This was the first interactive murder mystery that I've read and I certainly had fun trying to piece it all together. You are essentially given interview transcripts, floor plans and a handful of photos and have to figure out who did it. I do however think that this type of book would be best read as a physical book so that you can easily flip back and forth as you solve the crime!!

A fun way to get a new generation interested in reading

The story moves along at a good clip.
The ending is fair, meaning you don't feel cheated by missing clue or unknown characters, not as a grade.

Recommended for kids that think of reading as a chore, lovers of CLUE, or anyone that loves puzzles

What a fun read this was. I absolutely loved how this felt so immersive. The design was really one of a kind and the pictures really gave the characters depth. Whoever loves riddles and escape games will also love this masterpiece.

A who dunnit that lets you play the detective is right up my alley. I absolutely love trying to beat the detectives in solving the case whether it is in movies, books, and tv shows. I didn't realize that this book was geared towards 13-17 year-olds when I showed interest in this book. And there in lies my issues with this book.

This book references drug use (although it does state several characters realize the drug of choice was problematic) by most of the key players. Alcohol consumption, partying, sex (including an apparent sex cult that takes place in the dungeon) are all the background of this story. As a parent of a 14 year-old, it just felt like this was not the best way to present the story.

Now, about the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. In hindsight, all the clues were there. It's not an easy mystery to solve, but if you pay attention, you will find some of the clues. I like the illustrations and the layout of the book. I liked how the confession was included after the end of the book.

I think a full series would be fun to read, however, choose a setting that is more age appropriate next time.

ADORED THIS.

Perfect for fans of Janice Hallett and Murdle, You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder puts the detective's hat on you, the reader. And the way the mystery is laid out would make this perfect for beginners, as there are clues strewn along with an unfolding narrative that is won't frustrate a newcomer. But at the same time, there is a nuance and enough misdirection and clever turn of phrase that makes this perfect for a mystery enthusiast spending a quiet evening alone with a mystery to solve.

Maureen Johnson is such a fun author! In general, I’ve always found myself really enjoying her mystery work and there’s a level of complexity to her culprits that is super engaging. I think I’ve only managed to accurately predict once and I’m always left feeling like the answer makes complete sense, with foreshadowing that matches rather than something where important information was hidden so as to prevent readers from figuring it out.

You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder was an absolute blast, even more so because I adored the illustrative way in which the evidence was presented. The inclusion of notes, photographs, newspaper articles, and hand-drawn maps was a delight, really making this murder mystery truly immersive. I had so much fun flipping through the information, slowly unraveling the why behind the murder before learning of the true culprit.

I also love the way everything was solved—the answer to the who done it coming in the form of a letter written by one of the characters rather than the author simply explaining the events and how they prove who the guilty party is. Truly a master class in some excellent storytelling, especially with how much the reader is involved. And Jay Cooper’s illustrations are exceptional, adding the perfect touch! The only negative thing I have to say about this book is how much I hate the cover, the hand being rather gross to look at and implying a more demonic-esque story, which this was not.

I’m honestly just itching to read another of these and so I truly do hope that Johnson comes out with some more soon!

This was a fun interactive novel. I loved the use of mixed media with photos, interviews, and evidence. The story and ending weren't my favorite though. I think this will be a hit for a lot of people. Super quick, read in one setting book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the ARC!

You are the detective – all the evidence, interviews and photographs are given to you to review so that you can solve the murder. An interesting who dunnit set in 1933 London. The format is fun but you don’t get to know the characters because of it. It’s a fun mind game.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for this DRC.
#YouAretheDetectiveTheCreepingHandMurder #NetGalley

3.5 (rounded up) This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read before, I really enjoyed the layout and the way it incorporated different things like letters, interviews and photos (I really enjoyed the artwork in the book!). It was a short, fast paced mystery that gives you the opportunity to try and solve the case as you read- this was a really good, unique book.

🦇🦇🦇½ 3.5 (rounded up)-Bat Review: You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder
by Maureen Johnson & Jay Cooper

This clever little mystery felt like stepping straight into a Sherlock Holmes-style murder mystery dinner—just in book form! The case was immersive and engaging, with fantastic “police photographs” and detailed evidence notes that made the experience all the more interactive. I had a blast piecing everything together and playing detective.

That said, the length made it a bit more of a commitment than I expected. Because it took me multiple days to finish, I found myself needing to flip back and refresh my memory to keep track of all the clues. Still, for fans of immersive whodunits and interactive puzzles, this one’s a wickedly fun time.

#YouAreTheDetective #TheCreepingHandMurder #MaureenJohnson #JayCooper #InteractiveMystery #Whodunit #BookReview #NetGalley #MysteryLoversClub #BatRating🦇

This was a bit of a miss for me. I do think it was hurt by reading it digitally. I think it might work better as a concept on paper to better allow you to flip back and forth.

I have really enjoyed Maureen Johnson’s other books but this one didn’t have the same sense of fun I usually get from her. It was only fun to try to solve the mystery and the writing itself wasn’t that entertaining. It’s more of a game to play than a story to be enjoyed and I think my expectations were off going into it.

3.5 rounded up! You are put in the detective's seat. Roy Peterson was stabbed in a room with six other people, and no one went close to him or saw him get stabbed. It's up to you to take the interview transcripts, pictures, and notes to figure out who did it! I love mixed media books, so I was eager to get my hands on this. I enjoyed the format, especially the illustrations. It's a very quick read, but I did get a little bored. If you're a fan of unique mysteries, you should pick this up! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is such a delight and so extremely in my wheelhouse that I feel almost biased rating it? It’s a mystery told via mixed media elements (letters, police reports, drawings, etc.), which puts the reader in the role of the detective solving the case at hand, which is the murder of a man who died by stabbing, seemingly with no one present coming close enough to him to have committed said stabbing. This is very reminiscent (to me) of the old “Two-Minute Mysteries” series by Donald J. Sobol and also of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” series, in that it is interactive. The book is written and illustrated by the duo who made “Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village,” which was another easy five star for me. I am absolutely the intended audience for this, because I love a twist on the traditional mystery and I especially love mixed-media mysteries, but I do think most people would have a good time with this.

I just want to say I might be Maureen's biggest fan. Am I in her target demographic? Absolutely not! Will I read anything and everything she writes? Yes. I think that she does such a phenomenal job with long-form and intricately like past and present woven together mysteries, and this novel was no exception. I loved the illustration style and the back and forth between the interviews and the photographic evidence. It was like reading Knives Out. I devoured this book in one sitting. Could not recommend it enough. If you're the parent to a precocious young child, do yourself a favor and pick them up this book today. Ah the things I would have done to have a writer like Maureen Johnson around when I was eleven.

Did I solve the mystery correctly? No! But I was close.

I really enjoyed the very unique format of this book—it’s unlike anything I’ve read before. The use of art, graphics, and photographs gives it a visual energy that makes the experience feel interactive and immersive. Structured as a collection of photographs and interview notes, the book follows what seems to be an impossible murder, and you, the reader, are tasked with examining the evidence and drawing your own conclusions.

Although I didn’t correctly guess the murderer, I had a great time trying! This was quite a lark—clever, engaging, and visually compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this inventive mystery.

This was a fun, inventive, and interactive book. You play the detective of a recent murder. A bunch of clues are given to you through case notes, police interviews, and photographs. The photos reminded me of Edward Gorey. I wish they would have fleshed out 'the creeping hand' a bit more. It reminded me of the board game clue. 4 stars.

The only way to give this book proper justice is to hold it in your hands - an ebook copy won't cut it here.

It's a fully illustrated detective dossier, filled with newspaper clippings, witness statements, police reports, suspect photos, and more. You're given all the "evidence" and have to piece together the solution to the mystery.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and done in a cartoonish Victorian style. You can tell the author and artist really poured their heart and soul into making it.

It's just a beautiful book all round, and it would be a great gift for anyone who loves whodunnits.

Interesting concept! It made me think of books I had read as a child. Lots of fun and I love Maureen Johnson!

You are the detective: the creeping hand Murder

Every time I pick up a book like this, I’m left marveling at the creativity, ingenuity, and sheer effort that must go into crafting such an intricate reading experience. It always makes me wonder how much time and imagination it takes to bring such unique stories to life. As a reader, I feel lucky to experience them.

I’ve always been a fan of books that incorporate multimedia elements, and this one had them in abundance. The format was absolutely brilliant, packed with newspaper clippings, suspect interviews, house layouts, character portraits, police reports, poison pen letters, and so much more. It made me feel like I was truly part of the investigation.

The story centers on a group of people gathered together, when suddenly, one of them is found dead. What makes it even more baffling is that the murder happens in a room full of people, yet no one sees a thing. This gives rise to the question, as to how the victim was stabbed without anyone noticing? This creates the eerie idea of a “creeping hand” being responsible for the crime. All evidence is laid out infront of us to figure out the culprit. Despite all the clues, I couldn’t guess the killer and that made the final reveal all the more satisfying.

I recommend this to anyone looking for unique and creative mysteries containing multimedia elements.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @tenspeedpress for providing the earc of this highly creative book.

A stunning presentation from a contemporary author of a perfectly plotted and tautly woven Golden Age "locked-room" Mystery! Plenty of puzzling, argument, humor, Secrets, even romance. "No, nobody here is dead! Of course not!" Surprise! This tale is so finely put together that only a genius could puzzle it out--and maybe not then. Absolutely adored it, and can't wait to reread it! Such a thrill!