Case 10

How to solve it

1. Read the brief, then explore the tables of suspects and evidence
2. Answer 5 questions in order. Each one narrows down the suspects
3. Stuck on a question? Use Reveal Answer and keep going
4. The last question names the killer and closes the case

About this case

Based on Lord Edgware Dies (Agatha Christie, 1933). A prominent nobleman is found stabbed in his London townhouse. His estranged wife, an actress, has publicly stated she wants him dead—but is she truly guilty, or is this a clever frame?

What you'll practise

This intermediate case demands careful SQL analysis:

• WHERE with multiple conditions — to filter suspects by motive and access
• ORDER BY — to reconstruct the timing of events
• Complex AND logic — to eliminate suspects based on alibis
• Cross-referencing testimony — identifying contradictions in statements

The database

You'll query the suspect_info table, tracking each suspect's relationship to the victim, their stated whereabouts at the time of death, and suspicious details about their movements. Later questions bring in the events table too, so you'll join the two tables to check who was really where that night.

Difficulty

Intermediate. Requires careful attention to multiple conflicting testimonies and the ability to identify inconsistencies in alibis.