Review: A MOST PUZZLING MURDER by Bianca Marais

ABOUT THE BOOK

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!

After she decodes the invitation’s hidden message with ease, the promise of her family secrets being revealed is 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 heritage and 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!

REVIEW by Christina Boyd

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais is a fun, twisty mystery about the magical Scruffmore family living in a creepy castle on a remote island. Destiny Whip, a super-smart but lonely prodigy, gets a strange invite to join them—but things aren’t what they seem. When a family member ends up dead, Destiny has to solve tricky puzzles to figure out who did it before it’s too late.

The story feels a bit like a magical Succession meets Knives Out with all the family drama and secrets, but what makes it stand out is that readers get to solve riddles right along with Destiny. Each chapter switches between different family members’ viewpoints, adding layers to the mystery.

Destiny’s a great underdog hero — smart, brave, and easy to root for. If you love puzzles and mysteries with a magical twist, this one’s a treat!

Bianca Marais, author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bianca Marais is the author of the bestselling The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, as well as the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, and the Audible Original, The Prynne Viper. Her latest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder, was published on 10 June 2025. She taught at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies where she was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing. She is the co-host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published.