Rules of the house

How to play

This is a fair-play mystery. The solution is uniquely supported by clues you can find. Nothing required lives only in the designer’s head.

  1. 01

    Read the briefing

    Known facts are public: time of death, weather, who was in the house, and why the sheriff likes Ivy Crowe. Treat them as a starting table, not a verdict.

  2. 02

    Search every room

    Study, kitchen, dock, guest room, garage, porch. Each search spot logs a clue. There is no hidden room and no clue you cannot reach.

  3. 03

    Ask questions

    Some lines stay locked until you can put a clue on the table. That is fair play: you are showing your work, not buying a password.

  4. 04

    Use the board

    Clues, contradictions, and a simple relationship graph. If two stories cannot both be true, the board will say so once both are logged.

  5. 05

    Accuse when the path is unique

    Pick killer, motive, and method. A miss costs score and tells you what does not fit. Retry as often as you like.

  6. 06

    Hints and score

    Hints are optional and cost 80 points. Time and wrong accusations also cut the score. Skip animations in settings, or use your system reduce-motion preference.

All characters and events are fictional.