A wealthy businessman was found dead in his study with a suicide note on his desk. Detective Lane read the note: 'I can no longer bear the bitter cold of winter and the darkness of December.' Lane looked at the desk calendar, which showed July 15th, and immediately called for a murder investigation. What contradicted the note?
The date was July
The note complained about the bitter cold of winter and December, but the calendar clearly showed July 15th (summer). A suicide note written in mid-summer complaining about winter cold points to a forged note by a clumsy killer.
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: Easy. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
More detective riddles
An explorer was found frozen to death inside a sealed research station in Antarctica. The heater was fully functional, and there was plenty of firewood and food. The door was bolted from the inside. How did he freeze?
Inspector Quinn is checking the order in which five suspects left the locked library. Pavel left before Kira. Luca left before Aria. Kira left before Iris. Iris left before Luca. Who left second?
A famous pianist was found strangled in her dressing room. The killer left behind a music sheet with notes written in a bizarre cipher. The manager claimed he couldn't read music at all. Detective Ray looked at the cipher, pointed out that the notes spelled out a secret message, and arrested the manager. How did Ray know the manager lied?
A renowned explorer claimed he discovered a lost tropical island in the freezing waters of the Arctic Circle. He brought back a coconut as proof. Detective Croft examined the coconut, declared the explorer a fraud, and kicked him out of the explorers' club. What gave the explorer away?
A librarian was found dead behind the checkout counter with a hardcover dictionary resting on his chest. The suspect claimed he dropped the heavy book by accident while shelving it high above. Detective Paige arrested him for murder. Why?
Detective Lane arrived at a crime scene where a victim sat at a computer, shot through the heart. The computer screen displayed an open email draft accusing the victim's business partner. Lane read the email properties and immediately arrested the business partner, not for murder, but because the metadata proved the email was created three days after the victim died. What investigative error did the killer make?