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Welcome to Detective Mystery Puzzles
The app creates solver-checked placement puzzles with people, rooms, objects, clues and a solution. A single puzzle is prepared in the Puzzle Editor; final files are assembled and exported from Book Builder.
Create and export your first puzzle
- Open Templates.Choose any built-in template and select Customize & Generate.
- Keep the first test simple.Leave the default language and style unchanged. You may edit the Title or Case description.
- Select Generate Puzzle.The app creates the placement, clues and solution. Rooms and Objects become available after generation.
- Review the result.Use One Page and Solution. A two-page design also provides Evidence and Crime Scene previews.
- Select Add Puzzle to Book.The finished puzzle is added to Book Builder.
- Open Book Builder.For a quick first test, keep the default Export Settings and select Export PDF or Export PowerPoint.
Install, update and activate the app
New installation
- Download DetectiveMysteryPuzzles-V1.02-Setup.exe.
- Double-click the setup file and follow the installation steps.
- Open Detective Mystery Puzzles from the Windows Start menu.
- Enter the email address and licence key from your purchase when requested.
Windows security messages
Windows may show Windows protected your PC because the app is new and does not have a code-signing certificate. Select More info, then Run anyway.
Some antivirus programs may also flag a new unsigned installer. This can be a false positive. Use the program’s Allow, Restore or Run option when you have chosen to install Detective Mystery Puzzles.
Install a V1.x update
Close the app and install the newer public version over the current public version. Do not uninstall the existing version and do not delete its data folders. Your licence, settings, My Templates and saved app content should remain available.
Licence and offline use
First activation requires an internet connection. The app stores the successful activation locally, normally rechecks it after seven days and allows a fourteen-day offline grace period after the most recent successful verification.
Open the key icon for Licence Information. Use Change Licence only when replacing the saved purchase email or licence.
How the app is organized
Templates
Choose a built-in template or open one of My Templates.
Puzzle Editor
Generate and review one puzzle before adding it to the book.
Book Builder
Add one or many puzzles, check them and export the finished pages.
Top controls
- Templates: returns to the template catalogue.
- Book Builder (number): opens the current book and shows its puzzle count.
- Licence information: opens the key-shaped licence button.
- App settings: opens General, Help & Support and Reset controls.
Puzzle Editor controls
Customize Puzzle contains People & Avatars, Rooms, Objects and Page Style. More Tools contains Create Theme with AI, Edit Language Packs, Avatar Prompt Creator and Object Image Prompt Creator.
Help tips is enabled by default. It shows question-mark buttons beside selected controls. Turn it off when you no longer need the beginner explanations.
The four mystery types
Cozy Murder
Place the visible suspects and identify the person sharing a room with the Case File victim.
Missing Pet
Place the visible helpers and identify the person sharing a room with the missing pet.
Missing Jewelry
Place the visible people and identify the person connected to the missing jewelry through the solved room.
Missing Witness
Place the visible candidates and use the hidden witness position to reveal the final answer.
The Case File subject has no evidence card, but it still has one solved grid position. The subject uses the only unused row and column and shares a room with exactly one visible person. That shared room identifies the final answer.
Create one puzzle
- Choose a template.On the Templates screen, select Customize & Generate.
- Make optional starting changes.Edit Title, Case description, Language, People & Avatars or Page Style.
- Select Generate Puzzle.The app creates a valid puzzle and solution.
- Make visual changes if needed.After generation, Rooms and Objects become available.
- Review the previews.Use One Page, Evidence, Crime Scene and Solution as applicable. Use Fit Page or Fit Width when needed.
- Select Add Puzzle to Book.The puzzle is added in its current finished state.
When editing a puzzle already in Book Builder, the main action changes to Update Puzzle, and Cancel Edit returns without replacing it.
Customize a puzzle
Change only the controls that serve your book. The defaults are intended to produce a complete working puzzle without extensive setup.
| Control | Purpose | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Use the generated title or enter your own. | Check long titles in the final export layout. |
| Case description | Edit the Case File story, up to 500 characters. | Restore Original Description returns to the generated version. |
| Language | Select the language pack used for generated text. | Custom packs appear after they are saved in Language Pack Editor. |
| Evidence Board Clue Text | Control full or short names, descriptions, repeated relationship clues and room/object wording. | These settings change displayed wording, not solver logic. |
| People & Avatars | Change names, genders and character images. | Use Apply Changes before closing. |
| Rooms | Change room labels, room sets, textures and opacity. | Available after the first puzzle is generated. |
| Objects | Change object labels, sets and images. | Available after the first puzzle is generated. |
| Page Style | Adjust fonts, sizes, fills, labels, grid lines, clue cards and solution markers. | Run Check Book after major size changes. |
Use your own images
- Avatar: choose PNG, JPG or WebP, smaller than 2 MB.
- Object: use Upload Image for PNG, JPG or WebP; keep the image smaller than 2 MB.
- Room texture: open Rooms → Choose room texture → Upload Texture. Use PNG, JPG or WebP smaller than 2 MB.
Save or update a My Template when you want uploaded images and visual choices available for later use.
More Tools
Create Theme with AI prepares theme text while preserving the puzzle structure and logic. The prompt creators help prepare consistent avatar or object-image prompts. These tools are optional.
Save and use My Templates
My Templates store a reusable puzzle design, including names, avatars, room and object presentation, uploaded images, Page Style and Evidence Board clue-text choices.
Save a new My Template
- Choose a built-in template and generate a puzzle.
- Apply the changes you want to reuse.
- Select Save as My Template.
- Enter a Template name and optional Catalog description, then select Save Template.
Update or copy an existing My Template
Open the saved template, make changes and select Update My Template. The update window also provides Save as New Template when you want an independent copy. Some stored character changes can be updated without generating a new puzzle; a completely new My Template still requires a generated puzzle.
Manage the catalogue
Use Search, Base template and Sort to find saved templates. Each template can be opened, edited, exported or deleted. Use Export All regularly to create one JSON backup of the complete library, and Import Library to restore it.
Create a puzzle book
Book Builder holds every finished puzzle in export order. You can add one puzzle at a time or create a larger batch.
Create a batch
- Open Book Builder and select Add Multiple Puzzles.
- Choose a Puzzle type and enter the number of puzzles.
- Select Choose Templates and choose one or more Built-in Templates or compatible My Templates.
- Choose the Puzzle language and Character style.
- Select the green Create N-Puzzle Book button. When a book already contains puzzles, the button changes to Generate & Add N More Puzzles.
- Wait for generation and finalization to finish. Editing is locked while the batch is being created.
Character style
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Use avatars saved with each template | Uses each template’s saved names, avatar images and gender pairing. |
| Chibi | Uses the Chibi character pool and is the default batch style. |
| Flat Geometric | Uses the clean adult flat-geometric pool. |
| Storybook Illustration | Uses the softer storybook character pool. |
Manage Book Content
Each puzzle card can be moved up or down, edited, duplicated or removed. Use New Book to clear the current book, Save Project to save editable work and Open Project to continue later.
Create a mixed mystery book
One Add Multiple Puzzles batch can contain all four mystery types.
- Open Add Multiple Puzzles.
- Set the first Puzzle type, count and templates.
- Select + Include Another Puzzle Type and add the next type. Repeat as needed.
- Choose one order option:
Mix puzzle types evenly — Recommended
Spreads each selected type throughout the new puzzles.
Keep puzzle types grouped
Creates one section for each type in the row order shown.
Select Create N-Puzzle Book. To add another batch later, reopen Add Multiple Puzzles and use Generate & Add N More Puzzles.
Choose the page layout
The book-wide layout is selected in Book Builder → Export Settings → Puzzle layout.
Single page
Places the Case File, evidence, crime-scene grid and Object Legend on one puzzle page.
Two pages: Evidence + Crime Scene
Uses an Evidence page followed by a separate Crime Scene page with player-note space.
Page Style controls the visual details of those pages. Export Settings controls whether each puzzle uses one page or two.
Solutions
Solutions are fixed at four compact solutions per slide. The default marker style is Numbers with solution key; Avatar markers is also available in Page Style.
Check Book and Export Text for Review
Check Book
Check Book validates the actual fitted export layout and reports problems before the final files are created.
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Export blocker | Must be corrected before export can continue. |
| Warning | Needs review. You may accept it and choose Export Anyway. |
| Layout note | Useful information that does not block export. |
Check Book is optional before pressing an export button because export checks the book automatically. If the book has not changed, export can reuse the most recent Check Book result. If you change the book, the previous result becomes outdated and export checks again.
Export Text for Review
This creates a text file for proofreading without opening every page. It includes titles, Case Files, puzzle types, templates, languages, people and roles, rooms, objects, displayed clues, answers and solution positions.
Export puzzles and solutions
Book Builder provides four export types. Every export includes the puzzle pages and solution pages in book order.
| Export | Best use | What it creates |
|---|---|---|
| Export PowerPoint | Editing text, moving elements or completing a publishing layout. | An editable PPTX. PowerPoint is not required to create it. |
| Export PDF | A direct multipage file for review or a workflow that does not need element editing. | One multipage PDF rendered at 300 DPI. |
| Export PNG | Placing flattened page images in layout software. | A ZIP with numbered 300-DPI PNG pages and a README. |
| Export SVG | Editing or placing vector pages in Affinity Designer, Affinity Publisher or similar software. | A ZIP with numbered SVG pages, named editable groups and a README. |
Current default Export Settings
| Page size | 8.5 × 11 in | Page edge | Standard / No Bleed |
| Puzzle layout | Single page | Instruction page | Built-in instruction page |
| Print color | Color | Solutions | Four per slide |
| Puzzle number | Shown, starting at 1 | Page numbers | Off |
| Puzzle title | Shown | Title format | {label} {number} |
Standard / No Bleed or With Bleed
Use Standard / No Bleed when all backgrounds and artwork remain inside the trim edge. Use With Bleed when page artwork must extend beyond the trimmed edge. With Bleed adds 0.125 inch to the outer edge and to the top and bottom.
The app fits its own pages to the selected size, but recheck margins after editing the PPTX or converting it to another PDF. Do not move important text or clue cards into the trim or bleed area.
Instruction page
- None: exports no instruction page.
- Built-in instruction page: inserts the app’s instruction page before the puzzles.
- Custom full-page image: uploads a PNG, JPG or SVG smaller than 4 MB and inserts it as the first page.
Black-and-white output
Set Print color to Black & white (grayscale). Then choose White / no fill — recommended or Keep selected fills as grayscale. This setting applies to PowerPoint, PDF, PNG and SVG exports.
Choose and edit a language
English
Full language support.
Dutch
Enhanced language support.
Basic translated support
Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish.
Custom language pack
Your corrected copy, selected immediately after saving.
The selected language controls generated titles, Case Files, page and solution labels, room and object wording, roles and clues. Review Basic packs carefully before publishing.
Create or correct a Custom pack
- Open More Tools → Edit Language Packs.
- Choose a language under Start from and select Load Built-in Pack.
- Use Search and the filters All fields, Only missing text, Show untranslated fields (same as English) or Only my changes.
- Edit the required text. Repeatable lists allow rows to be added, duplicated or deleted where appropriate.
- Select Validate Pack.
- Select Save & Use Language Pack. The Custom pack is used immediately for single puzzles and Add Multiple Puzzles.
Import Stories and Export Stories handle Case File story pools. Import Pack and Export Pack move a complete language pack. Delete Pack removes the selected Custom pack, not the built-in language.
How to solve a Detective Mystery Puzzle
Place the visible people by combining every clue. Then use the hidden Case File subject’s solved room to identify the final answer.
1. Understand the Case File subject
The Case File introduces the victim, pet, jewelry item or witness. This subject has no evidence card, but it still occupies one solved grid square. It uses a different row and column from every visible person.
2. Place the visible people
- Each visible person occupies one allowed square.
- No two people use the same row or the same column.
- A blocked object square cannot contain a person.
- A shareable object square may contain a person.
3. Read the clue words exactly
| Clue | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Beside | Exactly one square up, down, left or right, in the same room. Never diagonal. |
| Above / below | In any higher or lower row. The people do not need to share a column. |
| Left / right | In any earlier or later column. The people do not need to share a row. |
| In the same room | Both solved squares are inside the same room boundary. |
| On an object | The person occupies the same shareable square as that object. |
4. Find the final answer
After the visible people are placed, the unused row and unused column reveal the Case File subject’s square. The visible person sharing that subject’s room is the murderer, finder or other final answer described by the Case File.
The Object Legend identifies the object images used on the crime-scene grid.
Projects, backups and App Settings
Save and reopen editable work
Save Project creates a JSON project file containing the current Book Builder work. Open Project restores that editable book later. A project is different from a My Template and different from a final PDF, PPTX, PNG or SVG export.
What to back up
- Use My Templates → Export All to back up the reusable template library.
- Keep saved project JSON files in a normal Documents or project folder.
- Keep final exports outside the app’s installation folder.
- Use Export Pack for important Custom language packs.
Restore All Factory Settings
Open App Settings → Reset → Restore All Factory Settings to return app preferences and built-in presentation settings to the release defaults.
Updates
For a normal V1.x update, close the app and install the newer version over the existing version. Do not uninstall first. Program files may be replaced, while customer data is stored separately. A backup of My Templates and important project files remains a sensible precaution before any major update.
Troubleshooting
The app appears busy during generation, checking or export
Large books can take several minutes. The app deliberately locks editing while it builds or packages the book. Wait for the completion message, including the finalization stage.
Text is cut off or does not fit
Run Check Book. Shorten the Title or Case description, reduce large Page Style settings, or switch from Single page to Two pages: Evidence + Crime Scene.
A custom image does not load
Use PNG, JPG or WebP for avatars, objects and room textures, and keep each image smaller than 2 MB. A Custom instruction page accepts PNG, JPG or SVG and must be smaller than 4 MB.
The app cannot activate offline
First activation requires internet access. Connect temporarily and activate. Later offline use is allowed within the licence grace period.
My previous Check Book result is no longer used
A book change makes the earlier result outdated. Export automatically runs a new check.
I need to report a technical problem
Open App Settings → Help & Support. Use Feedback & Support for the form. Use Open Diagnostic Log only when the technical report would help explain the problem.
Diagnostic log
Open Diagnostic Log opens a readable local text log. It is intended to record technical details such as the app version, licence status category, asset totals, timings and errors without including the licence key or purchase email. Review the file before attaching it to a problem report.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Microsoft PowerPoint?
No. The app creates the PPTX itself. You need PowerPoint or another compatible program only when you want to open and edit that file.
Can I export directly to PDF?
Yes. Export PDF creates one multipage 300-DPI PDF. Use PowerPoint instead when you need to edit individual elements first.
Can I use the app without internet?
First activation requires internet. The saved licence is normally rechecked after seven days and provides a fourteen-day offline grace period after the most recent successful verification.
Can I combine all four mystery types in one book?
Yes. In Add Multiple Puzzles, use + Include Another Puzzle Type, then choose an even mix or grouped order.
Why can I not select a mystery type for one puzzle?
A single puzzle receives its type from the chosen template. The separate Puzzle type selector is part of Add Multiple Puzzles.
Why are Rooms and Objects disabled?
They become available after the first puzzle has been generated.
Can I use my own avatars, objects or textures?
Yes. Use PNG, JPG or WebP images smaller than 2 MB, then save or update a My Template to retain the design for later use.
Can I correct a language pack?
Yes. Open More Tools → Edit Language Packs, validate the changes and select Save & Use Language Pack.
Is the built-in instruction page translated?
Not currently. It remains English. For a non-English book, choose no instruction page or upload a translated Custom full-page image.
What does Restore All Factory Settings delete?
It restores settings but keeps My Templates, saved projects, current puzzles and books, uploaded images, Custom language packs and licence information.
How do I know this is the current manual?
Check the visible identifier at the top of the page. The current file says Manual 1.0 · App V1.02 · Revised 31 July 2026.
Feedback & Support
Open App Settings → Help & Support → Feedback & Support, or use the button below.
Report a problem
Explain what happened, what you were trying to do and whether it can be repeated.
Suggest an improvement
Describe the requested change and the problem it would solve.
Ask for help
State the screen or workflow involved and describe the question.
Useful information for a problem report
- A screenshot showing the problem.
- The app version and Windows version.
- The action you attempted and whether the problem repeats.
- The diagnostic log when it is relevant to a technical error.
Manual information
This is the current complete master manual for:
https://kdp.tools/documentation/detective-mystery-puzzles/
The documentation home remains:
https://kdp.tools/documentation/
After replacing the website file, press Ctrl + F5 once. Confirm that the visible identifier says Manual 1.0 · App V1.02 · Revised 31 July 2026.