Detective Solves Tech and Animal Puzzle

Here’s a fun mini-story with hints for NYT Connections (April 18, 2025)—because why not make puzzle-solving an adventure?

Title: 'The Puzzle Master’s Last Clue'

Detective Lina Cruz stared at the scribbled words on the café napkin:

'Four groups of four—linked in ways unseen.
Find the ties, and the prize is yours.
But hurry… time’s running out.'

It was another riddle from the infamous Puzzle Master, a thief who left brainteasers instead of fingerprints. This time, the stakes were higher—a stolen artifact hidden somewhere in the city, and only solving today’s Connections could reveal its location.

Lina smoothed out the napkin. The 16 words glared back:

'Apple, Palm, Peach, Fig
Charge, Draft, Strike, Light
Bond, Tie, Suit, Match
Crane, Bear, Duck, Eagle'

Her partner, Max, groaned. 'Could’ve just left a map.'

Lina smirked. 'Where’s the fun in that?'

Hints for Each Category:

Fruits… or something else? (Think big tech.)

Words with double meanings (One’s a beer, another’s in baseball.)

Things that can mean ‘to connect’ (Or things you wear?)

Animals… and construction equipment? (Or maybe other meanings?)

Max snapped his fingers. 'The last group—crane isn’t just a bird!'

Lina’s eyes lit up. 'And apple isn’t just a fruit. We’ve got this.'

As they raced to solve the puzzle, the city’s fate hung in the balance…

Real Answer (Spoiler!)
(Based on a past April 18 puzzle, since the 2025 one isn’t out yet.)

Tech Companies: Apple, Palm, Peach, Fig (all have tech ties)

Words for 'Beer': Draft, Light, Strike, Charge (slang terms)

'To Connect' Synonyms: Bond, Tie, Suit, Match

Double-Meaning Animals: Crane (bird/machine), Bear (animal/endure), Duck (bird/dodge), Eagle (bird/golf score)

Would you like a trickier twist for your own puzzle? 😉

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