Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I haven’t done a choose your own adventure since elementary school and this brought back fond memories! This was a fun, immersive fantasy mystery that kept you on your toes either with puzzles or the wild story unraveling.
This Who-Dunnit mystery is told by a variety of characters and they all have their own goals, this could be good or bad aspirations but all are interesting. This tale has crazy turns, with a hilarious always updating family tree, and some serious family drama.
I also appreciated the emotional moments in this it spoke about grief in a very honest and touching way.
All in all- i enjoyed this and the story unraveling kept me engaged. The puzzles were a little difficult and sometimes they took me out of the story but I still enjoyed them a lot. I do think this book would be better physically to complete the puzzles in the book!
mysterious
I think a physical copy of this book would be great for the puzzle solving and choose your own conundrum type chapters. However it does not translate well to audiobook version as usually when I listen to an audiobook it is while I am doing other activities and not able to sit down and solve the puzzles that pop up quite frequently, so I am left out and it makes the book more convoluted (since then I can't find out who Destiny mistrusts, names, secrets, and all the answers to the puzzles reveal) with the multiple characters and their different views as well as jumping through time back and forth between the past and the present with Destiny heading off to the island to find out the truth about her family and ending up in the middle of a sorcerers war for who will be the heir to all the power. I think I would have enjoyed the story a lot more without the puzzles because I will say, that the Scruffmore's have one messed up family tree and I ended up chuckling each time the increasing frustrated genealogist had to update it. And once I got into the story, with the different family members, their plots to get the power, revenge, or just find out the truth of what happened long ago with Bramble, the serial killer murders, and who Destiny's family is. I still thought it was a bit too long and drawn out because I would think almost everything had been explained and then you have a raccoon mixing it all up again!
The story is 4 stars, puzzles 2 stars, Narrator gets 5 stars because of the good job done bringing so many characters and twisty turns on a very strange island to life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this book which ended better than it started though I really hated the cha-ching of puzzle time, right when the story got interesting.
The story is 4 stars, puzzles 2 stars, Narrator gets 5 stars because of the good job done bringing so many characters and twisty turns on a very strange island to life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this book which ended better than it started though I really hated the cha-ching of puzzle time, right when the story got interesting.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75/5
This was narrated very well by Dylan Moore. It was clear and crisp.
This was pretty decent, but I felt like it took too long to become grounded in the story. This is probably a "me" issue.
The puzzles were interesting but a bit of a distraction for me. It was a little too busy and there was so much world building being done around the character work and the figuring out of the puzzles.
I found the story itself much better once we got through the lore of the family and island. After that it was quick and clean story with twists I didn't see coming. The plot was clever and fun.
There was just a lot going on for me to really sink into it.
This was narrated very well by Dylan Moore. It was clear and crisp.
This was pretty decent, but I felt like it took too long to become grounded in the story. This is probably a "me" issue.
The puzzles were interesting but a bit of a distraction for me. It was a little too busy and there was so much world building being done around the character work and the figuring out of the puzzles.
I found the story itself much better once we got through the lore of the family and island. After that it was quick and clean story with twists I didn't see coming. The plot was clever and fun.
There was just a lot going on for me to really sink into it.
adventurous
medium-paced
This was one of the most fun times I’ve had reading since I was a kid. It took me back to the Choose Your Own Mystery books which I still have a bunch of. Throughout the book there are places you have options of deciding which way you would go, depending on your answer different things happen. There are also puzzles throughout the book that they encourage you to try to solve although you don’t have to the answers are in the back of the book. If you read on kindle don’t fret there are links that take you to the answer and then can return you to where you left off, making it a very user-friendly read.
Magic, mystery and murder surround the mysterious island that Destiny Whip finds herself on. She solved a riddle hidden in the invitation and is in search of her biological father whose identity was withheld from her by her mother.
This was a lot of fun. The puzzles weren’t so hard to be frustrating but they weren’t all cake walks either. The twists and turns were good and the ending was unique.
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Most Puzzling Murder is the upcoming book by Canadian author Bianca Marais and I couldn't be more excited! It's a unique story where mystery meets fantasy and there's also a fun interactive element - so get your sleuthing caps on, readers!
The story centres around Destiny Whip, a child prodigy and enigmatologist, who is invited to a mysterious and secluded island. There's a locked room, Clue board game vibe to this entertaining story that introduces readers to the Scruffmore family who controls the island and has more than its fair share of secrets ... as Destiny is about to find out.
What sets this mystery apart are the interactive puzzles for readers to solve (don't worry, the answers are in the back, and you can email Destiny for clues along the way!). There are also a few 'choose your own conundrum' sections which give readers two interesting options but don't impact the general story. So, if you're feeling intrepid you can dive into these entertaining extras.
The creepy tale is told by a variety of POVs in this colourful cast of characters - each of whom has their own motivation for murder and desire for power. With shocking reveals, a family tree that gets a few updates, a prophecy, and family tension up the wazoo, readers are in for quite a wild ride. There's a big cast and lots going on in this story, so I'd recommend not leaving too much time between your reading sessions.
This is an ambitious, zany and unique story that gives readers a bit of a challenge, a compelling 'whodunnit' and a bird's eye view into the messy family goings-on in the Scruffmore clan. Preorder it today for its June 10th pub date!
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book which was given to me at the Ontario Library Conference.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Finished reading: May 23rd 2025
DNF at 36% (173 pages)
DNF at 36% (173 pages)
"It's a lie, of course, but sometimes lies are the kindest things we ever tell ourselves."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and MIRA in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
WARNING: it's yet another unpopular opinion!!
Right... I definitely didn't expect this to happen when I started reading A Most Puzzling Murder. I absolutely loved the sound of the blurb with the promise of an interactive plot, puzzles and riddles to tackle and a murder to solve that hasn't even happened yet... I fully expected to love my time with this book and part of me still isn't sure what exactly happened, but the fact is I ended up struggling so much with this book that I decided to make the difficult decision to DNF. I'll try to explain why I had to resort to such drastic measures below.
First of all I have to stress that part of the problem most likely is an 'it's not you, it's me' issue. My reading mood has been particularly fickle lately, and this might just not have been the right time for me to tackle A Most Puzzling Murder. I mean, the concept is incredibly unique and I loved that the story had actual puzzles and riddles to solve along the way. It's definitely something that makes the story stand out, although I do have to say that it's important to get a physical copy as having to deal with them on my kindle wasn't easy (small font, awkward to go back and forth in the text and complicated to take notes).
I can appreciate everything the author is trying to accomplish with this book, and I can't deny that it's a story that you don't see every day. Unfortunately, I personally feel that A Most Puzzling Murder was trying to do way too much, cramming so many different elements into the pages that it became a chore to keep them all apart. I liked the idea of trying to figure out the mystery along with Destiny. The puzzles itself were great, although I probably would have appreciated them even more with a physical copy. Then it got really weird, and the story started to lose me pretty quickly...
I know this is all my own fault, but I somehow hadn't realized that A Most Puzzling Murder was part fantasy. I think I was distracted by the promise of the riddles and interactive plot, but the whole magic element kind of blindsided me. Fantasy isn't really a genre I read much anymore, so to be suddenly confronted by the whole ancient royal family with magic element wasn't really on my bingo card. Especially since the workings of that magic aren't really explained either... I also wasn't a fan of Destiny to be honest, and the ghost best friend was just awkward.
I also struggled considerably with the multiple POV structure. There were SO many different POVs in play, and this made it very hard to make proper sense of it all. To make things worse, I can't say that I liked any of them, and it's mainly a lot of family drama, sneaking around and hinting at secrets in the part I did read. Not my cup of tea, and not what I expected either. I did initially like the idea of the choose-your-own-adventure element, but as soon as I realized that your choices don't have any impact on the plot whatsoever that magic of that element was lost as well.
I really dislike DNFing and I tried to continue reading multiple times, but after one too many time catching myself starting to skimread and still 300 pages left to read, I decided it was best to throw in the towel instead. After all, it was already very much clear that A Most Puzzling Murder and me were never going to get along... If you are looking for something unique and don't mind a challenge, don't give up on my account though; just make sure to get a physical copy if you do decide to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Destiny Whip hasn't left her apartment in a year. When she get an interview for a job she didn't apply for and they claim to know all about her family she sets off directly. She follows the directions and finds herself on Eerie Island which is exactly as described. What started as a hidden message on the invitation quickly turns into puzzles to solve throughout the island and a mystery that Destiny wasnt even expecting.
I loved this book!!! It was a mystery in a fantasy setting with puzzles to solve throughout the book. The puzzles helped to give clues to solve the mystery. I honestly had so much fun! My only issue is that I had it on my kindle. I wish I'd had a hard copy so I could work out the clues on the page. The story was well thought out and gripping, it's easy to overcomplicate these kind of stories but this was just right.
I loved this book!!! It was a mystery in a fantasy setting with puzzles to solve throughout the book. The puzzles helped to give clues to solve the mystery. I honestly had so much fun! My only issue is that I had it on my kindle. I wish I'd had a hard copy so I could work out the clues on the page. The story was well thought out and gripping, it's easy to overcomplicate these kind of stories but this was just right.
What a fun read! Murder mystery, a splash of choose your own adventure, puzzles!
Super interactive book with a great plot.
Only think that would have made this better is if I had a physical copy and could have flipped bad and forth easier.
Super interactive book with a great plot.
Only think that would have made this better is if I had a physical copy and could have flipped bad and forth easier.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this! It was a fun, immersive story that allowed the reader to join Destiny as she solves riddles and clues to find the murderer. The puzzles were adequately challenging, and the reveals were always within the reader’s grasp—just the right sort of mystery.
A Most Puzzling Murder was satisfying, oddly fun in its puzzle-solving, and deeply emotional as the reader joins its characters in their emotional responses to their various traumas. I appreciated that Destiny, though brilliant, was a physically average sort of person, representing the overweight population with sincerity.
The book deals with mature themes such as grief and loss, the death of a parent and child, mental illness, depression, murder, and eating disorders. For these reasons, an adult audience is recommended. Themes of power and control, grief and loss, and death and immortality run through the story with grace and tact.
Bianca Marais did well with this one. I would certainly recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
A Most Puzzling Murder was satisfying, oddly fun in its puzzle-solving, and deeply emotional as the reader joins its characters in their emotional responses to their various traumas. I appreciated that Destiny, though brilliant, was a physically average sort of person, representing the overweight population with sincerity.
The book deals with mature themes such as grief and loss, the death of a parent and child, mental illness, depression, murder, and eating disorders. For these reasons, an adult audience is recommended. Themes of power and control, grief and loss, and death and immortality run through the story with grace and tact.
Bianca Marais did well with this one. I would certainly recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Heavy emotional content including grief, loss, death of a parent, death of a child, mental illness, depression, and abandonment. Profanity: 2 uses of f*ck.