Clues & Culprits › Hints › Oct 14, 2026 Easy
Spoiler-Free Hints for Oct 14, 2026
Stuck on the Easy case, “The Diplomatic Bags That Clinked”? 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
Diplomatic bags cannot be opened, x-rayed or weighed by customs. The embassy of a small Alpine principality sent forty-one of them home last month — more than in the previous ten years combined — and every one of them clinked.
This Easy case seats 16 suspects on a 4×4 grid. 13 of them carry a clue; the other 3 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 Freya the driver (B2) 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 person between me and Ned is innocent.— Freya, driver (B2)
Spoiler: who can I prove first?
Jasper (B3) is innocent, proven by Freya’s statement.
Nudge 2 — the opening
Four suspects get proven in this stretch, in columns A and B. 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
Freya’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Jasper (B3) — 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 “between” clues, role counts and neighbor counts. Tip: with “between” clues, two suspects side by side have nobody between them, so watch for empty stretches.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Emil’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Greta (C2) — innocent.
Nudge 4 — after about 8 proven suspects
Three suspects get proven in this stretch, in columns C and D. The statements doing the work are direction clues, neighbor counts and role counts. Tip: with direction clues, “above”, “below”, “left” and “right” cover the whole line in that direction, not just the next card.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Arlo’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Dexter (D1) — 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 and direction clues. Tip: with neighbor counts, a corner has three neighbors, an edge five, the middle eight — compare the count with what is left.
Spoiler: whose statement to read
Hugo’s statement.
Spoiler: which suspect does that settle?
Lionel (D3) — a criminal.
Clue types in this case
direction clues ×2, neighbor counts ×5, role counts ×2, “between” clues ×2 and paired verdicts ×2.
Questions
How many clues does this case have?
13 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 proves every verdict in order.