Overview

How do you solve a murder that hasn't happened yet? Destiny Whip is a former child prodigy, world-renowned enigmatologist and very, very alone. A life filled with loss has made her a recluse, an existence she's content to endure until a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. Not only does an internet search for the name yield almost nothing, it's a role she never applied to in the first place! She decodes the invitation's hidden message with ease, and its promise to reveal her family secrets proves too powerful a draw for the orphaned Destiny, who soon finds herself on Eerie Island. It's a place whose inhabitants are almost as inhospitable as the tempestuous weather. The Scruffmores themselves turn out to be not much better, a snarled mess of secrets and motives connected by their mistrust for one another. Their newly arrived guest proves to be just as much an enigma to them as they are to her. While Destiny slowly works to unravel the mysteries hidden throughout the ominous castle, she struggles to interpret disturbing nightly visions of what is to come. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family's magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she's running out of time to stop it. Interspersed with riddles and puzzles that both Destiny and the reader must solve, A Most Puzzling Murder is a one-of-a-kind mystery that will leave you guessing and gasping until the very last page!

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9780778368601

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Reviews

""Utterly unique, immersive and intriguing, Marais has created an unputdownable entry into the murder mystery genre. A Most Puzzling Murder is a twisty, magical delight and I loved every second."" --Frances White, author of Voyage of the Damned ""Filled with conundrums, murder most foul, and more spells than you can shake a magic wand at, this original novel is a puzzler's delight."" --Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid series ""Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Murder She Wrote in this fun, fresh and quirky take on a gothic mystery."" --Jessica Bull, author of the Miss Austen Investigates series. A Most Puzzling Murder is a delightfully one-of-a-kind reading experience. Not just because the reader gets to solve a variety of clever puzzles alongside the characters (bring your pencil and notepad!). But also for a beguiling ensemble cast that are both wickedly fun and unexpectedly heartrending. Bianca Marais has written an inventive story with several twists that you'll never see coming--including a stirring ending that sends shockwaves from her world into ours. --Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Dava Shastri's Last Day

"""The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is an engaging, hilarious, and utterly charming take on the modern witch story. I loved every page."" - Lana Harper, NYT bestselling author of Payback's a Witch. ""The new Practical Magic for a generation of women who value sisterhood, friendship and fierce, fabulous feminism above all else. It was an absolute delight from start to finish, and the kind of book I've been craving for years. Escapist and hilarious but also bold and incisive, this novel has shot to the top of my list of favourites."" -- Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky ""In this enchanting novel we meet a coven of misfit witches--a sisterhood as diverse as it is powerful, though struggling with many of the same issues that face non-magical women: in particular, what it means to be an aging woman in a society enamored with youth. Brimming with magic, mystery and meaning, prepare to be bewitched. --Karma Brown, #1 bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife ""Picture it. Critchley Hackle, 2021. A group of older women living together to share expenses and lean on each other. Sound familiar? But with these delightful witchy equivalent of The Golden Girls, it's not just the cheesecake that has healing powers."" - Steven Rowley, bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for Novel of the Year. ""Richly imagined, gorgeously written, and completely addictive, this exuberant novel is a celebration of womanhood at its brightest, funniest, most honest, and most kind. Bianca has written the kind of insightful, empowering story you can't wait to share with a friend."" --#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs ""A quirky Golden Girls with wands that explores women's empowerment, friendship, and loyalty and addresses racial equality, identity, and gender fluidity. A timely, fun modern-day fable about women who refuse to conform."" --Library Journal, starred review ""Resonant and relevant in its exploration of gender expression, race and racial justice, and age and aging, all with central characters full of wit, heart, and magical secrets.""--Booklist"

Author Information

Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers get published. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies. She lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.

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