Tiny Bookshop Investigation Guide
If your investigation quest feels stuck, it usually means you’ve missed a key clue or the follow-up step to trigger the next dialogue. This quest has a few hidden triggers that are easy to overlook, especially around the CCTV footage lead.
Note: If you’re looking for the mascot quest guide, click here.
Step 1: The CCTV Clue
After Klaus tells you the CCTV footage has been deleted, report this to Fern. She will tell you to speak to someone at Marche about it.
Talking to people here may seem to go nowhere, but the next step is tied to a different clue.
Step 2: Find the Knife
Head to the garbage bin in town. Search it to find a knife. This is the actual key item that moves the investigation forward.
Once you have the knife, place it in your shop as an item. This will let you observe how customers react to it.
Step 3: Visit the Fall Market
After placing the knife in your shop and interacting with customers, your next progress step is to attend the Fall Market. This is where you will get the follow-up conversation about the knife.
If you miss the Fall Market, you may be able to try the Winter Market. If that doesn’t trigger the scene, the Fall Market should return the following year.
Step 4: Continue the Story
Once the market conversation happens, the investigation quest will update and you can move forward with the main clues again.
If you’re on Switch and your crime scene disappeared or no NPCs advance the dialogue, check for the latest patch. A bug was fixed in an update to restore missing quest triggers.
Final Blurb
The investigation in Tiny Bookshop isn’t always about talking to every NPC. Some steps need you to find and display items, or wait for specific events like the Fall Market. Focus on the knife clue, attend the correct market, and keep your game updated to avoid softlocks.
FAQ
Where is the knife?
Inside a garbage bin in town. Search it to find the item.
Do I have to display the knife?
Yes, placing it in your shop is needed to progress.
What if I missed the Fall Market?
Try the Winter Market, but if it doesn’t work, the Fall Market returns the next year.
Why isn’t the quest progressing on Switch?
It may be due to a bug that was fixed in a recent patch. Update your game.
More Tiny Bookshop
