Inspector Lane found a note on the victim's desk written in code: 'S-T-A-R-S'. The suspects were people whose names corresponded to celestial bodies or seasons. Lane immediately suspected a man named Robin. What did the code reveal?
An anagram
The letters in STARS rearranged spell 'R-O-B-I-N' (S-T-A-R-S -> R-O-B-I-N).
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 famous archaeologist was poisoned during a dig in Egypt. Before passing out, she wrote three letters in the dust: 'J-A-N'. The suspects were her three assistants: Julian, Aaron, and Nina. The detective arrested Julian. Why?
A man claimed he was attacked in his dark apartment hallway by a prowler wearing a glowing neon green jacket. The investigator turned on the room lights and checked the hallway, then arrested the homeowner for insurance fraud. Why?
A famous painting was stolen from an art gallery during a stormy afternoon. The night watchman claimed he locked all doors at 6 PM. The window was locked from the inside, the doors were bolted from the inside, and there were no chimneys or air ducts. Yet, the painting was gone and replaced with a forged copy. How did the thief accomplish this?
An old lighthouse keeper was found dead at the base of the winding indoor staircase. The coroner noted he suffered a broken neck from a fall. The local sheriff ruled it an accidental fall due to old age. The detective visited the lighthouse, looked at the spiral stairs, and ordered a murder investigation. What did the detective see?
A security guard reported that an intruder smashed the front glass window of a jewelry store from the *inside* to escape with a tray of diamonds. Detective Sterling inspected the shattered glass fragments scattered entirely across the sidewalk outside and arrested the guard on the spot. What gave the guard away?
A jewel thief claimed he spent the entire night of the robbery sailing alone on his yacht under the moonlight. The detective checked the weather report and immediately called him a liar. Why?