A girl is at the funeral of her mother. She meets a wonderful man she's never seen before, but they hit it off. She doesn't get his number and can't find him afterward. A few days later, her sister dies. The police suspect murder. Who killed the sister?

Why this works

At first glance, this riddle seems to spiral into a morbid tale of coincidence and grief, but it reveals a darker twist that challenges our understanding of human motivation and desire. The girl’s actions are driven by an obsession—not just with the man she met at her mother’s funeral, but with the fleeting hope that tragedy might reunite them. The riddle cleverly plays on the assumption that death brings sorrow, yet in this case, it is the catalyst for her ulterior motive. By plotting her sister's death, she believes she can orchestrate a scenario where the man is drawn back into her life, showcasing a disturbing blend of desperation and romantic idealism. This riddle taps into psychological themes of loss, longing, and the lengths to which one might go to fulfill a fantasy. It evokes the "aha moment" when you realize that the girl's grief is entwined with a twisted yearning for connection—a stark reminder that love and obsession can manifest in the most unexpected and sometimes sinister ways. The cleverness lies not only in the shocking conclusion but in the way it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and relationships. As a fun nugget, this riddle echoes elements found in classic literature, where characters often grapple with love and loss in tragic circumstances. Think of Shakespeare’s tragic figures, whose passions lead to dramatic consequences—reminding us that the line between love and madness can sometimes be perilously thin.