The Harvest Supper

A Break the Suspect case. Original fiction, no spoilers here.

One cold cup. One clean mug. Nobody's tea.

Saxby-under-Wold gets ready for the harvest supper. Gerald Thorne, 69, parish council chair, is found in the hall kitchen armchair at 7:50 on Saturday morning. The urn is cold and the trestles are set. Three people were near the hall on Friday night, and the kettle has no one's name on it.

The victim

Gerald Thorne, 69. Retired bank manager, chair of Saxby-under-Wold parish council.

The people you will question

Winifred 'Win' Aldous, Retired school secretary. Has run the parish hall kitchen for forty years. — **Winifred 'Win' Aldous**, 74. Runs the hall kitchen. Holds a back door key. Laid the trestles.

Marcus Bell, Estate agent, owner of Bell and Co. Property in the market town — **Marcus Bell**, 44. Son-in-law. Shouted at Gerald in the car park on Wednesday.

Rev. Joy Adeyemi, Vicar of St Botolph's, Saxby-under-Wold and two neighbouring parishes — **Rev. Joy Adeyemi**, 52. Vicar. Walked home past the hall late on Friday.

The scene

**Kitchen Overview**. The parish hall kitchen where Gerald was found.

**Full Mug of Tea**. Cold tea beside the armchair.

**G.T. Mug**. Upside down mug on the drainer.

What does not add up

Full mug of tea. Stone cold.
One damp mug on the drainer.
Time of death: 10 pm to midnight.

How you play this case

Break the Suspect is a detective game you play with your voice. The squad briefs you, then you question each suspect in your own words, slide evidence across the table and catch the contradictions. Only a full confession closes the case.

The interview room is open. The briefing and your first questions are free.

Take the case