A wealthy collector was murdered in his locked mansion. The killer left a cryptic crossword puzzle on his desk with only one word filled in: 'SNOW.' The air conditioner was blasting ice-cold air, and a single glass of melted water sat on the table. The detective deduced the murderer was the gardener, whose last name meant 'Summer.' How did the crossword give a clue?
Crossword puzzle
The crossword clue and the artificial cold environment were designed to point away from the real time of death, or more simply, the word 'SNOW' in a July murder points to an artificial construct.
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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