STOP A MURDER - WHEN (Mystery Puzzle Book 5) Read online

  STOP A MURDER

  WHEN

  J.A. KONRATH

  CONTENTS

  Stop a Murder – When

  Important Message

  Preface by Joe Konrath

  Note from Joe

  From: Joe Konrath, To: Unknown Sender

  When: Puzzle #49

  When: Puzzle #50

  When: Puzzle #51

  When: Puzzle #52

  When: Puzzle #53

  When: Puzzle #54

  When: Puzzle #55

  When: Puzzle #56

  When: Puzzle #57

  When: Puzzle #58

  When: Puzzle #59

  When: Puzzle #60

  Very Important Note for the Reader

  SPOILER ALERT!

  Note from Joe

  Joe Konrath’s Complete Bibliography

  Other recommended titles

  Sign up for the J.A. Konrath newsletter

  STOP A MURDER – WHEN

  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 forty-ninth puzzle email that Unknown Sender sent to me. I compiled the previous forty-eight in four collections, HOW, WHERE, WHY, and WHO 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: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  So you actually came by my house to drop off that last puzzle.

  Am I supposed to be impressed? Scared?

  I’m neither.

  But you have inspired me to update my home security. I’ve recently installed a surveillance camera and better locks.

  I also got a few dogs. Plus a few other surprises.

  Don’t come here again.

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: When I’ll Do It–49

  Joe—

  You have a very unassuming house. Smaller than I would have guessed.

  It’s good that you updated your lock. That one I saw could have been opened with a butter knife.

  There’s no such thing as privacy anymore. You should know that. People post videos of themselves brushing their teeth on YouTube. You can get anyone’s social security number for five bucks on the dark web. The NSA illegally monitored one hundred and twenty-five million phone calls in a single month.

  Nobody cares about privacy.

  You shouldn’t care that I paid you a visit.

  I almost waited for you to answer. It would have been interesting.

  I did see you come out and pick up my package.

  You’ve really let yourself go, Joe. Consider a gym membership.

  I�
�m not really one to talk. Food is one of my only pleasures. I’m almost twice the man I was in high school.

  I can still bench two-fifty, though. Can you?

  I didn’t think so.

  As for visiting your less than humble abode, you didn’t give me much of a choice. You weren’t responding to my emails.

  Don’t you remember our deal?

  I send you puzzles. You solve them to try and stop me from murdering somebody, by going to www.stopamurder.com, and entering the correct answer in the appropriate textbox.

  I could swear we’ve had this talk before, Joe. Several times.

  Remember? The password is “qwerty”?

  Has your brain gone south like your body has?

  From now on, reply to my emails within twelve hours. Or I will visit you again.

  Now, getting back to our game.

  Have you figured out who I’m going to murder yet? I revealed that in the previous forty-eight puzzles.

  Oh… I forgot. You haven’t solved all the puzzles yet.

  Good thing you’ve got readers who are smarter than you, working on this.

  But remember, readers; DON’T TELL JOE THE ANSWERS.

  And if you do tell him, I’ll know.

  I’ve got my eyes on you.

  Which brings us to the next puzzle.

  PUZZLE #49

  I should be an artist, don’t you think?

  You know I took an art class once. When I was a freshman in collage.

  Ha! I said collage instead of college, because that picture is a collage!

  I know I have to explain some of the jokes to you, Joe. Because you aren’t very bright.

  I bet your readers got it.

  But did they solve the puzzle? Need a hint?

  SPOILER ALERT!

  Don’t forget the eyes in the handwritten instructions! I caramba!

  Looking forward to your prompt reply, Joe.

  XXOXOXOX,

  Unknown Senderr

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  When you said every eye, you meant it. Homophones and all.

  I’m fine with you contacting me, but leave my readers alone.

  I won’t allow you to address them directly in emails to me. If you do it again, I’ll stop replying to you.

  Understand?

  J

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: When I’ll Do It–50

  Joe Mama—

  Don’t address your readers directly? Are you telling me what to do, Joe?

  What do you think, Dear Reader? Are you bothered by me including you in this correspondence?

  I’m not the one who decided to go public with this. Joe did that. Without consulting me, I might add.

  And now he’s telling me I’m just supposed to ignore the hundreds of hits I’m getting on www.stopamurder.com.

  Am I supposed to pretend he hasn’t recruited an army to help him?

  It’s a puzzling request.

  And speaking of puzzles…

  PUZZLE #50

  How many cubic feet of dirt are in a hole that is 7.5 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet deep?

  Multiply your answer by Graham’s number.

  Now run to the Internet, Dear Reader, to find out what Graham’s number is!

  What? Still confused?

  SPOILER ALERT!

  You need to know zero math for this.

  I know Joe won’t figure this out. So it’s all up to you, Dear Reader.

  Show me you’re worthy.

  And let Konrath know he’s being a party pooper, trying to keep us apart.

  Doesn’t he know a love like ours cannot be denied?

  Kisses,

  Unknown Dender

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: Joe Konrath

  Joeykins—

  You haven’t replied to me in the allotted time.

  Are you proving a point? Being a petulant baby because I had the temerity to address your readers directly?

  Don’t test me, Konrath.

  Reply. Or else.

  US

  So I refused to reply to Unknown Sender’s email, because he kept messing with my readers.

  Then he texted me.

  Here’re the texts:

  You can’t ignore me, Joe. If you don’t answer your email, I have other ways of getting in touch. I despise texting. My fingers are too big for the phone. So I’ll make this puzzle a short one.

  PUZZLE #51

  There is a mixed-up three-letter word below. Can you unscramble it?

  GEG

  SPOILER ALERT!

  Remember entropy.

  Reply to me via email within the next hour, or I’m going to start getting angry.

  Eknown Sender

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  I thought about changing my number, but what you said earlier makes sense. There is no such thing as privacy anymore. Not when we’re constantly typing our personal information into electronic devices.

  I bet you know my mother’s maiden name, too. And my shoe size. And the last three albums I bought on iTunes.

  Guess what? I don’t care.

  We’re nearing the end of this so-called game. So why don’t we focus on that.

  Unless your unhealthy fixation with me is getting in the way?

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: When I’ll Do It–52

  Jozefo—

  Trust me, I do NOT have an unhealthy fixation with you.

  I’m all for sticking to the puzzles. How many do you still need to solve. Five? Ten?

  Your readers are ahead of you.

  And don’t get your big boy pullups in a bunch; I’m honoring your request and not addressing your readers directly.

  You’re so protective. But you do owe them a lot, don’t you?

  You were a midlist author with a mid-sized publisher, and you couldn’t have had a readership larger than a few thousand.

  But with ebooks, it has bloomed to millions.

  Of course, the only reason you were able to sell millions is because you sold your ebooks so cheaply. You’ve helped to devalue an entire industry.

  I bet you’re so proud.

  Here’s a different sort of puzzle. You were smart enough to sell your work for pennies. Let’s see if you’re smart enough to figure out this list.

  PUZZLE #52

  1 yellow

  2 blue

  3 red

  4 purple (sometimes pink)

  5 orange

  6 green

  7 brown or maroon (sometimes tan)

  What’s next in this group?

  I’m sure you know what this list of numbers and colors refers to. After all, you used to live in Chicago. You’ve been to the bars. I bet you’ve seen this dozens of times. You’ve probably even played. I know your novel characters have.

  Confused? Need a hint?

  SPOILER ALERT

  I hope this puzzle doesn’t break you.

  That’s your cue, Joe. Sink or swim.

  Your buddy,

  UnknownrSender

  From: Joe Konrath

  To: Unknown Sender

  US—

  I solved that last one, and a few of the others. I still haven’t seen the last two videos, but I’m close.

  We’ve done this back-and-forth dance over four dozen times, and you obviously know a lot about me.

  Don’t you think it’s time you started opening up a little?

  Here are five innocuous questions. Answer whichever ones you like.

  Are you a dog or a cat person?

  Do you have any heroes?

  What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?

  What’s your favorite thing to wear?

  What are you grateful for?

  If you’re shy about any of this, I’ll go first.

 
I’m fine with cats, but never owned any. I have owned many dogs.

  I don’t believe in heroes. Life is just people trying their best. Sometimes your best can benefit others, and that’s something to strive for.

  The best gift I’ve ever gotten was a fishing lure, bought by my wife. I collect antique fishing lures, and she bought me a rare one worth a ton of money.

  My everyday attire is a bathrobe and swim trunks. We have an outdoor hot tub that we use year-round, and I hop in a few times a day.

  I’m grateful for everything. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky.

  Your turn.

  Joe

  From: Unknown Sender

  To: JA Konrath

  Subject: When I’ll Do It–53

  JoJo—

  Are we on a first date? Is that why you’re asking these stupid questions?

  I’ll bite. Mostly because I’m curious where this is going to lead.

  I don’t have a preference for cats or dogs. Cats taste a little stringier.

  Daddy was my hero. He made me tell him that every day, or else he beat the shit out of me.

  I’ve never gotten a gift.

  My balaclava is my favorite thing to wear. I like hiding my face.

  I’m grateful we found each other, mon petit chou. Without you, who would I give these wonderful puzzles to?

  PUZZLE #53

  CHAD and I RAN with a wOMAN

  TO GO to a gaLA OScar show

  an aniMAL I saw, an aPE RUffian

  ate a bear CUB And laid low

  This poem is strange for sure, but there are eight related things I’ve drawn attention to. What are they?

  I debated whether or not to use the capital letters, but it seemed too hard without them.

  Are you still stuck?

  SPOILER ALERT!