The Black Files · October 21, 2026 · Difficulty: Specialist
Black File #132 — SolutionStanding Room Only
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The case
Cynthia Hoffman, lead actor, was found dead at Palace Theater at 9:20 PM. Seven people were at the scene. Exactly one of them was alone with Cynthia in the same zone.
The evidence (8 clues)
- Gail was standing on stairs.
- Alicia was sitting on a sofa.
- Felicia was standing on stairs.
- Gail was the easternmost person at the scene.
- There was exactly one person in the Stage.
- Alicia and Dennis were in the same zone.
- Esther was the westernmost person at the scene.
- Beth was the southernmost person at the scene.
The answer
The killer: Gail Underwood, alone with Cynthia Hoffman in the Dressing Room.
Nothing is forced until you test Alicia at D2 or B3: every wrong cell leaves someone with no possible cell. With Alicia at D2 the rest cascades and leaves Gail alone with Cynthia in the Dressing Room.
Step-by-step deduction
- Before placing anyone, each clue eliminates cells:
- • Alicia: was in the same zone as Dennis, and there was exactly one person in the Stage; was sitting on the sofa; row 7 belongs to Beth; column G belongs to Gail. Remaining: D2 and B3.
- • Felicia: was on the stairs; row 7 belongs to Beth; column G belongs to Gail. Remaining: B2, C3 and F6.
- • Gail: was on the stairs; was the easternmost person of all, and since there is one person per column somebody occupies column G: that is Gail. Remaining: G1, G5 and G6.
- • Beth: was the southernmost person of all, and since there is one person per row somebody occupies row 7: that is Beth; column G belongs to Gail. Remaining: B7, C7, D7, E7 and F7.
- • Esther: was the westernmost person of all, and since there is one person per column somebody occupies column A: that is Esther. Remaining: A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5.
- • Still wide open: Dennis (11) and Cynthia (15) possible cells; they close as the others are placed.
- At this point no cell is forced. Time to test a hypothesis. Try Alicia, who can only be at D2 or B3.
- – Alicia at D2: everything fits.
- – Alicia at B3: Cynthia is left with no possible cell. Impossible.
- So Alicia goes to D2.
- Again, nothing is forced. Try Felicia, who can only be at C3 or F6.
- – Felicia at C3: forces Dennis at E4 and Esther at A1, and then Beth, Cynthia and Gail would all be in the Box Office: the victim cannot have more than one companion. Impossible.
- – Felicia at F6: everything fits: it yields Beth at C7, Esther at A5, Gail at G1, Cynthia at B3 and Dennis at E4.
- So Beth goes to C7, Esther goes to A5, Felicia goes to F6, Gail goes to G1, Cynthia goes to B3 and Dennis goes to E4.
- With all seven placed, the only people in the Dressing Room are Cynthia and Gail: Gail was alone with the victim.
