The antique dealer claimed a thief broke in through the skylight, rappelled down, and stole the golden chalice. The detective looked up at the pristine, dust-covered glass pane of the skylight, which had not been touched in months, and arrested the dealer for insurance fraud. Why?
The skylight was covered in undisturbed dust.
If a thief had rappelled through the skylight, the dust on the glass would have been disturbed or wiped away by ropes and a body passing through it.
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
Lord Blackwood was found slumped over his desk with a suicide note nearby. Detective Sterling walked in, felt the warm coffee mug on the desk, and instantly declared it murder. What gave it away?
On the hottest July afternoon, a man was found dead inside his locked, air-conditioned study. The window was bolted shut from the inside, and the only door was locked from the inside with the key resting on the desk. The coroner noted no marks of trauma, but Detective Brooks noticed a large puddle of water surrounding the chair and a stack of old newspapers. How did the man die?
A gift tag says "For the one in the green hat who wears glasses." Mia wears a red hat. Leo wears a green hat and glasses. Who gets the gift?
Detective Vance found the victim slumped over a desk with a punctured chest and a half-eaten sandwich. There were no weapons in the room, but the thermostat was set to 90 degrees and ice water was dripping from the ceiling vent. How did the killer strike?
A security guard reported hearing a smash in the museum gallery at 2:00 AM. When he arrived, the display case was shattered and the crown was gone. The guard stated he immediately locked all exterior doors. Yet, Detective Thorne knew the thief was still inside the building. How?
An art dealer was found dead in his gallery, poisoned by a rare toxin smeared on the handle of his office door. The door opened inward. The coroner noted the dealer's left hand was severely contaminated, while his right hand was completely clean. Detective Lane deduced the killer must have been left-handed. How?

