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Detective riddle

Detective Miller entered a freezing cabin during a July heatwave. A dead man sat in a chair with his winter coat zipped to his chin and mittens on his hands. On the table lay an intact, unlit candle and a box of matches. What killed him?

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

A rare diamond was stolen from a glass pedestal inside a locked museum gallery. The room has only one wooden door, bolted securely from the inside, and two high, narrow windows that are permanently sealed shut with iron bars spaced three inches apart. The glass case was shattered outward, and glass shards lay scattered across the polished marble floor. The night watchman swears nobody entered or exited. How did the thief escape with the diamond?

A jewel thief left a calling card at every scene: a playing card with a needle poked through the center. Detective Reed noticed that all the targeted museums had modern laser security systems that only triggered if a beam was broken. How did the thief bypass the lasers using the needle?

A priceless golden vase was reported stolen from the museum's center pedestal. The security cameras showed no one entering or leaving the room all night. The night watchman insisted he never left his desk. The detective examined the vase's pedestal, smiled, and arrested the watchman. What did the pedestal reveal?

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Detective Drake entered a freezing cold cabin where a man sat shivering by an unlit fireplace. The victim claimed someone broke in and stole his only box of matches. Drake looked at the man's hands and arrested him for arson at a nearby building. What did Drake see?

The billionaire was found dead in his study with a gunshot wound to the back. A pistol was clutched tightly in his right hand. Detective Vance shook his head and called for a homicide investigation. Why didn't he believe it was suicide?