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Guess That Object

NightRayDuck 16 Sep 10 at 6:04 a.m. GMT

If a piece of evidence, even perhaps a murder weapon, or another item of significance becomes sapient and gets chatty about its role in the story, will you be able to figure out what it is, and which story?

This game will probably be even more full of spoilers than the other games. If you feel interested in this game, please play, give suggestions, and improve it. 

To start off, I'll set a puzzle that contains rather many specific clues that indicate whether it's from a famous Christie detective.

I am a piece of architecture. Things of my type are usually built for no other purpose than a few chuckles and ogles, which do not seem to warrant the amount of material and work put into the building process. I, however, was built by a prodigal son who came home and took over the estates, and he built me only to hide evidence of his crimes. Ah the infamy! That rather foreign gentleman, I think he's doing rather more than ogling me. I think he suspects the truth, and might decide to tear me down...

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1313 replies

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Nofret 24 May 12 at 3:51 a.m. GMT

Yes, Duck, a lap tray. My PC is resting on one as I write!

Come on, folks, it's a Parker Pyne story!

NightRayDuck 23 May 12 at 7:47 p.m. GMT

Tray has a padded underside?

Miss Nofret - I've never ever owned a tray at home.. 

Bunch_Marple 23 May 12 at 3:18 p.m. GMT

Nofret your puzzle has kept me ticking over for days!

Please tell us the story as I'm afraid it was just a lucky deduction and much speculation from me! 

Nofret 23 May 12 at 4:18 a.m. GMT

At last! Yes, well done, Bunch, I am a tray, but unfortunately not Gladys's. And I wasn't involved in a murder, either, just a tragic accident.

Bunch_Marple 22 May 12 at 6:32 a.m. GMT

Is it a tray? Gladys Martin left her tray in mid-duties to meet her caller.

Nofret 22 May 12 at 4:34 a.m. GMT

A very good resume of the clues, Duck, unfortunately it's not a wastepaper basket, (though I'm sure many of our sleuths must have rummaged in one for clues!) But, like the WPB, this object would be pretty useless if it was always empty!

I'm not a coat rack, a bannister or a wooden floor. One like me was also a vital clue at Yew Tree Lodge

NightRayDuck 21 May 12 at 11:54 p.m. GMT

perhaps a wastepaper basket / rubbish bin / trash can? even though I can't think of a specific one from a story...

Known characteristics of this item, and whether a wastepaper basket fits:

-has several other items of the same type in the vicinity. likely true.

-has definite function. true.

-not made of paper. true.

-not tonic. true.

-not walking stick or other mobility aid. true.

-not clothing. true.

-can be held in hands. true.

-nothing electrical. true.

-nothing mechanical? true for wastepaper basket of that time. newer wastepaper baskets might have an additional feature that's mechanic.

-can't be worn. true.

-some similarity with a letter rack? "contains a lot of papers"

-not paperweight. true.

-not made of glass. true.

-not false teeth. true.

-an modern version of the same sort of item might have a padded underside? I am not sure, maybe some fuzzy bottom for anti-skid in a small flat?

-an additional feature?

-not doormat. true.

-not hat rack. true.

-not a plant. true.

-not a living thing. true.

-not number plate. true.

-not doorbell. true.

-not chair. true.

-made of wood. may be made of metal at other households. may be made of plastic nowadays. true.

Bunch_Marple 21 May 12 at 1:31 p.m. GMT

Could it be a coat rack? Not sure from which story..

Tommy_A_Jones 21 May 12 at 1:24 p.m. GMT

Is it a Bannister

Bunch_Marple 21 May 12 at 8:46 a.m. GMT

This one has me stomped. It isn't a wooden floor? or cleaning utensils such as a mop/brush?

Nofret 21 May 12 at 4:18 a.m. GMT

Though as Poirot might have said "Tres Bien!"

Nofret 20 May 12 at 4:47 a.m. GMT

I'm not a number plate, a doorbell or a chair. Neither Mr Satterthwaite nor M. Poirot solved this mystery.

NightRayDuck 19 May 12 at 10:15 p.m. GMT

Is the object a chair?

Tommy_A_Jones 19 May 12 at 10:44 a.m. GMT

Did Poirot do the Deducing?

Bunch_Marple 19 May 12 at 9:31 a.m. GMT

Have you had contact with a Mr Satterwaite/?

Bunch_Marple 19 May 12 at 9:18 a.m. GMT

or a doorbell...

Bunch_Marple 19 May 12 at 7:14 a.m. GMT

Im thinking the plate with a house nnumber on it?

Nofret 19 May 12 at 5:20 a.m. GMT

I am an everyday object, made of wood, although I believe that in less affluent households I would be made of metal, and nowadays I might be made of something called plastic! It was a man who deduced that I'd been involved in a cover-up.

Bunch_Marple 18 May 12 at 8:31 p.m. GMT

But stupid me, we already ruled out paper as well! 

Please give us a clue as to the purpose of the object or the detective involved, male or female? Thanks!

Bunch_Marple 18 May 12 at 5:05 p.m. GMT

We already ruled out Poirot, is it the wallpaper destroyed in The Blue Geranium?