Inspector Drake examined a threatening letter cut out from a glossy magazine. The letters were pasted unevenly. Drake noticed a tiny speck of fresh pink nail polish on the back of the word 'Danger.' Who in the office did he question first?
The receptionist or secretary with pink nail polish
The speck of fresh pink nail polish transferred from the perpetrator's fingernail while they were meticulously gluing the cut-out letters onto the page, directly pointing to the person wearing that polish.
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
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The antique shop owner was found bound to a chair with his own security rope. A single gold coin lay on the floor near his left shoe. Three regular customers—Ms. Higgins, Mr. Sterling, and Dr. Vance—had visited that afternoon. Ms. Higgins bought a silver brooch, Mr. Sterling sold an old pocket watch, and Dr. Vance appraised a painting. The owner gasped out his last words: 'The coin gave away his trade.' Who attacked the owner?
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The victim's watch was found smashed in the hallway, reading 3:45. The coroner established time of death as midnight. Detective Cole knew the killer smashed the watch intentionally to mislead investigators, but what specific detail about the watch's internal gears proved it was stopped manually hours before midnight?

