This was such a fun and interesting concept. I do think the physical book will be much better, as it will be easier to manipulate the clues and read the articles and other offerings. This isn't Johnson's normal narrative mystery, but rather a novel way for the reader to play detective. I might order this in physical book to be able to better interact and see all the elements at play.

I think these kinds of books are so fun! I really enjoyed this one as well. It has lots of fun letters, newspaper clippings, pictures, etc. to help you solve the murder. I didn't solve it, but once I saw who did it, it did make sense. I think this is probably best read as a physical book instead of digitally, but very fun nonetheless. If you like puzzle, mystery, epistolary type books, then you should really enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC.

This was a super intriguing read for me. I had finished her Truly Devious series and was excited to read another book by her.
I think the concept is super interesting and I liked seeing all the different types of evidence to solve the murder. I think this would definitely be better as a physical book, so that you can flip back and forth. I kind of figured out who the murderer was, but didn't realize I knew until the end. Still liked it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press.

"For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like”
I adore Maureen Johnson’s work, I have been a devotee for years, but this was not my kind of thing.
It was very well done, I did not guess the killer, but the killer, once revealed, made sense, Overall, a good mystery-However, my strong preference is for character driven mysteries- this was not that-it was more of a puzzle or a game.
Not for me, but a well-crafted effort, many will love it.
One note, I do not know how the book will be delivered-but if it is on an ebook, I found it impossible to read the “articles” and typewritten “reports” on my phone. Even putting the book on my laptop, the inability to adjust contrast and size/font still caused me some difficulties. If you are a somewhat aged person with somewhat diminished eyesight, this is a difficult read, for accessibility reasons.

As ever, from Maureen Johnson, a book that has heart but is also great fun to read! The structure of the book offers something new to mystery fans, alongside the illustrations by Jay Cooper. This will make a super gift book for readers of golden age detective fiction.

3 stars

It’s London, 1933. Seven people receive anonymous letters telling them to be at a specific address at a specific time or their secrets will be revealed. When they show up, most are known to each other. They have a drink, then the police arrive, but none of the seven has called them . The police have been told there has been a murder and there has been. One of the seven has been stabbed…while all the others were in the room…and no one saw it happen.

You are asked to take on the case and through photographs, interview transcripts and all kinds of mixed media you are to solve it. Can you do it?

This was very cute. I love mixed media books. If you are paying close attention (which I wasn’t….shocking!) the clues are there to allow you to make a good guess at the murderer. It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Teens would like it.

What a little gem of a book. You are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder is beautifully illustrated and very fun to go through, reading the various ephemera to get clues to find out the murderer. It would make a great gift for a lover of Golden Age Mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the advanced copy.

Upon discovering "You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder" I knew this was going to be an intriguing read and was incredibly fortunate to get an eARC to review it early.

Immediately, the story starts off with us being called upon to solve a case that Scotland Yard is having a difficult time to solve. There are interviews, sketches, newspaper articles, testimonies from other characters, and some poison pen letters.

I loved how the story varied how it was going to tell the story - we went from interviews, to photos, to articles, and back again. We went through the entire cast of characters, getting to work with them and see how their brains worked.

As for the mystery, I enjoyed coming up with my own theories. I look forward to another read through, knowing the solution, and being able to pick up on it a second time and sharing the mystery with book club in the future.

This isn't your average murder mystery, as the title suggests the reader themselves are the detective. When anonymous letters are sent to a group, summoned to a posh townhouse and one of them is murdered, with everyone claiming no one went near him all night, it is up to the reader to determine the culprit.

Inside this book, you won't find prose or long paragraphs. This book and story is told entirely in mixed media. A collection of drawings, photographs maps, letters, interviews are what awaits.

It is a very unique book. I would give this a 4.5 for concept and a 3.5 for execution. I did manage to figure out who the murderer was.

Pick it up if you're wanting a challenge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

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.