Murdok case library
Return to Stillsea
Twenty new investigations revisit familiar addresses with different incidents, witnesses and layouts. Begin with four small boards and work toward connected deductions.
CASE 050Stillsea Central Station
The Unclaimed Suitcase
A porter was killed before surrendering an unclaimed suitcase. Its ticket showed today's date, but its torn edge matched yesterday's cancelled stub.
CASE 051Municipal Glasshouse
The Other Seedling
A gardener was killed after spotting the wrong number beneath a prize seedling's pot. The exhibition register still listed the original pot.
CASE 052Harbour Signal House
The Misdated Photograph
A harbour photographer was killed before delivering an accident image. Its claimed Tuesday date showed a ship towed away for repairs on Monday.
CASE 053Stillsea Civic Archive
The Added Signature
An archive clerk was killed while returning a deed. A new recipient's signature overlapped a dried cancellation stamp on its old loan form.
CASE 054Stillsea Tea Rooms
The Name Under the Tin
An appraiser was killed before a sale of heirloom tea tins. One tin bore another family's name beneath fresh paint on its base.
CASE 055Low Tide Inn
The Unchanged Sheets
A hotel cleaner was killed before reporting false laundry charges. Sheets billed as replaced still showed the torn seam in an earlier maintenance photograph.
CASE 056North Window Studio
The Extra Face
A retoucher was killed before enlarging a group portrait. The new print included an extra person whose shoe shadow faced the opposite direction.
CASE 057Velvet Lane Theatre
Eight Missing Bars
A score librarian was killed before returning a manuscript. Its final page restarted the numbering and omitted eight bars the owner remembered.
CASE 058East Lock House
The Lifebelt on Shore
A lock keeper was killed while reviewing a rescue claim. The named lifebelt remained in its factory wrapping, with its rope still tied for storage.
CASE 059Harbor Telegraph Office
The Blank Carbon Sheet
A cashier was killed before settling express-message fees. A telegram was billed as copied twice, but its carbon sheet carried neither ink nor typing impressions.
CASE 060South Sculpture Gallery
The Receipt in the Plinth
A museum mover was killed after opening a plinth for transport. A receipt inside charged for a replica mould, though the museum had announced only cleaning work.
CASE 061North Quay Customs
The Reused Crate Nails
A dock examiner was killed after demanding a light crate be opened. Its nails were new, but each hole showed two separate sets of levering marks.
CASE 062Old Meridian Tower
The Erased Service Date
A clock-tower clerk was killed before submitting a service calendar. One week was erased, but the spare-key register still recorded visits during those dates.
CASE 063Frostline Observatory
The Tripod Below the Vane
A weather technician was killed during a wind-meter check. The log showed strong wind all night, but the instrument's tripod had been dismantled indoors.
CASE 064Rain Lane Cloakroom
The Reversed Raincoat
A cloakroom clerk was killed while checking a theft report. A coat said to have just arrived was dry outside; its muddy side had been turned inward.
CASE 065Wax Finch Workshop
The Wrong Wick
A candle examiner was killed over a wedding damage claim. The returned candle had a round cotton wick; the shop's entire batch used flat wicks.
CASE 066Ribbon Street Parcel Shop
Return to Sender
A parcel examiner was killed while checking rejected goods. The return and sender addresses were identical, hidden under different business and personal names.
CASE 067Bellflower Shop
The List Behind the Flowers
A florist's bookkeeper was killed before handing over wedding refunds. Rewrapped flowers remained on the counter; names and crossed-out sums showed through the paper.
CASE 068Dawn Spoon Cafe
The Third Coffee Cup
A cafe manager was killed before handing over the takings. Three cups had been used during a two-person shift, and the till showed an unreceipted hot drink.
CASE 069Copper Key Repair Shop
The Double Drawer
A deed-office worker was killed before a drawer repair. The drawer looked deep outside but held little paper; its floor sat higher than the matching drawers.