Beautiful Artwork But Puzzling Execution

Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: May 2023

Team size: 1-2;

Duration: ?

Price: ~S$25 on Amazon

Story

The book invites readers to step into the shoes of a detective, assisting amateur sleuth Medea Thorne in solving 20 murder-mystery-themed puzzles. While the title suggests an intriguing murder mystery experience, the book's cases lack an overarching narrative, instead featuring isolated scenarios for puzzle-solving.

Gameplay

Each case is accompanied by a brief narrative, setting the stage for the mystery to unfold. The book boasts beautiful artwork to complement the scenarios and aid in puzzle-solving.

Puzzles

Unfortunately, the puzzles in this book do not live up to the murder mystery premise or the reader's expectations. Instead of offering a compelling murder mystery experience with evidence and suspects, the puzzles often fall short in terms of clarity, coherence, and logic.

The puzzles were frustrating, ambiguous, and at times confusing, even after consulting hints and solutions. For instance, deducing a culprit solely based on their height, without a more intricate motive or opportunity, felt unsatisfying and lacking in depth.

Verdict

"Murder Most Puzzling: 20 Mysterious Cases to Solve" showcases promising artwork and a concept with potential, but its execution leaves much to be desired. The disconnect between the murder mystery premise and the actual puzzle-solving experience, coupled with frustrating puzzles, hinder the book's overall enjoyment. I ultimately stopped playing after a few cases, reflecting the book's missed opportunities.

Rating: 2/5

★★✩✩✩

You can buy it on Amazon here.