Inspector Lane walked into a dimly lit gallery. A famous painting had been cut straight out of its ornate wooden frame. Three suspects were detained. The art dealer claimed he was appraising a sculpture. The frame restorer claimed he was polishing wood in the corner. The night watchman claimed he was doing rounds. Lane pointed out a trail of fine sawdust directly beneath the empty frame and arrested one of them. Who and why?
The frame restorer
Fine sawdust beneath the frame proves wood was actively being cut or sanded. The frame restorer used his professional tools to remove the painting from the frame rather than unhooking it properly.
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
An antique pocket watch was reported stolen during a blackout. Three suspects were in the room. Anna said she was reading a book by the fireplace. Ben said he was tuning his acoustic guitar. Clara said she was boiling water for tea. Who is the liar?
The safe in the mansion was cracked, but nothing of value was taken except for a single old photograph of a chessboard. The owner insisted the photo was worthless. Detective Reed disagreed, stating the position of the pieces on the board revealed the combination to a secret compartment. If the white rook was on A1, the knight on B3, and the pawn on C2, what did Reed look for?
Inspector Drake inspected a hijacked delivery truck abandoned in a desert. The driver claimed he was ambushed by bandits who forced him out at gunpoint and drove off with the vehicle. Drake noticed the driver's heavy boots were completely caked in thick, wet river clay, while the desert sand for miles around was dry and powdery. Drake arrested the driver. Why?
A courier was found robbed in a desert with his canteen full of water and his camel standing nearby. He claimed highwaymen stole his money bags, but Detective Thorne arrested him for insurance fraud. Why?
The victim was discovered in a locked study with a gunshot wound to the chest and no gun in the room. The window was frozen shut with thick ice, and the door was bolted from the inside. Detective Scott noticed the room smelled strongly of fish and saw a large puddle of water near the radiator. How was the crime committed?
A museum curator was found locked inside a display case, having suffocated. The case was made of thick bulletproof glass with a complex electronic lock. The lock history showed it was opened from the outside at 3:00 AM, but no guards were on duty. Detective Nash realized the curator locked himself in intentionally. Why?