Solve It! The Puzzling Case of the Prolific Puzzlemaker
— From the Archives: A 1920s Article by Lanie Price —
Victor Stone, c. 1924
Dear Reader:
The sudden death of the Harlem Chronicle's puzzle creator, Victor Stone, has left the newspaper and its readers in shock. Stone, a respected bookstore owner by day and a popular crossword puzzle designer by night, was found dead in his apartment last week. Police have been unable to solve his murder. As a society reporter for the Chronicle, I’ve decided to delve into this mystery and, with your help, unravel the truth hidden within Stone’s final puzzle.
The Crime Scene
Victor Stone, 55, was discovered slumped over his desk in his apartment on Edgecombe Avenue. An elegant box of chocolates sat open nearby, a few pieces missing. The handwritten note, carefully penned by a supposed admirer, lay beside the box, adding a touch of intrigue to the grim scene. The sweet aroma of the chocolates lingered in the air, masking the lethal doses of poison the seductive bonbons contained. It was clear that Stone had been enjoying the gift, unaware that it was slowly killing him.
However, he may have realized the danger at some point because he was found clutching a partially completed crossword puzzle. A single clue stood out, shakily scrawled in red ink: “Look closer.”
The Clues
The Crossword Puzzle: A meticulously crafted puzzle, with clues that seem to hint at personal aspects of Stone’s life and relationships.
The Red Ink Clue: “Look closer,” a cryptic message that Stone likely intended as a final hint.
The Poison: Arsenic, injected into chocolate bonbons.
Persons of Interest
Police have made no public statements about who they suspect. However, it's known that they interviewed the following individuals:
Henrietta Keith
Reginald Blackwood
Beatrice Monroe
Thomas Gardner
Statements Made in Interviews
When I interviewed the above-named individuals, they made these statements:
Henrietta Keith: "I loved Victor deeply, but he betrayed me."
Reginald Blackwood: "He was ruining my business and I wanted him out of the way. But I wouldn't have gone so far as to kill him."
Beatrice Monroe: "He was greedy and kept demanding more money than we could pay him. But he was a genius, and his puzzles sold a lot of newspapers. His death is a significant loss in revenue. I'm considering creating a collection of his puzzles and selling them as a book like for an artist long gone. Now that he won’t be producing any others, such a book might sell well.”
Thomas Gardner: “I was his greatest fan. He had an incredible mind for puzzles but a heart as hard as stone. He drew me in, used me, then tossed me away. But no, I’d never have hurt him.”
Solving the Puzzle
The solution to Victor Stone’s murder lies within the crossword puzzle he left behind. Each clue not only serves as a piece of the puzzle but also as a glimpse into the hidden facets of his life and relationships. Join me as we solve this crossword and uncover the identity of the killer.
Now it’s your turn, dear readers. Who do you think killed Victor Stone? Share your thoughts and theories. Will you be the one to unravel the mystery within Stone’s final puzzle? Submit your insights, and together, we may bring justice to our beloved puzzle maker.
Yours in pursuit of the truth,
Lanie Price
Society Reporter for The Harlem Chronicle
14 June 1925
(Note: This case is a work of fiction and the characters involved are wholly imaginary.)
