A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais (June 10, 2025) Thank you, @biancamarais_author @readmirabooks and @htpbooks_audio for the gifted print and audio copies of this highly inventive and unique novel!
Destiny Whip was a child prodigy, had her PhD before the age most people finish college, and is an internationally known genius who can solve any puzzle…but she can’t seem to overcome a crippling depression brought on by a tragic loss and barely leaves her home. Then a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. Embedded in the letter is a secret message intriguing enough to get her on a ferry to a remote island to meet with a magical royal family she never new existed for a job she didn’t apply for. Once there, she encounters a messy, dramatic, infighting family, an unexplainable death, long-hidden secrets, and a battle for control of the family. And a raccoon intent on communicating with her. The Scruffmore family is a mess – and it’s absolutely delightful.
This is not a book you can read passively – readers are active participants! From solving puzzles to making choose-your-own-adventure decisions about the direction of the story, this book requires our active involvement – and that’s what makes it so fun! There are a ton of characters and POVs (including a raccoon), but they all have an important purpose. Marais helps us keep straight the relationships between the characters by a constantly updating family tree visual (I think it is updated at least 6 times over the course of the book). This book has magic, murder, whimsy and fun – I am really happy I read it!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Narrated by Dylan Moore, the audio adds a fun, layered dimension to the experience. However, because the book includes visual and interactive elements (like puzzles and branching decisions), I recommend pairing the audio with the print copy for full immersion. There’s even a downloadable PDF to support the experience. Together, print + audio = reading magic. (15h 19m)
⭐ Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book Smart Kate 