Well, it was an experience. I felt like it was a lot to take in. There was murder, magic, family, schemes, mystery, ghosts just to mention as few things. This book has a little bit of the too much gene. When I thought we were done introducing characters there was another added and don't get me started on all of their ridiculous names. I went into this book thinking that it was an interactive mystery book like playing a Nancy drew game. I am not saying it wasn't that, but there was just too much more going on. I feel like this book would have benefited from just sticking with one persons pov.

The interactive elements do not mix well with the audio listening so I would suggest picking up a physical copy to go with your audio version so you can enjoy the interactive elements better.

It was an ambitious idea and I liked it but I just wish there was less stuff going on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audio book ARC copy! I did not mind the book, just feel it would be better read physically since there are choose your path options.

Based on the description, I was not expecting this book to be a low fantasy novel. I was pleasantly surprised by it originally, but ultimately, the complex magic system, mixed family histories, and puzzles left me confused more often than not.

It was trying to do too much, unfortunately. I think this would have been better if it was drawn out more and maybe split into two different novels? The magic distribution system was far too complex for me to attempt to understand for a standalone novel.

That said, I did enjoy the mystery aspect of this novel. It kept me constantly engaged and trying to guess what would happen next, and most of the time, I was pretty off base. Which, not to toot my own horn, is actually pretty impressive considering I often feel like I’ve read every trope imaginable and see the twists coming from a mile away.

I definitely recommend this book in a physical format. I had originally requested the audiobook ARC and had to request the ereader version as well after I realized just how in-depth and complex the puzzles were. There is an audiobook companion guide available on the author’s website; however, it doesn’t offer the answers, and a lot of the time while I was reading, that is what I wanted more than solving the puzzle myself.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗚𝗲𝘁:
✨ Genius level FMC
✨ Mysterious Ancient Island
✨ Dark Family Dynamics
✨ Complex magic system


Thank you to Net Galley, Harlequin, and The Hive for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I was thoroughly enjoying this audiobook, the format doesn’t work as it stands. I would very much enjoy this as a physical book. Not sure if the ebook format works, depending. I was able to download the puzzle booklet (31 pages!) and I was planning on printing it out if I liked this book, as I love a great mystery and really dig solving puzzles. When we got to the first puzzle, as I was listening I was doing a task that I couldn’t stop, so couldn’t solve the puzzle at that time. I still hadn’t printed out the booklet, so viewed it electronically. When searching for the answer to the puzzle, the audiobook instructions were to flip to the answers, well the answers are not in the puzzle booklet, and they’re not listed in the table of contents in the audio book chapters. There was no way to find that answer. So I just skipped it, without knowing the answer. Then, the interactive part of this story kicked in. Meaning deciding between two options, and forwarding the audio book to a specific chapter. While this is fun in a book format, it’s difficult in an audiobook format. Not just difficult but impractical for me. I listen to audiobooks when I’m doing other tasks such as driving, gardening, doing dishes, etc. So trying to maneuver chapters in an audiobook format is just not feasible for me.
I do like the story (what I’ve heard) and the narrator. I think I would enjoy this in a paper book format.

Destiny Whip, a former child prodigy and world-renowned enigmatologist, receives a mysterious invitation to become the historian for the reclusive Scruffmore family. Drawn by the promise of uncovering her own family secrets, she travels to a windswept island castle where cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and uneasy alliances abound. As she works through a series of riddles layered into the narrative, Destiny races against time to prevent a foretold murder—one she’s uniquely equipped to solve but never expected to face.
Listening to the audiobook narrated by Dylan Moore delivers a captivating performance, yet the puzzles occasionally felt rushed when conveyed solely through audio cues. Without the visual layout of the clues, pausing and replaying became necessary to catch every detail, which sometimes disrupted the story’s momentum. In contrast, the print edition lays out the riddles and hidden messages clearly on the page, making it far easier to engage with each challenge and attempt your own solutions before moving on.
A Most Puzzling Murder strikes a delightful balance between a whimsical, puzzle-driven mystery and a cozy family drama. The Scruffmores’ eccentric cast and the clever intertwining of cryptograms keep readers guessing. Despite the occasional head-scratcher, solving each enigma alongside Destiny is immensely satisfying, and the book’s lighthearted tone ensures an entertaining journey from first riddle to final reveal. It’s a fun, immersive read for anyone who loves to crack codes as much as they love a good whodunit.

“A Most Puzzling Murder” offers a light, quirky mystery with a unique voice, but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. The concept—a crossword-puzzle-loving amateur sleuth uncovering secrets in a tight-knit community—is charming, and Marais’s wit shines in places. However, the plot occasionally meanders, and the pacing struggles to maintain momentum. While the eccentric characters add color, some feel underdeveloped, and the resolution lacks the punch you’d expect from a classic whodunit. Still, fans of cozy mysteries and wordplay may enjoy the clever premise and warm setting, even if the execution leaves a few blanks unfilled.

Reading A Most Puzzling Murder made me think of the merit of pen names. This is such a departure from the heartfelt, social commentary of my favourites How To Make God Laugh and Hum If You Don't Know The Words, that I needed to adjust my headspace before I could truly enjoy this very unique book.

The language is simpler and the story is straightforward, the many characters have such crazy stories and names and the way the story twists and turns is masterfully done, I just needed to put aside my expectations and embrace A Most Puzzling Murder's intricate plot, immersive storyline, interactive puzzles, and "choose
your own conundrums." The option to email the main character, Destiny Whip, for help solving the puzzles AND for bonus content takes the experience beyond just reading! More than a book, A Most Puzzling Murder is a memorable and unique adventure where you get to solve the mystery right alongside Destiny.

I attended Marais' launch party and gained insight into her process and personality and that helped to reframe my expectations, and be prepared that Bianca Marais' writing is going to be as unique and beautiful as she is!

I started out reading the ebook and requested to audio once it was available to experience both. The audio was well done and entertaining. It was clearly stated when to pause for puzzles and for choose your own conundrums. Well done.

𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗨𝗭𝗭𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 by Canadian author Bianca Marais is a delightfully peculiar, genre-bending mystery that will keep readers hooked (and puzzling!) until the last page. This clever story follows Destiny Whip, a former child prodigy and enigmatologist, who is lured to the mysterious Eerie Island to uncover secrets about the enigmatic Scruffmore family. With its "locked room" atmosphere and Clue-like family dynamics, this book is both creepy and fun. What really sets it apart is the interactive element — riddles, ciphers, and even "choose your own conundrum" sections that invite readers to play along. The multiple POVs, shocking reveals, and ever-evolving family tree make it a wild and sometimes chaotic ride. The large cast and layered storylines mean it’s best read in big, immersive chunks. Marais expertly balances mystery, fantasy, and dark family drama in a highly original package.

Tangibly bad. Ridiculous plotting, worse structure and the names, don't get me started on the names. Genuinely embarrassed to have spent time with this, that's how cringe the whole situation is.

At this point Bianca Marais can publish her grocery list and would read it. I swear. She’s such an underrated author. So versatile! Going from Hum and IYWTMGL to witches and now puzzles for the reader to solve is insane! And tip my hat. Definitely a book to read not listen to so you don’t miss out!

This was so original and unique with all the puzzles that the reader should try to solve but I think I prefer a standard mystery. I found it hard to do with the audiobook, and a little confusing to have to go back and forth to solutions and back to the story.

The story itself was fun and the narrator was very good. I loved the setup, and I was hooked from the beginning but I think the puzzles took me out of the story. I found myself a little confused at times.

I still admire how refreshing, original and cool this book was.

I really wanted to like this but I thought the addition of the magical elements was super unnecessary and took away from the mystery & puzzles. The puzzles were fun and I did enjoy the choose your own adventure vibes.

3.75 stars

Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating concept for a book. I was intrigued by the riddles and the "choose your story" parts. There are multiple POVs, plots, characters. I enjoyed solving the riddles and puzzles, but it was overwhelming at times.

This was probably a 3.5 star read, but I rounded up!

This was such a fun book! The idea of the reader solving puzzles along with the characters is so unique and very Nancy Drew. It was also nice that you could skip the puzzles if you didn’t have time to solve them.

The story was predictable at times, but did have some unexpected twists, especially about everyone’s true identity and lineage. I loved the Eerie Island setting with its horse-drawn carriages and old Scottish pub. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all distinct and some were very lovable.

As for the audiobook specifically, I’m not sure how else it could have been done, but it was a little difficult to navigate. I listen to audiobooks while I’m driving and this one required a lot of scrolling through the table of contents and clicking specific sections. As for the puzzles, I didn’t always have time to do them, but it was helpful to be able to download the puzzle booklet from the author’s website so I could see them.

Overall, the book was a little predictable, but the concept was very unique. It was also well-written and left no thread untied. A heart-warming tale about overcoming trauma and a girl searching for her true family.

Such a great idea! I really wish I read this book instead of listening to it- definitely would have made such a difference.

Thank You to Bianca Marais, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Former child prodigy Destiny gets invited to be the Scruffmore family historian. But when she goes to the remote family home, she gets more than she bargained for.

This was such an interesting one. The story is well laid out and the mystery was really interesting. While there are a lot of characters, this does give the book more people to figure out the motive for. The real amazing part of this book was the use of the puzzles. There are different puzzles throughout the book that you can stop and solve. Most doesn't have answers within the story so solving them gives you extra clues to the mystery. There are also a few chapters that are choose your own adventure style. This made the book really fun and interactive. I will say that listening to the audio was a little hard at times when I couldn't stop and look at the puzzles.
The narration was great with this! I loved her characters voices.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

The concept of this book sounded great. However, I’m not sure it was executed well. Not sure if it was the writing or narration. Something was off. Overall. It was ok

Thank you to Bianca Marais, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so much fun to read! As a millennial, the “choose your own adventure” twist combined with the clever puzzles gave the whole experience such a nostalgic vibe. It brought me right back to the joy of flipping through childhood gamebooks, but with a fresh, smart, and slightly chaotic adult edge.

I’ve seen some reviews that rated it lower due to the multiple storylines and shifting viewpoints, but honestly—that was one of my favourite elements. The layered perspectives added depth, and the branching paths made it feel like I was part of the story. You could read this again and again and uncover something new each time. It’s a book that invites curiosity and rewards rereading.

Overall, this was an imaginative, unique, and highly entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously—and I adored every minute of it. If you enjoy immersive formats, offbeat humour, and a bit of nostalgic fun, this is definitely one to add to your TBR pile!

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais is an atmospheric, twisty delight, part gothic mystery, part cryptic brainteaser, and all-around audiobook gold, thanks to Dylan Moore’s engaging narration. Destiny Whip, a brilliant but isolated enigmatologist, finds herself tangled in riddles, ghostly visions, and family secrets after a mysterious job offer lures her to the eerie, windswept Scruffmore estate. Moore brings sharp wit and an undercurrent of tension to every voice, perfectly capturing the novel’s blend of dark whimsy and suspense. With puzzles for the listener to solve alongside Destiny, and an unraveling plot that feels like Knives Out meets The Westing Game with a magical twist, this is an immersive and delightfully clever listen that will keep you hooked, and thinking, until the very end.

What a fun interactive book. We are introduced to Destiny Whip who receives an anonymous letter inviting her to Eerie Island where the Scruffmores live, for an interview to become the family historian. Having never applied for the job, Destiny is wary but once she solves the riddle in the letter she cannot say no.

A fantasy murder mystery where you solve the clues as you read, it was a neat concept that was executed well. There were two puzzles I couldn’t solve 🙈

I received the ARC audiobook to review but couldn’t find the puzzle PDF and so waited a week for the book to come out and purchased it for access to the puzzles. I cannot comment on how good the puzzle package is but I just skipped to the puzzles in the book once the audio got there. Since I clean, workout, etc while listening to audiobooks this wasn’t a good choice for me since I’d have to stop to solve the puzzles so I think I’d recommend the physical book. Otherwise the audiobook was fine and didn’t impede the interactive nature!