Inspector Vance entered the freezing winter cabin. The victim sat in a rocking chair by a stone fireplace, a bullet in his chest. The room was blistering hot because a roaring fire blazed in the hearth. Yet, icicles hung heavily from the indoor window latches, and a thick layer of frost coated the inside glass. The detective smiled and realized the crime scene had been staged hours after the murder. How did he know?
The fire was lit after the room froze
It takes time for thick frost and icicles to form inside a freezing room. If the fire had been roaring during the shooting, the ice would have melted instantly. The killer built the fire later to mask the time of death.
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: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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