| Author | Message | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 806 Registered: 7-2006 |
Agatha was rich, but loved Bernie. So Bernie used her weakness to create the perfect murder weapon. I've not posted a puzzle for ages, so apologies if I don't follow the rules to the letter | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 807 Registered: 7-2006 |
erm, rule 1 - I should have put my ID in the title [Plebeian] - Moderator, can you fix please? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2061 Registered: 2-2011 |
agatha = H/A/F? Bernie = H/A/M? was her weakness loving him? or was it something else? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 809 Registered: 7-2006 |
agatha = H/A/F? yes Bernie = H/A/M? yes was her weakness loving him? or was it something else?this | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2062 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it a physical weakness? an addiction? some sort of compulsive behaviour? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15117 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the murder weapon used to kill Agatha? Is Agatha's wealth related to to the weakness? To the murder weapon? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 377 Registered: 7-2011 |
Balin, you were faster to the questions I wanted to ask, but I want to know: Was Agatha actually killed? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 812 Registered: 7-2006 |
was it a physical weakness?this an addiction? but not this some sort of compulsive behaviour?no Was the murder weapon used to kill Agatha? it was Is Agatha's wealth related to to the weakness? no, but being rich she could afford protection... To the murder weapon?only as above, she could keep herself from harm's way Was Agatha actually killed?yes | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2070 Registered: 2-2011 |
was agatha disbaled? blind? deaf? crippled? was she in a wheelchair? did she have an allergy? asthma? a weak heart? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 815 Registered: 7-2006 |
was agatha disbaled? blind? deaf? crippled? was she in a wheelchair? did she have an allergy? THIS ONE! I'd forgotten how incisive some members can be! asthma? a weak heart? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2072 Registered: 2-2011 |
incisive - moi? an allergy to something you eat? drink? inhale? to something touching her skin? nut allergy? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 383 Registered: 7-2011 |
Plebeian, you didn't ask an actual question. So I'm assuming you want us to ask HOW Agatha died, because the WHY is already there (her wealth). Am I right about this? Did Bernie know about Agatha's allergy, or did he learn about it accidentally? If so, were her allergens right there in her home? In other words, could he make it look like an accident? Did he, in fact, intend to make it look like an accident? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 817 Registered: 7-2006 |
incisive - moi? I dream up a diabolical murder plot and the massed minds of LTPF are closing in within 5 posts, so incisive yes. Or diabolical :-) an allergy to something you eat? This one drink? inhale? to something touching her skin? after a fashion nut allergy?YES... | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 818 Registered: 7-2006 |
Plebeian, you didn't ask an actual question. So I'm assuming you want us to ask HOW Agatha died, because the WHY is already there (her wealth). Am I right about this? Spot on. Bernie wanted to inherit Agatha's money, so devised a fiendish plan to murder her. Did Bernie know about Agatha's allergy, or did he learn about it accidentally? He already knew. If so, were her allergens right there in her home? Previous posts point to a nut allergy, which in Agatha's case could be fatal. So the items could be in her house, yes. But being rich, Agatha could afford personal chefs and staff to ensure none entered her food. In other words, could he make it look like an accident? Did he, in fact, intend to make it look like an accident? Exactly true - these lines should be explored further! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15131 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the fatal nut ingested? Did it enter the body some other way? Like peanut dust on a pillow that she slept on, thus inhaling the dust (that was on NCIS once)? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 821 Registered: 7-2006 |
Was the fatal nut ingested? as in eaten? No. Did it enter the body some other way? YES. Like peanut dust on a pillow that she slept on, thus inhaling the dust (that was on NCIS once)? But not like this | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 822 Registered: 7-2006 |
And not peanuts... | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2077 Registered: 2-2011 |
was there peanut in a cream, like face cream? or shampoo? conditioner? shower gel? room deodoriser? fabric conditioner? dishwasher detergent? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15137 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the nut (or some form of the nut) breathed in? Absorbed through the skin? Injected? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 823 Registered: 7-2006 |
was there peanut in a cream, like face cream? or shampoo? conditioner? shower gel? Not peanut, and none of these room deodoriser? fabric conditioner? dishwasher detergent? Nor these | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 824 Registered: 7-2006 |
Was the nut (or some form of the nut) breathed in? No Absorbed through the skin? Yope Injected? No needles - any investigation would find the marks | ||
| Tardigradeparty (Tardigradeparty)
New member Username: Tardigradeparty Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2011 |
yopishly absorbed...hmmmm... Was sexyfuntimes involved? Like a contaminated condom or something? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 386 Registered: 7-2011 |
Were macadamia nuts involved? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 387 Registered: 7-2011 |
I posted that too quickly. I meant to add: Was Bernie plotting some kind of misdirection? Something casual, not related to meals prepared by staff? Does it matter what time of the day Agatha died? Right after a meal? After snacking? In the middle of the night? Did Bernie work his diabolical plan when the two of them were alone? Or could he do it even if other people were around? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2086 Registered: 2-2011 |
did something touch Agatha's skin which contained the allergen? was it a liquid? a cream? a powder? a vapour? a gas? a fabric? is the type of nut relevant? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 829 Registered: 7-2006 |
yopishly absorbed...hmmmm... Was sexyfuntimes involved? Like a contaminated condom or something? not a condom, but definitely OTRT! Were macadamia nuts involved? Not these... Was Bernie plotting some kind of misdirection? Insofar as to indicate to any potential investigators that this was an accidental death, yes. Something casual, not related to meals prepared by staff? If you mean casual snacking, no. See above. Does it matter what time of the day Agatha died? Not at all. Could happen any time. Right after a meal? After snacking? In the middle of the night? Did Bernie work his diabolical plan when the two of them were alone? Most likely... Or could he do it even if other people were around? Quite possible - but fairly unlikely! did something touch Agatha's skin which contained the allergen? That would be a certain YES. was it a liquid? a cream? a powder? a vapour? a gas? a fabric? Liquid but watch for FA is the type of nut relevant? VERY - hence the title. Expecting this house of cards to fall rapidly now. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15142 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the nut actually officially categorized as a nut? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 831 Registered: 7-2006 |
Is the nut actually officially categorized as a nut? I had to look this up - and the answer is NO, in botanical terms (Though in cooking and common parlance it is known as a nut). In fact if I'd known this earlier I could have provided a very misleading though factually accurate answer to earlier posts! | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2091 Registered: 2-2011 |
is the phrase "it had to be.." taken from an ad? if so, it's not one I'm familiar with. coconut? chestnut? jojoba? is the substance an oil? like a massage oil? a spray? something used in sexual activities? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2092 Registered: 2-2011 |
is the phrase "it had to be.." taken from an ad? if so, it's not one I'm familiar with. coconut? chestnut? jojoba? is the substance an oil? like a massage oil? a spray? something used in sexual activities? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 835 Registered: 7-2006 |
is the phrase "it had to be.." taken from an ad? if so, it's not one I'm familiar with. No, I simply chose it to point towards the fact that in the scanario I have in mind, only a specific of 'nut' allergy would allow this murder to succeed. coconut? chestnut? jojoba? None of these. is the substance an oil? like a massage oil? a spray? something used in sexual activities? It's not massage oil, or spray. You could say it's used in sexual activities, but beware FA. (I'll add here that I'm not sure what exact component of a nut it is that causes allergies, so nut oil could maybe be used in place of the actual nut, which was what I had in mind originally. However, not used in the way you suggest) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15145 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it a cashew? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 836 Registered: 7-2006 |
Is it a cashew? Nope. I'm surprised at the number of culinary 'nuts' which are something else! But it's only a matter of time before the correct guess - and there's a very specific reason why it must be this 'nut'... | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2097 Registered: 2-2011 |
is this going to turn out to be a dreadful pun? if so, I'm going to sit back and let Peter solve it | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 4444 Registered: 9-2009 |
Almond? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 837 Registered: 7-2006 |
is this going to turn out to be a dreadful pun? if so, I'm going to sit back and let Peter solve it Absolutely not - I heard a piece of information recently which I used to devise a murder plot, and thought would entertain the forum. There are no puns here, it's just that what I thought was a nut turns out to be biologically a seed (in the same was that peanuts are peas rather than nuts). Diabolical maybe - jokey, never. | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 838 Registered: 7-2006 |
Almond? Not this one either, sorry. But you're very much OTRT, it's a nut to be found in most bags of mixed nuts in the UK (and most other places I would imagine). Also very popular in chocolate-coated variety... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15151 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does it have the word "nut" in the name? Chocolate-coated...walnuts? Pistachios? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 839 Registered: 7-2006 |
Does it have the word "nut" in the name? YES... Chocolate-coated...walnuts? Pistachios? ...but not these. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1874 Registered: 6-2008 |
Would he chew on the nut for a while and then kiss her (hence his saliva being the liquid that is used in sexual activities)? | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 394 Registered: 7-2011 |
Brazil nut? Candlenut? Wait, I keep thinking of cyanide and poisons. Is this murder done chiefly by allergy? The nut would not poison everyone? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 842 Registered: 7-2006 |
Would he chew on the nut for a while and then kiss her (hence his saliva being the liquid that is used in sexual activities)? very nearly, remember they are married... Brazil nut? BINGO!! Candlenut? Wait, I keep thinking of cyanide and poisons. Is this murder done chiefly by allergy? Entriely The nut would not poison everyone? Very true | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 843 Registered: 7-2006 |
I think that's engough for a ***** **SPOILER ******* Bernie wishes to inherit Agatha's vast wealth, and decides murder is preferable to continued marriage. Agatha has a serious, indeed fatally serious, allergy to Brazil nuts. Though being immensely rich she has chefs and staff to ensure she never comes into contact with Brazils in food or any other form. Being cunning, and having reseached the allergy, Bernie decides to effect the perfect murder. He regularly gorges himself on Brazil nuts (presumably by nipping out for them, not being allowed in the house and all that), then comes home and makes love to his wife. Agatha gets increasingly sick and eventually dies of an allergic reaction to Brazil nuts. Of course everyone assumes this to be some tragic oversight by the staff rather than diabolical murder plot. If he'd injected nut essence or tried to spike Agatha's food he risked being discovered. It has to be Brazil nuts, as I believe research has shown these to be the only nut allergens able to be passed on through sexual contact. Many thanks all for contributing, and well done Fiona and Biograd for final posts! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 15166 Registered: 4-2010 |
Never heard that factoid about Brazil nuts -- that's just...[insert appropriate adjective here]. Awesome puzzle, Plebeian!} | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 845 Registered: 7-2006 |
Well thanks! :-) But as my plot was discovered in so few posts from the forum, maybe I should be a bit less forthcoming with my replies! As soon as I have another diabolical murder and/or curious fact, I'll post it! | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 405 Registered: 7-2011 |
That's really diabolical - the way he "injects" the poison into his wife. I've edited an encyclopedia on crimes and detection, and never came across this one. Way to go! I'll look forward to your next puzzle! | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 846 Registered: 7-2006 |
Wow - thanks again! I'm very gratified with the thought people put into their question lines to focus on the solution. I had to be careful answering Balin's post about injection - I could have answered yes but didn't want to send people off down a FA blind alley. I'll have to devise even more outrageous ways to kill people! |
