The Scarlet Thread

The Scarlet Thread

In the age of gaslight, Thornecliff Hall on the northern coast is preparing for a coming-of-age celebration. Thirty years ago, a colonel brought a relic home from war: the Scarlet Skein. It is now to pass to a young heiress. Under the terms of the will, its sealed casket must be opened on the night she comes of age.

One case, several narrators

The old butler's Almanac, an inspector's case notes and the private journals of those caught up in the affair tell the story in turn. Each new narrator changes your point of view. Take fresh evidence back to earlier accounts and reconsider what someone said or did. Some things only come to light when you ask one more question, or read an old entry alongside a later one.

Examine objects. Check the records.

Open an envelope and bring the page close to a candle. Hidden writing slowly appears. Compare clothing with lengths of cloth, choose what you need, and decide what to leave in the ledger. Check the tides and phases of the moon. At the pawnbroker's, a grille stands between you and the ledger: you will have to ask about its entries one by one. Ordinary objects and routine records will become evidence as the investigation unfolds.

Re-enact that night

When the accounts don't agree, take part in a re-enactment along the route travelled that night. At a tabletop model, adjust wooden figures, lamplight and the observer's position to test what a witness could actually see. Return to the deduction board and check whether these records support your conclusions. It is not enough to spot a lie. You must also know just how much a truthful statement proves.

A trace of red in black and white

Manor rooms, portraits and paper are rendered in fine 1-bit dots, recalling the copperplate illustrations of old books. The Scarlet Skein stands out in scarlet; red string on the deduction board connects evidence from different journals. Rain at the windows, a quiet fire and the rustle of paper accompany your work. The evidence you keep and the choices you make at the end will decide how the case closes.