Detective Vance examined a ransom note made of words cut from newspapers and glued onto a piece of cardboard. The note demanded fifty thousand dollars in exchange for a kidnapped puppy. The ransom note read: 'WE HAVE THE DOG. BRING CASH.' Vance immediately noticed that the word 'DOG' was printed in a completely different font style, size, and paper texture than every other word on the card. Vance smiled and told his partner the kidnapper didn't use a newspaper for that word. Where did the kidnapper get the word 'DOG'?
The kidnapper wrote it by hand or cut it from a pet store flyer / veterinary document.
Since the font, size, and texture differed entirely from the rest of the newspaper clippings, it came from a specialized source like a pet magazine or sign rather than a standard daily newspaper.
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
Inspector Okafor is checking the order in which five suspects left the locked library. Boris left before Kira. Aria left before Pavel. Pavel left before Jonas. Jonas left before Boris. Who left third?
An explorer was found dead inside his tent in the Sahara Desert. The tent flap was zipped shut from the inside, and there were no tracks around the tent. Inside, his canteen was full and his pack was untouched. The local guide took one look inside and said he died of thirst. How is that possible?
Three kids race to build the tallest pumpkin tower. Omar finished before Leo. Leo finished before Max. Who finished last?
Inspector Cole walked into a freezing cabin and found a man dead on the floor from a gunshot wound to the chest. There was no gun anywhere in the room. The only tracks in the fresh snow outside belonged to the victim, leading straight to the cabin door and stopping. The windows were frozen shut from the inside. How did the killer commit the crime without leaving tracks or a weapon?
In a remote cabin, an explorer was found frozen solid by the fireplace. The wood was stacked, the matchbox was open with a single match missing, and the hearth was cold. Detective Ross noticed the dead man's fingers were completely black with soot on the tips, but the matchbox striker was untouched and brand new. Ross deduced the man did not die of a simple accident. What did Ross realize?
At midnight, a gunshot echoed through the mansion. Detective Drake rushed to the parlor to find the homeowner dead on the rug. The butler said he was sleeping. The maid said she was dusting the chandelier. The chef said he was boiling eggs. Drake arrested the chef instantly. What gave the chef away?