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I thought maybe someone else would connect the standard Stephen King lines this time around, but sure: The latest crime scene was from Christine. (The one about the haunted car.) I think it's got to be clear that the killer has a Stephen King hangup. This must be part of the overall mystery that Jack talks about in the rules.

It would be great to hear everyone's thoughts on the last message, not just us eager ones in the European time zone...in this game every thought may be the thing that gives a team member an idea.

I guess everyone knows that this murder method was mimicking Stephen King as well?

That's about all I have to say at the moment... Oh, I imagine you're wondering why I signed the letter, "KS." Well those are not my initials, of course. They stand for those who would destroy a God, those who kill the reigning leader, those who use opportunity to usurp the big man's seat. I will not stand by and allow them to do it any more.

I still think this points in the direction that "KS" means "King slayer(s)". But it doesn't sound like the chief agrees. 

So, when is teatime? (Not to speak of the long dark teatime of the soul.)

The reference to tears may point in the direction of Weepy Grove. Or that may be too obvious.

Did officer Leland get a look at the suspect?

Very good, Ian and Laura!

"The master" must be Stephen King. This crime scene was set up like the hotel in The Shining, with the famous scene from the movie where Jack Nicholson busts through the door with an axe.

Perhaps Deborah has been applying make-up for Rachel? If she has been involved in only one of the commercial campaigns, I smell a connection...

Admittedly, I didn't think of the option to send more officers. OTOH, if we had did that and encountered a bomb, the consequences had been even worse. Can we send something to the injured officers? I have a discount at the donut shop.

Always reminds me of those stupid questions, in school... (I am just being funny, here.)
if Bob has 3 oranges and Tim has 4 apples then what is the color of Bobs socks?

Oranges grow in tropic climates, so he probably wears none! 

while considering whether I

I was about to leave this for detective Mandle and the others on the night shift, but what did you say, Chief? Where we found the code in the letter...at the endings...could it be a clue leading us to Ender's Copse? Or is that another false lead, leading to a cop's end? *shudder*

From what I understand, this game is a chapter in a larger story.

Not really. It does advance storylines from previous games (mainly the Berthold and Hamsterman characters) but otherwise was always intended to be a one-off side story. But I've seen that not a few people have misunderstood that and I'm currently toying with the idea of a sequel and a prequel. (I don't promise anything. I do start a lot of games and cancel them soon after if I see that it doesn't come together.)

Please do! A prequel where Berthold gets rid of some other characters would make some of the criticism concerning this game moot. 

There is also a note on the kitchen door that is still in German.

I did translate the note on the door, but I also had the issue that doesn't load the correct graphic sometimes. Is the title screen graphic also untranslated ("Bertholds Rückkehr" instead of "Berthold's Return")?

Yes. The intro "types" in German at first, and then switches to the English text. Mind you, I didn't touch the setup, so I may have neglected to do something.

Visuals aside, my problem with the game was that it doesn't tell you what the goal is at all, so you end up wandering around the house collecting stuff not knowing what for

This is something I wasn't 100% happy with either. That comes from the fact that I, against my usual workflow, came up with the puzzles first and build everything else around it rather than starting with the plot like I normally do.

And I think this is what lead to people (including me) getting the wrong idea at first.

I hope this doesn't put you off, on posting more of your games.

If an outcry would stop me from posting games, I would have stopped 14 years ago.  I just don't see myself translating any more games any time soon. I don't really like translating stuff. There is a reason why I choose to translate Berthold's Return (my shortest game) and not any my previous ones, despite knowing that the game would be more difficult to understand to be people unfamiliar with Maniac Mansion Mania than my other games.

Have you tried the recruitment board on this site? There may be some members who could help you out with the translation.

This looks really great!

I noticed that the villain answered "Hello, Chief". I don't think the chief spoke in the first conversation (with the pre-recorded message). Is the chief a public figure, or did the perp recognize his voice from somewhere? In this investigation, the only oneof notice  the chief has spoken to is Rachel's agent. However, this may only be a figure of speech, or perhaps it would be something one could learn from reading the Killers Manual. What do you think?

I'm also wondering about the sneeze. Could be that the perp (what is the correct term? Unsub? Suspect?) is allergic to something.

As for the setup of mother and child - if he uses Stephen King plots, this could be the plot from Cujo or The Shining and probably more where mother and child are in peril.

I think the problem there is that the oxford comma is misleading. They should have structured it "he weighs 100 pounds plus half his weight", not "he weighs 100 pounds, plus half his weight".

Or "half his weight plus 100 pounds". But then it wouldn't be much of a riddle.

His weight = HW

HW=100 + HW/2
2HW=200+HW
HW=200

The perp says "So you viewers". A movie? Tv series?

Chief, I'd like to check out if this area or some of the locations have been sites for movie or tv productions. I'd also like to know more about the Hawthornes, if there is anything. Perhaps the crime novel the husband wrote has rubbed the perp the wrong way somehow? Can we find out what kind of novel it was?

seemingly never would get

Agreed. Let's search Sarsdale carefully.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering. Rachel seems to have advertised for derivative products, and I think the poem points in that direction, too. Possible point for victimology could be that the perp is targeting people he connects with something he feels is not "the real deal". Unfortunately, this could mean everything from someone selling Pepsi instead of Coca-Cola to directors of sequel movies. It's not helpful at this point.

Chief, I was wondering if any of the officers up north have some special skills we should know of. If we're going to send them into boobytrapped locations, it would be nice to know if someone was good at spotting such dangers. Have the sargeant mentioned anything to you?

Squad, I guess this goes without saying, but the last assault mimicked the plot from Stephen King's Carrie. I fear this is our perp's signature mark. If I'm right, he'll try to kill people in similar ways as in the novels. Or movies. I don't know which of those rivers sails his boat. We may find people injected with rabies or drained of blood...this is horrible!

I have no clue regarding the code, me too believing Sarsdale looks too convenient. If we end up sending someone there, we ought to know which officer has the best skill set for the situation.

I'd like to know what toys Rachel Edison was doing commercials for. Perhaps this was how she drew the attention of our perp? Can someone check out if there's more to that story?

[Potential solution]

Are you sure you won't search for DONT  GO TO ? 

Okay, we have to try. Potential solution Chief, may we search the area between Armstrong Walk and Aldrin Walk?

BTW, exceptional police work from the Chief! I'd never have gotten the Playboy clue.