First up,
The key component in this murder is the bird's nest soup.
It is prepared and placed in the fridge at 6pm, taken to John at
8pm.
meaning someone could have doped the soup in the fridge between 6pm
to 8pm.
Since the wife and cook would be highly suspected of the
murder,
they will find ways to escape the suspicions.
Since John Ho is a high profile character, the death of him will
certainly place limelight on those around him, meaning Alex
(inheritance), Linda (just got married) and Butler (just got
fired).
Linda: method of murder too direct, wouldn't be her. just gotten
married and opposed strongly by father means she knows what she
wants, killing John has no real advantage coz John MARRIED her and
Alex not guaranteed. not her.
Alex Ho: even if he is the 2nd in heir, looking at him being the
nephew, he most likely is younger than John. he would be enjoying
his time and in no rush to succeed Synergy. and since John is
enterprising and innovative, again, there is no real advantage of
killing John since John could be the reason why Synergy is
successful. not him.
Philips: Appears to joined the party and stayed over the week.
Wouldn't have planned this out without knowing the details of
John's birdnest soup consumption. not him.
Cook: helping Butler by killing John? not him.
Butler: killing John to secure his job? not him.
Gardener: Suggestive. Bavarian speak in German, he has a German
accent and is young. he could be John Ho's child with the Bavarian
woman.. but does it matter? would you kill your father who left you
and your mother? maybe John hired him knowing he was his son?
personal revenge? Since the story surrounds the heir issue and
keeps suggesting Alex and John has no child and they're the only
heirs. I would say the killer is the Gardener who poison the soup
when it's in the fridge (he knows the soup is for John). He will
come out to claim some (or all?) fortune after John's death. (blood
tests and such)
Driver: so little information. nothing points to him. not
him.
TIE UP THE GARDENER!!