Detective Cruz entered a freezing cabin in the woods. The victim was dead on the floor. Cruz noticed an unlit fireplace, a box of matches, and a sealed envelope on the desk. The heat was off, but the victim was sweating profusely. How?
The victim had a high fever
A person can sweat profusely from a high fever or illness regardless of the ambient room temperature.
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
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A priceless manuscript was stolen from a glass display case in a locked museum room. The room has no windows, and the heavy oak door was bolted from the inside. The night watchman swears he never fell asleep and no one entered. The manuscript was found hidden inside the watchman's own jacket pocket. How did it get there if the room was truly sealed?
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A locked-room mystery baffled the precinct: a man was found dead inside his study with the deadbolt thrown from the inside and the single key resting inside the room on a desk. The window was jammed shut from the inside with rusted iron nails. The coroner noted the time of death was noon. The detective looked at the ice block melting near the radiator and solved the case. How was it done?
A wealthy merchant was found dead in his study during a fierce winter blizzard. The heater was off, and the room was freezing. The only clues were a burnt-down candle and a small puddle of water near the window. Detective Miller realized the killer entered through the locked window without leaving footprints in the snow outside. How?