Sleuthic

The Black Files · November 8, 2026 · Difficulty: Rookie

Black File #150 — SolutionThe Chambers

Missed the case? Play Black File #150 →

The case

Elena Lindqvist, defense attorney, was found dead at County Courthouse at 10:45 PM. Seven people were at the scene. Exactly one of them was alone with Elena in the same zone.

The evidence (8 clues)
  1. Gregory was standing on stairs.
  2. Cynthia was in the Records Office.
  3. Bridget was in the Lobby.
  4. Cynthia was sitting on a sofa.
  5. Anita was in the Records Office.
  6. Bridget was sitting in a chair.
  7. Dennis was sitting on a sofa.
  8. Floyd was the southernmost person at the scene.

The answer

The killer: Gregory Hoffman, alone with Elena Lindqvist in the Judge's Chambers.

Fixing rows and columns from the extreme-position clues cascades through the board and leaves Gregory alone with Elena in the Judge's Chambers.

Step-by-step deduction

  1. Before placing anyone, each clue eliminates cells:
  2. • Anita: was in the Records Office; row 6 already belongs to Bridget; column B already belongs to Bridget; row 4 belongs to Cynthia; column C belongs to Cynthia; column D belongs to Gregory. Only E5 is left.
  3. • Bridget: was in the Lobby; was sitting in a chair; row 7 belongs to Floyd. Only B6 is left.
  4. • Cynthia: was in the Records Office; was sitting on the sofa; row 6 already belongs to Bridget; column B already belongs to Bridget. Only C4 is left.
  5. • Dennis: was sitting on the sofa; row 7 belongs to Floyd; row 6 already belongs to Bridget; column B already belongs to Bridget; row 4 belongs to Cynthia; nobody else can occupy row 3, so it must be Dennis. Only G3 is left.
  6. • Elena: Elena cannot be in the Records Office: the crime zone holds exactly two people and Anita and Cynthia are already there, and with Elena that would be more than two; Elena cannot be in the Lobby: the crime zone holds exactly two people and Bridget and Floyd are already there, and with Elena that would be more than two; nobody else can occupy row 2, so it must be Elena; column C belongs to Cynthia; column G already belongs to Dennis; nobody else can occupy column A, so it must be Elena. Only A2 is left.
  7. • Floyd: was the southernmost person of all, and since there is one person per row somebody occupies row 7: that is Floyd; column B already belongs to Bridget; column C belongs to Cynthia; column G already belongs to Dennis; nobody else can occupy column F, so it must be Floyd. Only F7 is left.
  8. • Gregory: was on the stairs; row 7 belongs to Floyd; row 6 already belongs to Bridget; column B already belongs to Bridget; row 4 belongs to Cynthia; column C belongs to Cynthia; row 5 belongs to Anita. Only D1 is left.
  9. That already places Bridget at B6, Cynthia at C4, Dennis at G3, Anita at E5, Elena at A2, Floyd at F7 and Gregory at D1.
  10. With all seven placed, the only people in the Judge's Chambers are Elena and Gregory: Gregory was alone with the victim.
Solved map of Black File #150: Anita E5, Bridget B6, Cynthia C4, Dennis G3, Elena A2, Floyd F7, Gregory D1
The solved map: Anita E5, Bridget B6, Cynthia C4, Dennis G3, Elena A2, Floyd F7, Gregory D1.

Play today's case →