Invisiclues

Some advice:

1. Like all good detectives throughout history, you will have to do a lot of legwork. You should check out the house and all of the grounds, examine everything, analyze everything. Check for fingerprints, etc.; you must be diligent. If you suspect Ebullion in the sugar, have it analyzed for Ebullion. In general, it is a good idea to ask each of the characters about all of the others. Sometimes by comparing stories you can learn something. Keep an organized record of the results of your investigation.
2. Read very carefully the Inspector's Casebook that came with the game. Also be sure to read and refer to the Coroner's examination, the letter from Coates, and the police interviews with those who knew the deceased well.
3. If you find out anything that may contradict what someone has said or that might be of interest to them, ask them about it, show it to them, or confront them with it.
4. If anyone acts suspiciously, follow them. Watch what they do.
5. Much of what you need to learn will come out only if you keep after the suspects in "Columbo-like" way (in other words, putting pressure on them until they react).

Communicating with Deadline:

1. Some people find it frustrating when their words or sentence structures are not understood. The Infocom series of games is considered to have the best language-handling ability of any programs available for microcomputers. DEADLINE is among the best of this elite group. However, probably due to its real-life setting, some players expect more understanding. A careful reading of the Instructor's Casebook, especially "Dealing with Suspects" and "Commonly Encountered Terms," should be very helpful. Once you get the hang of it, the limitations will be less frustrating.