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

An antique pocket watch was stolen from a glass cabinet. The thief left behind a single drop of ink and a torn theater ticket for the 8:00 PM show of 'Hamlet'. Three suspects had ink on their hands: the writer, the printer, and the painter. The writer was at home. The printer was at the print shop until 9:00 PM. The painter was at the theater until 11:00 PM. Who is the liar?

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: Medium. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.

More detective riddles

A jewel thief claimed he spent the entire night of the heist asleep in a remote cabin with no electricity, reading a thriller novel by the light of a single tallow candle. Detective Cross arrested him upon hearing this alibi. Why?

A wealthy merchant was poisoned at a dinner party. Four guests drank the exact same spiced wine from identical goblets. Only the merchant died. The host explained that the poison must have been in the merchant's private decanter. The detective tasted the wine from the merchant's decanter and found it completely untainted. How did the killer administer the poison?

An antique pocket watch stopped ticking precisely at 8:15 AM, covered in dust on a shelf. The suspect claims he was at the bakery across town from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Detective Gable looked at the watch, noted the time, and arrested the suspect for the morning robbery. What did Gable notice about the watch?

A luxury yacht was found drifting at sea with no crew on board. The captain's logbook lay open on the desk, with the final entry written in a shaky hand: 'Storm approaching fast. Lowering the anchors now.' Coast Guard Inspector Hayes inspected the yacht and immediately realized the entry was a fake. Why?

In a dark warehouse, a watchman was found tied to a chair. He insisted a masked intruder crept up behind him and struck him on the forehead. The detective looked at the watchman's injuries and immediately called him a liar. Why?

A security guard reported a break-in at a warehouse. He claimed he was knocked unconscious from behind as soon as he opened the front door. Detective Fox checked the guard's uniform and immediately knew he staged the crime. What did Fox see?