Clues & Culprits › Archive › Oct 19, 2026 Easy walkthrough
Oct 19, 2026 Full Proof Walkthrough
Every verdict in the Easy case “The Painter Who Never Left His Room”, in an order where each step is proven by the statements already on file.
Play it first Just a hint, please
This Easy case seats 16 suspects on a 4×4 grid. 15 of them carry a clue; the other 1 only have something to say about themselves. Every step can be proven from a single clue plus what you already know. The order below is one valid route; any order where each verdict is proven when you enter it reaches the same answer.
Spoiler: show the full walkthrough
Start: Jasper (B3) begins the case proven innocent.
The person to my left is innocent.— Jasper, orderly (B3)
Step 1: Ivan (A3, orderly) is innocent. This follows from Jasper’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 2: Mila (A4, art therapist) is a criminal. This follows from Ivan’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
The person below me is a criminal.— Ivan, orderly (A3)
Step 3: Lionel (D3, private patient) is innocent. This follows from Mila’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of Lionel and me is a criminal.— Mila, art therapist (A4)
Step 4: Freya (B2, orderly) is innocent. This follows from Lionel’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Freya and I share the same verdict: both criminal or both innocent.— Lionel, private patient (D3)
Step 5: Dexter (D1, private patient) is a criminal. This follows from Freya’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of Dexter and me is a criminal.— Freya, orderly (B2)
Step 6: Otto (C4, orderly) is a criminal. This follows from Dexter’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Otto and I share the same verdict: both criminal or both innocent.— Dexter, private patient (D1)
Step 7: Kofi (C3, receptionist) is a criminal. This follows from Otto’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
There is exactly one criminal in Row 3.— Otto, orderly (C4)
Step 8: Amir (A1, visitor) is a criminal. This follows from Kofi’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
The only visitor in Column A is a criminal.— Kofi, receptionist (C3)
Step 9: Celia (C1, private patient) is innocent. This follows from Amir’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of Celia and me is a criminal.— Amir, visitor (A1)
Step 10: Gemma (C2, receptionist) is a criminal. This follows from Celia’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Nobody below me is innocent.— Celia, private patient (C1)
Step 11: Ezra (A2, art therapist) is a criminal. This follows from Gemma’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
There is exactly one criminal to my left.— Gemma, receptionist (C2)
Step 12: Pia (D4, visitor) is innocent. This follows from Ezra’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of Pia and me is a criminal.— Ezra, art therapist (A2)
Step 13: Nico (B4, art therapist) is innocent. This follows from Pia’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
There is exactly one criminal between me and Mila.— Pia, visitor (D4)
Step 14: Bea (B1, receptionist) is a criminal. This follows from Nico’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of Bea and me is innocent.— Nico, art therapist (B4)
Step 15: Hugo (D2, visitor) is innocent. This follows from Bea’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Column D has exactly one criminal.— Bea, receptionist (B1)
The final lineup
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amir criminal | Bea criminal | Celia innocent | Dexter criminal |
| 2 | Ezra criminal | Freya innocent | Gemma criminal | Hugo innocent |
| 3 | Ivan innocent | Jasper innocent | Kofi criminal | Lionel innocent |
| 4 | Mila criminal | Nico innocent | Otto criminal | Pia innocent |
What happened
The 'Brenners' were painted in the hospital's art-therapy room. Ezra and Mila, the art therapists, ran a Thursday class in painting 'in the style of the masters' and kept every canvas; Otto, an orderly, carried them out with the laundry. Dexter, a private patient in the room next to Brenner's, forged the old man's signature from his get-well cards. Bea, Gemma and Kofi, at the reception desk, turned away every dealer, journalist and niece who asked to see him. Amir, a smooth visitor who owned a gallery, sold the lot. When Brenner was finally shown one, he said the colours were all wrong.