The Blackwell DeceptionThe Blackwell Deception

Game Details:  Mystery, 2011

Links:  Moby Games, Steam, Adventure Gamers

Walkthrough Updated:  3/6/2019

Suggested Listening:  Give Up Now (Ash 25)

The Blackwell Deception is the fourth in a series of adventures starring the Blackwell family and a ghost by the name of Joey Malone. Each game explores the back story of the characters as well as a standalone mystery. This game follows on from The Blackwell Convergence, and starts with Rosa Blackwell investigating a yacht that seems to float around by itself at night. There are 18 Steam Achievements, all documented in the walkthrough below. The series continues with The Blackwell Epiphany.

Game Setup

Start by turning on the Commentary in the Options menu of the game. Leaving this turned on for the entire game will get you an achievement at the end Listen Closely, Now.

Ryan and June

Yacht

Switch to Joey and blow on Rosa (1/10), then look at the names on the side of the boat. Switch back to Rosa and go through the door on the left. Flip the light switch and you will automatically go outside to see you are moving. Switch to Joey and go through the door at the top. Try to blow on the ghost (2/10), then talk to him - you will be shot once. Go back inside and blow the keys off the hook, then blow them once more towards the vent in the floor. Leave this room to return to Rosa.

As Rosa, go through the bottom door. Use your dime on the vent in the ceiling, then use the open vent. Grab the key that Joey just blew towards the vent Teamwork. Go back out to the right, then use the key on the top door and go inside. Look at the diagram on the wall and note down the positions of the various letters. Talk to the ghost, then leave here and go through the bottom door again. Go to the far left and look at the knotty pine wall. Click on the 4 knots corresponding to the letters JUNE from the diagram. There is an achievement for getting this right on the first attempt Button Pusher.

Look at the money to see it is wrapped with a label "GCT". Use your phone and combine the notes "Bank" and "GCT" to learn about the Grant City Trust, then search for this in the Oogle app. Return outside, up the ladder and inside again. Talk to Ryan about the bank robbery, then about Boston. Switch to Joey and examine the map gizmo, then switch back to Rosa and keep talking to Ryan about Boston until he says you have arrived.

Go outside and talk to Ryan, then follow him back inside once more. Switch to Joey and use your tie on Ryan. After talking to Ryan in the void, you will be back on the boat. Quickly head outside and jump through the gap in the railing Geronimo!. If Joey only got shot at once by Ryan, you will get another achievement here as well Bullet Dodger.

Jeremy

Home

After taking the phone call from Jeremy, look at the 3 photos on the back wall, then the 2 articles and the poster on the right wall Ghosts of the Past. Now leave your apartment.

Jeremy Sams

Talk to Jeremy about everything, then look at the pile of photographs on the side table. Get Joey to blow on Jeremy (3/10) before leaving.

City Post

Talk to the receptionist, but she won't let you inside. Switch to Joey and go through the door upstairs. Look at the yellow post-it note, then also look at the notebook and press pass, but you can't do anything with them yet. Go back to the lobby. Blow on the receptionist (4/10), then switch back to Rosa and leave to the right.

High Line

Switch to Joey and blow on the detective (5/10). Switch back to Rosa and talk to him about everything

Jeremy Sams

Take the photo from the pile of photographs on the side table.

High Line

Give the photo to the detective, and he will give you his phone number before leaving.

City Post

After talking to the receptionist, use the elevator and then go through the door upstairs. Take the notebook and click on every entry. Pick up the press pass from the left, then leave again.

Jeremy Sams

Talk to Jeremy about the notebook and then about Penelope Haines, and you will get her address.

Haines Residence

Talk to Madison about everything, then send Joey in when you are given the opportunity. Blow on Madison (6/10) and blow on the baby (7/10). Talk to the baby so that he follows you, then go through the door on the left Face Plant. Now go through the back door into the bedroom. Look at the brochure on the chest of drawers, then look at the green pendant on the end of the bed before leaving.

Seagram Assisted Living

Switch back to Rosa and talk to the nurse, then use the elevator to get up to the common room. Pick up the ball of yarn from the table. Talk to Penelope Haines and to the old man. Switch to Joey and blow on Penelope (8/10), then blow on the old man (9/10). Switch back to Rosa and leave.

Haines Residence

Talk to Madison about everything again before leaving.

Seagram Assisted Living

Take a brochure from the stand, then use the elevator to go to the common room again. Talk to Penelope about everything, then go back down to the lobby. Have Joey look at the chart on the desk, then switch back to Rosa and use the elevator to go up to the 12th floor. Combine the yarn and brochure in your inventory, then use this on the door. Switch to Joey and blow on the brochure, then blow on the key that is hanging on the back of the chair. Switch back to Rosa and get the brochure and key Key Snatcher.

Haines Residence

Talk to Madison again, but she won't be helpful - she will say they she is going out for dinner. Go straight back to the residence again and use your key to get inside. Go into the bedroom and pick up the pendant. Try to leave, but Madison will return home. Switch to Joey and go out to the living room. Blow on the thermostat, then talk to the baby and enter the room on the left. While Madison is distracted, switch back to Rosa and leave the apartment Out of Sight.

Seagram Assisted Living

Go up to the common room and give the peridot pendant to Penelope. Keep talking to find a new location.

Lisa Tenzin

Press the buzzer, then head inside. Talk to Lisa about everything, including all of your notes, then leave the building Check out the Competition. Use your phone to call Jeremy, then search the trash can to the left Dumpster Diver. Press the buzzer and go inside again, talking to Lisa once more.

Jeremy Sams

Show Jeremy his phone.

High Line

Talk to Jeremy again, then switch to Joey and offer your tie to Jeremy.

Tiffany

Lisa Tenzin

Ring the buzzer, but Lisa won't let you in. Switch to Joey and go through to the living room, then blow on Lisa (10/10) Blowey Mallone. Look at the photograph on the table, then go back outside and switch to Rosa.

Seagram Assisted Living

Talk to the nurse to find out that Danny Marconi died.

Lisa Tenzin

Ring the buzzer and eventually convince Lisa to let you inside - when you keep talking she will give you the details of two more people to visit.

Tiffany Walters

Look at the buzzers to see Tiffany lives in apartment 2. Try to open mailbox 2 to find out that it is locked. Get Joey to check inside and look at the envelope but it is too dark to see. Switch back to Rosa and put one of your business cards into the mailbox. Get Joey to look inside again and read the envelope Take my Card.

Still as Joey, head through the door on the right into Tiffany's apartment. Talk to Tiffany. Look at the papers on the table and the photo in the shelves, then talk to her again. Head back outside and switch to Rosa. Look at the notice board, then use your phone and search for Rachel Abu.

Cup of Clay Cafe

Talk to the barista about everything, including your notes. Use your phone and combine the notes "STP" and "Temp Agency" to learn about Sterling Temp Placement.

Sterling Temp Placement

Talk to the temp agent about everything.

Tiffany Walters

Switch to Joey and go inside again. Talk to Tiffany about everything, then return outside, switch to Rosa and leave.

Sterling Temp Placement

Talk to the temp agent again. Show him your press pass, then talk to him and select "Resort to blackmail" to learn about Ken Sharpe.

Home

Use your phone to search for "Ken Sharpe" to get a new location.

Sharpe Sound

Read the note on the right, then go through the doors on the left. Talk to Ken about everything, including your notes. Switch to Joey and go into the office. Look at the photos on the wall, then look inside the drawer to see a phone and a piece of paper, but it is too dark to read it. Go back outside and look at the plaque near the door on the right. Switch back to Rosa and use your phone to search for "Gal Friday", then phone Gal Friday. Quickly switch to Joey and go back into the office. Look in the drawer while the phone is ringing and read the letter. Go back outside and switch back to Rosa. Hang up the phone. Enter the office again and talk to Ken about everything (he will mention "Turtledove"). Go back outside and use the elevator to leave.

Tiffany Walters

Switch to Joey and go through to talk to Tiffany. Talk to her about "Turtledove" and she will leave.

Sharpe Sound

Go inside and talk to Ken, asking him to "Confirm it's over". Back outside, talk to Tiffany. Switch to Joey and offer your tie to Tiffany.

Jamie

Lisa Tenzin

Ring the buzzer, then talk to Lisa about everything.

Jamie Graham

Switch to Joey and go through the door, then read the note on the back of the door. Switch back to Rosa and use your phone to search for "Waterloo", then open the door with code 1815. Look at the poster, which mentions the band "Epileptic Fish". Look at the schedule on the wall next to it. Try to use the laptop, but you don't yet know the password. Use your phone to search for "Elaine Appleton", then call her. Next call Sam Durkin and he will agree to meet up.

Cup of Clay Cafe

Talk to Durkin about everything, then use your phone to search for "Munray's".

Munray's

Examine the notes in your phone to see the coroner's report from Durkin. Switch to Joey and go up the stairs to the VIP Lounge. Talk to Jamie about everything - she won't dance, but will mention her dog's name is Benji. Go back to Rosa and leave the club.

Jamie Graham

Use the door to get inside again and use the laptop, entering the password "benji". Read all of the messages, then leave again.

Munray's

Go over and talk to the blonde guy, asking Seb about everything. Use your phone and combine the notes "Jamie and drugs" and "Coroner's report". Talk to Seb about the new topic and he will leave. Use your phone to search for "Ashbless" to learn the name of his most famous book series. Next use the panel to the left of the VIP Lounge entrance and search for "Epileptic Fish" to change the current music Music Lover.

Switch to Joey and go to the VIP Lounge again. Take the Jamie and ask her to dance again. Now talk to her about everything - you will need to choose these topics in particular:

  • Her studies - History - Middle Eastern
  • Her spare time - Books - Ashbless - Anubis at the Gate
  • Her home town - Out west - Illinois - Mattoon

Jamie will now ask you to go with her to her dorm Still Got It. Leave the lounge and switch back to Rosa before leaving the club.

Jamie Graham

Switch to Joey and enter the room - you will automatically send her on her way. Back as Rosa, leave the dorm.

Gavin

Lisa Tenzin

Ring the buzzer, then talk to Lisa about everything. When you leave, you will meet Gavin outside. After being shot, you will wake up tied to a chair in an upstairs closet. Switch to Joey and leave the room, then go downstairs and click on Gavin to hear both sides of the phone conversation. Go back upstairs and into the closet. Switch back to Rosa and talk to Lisa through the door.

Switch back to Joey and blow on the glass to knock it off the shelf. Now use your tie on Rosa, pulling her right twice and pushing her back once. Switch to Rosa and pick up some broken glass, then use it on yourself to get free from the chair Unbound. Leave the room to meet Gavin in the upstairs hallway. After the conversation, switch to Joey and go downstairs. Blow on the photo twice to move it to the next room, then continue left. Talk to Lisa about everything, including the photograph - you will automatically head right.

In the void, go right to talk to Madeline. Offer her your tie and you will return to the living room Back from Beyond. Talk to Lisa until she leaves. Talk to Rosa, specifically choosing these options:

  • Remember Jeremy - Yeah, good riddance
  • Remember Jamie - You're nobody
  • Remember Penelope - Not a damn thing
  • Remember Tiffany - You are no better

Once Lisa and Gavin begin fighting, use your tie on them both Medium Well Done.