Detective Riddles

Detective riddles tell you a story and require you to figure out what is suspicious or wrong with what you’ve read. If you like doing detective work, you will love these riddles.

Ex-Wife Murder

“Who shot her?” cried Rogers as he rushed into the hospital three minutes after his ex-wife died from a bullet through her head.

“Just a minute, Mr. Rogers,” said Professor Stiggins. “We’ll have to ask you a few questions-routine, you know. Although divorced for the past six months, you have been living in the same house with your ex-wife, have you not?”

“That’s right,” replied Rogers.

“Had any trouble recently?”

“Well, yesterday, when I told her I was going on a business trip, she threatened to commit suicide. In fact, I grabbed a bottle of iodine from her as she was about to drink it. When I left last evening at seven, however, telling her I was spending the night with friends in Sewickley, she made no objection. Returning to town this afternoon,” continued Rogers, “I called my home and the maid answered.”

“Just what did she say?” inquired Stiggins.

“‘Oh, Mr. Rogers, they took poor mistress to St. Ann’s Hospital abbout half an hour ago. Please hurry to her.’ “She was crying, so I couldn’t get anything else out of her; then I hurried here. Where is she?”

“The nurse will direct you,” said Stiggins with a nod.

“A queer case, this, Professor,” said Inspector Kelley. “These moderns are a little too much for me, I’m afraid. A man and woman living together after being divorced six months!”

“A queer case indeed, Inspector,” mused the professor, “and you’d better detain Mr. Rogers. If he didn’t shoot her himself, I’m confident he knows who did.”

Why did the professor advise the Inspector to detain Rogers?

Riddle Answer

Five Suspects

At the scene of a heinous crime, five suspects, one of whom is the guilty party, are being interrogated by a detective. Each of the suspects gives one statement and it later transpires that just three of these statements are correct.

These are the statements:
Uncle Jack: Uncle Jim committed the murder
Aunt Mary: I did not do it
Cousin Stewart: It was not Cousin Margaret
Uncle Jim: Uncle Jack is lying when he says I did it
Cousin Margaret: Aunt Mary is telling the truth

Who committed the murder?

Riddle Answer

Rifle Discharge

Anderson, Biggs, and Carpenter were staying together at a place by the seaside. One day they went out in a boat and were a mile at sea when a rifle was fired on shore in their direction.

It seems that Anderson only heard the report of the gun, Biggs only saw the smoke, and Carpenter merely saw the bullet strike the water near them. Which of them first knew of the discharge of the rifle?

Riddle Answer

Romantic Journey

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde went on a trip to the mountains. But 2 days later, Mr. Clyde returned home alone. He went to the police and said that Mrs. Clyde had fallen to her death.

The next day, Detective Stevens visited Mr. Clyde and arrested him for his wife’s murder. Clyde confessed his guilt and asked the detective how he’d found out he was the murderer. Stevens said he’d simply called a travel agent and asked for some information.

What did the travel agent say to the detective?

Riddle Answer

Climbing Trip

A couple went on for a climbing trip. But only the husband returned from the vacation and said that his wife slipped off while climbing and died. On investigating, the local sheriff arrested him saying, “Your travel agent called. You murdered your wife.”

The man did not inform anyone about the trip. Then how did the agent was so sure that it is a murder?

Riddle Answer