Clues & Culprits › Hints › Oct 25, 2026 Easy
Spoiler-Free Hints for Oct 25, 2026
Stuck on the Easy case, “Forty-One Rubbers in a Row”? Open one nudge at a time. Nothing below reveals a verdict unless you click a box marked spoiler.
Back to the case Rules refresher
About this case
The Harrowgate Hall charity bridge drive raised £20,000 for the cottage hospital's new wing. One pair won every rubber for six hours straight and handed the prize cheque to the hospital board. The hospital has yet to see a penny of it.
This Easy case seats 16 suspects on a 4×4 grid. 12 of them carry a clue; the other 4 only have something to say about themselves. Every step can be proven from a single clue plus what you already know.
Nudge 1 — where to start
The case opens with Mila the painter (A4) already proven. Their statement is enough on its own to prove one more suspect straight away — read it word by word, especially the counting words (exactly, neighbors, between).
The only painter in Row 2 is innocent.— Mila, painter (A4)
Spoiler: who can I prove first?
Ezra (A2) is innocent, proven by Mila’s statement.
Nudge 2 — the opening
Four suspects get proven in this stretch, in columns A and B. The statements doing the work are direction clues, role counts and “between” clues. Tip: with direction clues, the speaker is never included, and nor is anyone in a different row or column.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Mila’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Ezra (A2) — innocent.
Nudge 3 — after about 4 proven suspects
Four suspects get proven in this stretch, in rows 1 and 2. The statements doing the work are paired verdicts, “between” clues and neighbor counts. Tip: with paired verdicts, two suspects tied together share their fate — prove one and the other follows.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Basil’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Cora (C1) — a criminal.
Nudge 4 — after about 8 proven suspects
Three suspects get proven in this stretch, in rows 2 and 3. The statements doing the work are paired verdicts and “between” clues. Tip: with “between” clues, two suspects side by side have nobody between them, so watch for empty stretches.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Hattie’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Felix (B2) — a criminal.
Nudge 5 — the endgame
Four suspects get proven in this stretch, in rows 3 and 4. The statements doing the work are neighbor counts. Tip: with neighbor counts, treat the number as a budget — once enough of the ring is proven, the rest is forced.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Kurt’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Leo (D3) — innocent.
Clue types in this case
“between” clues ×2, paired verdicts ×4, neighbor counts ×3, direction clues ×2 and role counts ×1.
Questions
How many clues does this case have?
12 of the 16 suspects carry a clue. The rest only talk about themselves — you can hide those asides in Settings.
Where is the full solution?
The step-by-step walkthrough is published two days after the case, so today’s solvers aren’t spoiled.