Hello there, and welcome to your murder mystery. 

Before you begin your journey with Inspector Piper, there are some things you will need to know first. 

To solve your mystery; you will have to follow Pipers journey across York to interview all the relevant suspects. 

At each location you will have to solve a clue in order to open up the information you need to solve the crime. 
 
The answer sheet to all the clues has been forwarded to you in your purchase email. However we recommend only looking at the sheet if you are well and truly stumped. All the answers can be found by keeping your eyes open and looking around. 

You will have to self navigate through York in order to find you locations: so if Piper goes to the York Minster you will have to work your own way there in order to find your clue and work out your evidence. All the guidance points will be points of interest, and there is no time limit on completing your mission so if you wish to stop at any then feel absolutely free. The locations you choose to go will be in a (relatively) ordered fashion....so as long as you don't go and chase a dead lead. 

At each page you will get some information from an individual or suspect; and although these will be brought together at the end we do recommend taking a pen and paper with you to make notes to help you on your quest. 

If you still are feeling stuck getting towards the end there are hints you can call on in order to give you a little extra nudge before you come up with your decision. You can go back and forward in between pages (previous and next button) however do try not to close the page as you will have to restart from the beginning. 

Hints will be prompted when they are available; and they are worth taking as they may provide you will some extra information that will lead you to solve this heinous crime. 

When  you make your final guess; that is the end of it. Once you press complete you will be taken through to the results page....and only then will you work out if you have the brain power of Holmes or the critical thinking of a gnat. 

We wish you the best of luck; and when you are in your start point of York Castle Museum, YO1 9RY: begin your investigation. 

The year is 1922. You are a local detective who has been called in to work on an urgent basis. The Mayor has just been found dead, his body pulled from the river Ouse. There are no marks to indicate how Mayor Matthew died. He was last seen the night before leaving the pub at 10:05 pm with his partner Mayoress Helen Seymour. He was then spotted by a witness, Steven Jones, walking down a darkened alley, this time alone at 11:00 pm. Steven is a well know drunk and activist.  The Mayor has recently been involved in controversy as it was public knowledge, he was trying to sell the prison to a private investor, David Macsharry; whose brother Anthony was not keen on the purchase taking place. There were also rumours circulating of the Mayor having had several affairs, with the most well known being with Catherine Durham; the wife of a high-ranking judge, Eanna; who actively stood against the sale of the prison.

You have a meeting planned during the day with your police officer in the field, and with such a tangled web weaved it will take all your knowledge and detective reasoning to solve this murder.

"Hello boss, this is one awful mess we have on our hands. This is going to get out of control unless we can figure it out quickly. Word on the street is that the recently ejected Mayor Clive Airey has already been kicking up a fuss claiming his own right to be Mayor again; and you can remember how angry he was when he lost the election earlier this year. It was common knowledge that the deceased was in the pocket of Lord Yearbarron, and there is high suspicion the election was even rigged. This news will not be good for Alexandra, the Lord’s daughter who oversaw his campaign and always thought Matthew was a good-for-nothing drunk loudmouth.

There’s not much more really I can say, except I will keep my ear close to the ground and if you need any advice at all then you can blow your whistle and I’ll let you know what I’ve learnt.

Good luck boss. See you later."

To discover your first clue, you will have to head to the York Castle Museum (formally the jail) and work something out to open your first part of information for the whodunnit. You will need to tell me which animal sits on top of one of the museums; on the same building as a lion?

(Well done, unicorn is correct....you may continue with your investigation)

As you head into the City this morning, your path takes you past the Castle Museum (The Jail). Now at the Jail you decide to discuss the recent events with the soon to be owners: David and Anthony.

You ask them where they were last night.

Anthony: “I was away last night, I stayed at a hotel just outside of Leeds, they will be able to verify I was there for the evening and left again this morning.”

David: “I was here, in York in a guest house. I was on my own and enjoyed a nice meal with a few whisky’s before heading to bed just before 10pm. I was awoken by the sounds of the police sirens this morning and walked down to the riverbank following them”.

You ask them the latest on the deal.

David: “All seemed to be progressing smoothly with the Mayor and the council, however unfortunately talking has appeared to have slowed down recently as the Mayor seemed a little distracted and I must admit I did think he was getting cold feet……but of course I have absolute faith that the deal was still going to go ahead” He quickly said coming to a halt.

You check with the hotel Anthony stayed at and they confirmed he was a guest there and did not leave all night.

You will now need to travel to the Ouse Bridge in York to head to the crime scene and speak with the pathologist. The Ouse bridge is situated on Bridge Street and gives you wonderful views of the City and the river. From The Castle Museum, walk down past Clifford's Tower to the main road of Tower Street. Turn right onto Tower Street, and keep going until it turns into Clifford Street. Follow this until it veers left onto the Bridge and head out onto it. 

Once there. You will have to keep your eyes peeled; and search for a plaque attached to the west side of the bridge regarding Margaret Clitheroe. Can you tell me the year she was martyred?

Once at the crime scene you meet up with the pathologists looking at the body.

“Hello sir, not a good day for a swim” Officer Owens quips, “well what I can I tell you? His death was probably caused by drowning. I have been able to identify large amounts of froth in the mouth and airways which would indicate aspiration and his skin is puckered and taught. However, he clearly was not under the water for long as he has no sub-cutaneous oedema and his body still appears relatively ‘dry’; he was clearly washed up quite quickly. Regarding the alcohol, for someone who was meant to be that intoxicated he would still have a fairly strong smell of alcohol, and his eyes would be heavily reddened; of which he doesn’t have either. I would suggest it was something else that caused him to fall.

Oh, and one more thing, that David Macsharry came down this morning, he was nearly first on the scene which I found a little strange”.

You thank him for his time and say if he has any more information then if he could let you know straight away that would be most appreciated. 

From the crime scene, you wander back into the City, turning left onto Spurriergate and continue as it changes to Coney Street.  Walk to the End of Coney Street until you reach St Helen's Square.

You have journeyed here as you know Lord Yearbarron is normally there at this time meeting up with his daughter. Find Betty's in St Helen's Square. 

Once at Betty's, tell me the year it was established to continue.

You catch up with Lord Yearbarron and his Daughter, Alexandra at the tea rooms whilst they discussed business over lunch. They were clearly already aware of the situation and you cannot detect any emotion with either of them.

The Lord says: “Well yes of course we have heard about the news. Well what can you do, those that drink normally die by their own sword. I can only offer my condolences for his family”

You ask about where they were after they left the public house

Alexandra says

“I came to pick up my Dad with the coachman. He will attest to our whereabouts, we collected my Father from the pub and then we headed straight home where we bumped into the chief of police on the way home as he had heard of a commotion in the City”

You ask about the money you know the Lord has lent to the Mayor

“Yes of course. I have no secrets in the fact I lend money out to certain people. In the grand scheme of thing it was not a big deal. I make sure I receive my repayments with interest and that way everybody goes home happy”

You hear the reluctance in his voice and sense there is something he is not telling you. However, you check the pairs' alibi and they have two witnesses that can attest to their location when the murder was taking place.

From here, you wander across St Helens Square and turn right into Lendal. Your mind racing you eventually come across Museum Gardens and see a police cordon around it. You head closer to investigate, crossing the road safely. 

To open up your next part of the story; can you find the date that follows AD on the old water fountain outside the gardens.

You walk past the local gardens and notice a police cordon around it. You pop your head in as you have not seen this before. There are no police officers there however the resident horticulturist is in. You ask him what the cordon is about. He tells you there have been a recent spate of break ins and he has raised this time and time again with the police; however at the moment everyone is so busy with the recent death they have no time for his problems. You ask him what had been stolen. He tells you a mixture of things: but the most recent collection was a rose bush, water hemlock and some gardening equipment.

You thank him for his time and head onwards to solve your mystery.

Your next point of call is the great York Minster. No directions here. You will need to Meet Piper there. 

Head to the front of the main entrance; and tell me which finger is the emperor pointing with?

You meet up with the priest at the Minster, telling him the news about Mayor Matthew.

“Oh, this is such sad news, terrible, terrible news. I cannot say he was a good catholic man, but he was a good donator to the church and used to pop in regularly. Only last week he was telling me how much trouble he was in for talking too much and raking up debt with his drinking and gambling, and struggling with his repayments. Oh no; I hope I haven’t said too much? He was terribly upset when I saw him and did say he feared for his life however I don’t know much more than that. He did not mention any names or anything officer. If there anything else I can help you with please do ask… erm….just one more thing; I don’t supposed he left anything in his will for the church did he?”

The priest looked shocked at the news and obviously did not appear to be involved or know much more than he was letting on. However, he clearly knew someone had it in for the Mayor, and someone that Mayor Matthew knew.

Just around from the Minster, if you will travel in an anti-clockwise way (turning right as you look at it) you will come across Minster Yard and College Street. You know this is where the Mayor lived.

You will need to find the door on the picture below. 

Look closely at the door; can you find the hidden creature on it? 

You allow a little time before calling in to see the Mayor’s wife: Helen. She comes to the door more agitated than upset and she curtly lets you into their house.

“Well what can you say, he was a drunk, a fool and a loudmouth and has left us in a rotten predicament. I always said that the alcohol would be the downfall of him. Still, I did not think it would come so soon. After I left him last night I stormed straight home, expecting to hear him come back several hours later when he had filled his boots with one of his other women as he normally does, however he never came”.

You ask her about the money problems that have been brought to the fore:

“Well…. money was never my part of the relationship; I make the house look nice, and he manages the affairs. He did seem a little more stressed recently and kept muttering to himself every evening. I hope he hasn’t gone and spent it all and left me with nothing.  I suppose I could always go and have a friendly chat with Phillip; sorry, I mean the Lord” And you notice a subtle smile  and dreamy look appear on her face.

You will next have to travel to the Mayor's secret house; which you know he used to see his mistresses. 

It is on Stonegate, only a stones throw away from Ye Olde Starre Inn. Return to the front of the Minster and find Minster Gate. Walk down it and then continue onto Stonegate itself. Can you find the large banner across Stonegate with the pubs name on. There is a red figure on the wall somewhere near the banner. Who is it that you can see?

You visit the house that was the Mayors “second home”. The maid lets you in and you are surprised to find Catherine still there and visibly upset; sobbing and eyes red.

“Oh goodness…… I can’t believe it. I only saw him last night. Just after 10pm, probably around 10.20. He came to the house banging at the door. He told me his wife has stormed off home and he wanted to see me, however he seemed so drunk he could barely stand up let alone do anything else; so I told him he was too soused and he needed to sleep it off. He started to mumble something about not drinking much and that I was a liar. I got angry and told him to go home to his wife then if that was how he was going to treat me. I’m used to getting abuse from my husband, but the Mayor wasn’t normally like this. Anyway, I started crying as I was upset and he walked off. I locked the door and went up to bed. I feel I’m to blame sending him away like that” ….. She starts to cry again.

You check with the maid who confirms her details of the story and that no one entered or left the house following the Mayor leaving the premises. She also tells you that the Mayor was a gambler, who had borrowed money from several parties to help fund his habit.

You decide there is too much talk about the pub, and you must visit it; to speak to the barmaid working last night. 

Looking around, you need to take a sneaky trip down Coffee Yard, then continue straight onto Grape Lane then Swinegate you will see this delightful pub straight across Church Street on Patrick Pool. 

To open your next clue look up. How many sets of windows can you see on the top two floors? Just on the pub side you are facing.

You decide an excellent place to go would be the pub. To have a chat with the barmaid who was working that night: Marilyn Delaney. She greets you with a smile. Marilyn is well known to be privy to lots of secrets in the City and is always a good source of information.

“Well it was just a night like any other. He came in with his wife at around 9 pm; and left just after 10 pm. However, he did seem very worse for wear and I swear I only served him twice. His wife, that Helen, did not seem happy with him and had a face on her all night. If looks could kill she would be top of my list”

You ask was anyone else there and read out list of suspects from your leads.

“Oh, now you mention it yes, there was. The old Mayor; what’s-his-face, that Clive man…. he arrived just before the Mayor left. He didn’t seem pleased to see him, but nothing was said between them. Steven was here as usual propping up the bar like he normally does at least 5 night a week; talking about revolution as always. I swear he seems to walk better once he has had a few' he barely needed his crutches when he walked out of here. And that Judge was here as well, having a meeting with Lord Yearbarron which I found odd as they usually don’t mix together. They did seem happy with something as there was a lot of jovial noises coming from their table.”

You ask if anything unusual happened.

“I can’t say anything sprang to mind. Once the Mayor left just after 10pm then all the others stayed until last orders at 10.45 before making their way home. Sorry if I’ve not been much use officer, but it was a busy night and there were drinks all over the bar and I barely remember who’s was who let alone trying to remember what else happened. Still, as long as everyone paid and I pick up my wage I’m happy”

Your final destination. Everything seems to be falling into place however there is the last witness to talk to. 

You will now need to find the Shambles, albeit you are not far off at all where you are. Looking out from Pivni turn right, then a quick left onto Newgate then turn right and you have found the Shambles. You will need to find the plaque at the top of the street, and tell me where the word Shambles gets its name from; after being mentioned in the Doomsday Book by William the Conqueror. You are looking for the single word it originates from.

It is remarkably quiet on the shambles when you meet up with Steven Jones, the last known witness to the Mayor. You knock on his door and you hear him slowly shuffling to answer it.

You ask him what he saw last night:

“Well I was just doing my usual slow stagger home from the pub when I saw that drunk fool walk down, or should I say stumble down the street, towards pavement. I asked him when he was going to sort out the drainage that comes out of our taxpayers money but he swore at me and off he went. I was just closing my door when I heard another sound of footsteps quickly pass by, however by the time I’d managed to get the door open and pop my head out all I saw was a shadow disappearing down the alley in the same direction of the Mayor. To be honest I couldn’t care less what happened to him but thought you would want to know”

You ask him about the crutch he is using and the scratches all up his arms:

“What do you mean how did I get these, I’ve had the crutches for years anyone will tell you that. And as for the scratches, well that is the life of a drunk, covered in bumps and bruises”

You thank him for the information and walk off.