Murder of a Millionaire Clue by Clue

How to Play: Clue by Clue is a game that tests your thinking skills. It can be played alone or in a group. Solve the mystery below by going through the clues one at a time. Each time you reveal a new clue, stop and think about what it could mean, what you know from all the clues so far, and what you still need to know. After the last clue is revealed, you can read some hints or go straight to the solution!

The Situation

Mr. James Mulligan, millionaire and owner of Telecom, Inc., a multi-billion dollar telecommunications company was found dead in his private office in his home at 8:20pm last night. He had been stabbed through the heart by a sharp object. When he was found he was sitting at his desk with a pen in one hand, and the door was locked from the inside!

He had invited several guests for the weekend to watch the shooting stars at his country home. The guests were: Mrs. Mulligan, his wife; Mr. David Johnson, his best friend; Mrs. Susan Johnson, the wife of David Johnson; Steve Holcombe, Mr. Mulligan's lawyer; Brad Hartley, the CEO of TeleCom, Inc.; Sarah , the maid

Who killed Mr. Mulligan and how did they do it?

Can you figure it out in 23 clues?

Clue 1

Mr. Mulligan collected old weapons and hung them on his office wall. One sword was missing when he was found.

Clue 2

Dinner ended at 7:30pm, at which point everyone went out to the balcony to watch the shooting stars. Sarah went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and she stayed there until 8:15pm when she heard the lawyer shouting and came running to see what had happened.

Clue 3

At 7:35pm, Mr. Mulligan and his lawyer left the balcony saying they had some private business. They went directly to Mr. Mulligan's private office.

Clue 4

At 8:15, everyone heard the lawyer shouting and they ran from the balcony to find him banging on Mr. Mulligan's office door which was locked. Mr. Hartley broke down the door and everyone saw the body.

Clue 5

The lawyer had been stealing money from the company and had about $5 million in a secret Swiss bank account.

Clue 6

The lawyer said that at about 8pm, he had left Mr. Mulligan's office to go to the bathroom. After that he went to the kitchen to ask Sarah for a glass of wine. He returned to the office at 8:15 to find it locked and immediately began banging on the door and shouting for Mr. Mulligan to open the door.

Clue 7

Police found a note in Mr. Johnson's pocket. It read, "I'm sorry, darling. James and I have been seeing each other for a year or so now. But I'm going to end it tonight. Please forgive me..."

Clue 8

Dinner had been a bit late because no one could find Mr. Johnson or Mrs. Mulligan. After 15 minutes, they both came down together. Mrs. Mulligan's face was red.

Clue 9

The missing sword was found in Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan's bedroom.

Clue 10

Sarah told police that she had told Mrs. Mulligan once that Mr. Mulligan may have another woman. Mrs. Mulligan said, "If I ever find out, I'll kill him."

Clue 11

Mr. Johnson had been in love with Mrs. Mulligan many years ago, but Mr. Mulligan proposed to her first.

Clue 12

A piece of blue cloth was found in Mr. Mulligan's office.

Clue 13

Mrs. Mulligan spilled her red wine when everyone moved from the dining room to the balcony. It went all over the floor.

Clue 14

Mr. Mulligan had recently started talking about how he should use his money to do good in the world, instead of just making more money.

Clue 15

Only Mr. Hartley, Mrs. Mulligan and Mr. Johnson were wearing blue.

Clue 16

The balcony had two doors--one led to the dining room and the other led to Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan's bedroom.

Clue 17

Mr. Mulligan had called Mr. Hartley and said that he was going to make big changes to the company soon.

Clue 18

Although Mr. Mulligan was found with a pen in his hand, no paper was found on the desk or near it.

Clue 19

Police found red stains in the carpet in the bedroom. They led from the balcony door to the middle of the western wall.

Clue 20

Mr. Mulligan's office was located on the west side of his bedroom.

Clue 21

The CEO stood behind everyone else during the shooting star show and no one remembered him speaking or reacting at all to the stars.

Clue 22

A little before 8:15, Mrs. Mulligan heard Mrs. Johnson crying and turned around to give her a handkerchief. Mrs. Johnson was patting Mr. Johnson's back and saying, "I'm sorry."

Clue 23

Mr. Mulligan had once called Mr. Hartley to ask him if he knew any architects who could build secret doors.

You now have all the information you need to solve the mystery. Can you figure it out?

If you need hints, click the button below.

Or click here to see the solution.

Hints

What was Mr. Mulligan about to do to his company?
Who would be hurt by doing that?
What do you think Mr. Mulligan wanted to talk about with his lawyer?
What do you think Mr. Mulligan was doing with a pen in his hand?
How did the murderer get into the office?
How many people knew about that method?

Have you figured it out?

Click here to see the solution.

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And check out the book it is based on: Clue by Clue by Walton Burns

front cover of Clue by Clue by Walton Burns