 1895. The detective immediately suspected the victim's nephew. Why?

The victim was discovered in a locked study with a gunshot wound to the temple. A heavy revolver lay three feet away on the carpet. The window was locked from the inside, and the door was bolted from within. Detective Reed noted the position of the gun and declared it a homicide, not a suicide. Why?