MURDER OF A CHRISTMAS ELF
The DeTEctive's Help Desk
Every Great Detective Needs a Clue or Two!
Not Sure Where to Start?
Every mystery has its twists and turns! If you’re unsure what to investigate next, you’re in the right place.
Choose a question below to reveal a little guidance. Start with a gentle hint, and only uncover more help if you need it.
Remember, the best detectives follow the evidence!
How Do I Begin My Investigation?
YOUR MISSION
Your mission is to discover who murdered Delightful, the Christmas Elf!
CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO PLAY
1. Solve the Case in one sitting
Open all 24 Evidence Envelopes and investigate them in any order. You can revisit the evidence as often as you like.
2. Advent Calendar Format
Open one numbered Evidence Envelope each day, starting with Envelope 1 on 1 December and continuing in order until Envelope 24 on Christmas Eve.
3. The 12 Days of Christmas Mystery
Starting on Christmas Day, open two consecutive Evidence Envelopes each day: Envelopes 1 and 2 on 25 December, Envelopes 3 and 4 on 26 December, and so on until all 24 have been examined.
EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE AND FIND THE CLUES
Each piece of evidence contains one or more clues that will help you eliminate innocent suspects and find the killer.
Remember, the Killer must have a motive, means and opportunity.
Motive: A reason to want the victim dead
Means: A method by which to kill the victim.
Opportunity: The chance to kill the victim without anyone else seeing it.
Others may have these too and not be the killer, BUT if someone lacks all three, they are not the killer and can be ruled out.
Look for connections and contradictions between the evidence. Revisit clues you’ve already examined as new information comes to light.
There’s no timer or time limit, so investigate at your own pace.
MAKE YOUR FINAL VERDICT
Before opening the Solution Envelope, make sure you can explain:
WHO murdered Delightful?
WHY did they do it?
HOW did they do it?
WHAT evidence proves it?
IMPORTANT: Keep the Solution Envelope sealed until you’ve committed to your Final Verdict!
What Should I Be Looking for in the Evidence?
Examine every piece of evidence carefully.
Some clues are more obvious, but others are more hidden, or are only revealed when pieces of evidence are compared
Think of each piece of evidence as part of a bigger puzzle.
You aren’t just trying to understand what each document says. You’re trying to work out what it tells you about the people involved in the murder.
Ask yourself: What have I actually learned?
Has a piece of evidence told you something about a suspect? Perhaps it suggests a reason they might be angry, reveals something they could have done, or helps establish where they were.
Now ask: Does anything else support or challenge that?
Imagine one person says they were somewhere at a particular time, but another piece of evidence shows they couldn’t have been there. That sort of contradiction is worth investigating.
Don’t assume every suspicious detail proves guilt.
Someone may be keeping a secret, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the killer. Consider why they are acting suspiciously. Other evidence may help with that.
The key is to ask what each clue helps you prove, disprove or question.
Need a Clue? Explore the Evidence!
Every piece of evidence has a story to tell, but sometimes the smallest details are the easiest to overlook!
Choose the piece of evidence you’d like help with from the squares below, then click View Hints to jump to its guidance.
Start with a gentle nudge, and only reveal the stronger hints if you need them. Think about how each clue connects to the others, what it tells you about the suspects, and whether it helps you rule anyone out.
Remember, a great detective doesn’t jump to conclusions — they follow the evidence!
