Clues & Culprits › Archive › Oct 13, 2026 Medium walkthrough
Oct 13, 2026 Full Proof Walkthrough
Every verdict in the Medium case “Eight Small Holes”, in an order where each step is proven by the statements already on file.
Play it first Just a hint, please
This Medium case seats 20 suspects on a 4×5 grid. 17 of them carry a clue; the other 3 only have something to say about themselves. 3 of the steps can only be proven by reading two or more clues together. 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: Ivan (A3) begins the case proven innocent.
The only professor in Row 2 is innocent.— Ivan, groundskeeper (A3)
Step 1: Esme (A2, professor) is innocent. This follows from Ivan’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 2: Amir (A1, prankster) is a criminal. This follows from Esme’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
The person above me is a criminal.— Esme, professor (A2)
Step 3: Marco (A4, benefactor) is innocent. This follows from Amir’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Nobody below me is a criminal.— Amir, prankster (A1)
Step 4: Quinn (A5, professor) is innocent. This follows from Amir’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 5: Jasper (B3, groundskeeper) is innocent. This needs 2 statements together — Marco’s and Quinn’s. Assume the opposite verdict and at least one of them breaks.
Only one of my five neighbors is a criminal.— Marco, benefactor (A4)
Exactly two of my three neighbors are innocent.— Quinn, professor (A5)
Step 6: Ned (B4, undergraduate) is a criminal. This follows from Jasper’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
The person between me and Raj is a criminal.— Jasper, groundskeeper (B3)
Step 7: Olive (C4, benefactor) is a criminal. This follows from Ned’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Kurt and I have exactly one innocent neighbor in common.— Ned, undergraduate (B4)
Step 8: Raj (B5, professor) is innocent. This follows from Marco’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 9: Basil (B1, dean) is innocent. This follows from Raj’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Basil and I share the same verdict: both criminal or both innocent.— Raj, professor (B5)
Step 10: Suki (C5, dean) is innocent. This follows from Olive’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
The person below me is innocent.— Olive, benefactor (C4)
Step 11: Celia (C1, benefactor) is a criminal. This needs 2 statements together — Basil’s and Suki’s. Assume the opposite verdict and at least one of them breaks.
Exactly three of my five neighbors are criminals.— Basil, dean (B1)
Exactly one of Greta and Freya is a criminal.— Suki, dean (C5)
Step 12: Dexter (D1, benefactor) is innocent. This needs 2 statements together — Basil’s and Celia’s. Assume the opposite verdict and at least one of them breaks.
Only one of my five neighbors is a criminal.— Celia, benefactor (C1)
Step 13: Greta (C2, dean) is innocent. This follows from Dexter’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly one of my three neighbors is a criminal.— Dexter, benefactor (D1)
Step 14: Freya (B2, groundskeeper) is a criminal. This follows from Basil’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 15: Hugo (D2, prankster) is innocent. This follows from Celia’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Step 16: Kurt (C3, prankster) is innocent. This follows from Greta’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Leo and I have no criminal neighbors in common.— Greta, dean (C2)
Step 17: Leo (D3, undergraduate) is a criminal. This follows from Hugo’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Exactly three of my five neighbors are innocent.— Hugo, prankster (D2)
Step 18: Petra (D4, undergraduate) is a criminal. This follows from Kurt’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Everyone below Leo is a criminal.— Kurt, prankster (C3)
Step 19: Tess (D5, undergraduate) is a criminal. This follows from Freya’s statement and the verdicts already proven.
Tess and I are either both criminals or both innocent.— Freya, groundskeeper (B2)
The final lineup
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amir criminal | Basil innocent | Celia criminal | Dexter innocent |
| 2 | Esme innocent | Freya criminal | Greta innocent | Hugo innocent |
| 3 | Ivan innocent | Jasper innocent | Kurt innocent | Leo criminal |
| 4 | Marco innocent | Ned criminal | Olive criminal | Petra criminal |
| 5 | Quinn innocent | Raj innocent | Suki innocent | Tess criminal |
What happened
The holes were drilled the night before and plugged with sugar. Leo, Ned, Petra and Tess, four undergraduates from Hartwell's own second boat, slipped into the St Ives boathouse after midnight with a hand drill; Freya, the groundskeeper with the boathouse keys, let them in and swept up the shavings. Amir, Hartwell's champion prankster, mixed sugar plugs that would dissolve in ninety seconds of river water. Celia and Olive, two benefactors who had each staked a library wing on the result, supplied the drill, the keys and the alibis. Ned had used the expensive icing sugar.