Christmas Murder Mystery Puzzles: Free Printable Pack

Eight Christmas murder mystery puzzles to print and solve with a pencil, from gentle 5 × 5 grids to trickier 6 × 6 ones, with every answer at the back of the PDF. Each grid hides one killer and has exactly one solution, so the whole family can play without arguing about the answer. The pack is free, with no sign-up, and it is one of all printable packs on Capodoku.

What's inside (8 cases)

Each case fills one page: the illustrated floor plan, the people with their roles, the numbered clues and a short reminder of the rules. The answers come together on the last two pages, with the solved plan and the name of the killer. The first four cases are easier, the last four ask for a little more thinking.

1. Under the Tree · The Manor · Rookie · 5 × 5
2. The Christmas Ball · The Grand Hotel · Rookie · 5 × 5
3. The Last Train Before Christmas · The Night Train · Rookie · 5 × 5
4. Carols at the Cabaret · The Cabaret · Rookie · 5 × 5
5. Christmas at Sea · The Ocean Liner · Inspector · 6 × 6
6. The Missing Present · The Manor · Inspector · 6 × 6
7. The Midnight Toast · The Grand Hotel · Inspector · 6 × 6
8. The Snow Globe · The Cabaret · Inspector · 6 × 6

Every grid was checked by the game's engine: one solution, reachable by deduction alone, with no guessing.

Who it's for (ages 13+, families)

• Families on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day: teenagers from about thirteen and adults can play side by side, and younger children can join a team with a grown-up reading the clues.
• Puzzle lovers: if you enjoy sudoku or logic grids, the Inspector cases add clues that compare two people, such as "higher than" or "touches diagonally".
• Office parties and clubs: each case takes five to twenty minutes, short enough for a round between two courses.

There is no blood and no weapon on the plans or in the clues: a death is mentioned, nothing more.

How to run it at a party

1. Print one copy per team of two to four players, and keep the answer pages aside.
2. Start with case 1 for everyone. It teaches the rules in a few minutes, using the three-line reminder at the top of the page.
3. Race on the next case. The first team to name the killer has to explain one step of their reasoning out loud; if it holds, they win the round.
4. Save the Inspector cases for later in the evening, when everyone has found their feet.

If someone is lost, the method is in how to solve murder sudoku, with a worked example.

Preview pages

Download the PDF

The PDF has ten pages, in A4 or US Letter: one case per page and the answers on the last two.

You may print and photocopy it freely for personal use, at family gatherings, in class, in libraries, in workshops and at non-profit events. Please do not sell it or republish it elsewhere: share the link to this page instead.

Answers & hints

Stuck? Before opening an answer, check the three usual mistakes: "next to" never goes through a wall, corners do not count, and the victim also takes a row and a column. Then, if you still need it, open the solution below.

More Christmas cases online

Want a full story with your puzzle? The Christmas murder mystery puzzle is a single printable case set on Christmas Eve, with hints and a step-by-step answer. Online, The Mistletoe Cabaret and The Christmas Eve Telegram are playable in your browser. And every morning there is a new grid in today's case.

Frequently asked questions

Is it family-friendly?

Yes. There is no blood or violence on the plans or in the clues, only a victim and a killer to find by logic. The easier cases suit teenagers from about thirteen; younger children can play in a team with an adult.

Are the answers included?

Yes. Every answer is on the last two pages of the PDF, with the solved plan and the killer's name, and also on this page, folded so as not to spoil the surprise.

Can I print several copies?

Yes. Print and photocopy as many copies as you need for your family, your class or your party. We only ask that you do not sell it or post the PDF on another site.