CASE 002 · Murder mystery
A railway owner is found dead before his train leaves London. Meet his four guests and explore the setting before you play.
The story begins
Rain falls on a London platform. Inside a historic train, Gideon Shaw has invited four guests into his private carriage. He wants to sell his railway collection. For his guests, that could mean losing years of work and plans for the future.
A whistle sounds along the platform. Before the train leaves, Gideon is found dead in his private room. The journey stops before it has begun. Four people could reach him. Their accounts are where your work begins.
A train that never left the platform
A private room, a small group of visitors and a journey cut short: this is a railway mystery before departure. Search Gideon's room and speak to the people whose work depends on his collection.
Police have checked the guard's log and platform video. From 22:00 until Gideon was found, only the four suspects could reach him. The passages to other carriages were locked. The windows could not open. Your file also includes reports from later checks.
The four people you will question
Owen Mercer
The train attendant
Has looked after the private carriage and its passengers for twenty years.
Beatrice Shaw
The daughter
An architect hired to restore the building that housed the collection.
Dr Ravi Sethi
The historian
Writing a book about the railway collection's history.
Clara Vale
The photographer
A freelance photographer preparing a railway exhibition.
Four people with ties to the train
An attendant has cared for the carriage. An architect is restoring a building. A historian is writing a book, and a photographer is planning a show. The sale matters to each of them in a different way. Get to know those ties before judging anyone.
Keep track of who said what. Compare their accounts with the records you find. You do not need any railway knowledge. The case gives you the facts needed to work out what happened.
What to expect when you play
The opening introduces the train and its guests. You then have a room to search and four people to question. Your notebook saves the clues and answers, so you can return to them while you think.
Choose untimed practice if you want longer to learn the names and read the accounts. In timed mode, you have five minutes. Your answer must explain who acted, how and when, then match a false statement to a clue.
Choose your pace
Tap Begin investigation to start a new five-minute attempt. The clock keeps running if you leave or close the game. To play without a clock, choose Untimed practice on the case summary.
You can submit your final answer once per attempt. New to the game? Read how to play before you begin.
Content notes
This fictional story includes murder, money worries and the risk of losing work or a home. The opening shows a still hand and forearm. The face and any injuries stay out of view.
Useful detective skills
These guides help you check clues and statements. They do not give away this case's answer.
- Build a timeline
Put the events in order and keep rough times clearly marked.
- What makes a mystery fair?
See how clear rules give you a fair chance to solve a mystery.
Other cases to explore
- The Midnight Toast
Join a private dinner where the restaurant owner's plans upset those around him.
- The Final Curtain
Visit a theatre where the final rehearsal ends in death.