The last section in the 1934 Torquemada Puzzle Book contained one of the world’s most difficult literary puzzles and murder mysteries; Cain’s Jawbone. Supposedly named after the first ever murder weapon. This puzzle was created by a gentleman named Edward Powys Mathers who also introduced the Cryptic Crossword to readers of the Observer newspaper in England in 1924. He was known to have a brilliant mind and enjoyed the challenge of a clever puzzle, which once completed, offered a most rewarding experience.
The answer to Cain’s Jawbone has not been made public and it is said only a very few puzzlers have ever successfully solved the puzzle.
That puzzle being to correctly order 100 pages. Upon doing so, the reader will discover the six murderers, and who each one murdered.
The introduction sets the stage for the puzzle. It states the 100 pages were accidentally printed and bound out of order. It is for the reader to discover how they were meant to be. Although there are millions of combinations, only ONE is correct.
There are some editions of the ‘book’ which consist of 100 pages in a box. Most editions are bound, though, and have a scissor icon along the inner edges. This invites the reader to cut each one out and try to sort through them.
Although each page ‘could’ be read in any order, for they are a bit ambiguous, there is a correct order to identify through the use of logic, attention to detail, and precise reading.
As the front cover says it is ‘A Novel Problem’…. Join discussions on this puzzle on the MW Forum.
The book is available on Amazon
