Phoenix
Detectives have received intelligence that a murder is about to take place in downtown Phoenix.
Potential Victims
• Alice
• Ben
• Clara
• Derek
Potential Weapons
• Knife
• Revolver
• Wrench
• Letter Opener
Potential Crime Scenes (Downtown Phoenix Landmarks)
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Arizona Science Center
• Herberger Theater Center
• Phoenix Convention Center
Potential Days
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday
• Monday
Your goal is to determine which victim will fall next, by matching that victim with one weapon, one location, and one day.
THE CLUES:
(Each clue looks forward to a deduction that will eliminate wrong pairings. Read carefully and fill in your grid.)
“The crime on Friday will be executed with the Knife.”
“The murder on Sunday will be committed with the Letter Opener.”
“The Phoenix Convention Center will host the crime on Monday.”
“The Revolver will be used on a day that is neither Friday nor Monday.”
“The crime at the Phoenix Art Museum will occur before the event at the Herberger Theater Center.”
“At the Phoenix Art Museum, the weapon will not be the Revolver.”
“The crime at the Arizona Science Center will not occur on Monday.”
“The Herberger Theater Center will not be paired with the Letter Opener.”
“The event at the Arizona Science Center will involve neither the Knife nor the Wrench.”
“Alice, who cherishes delicate beauty, will not be harmed by heavy metal instruments—she will not face the Knife or the Wrench.”
“Ben, the early riser, avoids the languor of weekend woes; he will not meet his fate on Saturday or Sunday.”
“Derek, ever the quiet observer, shuns loud impacts and will not be struck by the roaring Revolver.”
“Clara, whose name radiates clarity and grace, is destined for the dramatic stage—the Herberger Theater Center.”
“The Phoenix Art Museum’s tragic scene will claim the victim whose name begins with B.”
“At the Arizona Science Center, where discovery dazzles, the gentle soul of refined taste—Alice—will fall.”
Clues left by the Killer:
"Dsviv wvhvig yiroorzmxv nvvgh wiznzgrx kviulinzmxv, z uzgv rh hvzovw lm z hgztv dsviv lmob lmv mznv hsrmvh."
"Mlg z dsrhkvi yfg z gsfmwvi—gsv hlfmw lu z iveloevi droo vxsl zh Hzgfiwzb’h kfohv jfrxpvmh fmwvi gsv Kslvmrc hfm."
"Rm szooh dsviv zig zmw wrhxlevib vmgdrmv, gsv tvmgov svzig zmw gsv yizev hkrirg ziv hkorg znlmt gsv wzbh."
"Znlmt gsv ulfi, lmob lmv yvzih z mznv zh ofnrmlfh zh gsv hgztv rghvou; svi wvhgrmb rh xzievw rm gsv hklgortsg."
Puzzle-Solving Tips
Set Up a Grid: Create a four-by-four table with the categories as columns (Victim, Weapon, Location, Day) and list the four options in each.
Mark Eliminations: As you read each logical clue, mark off the impossible pairings.
Use the Killer Clues: They provide thematic hints (remember the “cylinder” that “thunders” and the “sizzling Saturday”) that point you toward the correct selections.
Work Methodically: Clues refer to future events (“will take place,” “will be paired”)—use them to narrow down the only possible configuration.
When you’ve filled in your grid completely, you’ll find that only one combination remains viable.