Book Review
A Most Puzzling Murder by @biancamarais

Do you remember the Encyclopedia Brown books from back when I was a kid? They were a choose your own adventure meets mystery type book with a Kid Detective who noticed things. This book reminded me of those childhood books I devoured.

Whats Its Got
✅ forced proximity
✅ closed door murder mystery
✅ cats and trash pandas
✅ a peculiar island
✅ prophecy or a curse
✅ murder most foul
✅ a magical Mansion
✅ child prodigy
✅ one fucked up family

Characters
Bex- ghostly BFF
Destiny- child prodigy puzzle solver
Madigan- bartender/innkeeper
Mordecai- Sorcerer King
Lurk- King’s BFF and loyal servant
Hexabus- Mordecai’s ex wife
Newton- new wife
Tempest- applied for Historian position
Assorted children- Bramble, Darius, Dominus, Evangeline, Angel, Minx

Thoughts
Bianca you are a genius!!! An interactive book, with puzzles the reader can solve, choose your own extra scene type chapters , and murder in a paranormal mansion on a reclusive island all wrapped up in family drama. Whats not to love!!!

While I read this as an ebook- I need a paper copy to fully immerse myself in all the riddles- I want to rifle back and forth through the pages as I piece things together, I want to write in the margins and highlight like crazy

Overall
If you played CLUE as kid, if you love Agatha Christie type books, If you’ve seen Knives Out , if you enjoy solving anagrams, crosswords and any type of puzzle solving YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

Thank you to the author and publisher for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my
Own.

Destiny Whip, an enigmatologist who has not left her house in a year, receives a mysterious job offer to be the Scruffmore family historian, a job she did not apply for. Try as she might, she can find no information about the family, but the invitation is a hidden message that promises to reveal family secrets. The best part? You, as the reader, get to partake in solving the clues.

Destiny is enticed by the idea of learning more about herself and follows the clues to Eerie Island. When she arrives, she discovers why the Island has the name “Eerie” and finds hidden messages, a looming murder, and a magical royal family. As her visions reveal a death that hasn’t happened, she must race to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

Why Jackie loves it
I love a great puzzle, and this book not only has that, but it also allows you to interact with Destiny via email if you need help solving the clues. I did this for the fun of the interaction! There is also some choose-your-own-adventure in the story. This is the most fun I have had reading a book in ages. I added sticky notes in the pages because, even though Marais encourages you to mark within the pages, I could not bring myself to do it. If you are reading digitally, there is a printable to help you work out the puzzles!

I admit this book has incredibly intriguing and smart plot line! The puzzle mysteries, mind games, locked room mystery concept are coming with perfect package. But unfortunately too many things going on at the same time and let's be honest this book too long and even some subplot lines needed to be omit. Because of too much subplots the main plot line starts to drag that makes you brain foggy and makes you hard to concentrate and reach the finish line. That's why even though I had high expectations as a big lover of mysteries, I graded with solid three stars.

Destiny Whip had me hooked right away—former child prodigy, brilliant enigmatologist, all alone in the world, and suddenly swept into the strange, secretive world of the Scruffmore family on a stormy, eerie island? Yes, please! The story sets the stage for something really unique: a mix of puzzles, riddles, a looming murder that hasn’t happened yet, and a heroine you want to root for.

But as much as I loved the setup, the story started to get a little too tangled for its own good. There were so many moving parts—magical elements, cryptic visions, a ghost friend, a mysterious past, family drama, and interactive puzzles—that it started to feel like the book was trying to juggle too much at once. I found myself getting lost in all the subplots, and at times I just wanted the core mystery to shine through without all the extra noise. I genuinely think with a tighter focus and a bit of trimming, it could’ve been a knockout.

That said, I really admire how ambitious and creative the concept is. The puzzles were fun and clever, and I loved trying to solve them alongside Destiny. I just wish the narrative had been a little more streamlined so that all those great ideas didn’t end up competing with each other.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for sharing this mystery book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I love a good puzzle to solve, I love reading mysteries and trying to solve it before the reveal and growing up I devoured any and all Choose Your Adventure books. Well guess what? A Most Puzzling Murder is all that in 1 book. I loved the interactive bits where you got to decide what you would pick and then go to that part of the book so it's really many stories in 1 depending on your picks for each read. This would be a really fun book to give a mystery reader in your life! This and a new game of clue and you have the perfect gift!

I was initially captivated by The Most Puzzling Murder—the interactive concept was incredibly creative, and I appreciated the fresh take on a murder mystery. The early chapters had a fun, immersive energy that pulled me in.


However, the interactive features, while clever, disrupted the flow of the narrative for me. Switching between the story and optional activities made it harder to stay fully engaged. Around the halfway point, I found myself losing interest. The plot became overwhelming and at times confusing, and I struggled to stay connected to the characters and the stakes.


The ending, unfortunately, didn’t offer the closure I hoped for. A time jump swept past key developments, and while I liked the idea of choosing your own epilogue, it felt like a workaround rather than a true resolution.


Overall, it’s a unique and ambitious read, but one that may not satisfy readers looking for a tightly wrapped mystery.

I really wanted to like this book and expected inheritance games vibes however right from the beginning I was turned off. Idk what it was about the narrators style of speaking but it was weird and I just couldn’t get into the story from there. I Dnf this at 35%

This was an ARC from NetGalley. Reading the summary of this book I was very intrigued. A choice your own adventure, interactive, murder mystery. Yes, please. Unfortunately, this story went so sideways. I will say the interactive puzzles were the most successful attempt I have seen in a story. Reading this digitally made it hard to "flip" between the needed pages to work out the puzzles. As for choose your own adventure, this was a bit misleading as the choices presented did not impact the story. You ended up on the same path either way, so it really was a throwaway activity. Now, my main issue...this plot. It started off a bit dark and unconventional, which had me questioning it, but I continued on. Then bam 100 pages in, we all of a sudden have a secret royal family and magic. All which wasn't explained or given any true development. This is the first book in years that I wanted to DNF, but I continued on. The next 300 pages was nothing more than a twisted family tree full of men gracing the world with their offspring, and women continuing to be blind they were just breeders. Then we end with an island full of human cat hybrids. (No joke). This story was just bad and bad for 400+ pages. #netgalley #amostpuzzlingmurder #interactive

While the book was enjoyable, I think a lot of the puzzles ended up being completely useless, especially because a handful of them were red herrings. I also think trying to force some puzzles in, framing them as being written by Destiny's subconscious, wasn't worth the effort. There were also plot points that interested me that got revealed almost instantly, so I found it hard to want to keep reading. I will say the characters for the most part were very well-developed and the epilogue was very sweet.

Thank you Bianca Marais, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

For readers who love puzzles, conundrums, and riddles, A Most Puzzling Murder by Vianca Marais is just the ticket! Destiny Whip receives a job offer to become the Scruffmore family historian, a job she has not applied for and knows nothing about. A recluse, Destiny becomes intrigued when she can find nothing about the Scruffmores on the Internet.

On a whim, Destiny decides to take the job and travels to Eerie Island, a remote, secret island. The weather is horrible, and the Scruffmore family members are not much better. Destiny must find her way around the weird castle and unravel the clues to discover the correct answers.
Destiny realizes one of the Scruffmores will soon dies, and she has little time to figure out who the intended victim is and how to stop the death. Did I mention that the readers must also solve the mysteries, riddles, and puzzles? Yes!

A Most Puzzling Murder is a dazzling read, especially for those who love solving puzzles. Look for the book when it is published June 10th.

A Most Puzzling Murder is a captivating blend of mystery, magic, and psychological intrigue. Destiny Whip, a reclusive former prodigy and enigmatologist, is drawn to Eerie Island by a cryptic invitation to become the Scruffmore family historian. As she decodes hidden messages and uncovers the secrets of the Scruffmore family, Destiny finds herself caught in a web of dark enigmas, family feuds, and ominous visions. Bianca Marais crafts a tense, atmospheric tale where nothing is quite what it seems, and every step Destiny takes leads her closer to an inevitable death within the family. With its blend of puzzles, secrets, and a touch of the supernatural, this is a thrilling read for fans of gothic mysteries and intricate, character-driven narratives.

This book was a such a fun read! It has been a while since I have read a mystery, and this book gave me everything I would want from one! The puzzles were engaging, and did not feel cheap like some mystery novels I have read. A highlight for me was the prose of the book, Marais did a wonderful job of combining the mystery and whimsical elements together. This book is perfect for anyone that is craving a good, cozy mystery. Especially those who loved choose your own adventure books, as there are elements of that in this book! Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a charming mystery that I would recommend.

What an absolutely amazing immersive read that had me feeling like I’d stepped right into a game of Cluedo.
With written characters and a page turning plot, I absolutely devoured this.

I hope I don’t have to introduce Bianca Marais, creative genius par excellence? But if you don’t know her yet, please read on. I’ve loved everything she’s written so far, and that’s saying something as Bianca is the queen of switching genres. From her mind-blowingly deep and fantastic lit-fic works set in South Africa, to her sci-fi short story and foray into patriarchy-smashing witch hood, each of her books is not only brilliant but also hugely entertaining.

Needless to say her forthcoming novel, A Most Puzzling Murder, defies everything we already know about her writing style as she takes on yet another genre: a cozy murder mystery with magical undertones. But it’s not just that, it’s also an immersive puzzle-book, serving up riddles to solve along the way as well as choose-your-own ending chapters that give you different interpretations of what might have been.

I’m not sure I’ve covered it all — because there was a lot to this book! Let’s just say that this is an incredibly immersive and original mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

Now I’m just left wondering what Bianca will be serving us up next… and I can’t wait to find out!

MINOR SPOILER INCLUDED BELOW

This was an odd one. Destiny, who was adopted as a baby and since lost two adoptive mothers to tragedy, receives a letter inviting her to interview as a historian for an enigmatic family. The letter also includes a hidden message suggesting secrets about her family history might be revealed. This is a fantasy murder mystery, including magic and spells, but also a lot of puzzles that the reader is invited to solve alongside Destiny. I liked the puzzling aspect of the book, but I also had some qualms about it. Some of the puzzles didn't really make sense in context of the story, as far as why they would be present, I guess?
[Semi-spoiler alert: The Sarcophagus riddle is the main one here. Why would that painting or whatever it was even exist? So the person who used the symbol could remember what it meant? Or so that anyone with half a brain could figure out what the symbol in the journal meant?! Also I get that Destiny sleep-writing clues for herself was a way to add more puzzles to the story while also allowing a peek at Destiny's subconscious, almost in the way a dream would, but these were pretty complicated things to believe possible to concoct in one's sleep. (I mean, I know the story is about a family of sorcerers or whatever, so it's not realistic in any case, but still.)}]

While I get the intent and I did enjoy solving the puzzles on the whole, their inclusion sometimes felt unnatural or forced. 3 stars though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start by saying that I don’t enjoy giving low scores, especially for ARCs. I recognize that authors put a lot of time and effort into their works, and I don’t want to minimize that. However, I have to be honest in my reviewing, otherwise my reviews are meaningless, and this book just wasn’t for me.

This book, unfortunately, just tries to do too much. The concept of puzzling out the mystery along with the main character was great. My favorite part of this was solving the puzzles that crop up along the way. However, between the magic, prophecies, puzzles, choose-your-own adventure moments, a story over 450 pages long, a ghost best friend, sentient animals, and 7+ points of view, it could really have benefited from some editing.

The Choose your Own Adventure moments, which I was initially excited about, don’t actually have any impact on the story. I was expecting the story and mystery and maybe even the culprit to change with the readers’ choices, like in the movie/play Clue, but the outcome is the same no matter what you choose, so they wound up feeling irrelevant. Also, the characters' magical powers aren’t explained. Frequently, fantasy books explain their magic systems; a good magic system can enhance a story, but here the magical powers and abilities of the characters seemed fairly random. Since we don’t really know what the characters can do with their magic, we can’t make educated guesses on how the crime was committed. The addition of a ghostly best friend that only the main character can see felt unnecessary. I’m assuming the author was looking for a way to have a “Dr. Watson” around for the MC to explain her theories to and settled on the idea of a ghost, but it felt superfluous and disconnected from the rest of the story.

The author had a lot of creative ideas, and I think if she’d settled on just a few, this could have been a really cool story. I would love to read more books in the “puzzle solving” style, just something a little more focused and cohesive.

Started slow but then WOW!! Drags you deeper in intrigue and family or is it family?? Great puzzling murder??

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais is an absolute blast! Combining a classic murder mystery with magical elements, this book is an interactive, fun ride. The puzzles you solve alongside the characters (with hints available via email!) make it feel like you’re part of the investigation, and the plot's twisty nature keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s like Clue with a dash of magic and family drama—deliciously messy and full of surprises.

The family is full of colorful, complex characters, each with their own secrets and motivations, making for juicy family dynamics. The puzzles are just challenging enough to make you feel accomplished when solved, and the magical aspect adds an intriguing layer without overshadowing the mystery.

This book is perfect for fans of puzzles, murder mysteries, and magical realism. I highly recommend it—especially in physical form, so you can take notes and flip back through clues. It’s an immersive, unputdownable read that’s pure fun from beginning to end!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface this with the fact that I don’t usually read mysteries. The premise was just too intriguing to not pick up. A book that makes the reader an active participant in the story? How incredibly immersive!

It’s not a book you can skim and I always find myself wanting to skim through a mystery just to find out what happens. It definitely kept me engaged. It was one of the most unique reading experiences I’ve had as an adult. I will certainly be recommending this for book club.

This was such a crazy story. I love the fact there are five puzzles for you to solve along with some choose your own adventure. It made this feel even more like a murder mystery. If you love Clue, this book is going to be right up your alley. I loved how there was multiple povs throughout the whole book. I cannot wait to have this book in a physical form because being an arc some of the pictures were a little hard to see on my kindle but that honestly did not take away from this story at all. It only makes me more excited to see this book in all its glory. I could not put this book down as each new pov caused me wanting to know what is going to happen. If you are looking into getting into mystery style books, look no further than A Most Puzzling Murder.

A Most Puzzling Murder was an interesting book with an interesting format. I don't often read mysteries, but the promise of actual puzzles to solve within the book was a good draw. The story itself started off pretty interesting, with a unique hook in chapter 1. I appreciated that, cause a good early hook helps pull me into a world.. The story itself reminded me a bit of Knives Out 2.

The first two puzzles came up fast and were enough to draw me in. I really liked solving the puzzles as I read. I didn't need hints, but having the option for hints, and the solution in the back of the book, were good quality of life treats.

Overall, the story was pretty good. I found myself a bit bored with the plot after a while, but the puzzles helped hold my interest.

Ultimately, I looked the book and would probably recommend it to my friends.