The Perfect Murder, a short story by J. Archer, presents a complex set of characters who are involved in a murder plot that tests their problem-solving abilities. The story follows the murderer's plan and the police team's investigation, revealing the characters' thinking processes, actions, and decision-making. Firstly, the main character of the story is Victor Roseboro, who is dissatisfied with his monotonous life and decides to murder his wife to get her money. Victor demonstrates his problem-solving skills by creating an elaborate plan to make the murder look like an accident. He decisively executes his plan by using non-traceable poison, which shows his ability to think logically and calculate risks. Victor attempts to solve his problem of dissatisfaction with life through murder, which shows a rather unethical approach to problem-solving. Secondly, the story presents two detectives, Sloan and Crosby, who are responsible for solving the crime. Sloan's approach to problem-solving is methodical and thorough. He systematically collects evidence, interviews people and employs deductive reasoning to connect the dots. For instance, when he visits Victor's house, he observes small details and notices the dented birdcage, which leads him to conclude that the bird was killed to silence it. On the other hand, Crosby is more casual and relies on his instincts to solve the crime. His approach is less systematic and more intuitive. He suggests several theories without hard evidence but later clarifies them with evidence. Both detectives demonstrate different but effective approaches to problem-solving. Thirdly, Laura, Victor's wife, is a character who tries to solve her problem of a lack of affection from her husband in an active way. She joins a gym, takes French lessons, etc., to enhance her appearance and personality to please her husband. Her actions highlight that people also try to solve problems by taking positive steps towards a solution rather than resorting to murder. Lastly, the story showcases how some characters fail to solve their problems effectively and resort to unethical means. For instance, Victor fails to solve his marital problems and dissatisfaction with life and kills his wife, leading to his downfall. Moreover, Nancy, Victor's mistress, tries to solve her problem of loneliness by getting romantically involved with a married man, leading to her collusion in the crime. In conclusion, The Perfect Murder presents a variety of characters who showcase different approaches to problem-solving. Some characters, such as Sloan and Laura, display positive problem-solving skills, while others, such as Victor and Nancy, resort to unethical means to solve their problems. The story highlights the importance of ethical and practical approaches to problem-solving and the consequences of using unethical means to solve problems.