STOP A MURDER - WHO (Mystery Puzzle Book 4) Read online

  STOP A MURDER

  WHO

  J.A. KONRATH

  CONTENTS

  Stop a Murder – Who

  Important Message

  Preface by Joe Konrath

  Note from Joe

  Who: Puzzle #37

  Who: Puzzle #38

  Who: Puzzle #39

  Who: Puzzle #40

  Who: Puzzle #41

  Who: Puzzle #42

  Who: Puzzle #43

  Who: Puzzle #44

  Who: Puzzle #45

  Who: Puzzle #46

  Who: Puzzle #47

  Who: Puzzle #48

  Acknowledgments

  Joe Konrath’s Complete Bibliography

  Other recommended titles

  Sign up for the J.A. Konrath newsletter

  STOP A MURDER – WHO

  This is unlike any mystery or thriller book you’ve ever read before. You play the sleuth, and try to follow the clues and solve the puzzles to prevent a murder from happening.

  In this five-book series, you’ll be tasked with decoding the mind and motivations of a nefarious killer who is plotting to commit an unspeakable crime.

  Each book contains an epistolary collection of emails, texts, and letters, sent to bestselling author J.A. Konrath, by a serial killer. This psychopath is leaving detailed, cryptic hints about who will be murdered, why, when, where, and how.

  Some of the hints are easy to figure out. Others are much more devious.

  Do you like solving mysteries? Do you enjoy puzzles or escape-the-room games? Are you good at spotting clues?

  Only you can stop a murder.

  Are you smart enough?

  Are you brave enough?

  Let the games begin…

  #1 STOP A MURDER – HOW: Puzzles 1–12

  #2 STOP A MURDER – WHERE: Puzzles 13–24

  #3 STOP A MURDER – WHY: Puzzles 25–36

  #4 STOP A MURDER – WHO: Puzzles 37–48

  #5 STOP A MURDER – WHEN: Puzzles 49–60

  IMPORTANT MESSAGE

  The creators of this series strive to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, but they assure you that this is 100% fiction.

  Nothing in this narrative should be taken as fact.

  It’s fake, folks. Don’t call the cops.

  PREFACE BY JOE KONRATH

  I get a lot of emails, sometimes from fans of my thriller books, sometimes from other writers seeking advice.

  But this was easily the most intriguing, and disturbing, email I’ve ever received. Here’s how it began:

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: An Introduction

  Dear Mr. Konrath—

  This isn’t fiction.

  This is real.

  I’m going to kill someone. I’m going to let you know how, where, why, who, and when.

  But I’m not going to come right out and tell you.

  I’m going to make you figure it out.

  Are you smart enough?

  Are you brave enough?

  Do you think you can stop me?

  Let’s play.

  Sincerely,

  Unknown Sender

  I never responded to that first email. But Unknown Sender didn’t give up. More emails followed. Each had a puzzle. Each had clues and hints. And each linked to a website, taunting me to figure out HOW, WHERE, WHY, WHO, and WHEN.

  I’ve been able to figure out some of the puzzles, but I haven’t been able to get them all. I’ve also shared these emails with the authorities—the local police and FBI—and they’ve written this off as a prank or joke.

  The more I’ve delved into this, the more I’m convinced it isn’t a prank.

  As the Unknown Sender wrote, this is real.

  So, in order to prevent a murder, I’ve decided to publish these email puzzles, and my responses, as a series of five ebooks, in the hopes that a reader or readers will be able to figure out what I’ve been unable to.

  You’re going to need Internet access. A notepad is also helpful.

  I also encourage you to get together with friends to share questions, theories, and answers.

  Feel free to use the Facebook page I’ve set up, at:

  https://www.facebook.com/KonrathPuzzleSeries

  Help one another. But if you’re going to post puzzle answers, make sure you label them as SPOILER ALERT so you don’t ruin it for other readers.

  Don’t read this as fiction. Don’t read this as a collection of games. Don’t read this as a puzzle book.

  Read this as a crime in progress.

  Together, I hope we can stop it.

  Are you smart enough?

  Are you brave enough?

  Can you help me?

  —Joe Konrath

  NOTE FROM JOE

  This was the thirty-seventh puzzle email that Unknown Sender sent to me. I compiled the previous thirty-six in three collections, HOW, WHERE, and WHY. I encourage you, the reader, to figure these puzzles out on your own. Unknown Sender sometimes puts hints, which are preceded by the words SPOILER ALERT, in our correspondence.

  There are also some hints on the website, www.StopAMurder.com. More on that later, but if you’re reading this on an e-ink ereader, you’re not going to be able to access Unknown Sender’s website within the ebook, or watch the videos that appear when each section is solved. You’re going to have to use a second device (cell phone, computer, tablet) to visit that site to continue the story and validate your guesses.

  The puzzles Unknown Sender has been sending me are a mix of brain teasers, pictures, general knowledge, logic, deduction, and some basic math. You’ll sometimes need to do Internet research to figure them out. Some rely on word tricks or deception, so read carefully, and use hints as needed.

  Unfortunately, I can’t offer any help via my blog or email. If you’re stumped, I encourage you to join forces with other readers to share information, theories, and answers.

  https://www.facebook.com/KonrathPuzzleSeries

  Good luck to you. You’re going to need it.

  We’re both going to need it.

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: Who I’ll Murder–37

  Joe—

  Let’s see, where did we leave off?

  Oh, I remember. The last thing you emailed me was:

  “The next time your doorbell rings, it’s going to be a dozen Feds in body armor armed with Glocks and warrants, ready to haul your sorry ass to prison.”

  Quite a boast there… from over a week ago.

  The doorbell hasn’t rung. Not once.

  I almost feel like all of those hours I spent, crouching by the front door with a gun, weren’t a productive use of my time.

  Even so, your empty threats are like cocaine to me. I’m obviously getting to you, and your only recourse is to lash out with outlandish stories.

  The FBI have no interest in me. The only cybercrime they care about is when banks get hacked, or there’s a DDoS attack on a movie studio.

  And, no. My name isn’t Tim. You idiot.

  Let’s stop making up nonsense, and get back to our game.

  You remember our game, don’t you?

  I’m going to murder someone. I’ve already given you thirty-six puzzles, which lead to clues that tell you HOW I’m going to kill my victim, WHERE I’m going to kill my victim, and WHY I’m going to kill my victim.

  You solve the puzzles, fill in the answers at my lovely website www.stopamurder.com, and if you’re smart enough, maybe you can prevent a death.

  But don’t get too excited. You’re not smart enough.

  I’m speaking directly to
you, Joe. But I’m also speaking, albeit indirectly, to your readers. I know you’ve been sharing our email exchanges with your readers, and you’ve recruited a legion to help you.

  It doesn’t matter. I’m too clever to be stopped.

  Now we’re focusing on WHO I’m going to kill.

  Here’s the first of twelve more puzzles.

  PUZZLE #37

  A Pink Floyd Song

  A type of mint gum

  A Trumbo work

  A Journey album

  A sport compact

  A cigarette brand

  A syzygy

  A Queensland island

  All of these definitions are the disambiguation of the same word. What’s the word?

  Like always, I’m starting with an easy one. I’d be shocked if you can solve this without using Google, but maybe you can. Even a blind hog finds a truffle now and then.

  What is that? You don’t know the answer?

  You need a hint, perhaps?

  If you insist…

  SPOILER ALERT!

  It’s a seven-letter word.

  I know this all seems like a roundabout way to solve a mystery. What does a murderer sending puzzles have to do with stopping a crime?

  Such is life, Joe. It’s a race. There are hurdles. You have to overcome those hurdles in order to finish.

  It doesn’t have to make sense. You’re told to do something, so you do it.

  I’m giving you a wonderful opportunity here. You can actually prevent a death.

  Solve my puzzles, and I’ll give you enough information to stop me.

  But if you fail to solve them all…

  I’m going to kill someone.

  I’m going to kill someone while videoing it.

  I’m going to send you the video, and you can live with my victim cursing your name while they die, horribly.

  My game. My rules.

  Now be a good little boy and go jump those hurdles.

  Try not to trip on any…

  Respectfully,

  Unknowwn Sender

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  Dear US—

  That one was easy. No Internet research needed.

  Over the past thirty-seven emails you’ve threatened me, insulted me, frightened me, and frustrated me.

  You’ve also made it very clear that if I try to scare, intimidate, or belittle you, you’ll increase the stakes and make things worse for me and for whomever you’re planning on killing.

  But you haven’t said that I can’t send you puzzles.

  Turnabout is fair play. Right?

  Give me the answer to this question, or I’m not going to reply. I won’t even read the email.

  You have conditions. Now so do I.

  Put the answer in the header of the email.

  If you email me without the answer in the header, I won’t even open it.

  Correspondence requires two people.

  Now here’s your puzzle.

  JOE’S PUZZLE #1

  A man has a rain barrel that is half full of water. He puts something in it, and now it weighs less than what it weighed before. What did the man put in it?

  The answer is a _______. Take that four-letter word and put it in the email header the next time you contact me.

  Or else this is the last sentence of mine you’ll ever read, unless you buy one of my books.

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: Really?

  Joe—

  You got things backwards. You’re the one who jumps through the hoops, Not me. I’m the trainer, you’re the one trick pony.

  I know the answer to your puzzle, but I’m not going to tell you, just to remind you who the alpha male is.

  If you don’t reply to this, I’m going to the local playground to find a child to take home with me.

  Have you ever been in your favorite store? Maybe you like electronics, or art, or books, or remote-control cars, or woodworking; it doesn’t matter what you like, this is just an analogy.

  You know that feeling you get when you’re walking up and down the aisles, surrounded by all of that cool stuff that you love?

  That’s how I feel when I visit a playground.

  Don’t take me for having short eyes. I don’t molest children. I’m completely asexual. Too many bad experiences from my younger days.

  But I do have such a fun time when I’m in the presence of innocent youth.

  They’re so trusting, it’s hysterical.

  You already know this, though. You have a son.

  His name is Talon, right?

  Unusual name. You’ll have to tell me the story behind it when we get together.

  I read that book you wrote with him, about the geriatric zombies. I liked it. It lacked the jaded cynicism that so often litters your recent work.

  I’ll attribute the freshness to your son’s talents.

  Maybe I should send him a fan email? What do you think?

  US

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: YOU’D BETTER REPLY

  Moron—

  I don’t make idle threats. You’re the one who solves the puzzles. Not me.

  Do I need to come over there and make my point in person?

  US

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: A hole

  Joe—

  Fine. I understand. You see how much fun I’m having, and you want to show that you can do puzzles as well.

  If you put a hole in a rain barrel, the water drains out and it weighs less.

  Not a bad puzzle, but I’m pretty sure you stole it from some old book.

  I did enjoy writing “A hole” in the subject line to you. You probably didn’t plan that, because you lack the foresight.

  A hole.

  Heh heh heh.

  Now it’s your turn. Here’s another oldie. I like it a lot, but you might just think it stinks…

  PUZZLE #38

  Take all seven letters from the following two words and make one word out of them: NEW ODOR.

  Quid pro quo. And I know you’re going to run to Google to see if you can find some website that will rearrange all the letters for you. But beware…

  SPOILER ALERT!

  Your online anagram maker will only help if you’re paying close attention.

  You know the routine. Type the answer in the textbox on my website, www.stopamurder.com.

  I’m curious, did you ever solve Puzzle #36 from the WHO emails? I can see the video has been watched, but I don’t know if it was you, or one of your readers.

  I hope they didn’t email you and spoil the fun.

  Respectfully,

  UnknownwSender

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  I have to give you credit for that last puzzle. I spent a long time on it before figuring it out.

  Clever. Nothing is ever straightforward.

  Here’s one for you.

  JOE’S PUZZLE #2

  Soap, letter, chatter, cash, sky, gear, pill.

  What word goes with all of them?

  This one is so easy, I’m not going to give you a hint. But maybe Rocky could.

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: Box

  Hola, Jose!

  Que pasa? Como estas?

  PUZZLE #39

  Each rubber band weighs 1.03 grams, and this rubber band ball weighs 5.13 ounces. If you round to the nearest whole number, how many pelotas de goma (if I may use the Spanish term) are in this picture?

  Your last puzzle was too easy. So I’m giving you an easy one in return. I’m very busy at the moment. Making preparations. I work, you play. It almost seems unfair.

  But I will have my playtime soon enough.

  SPOILER ALERT!

  In the interest of expandin
g your cultural awareness, don’t use numerals. Type out the numero using Spanish.

  Plotting murder isn’t an easy thing to do. Especially when I’m wasting a lot of time interacting with you.

  Don’t mistake the brevity of this email as rudeness.

  You’re on my mind, Joe.

  Besos,

  Unknown Senderd

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  I couldn’t figure that rubber band puzzle out. I’m not great at math, but I know the number is right, and there are a lot of English to Spanish translation websites. Maybe your website has a glitch?

  Here’s a classic puzzle that I put my own twist on.

  JOE’S PUZZLE #3

  Daryl’s father had four sons. The first three were named One, Three, and Five. I know that those are odd names, in every sense of the meaning. Can you figure out the name of the remaining son?

  Again, no hint. You’re clever enough to figure this one out.

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: Seven

  Joe—

  That one was too easy. You didn’t even need to say “odd”. One, Three, Five, and Seven is next.

  Try putting a little thought into the puzzle next time.

  Or a lot of thought. Like this puzzle.

  PUZZLE #40

  Find the next letter in each of these sequences:

  ABCDEFGHI…

  JFMAMJJASON…

  OTTFFSSEN…

  OSCYSBTDE…

  BCDGJOP…

  Take all five letters and type them into the text box, no spaces between them.

  Challenging, right? You give me simple puzzles that require no thought, and I’m making you work for your answer.