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!

A clever little book. I don't recommend reading it digitally if you want to solve the murder. I did feel that the most compelling bits of character were in the final reveal, and were held off until then. A fun concept to solve a mystery, but not as compelling in plot elements. Your mystery solving itch would be better solved by a Janice Hallett, but this would be a great readalike for a reader who has run out of them. I found it compelling and fun.