During a recent police investigation, Chief Inspector Stone was interviewing five local villains to try to identify who stole the prize cake from the mid-summers fayre. Below is a summary of their statements:
Alex: it wasn't Emery
it was Billie
Billie: it wasn't Charlie
it wasn't Emery
Charlie: it was Emery
it wasn't Alex
Dale: it was Charlie
it was Billie
Emery: it was Dale
it wasn't Alex
It was well known that each suspect told exactly one lie. Can you determine who stole the cake?
Reasoning
Looking at Billie's statements, one of the statements was a lie and the other was the truth. Therefore, it must have been either Charlie or Emery.
Looking at Dale's statements, for the same reason, it was either Charlie or Billie.
Therefore, it must have been Charlie who committed the crime.
Double-checking this against the other statements confirms this.
?
Puzzle 2
Sam takes 20 days to build a wall.
Taylor and Kelly each take 10 days to build a wall.
How long will it take the three of them to build a wall if they work together?
Reasoning
In 20 days, Sam can build 1 wall, and Taylor and Kelly can each build 2 walls.
So, in 20 days, 5 walls can be built.
Therefore, one wall will take 4 days to build.
??
Puzzle 3
Using all of the letters A to Z, each once only, complete these common words. ban--a-i-et-aiz-s--thna-e--eco--ocu--la-e--nkf-xbe--ree-ui-ot-erwis--oast
Answers ban- = bank (K)-a-i-et = cabinet (CBN)-aiz- = maize (ME)s--th = sixth (IX)na-e- = navel (VL)-eco- = decoy (DY)-ocu- = focus (FS)-la-e = glaze (GZ)--nk = junk (JU)f-x = fox (O)be--re = beware (WA)e-ui- = equip (QP)ot-er = otter (T)wis- = wish (H)-oast = roast (R)
This puzzle isn't guaranteed to have a unique answer, can you find another?
?
Puzzle 4
Hidden in the grid below are three boys names. Starting at any point, trace out the path of a chess knight. The last letter of one name starts the next one. What are the names?