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Case 3: who took the Illuminated Book?
A routine inventory at the library has revealed that the Illuminated Book, officially listed as being in the Reading Room, is nowhere to be found. The insurance company won't pay a cent without a named culprit, so the pressure to solve this is real. Help the police unmask the thief.
The board
- 1Lobby
- 2Conference Room
- 3Study Room
- 4Reading Room
- 5Storage Room
- 6Children's Room
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Seat: anyone can be on it.
- Shelf: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Table: nothing can be on its cell.
- Screen: nothing can be on its cell.
- Window: the blue line on a wall.
Suspects and clues
- BBilal
He's in column D. - FFatima
She's next to a window. - NNoah
He's 1 row away from the Conference Room. - TTariq
He's in row 1. - GGustavo
He's in the Conference Room. - IIlluminated Book (stolen item)
It's 1 column away from the Reading Room.
Remember the rules: no two suspects (nor the item) ever share a row or a column, each character is in a different room, and the thief is the only one sharing a room with the stolen item. Unsure? Read how to play and the clue types.
Solution
Try it yourself first: pen and paper are enough. When you want to check, open the reasoned solution.
Show the step-by-step solution
- Bilal's clue: He's in column D. 5 cells remain possible: D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6.
- Fatima's clue: She's next to a window. 3 cells remain possible: F2, B4 and F5.
- Noah's clue: He's 1 row away from the Conference Room. 2 cells remain possible: E2 and F4.
- Tariq's clue: He's in row 1. 4 cells remain possible: A1, B1, C1 and E1.
- Gustavo's clue: He's in the Conference Room. 3 cells remain possible: E1, F2 and F3.
- The stolen item's clue: It's 1 column away from the Reading Room. 2 cells remain possible: C5 and B6.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as columns, so each column holds exactly one. Only Tariq can still reach column A, so that is where he must be.
- B1, C1 and E1 have already been ruled out, so Tariq can only be on A1. No one else can be in row 1 or column A, and no other character can be in the Study Room.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as columns, so each column holds exactly one. Only the Illuminated Book can still reach column C, so that is where it must be.
- B6 has already been ruled out, so the Illuminated Book can only be on C5. No one else can be in row 5 or column C.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only Bilal can still reach row 6, so that is where he must be.
- D2, D3, D4 and D5 have already been ruled out, so Bilal can only be on D6.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only Gustavo can still reach row 3, so that is where he must be.
- E1 and F2 have already been ruled out, so Gustavo can only be on F3. No one else can be in row 3 or column F, and no other character can be in the Conference Room.
- F2 and F5 have already been ruled out, so Fatima can only be on B4.
- F4 has already been ruled out, so Noah can only be on E2.
Conclusion: Bilal is the only person sharing the Children's Room with the Illuminated Book, which is on C5. He is the thief.