Can You Solve the Murder? - by Antony Johnston (Paperback)

About the Book

"There's been a murder at Elysium, a wellness retreat set in an English country manor. You arrive to find the body of a local businessman on the lawn--with a rose placed in his mouth. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. You quickly realize that balcony can only be accessed through a locked door, the key is missing, and everyone in Elysium is now a suspect. Who did it and why? It's up to you to figure it out"--

Book Synopsis

"Follow leads, find clues, and interrogate suspects in this intricately crafted page-turner! Will you make the right calls and catch the culprit, or will they slip through your fingers?" --G. T. Karber, author of Murdle

A LUSH WELLNESS RETREAT FULL OF WEALTHY SPA-GOERS. ONE DEAD BODY. SIX SUSPECTS. CAN YOU SOLVE THE MURDER?

You arrive at Elysium, a wellness retreat set in an English country manner, where you find the body of a local businessman on the lawn. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. You quickly realize that the balcony can only be accessed through a locked door--and the key is missing. . .

YOU are the lead detective, and only YOU can solve the mystery. Your job is clear:

• Investigate the crime scene
• Choose which guests, employees, and local figures to interview
• Decode the cryptic text messages
• Examine the clues you find along the way
• Decide who to accuse as the murderer

Test your sleuthing skills to see if YOU have what it takes to uncover what each suspect is hiding. There are dozens of pathways to pursue: Will your choices catch the killer--or will they be your downfall?
Solved the murder? How did YOU score?

• Track your notes in the blank pages at the back of the book
• Record Clue Numbers along the way
• Determine your Detective Score

Did YOU rank as an Amateur or a Master Detective? Play against friends to see who solved it best!

Review Quotes

Praise for Can You Solve the Murder?

"Incredibly inventive."
--The Washington Post

"A wonderfully intriguing mystery that tests your powers of investigation! Follow leads, find clues, and interrogate suspects in this intricately crafted page-turner! Will you make the right calls and catch the culprit, or will they slip through your fingers?"
--G. T. Karber, bestselling author of Murdle

"Just glorious! An interactive crime novel where YOU sleuth-for-the-truth! After the first chapter, you're in the driving seat of the investigation, by collecting clues and choosing which direction you want the story to go in. . . a must-read for any and all crime fans!"
--Janice Hallett, international bestselling author of The Appeal

"A superior interactive crime story is always a delight....Sharpen your wits: this clever, intricate book is a highly entertaining mental workout."
--The Guardian

"This interactive murder mystery is so much fun."
--Good Housekeeping

"A Choose Your Own Adventure-style novel for willing and agile grownups. . . . Every decision leads to a fork in the road, and most of these forks lead to false accusations that will mark defeat. The result is a more elaborate version of the board game Clue that's as interactive as readers who don't play video games are likely to find.­­"
--Kirkus Reviews

"Crafted with obvious love for its golden age predecessors, this intricate puzzle will delight armchair sleuths of all ages. Here's hoping Johnston has a sequel up his sleeve."
--Publishers Weekly

"A choose-your-own-adventure for grown-ups, and it's a lot of fun. . . A book like this stands or falls on the strength of its story (which is genuinely suspenseful and surprising) and the choices presented to the reader (which are clever and entirely logical within the context of the investigation). A satisfying mystery, well presented, and one that invites multiple readings."
--Booklist

"Too intriguing to resist. . . the story itself is compelling and the interactive structure is executed with remarkable precision. . . . Fans of classic murder mysteries will feel right at home."
--Game Vortex

"This is a story for puzzle lovers everywhere -- but only you can separate the real clues from the red herrings. It's an unusual tale where you really are the detective, and just make sure you don't accidentally die in the process. Antony Johnston masterfully guides you through."
--SJ Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot

"I really enjoyed [Can You Solve the Murder?]. . . a story that grabs you by the arm and drags you in . . . because you're deciding what course to follow, you become much more invested in the unfolding story; this is a unique crime-reading experience."
--J. M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder

"Can You Solve The Murder? is cunning, clever and so, so compelling! I had the best time trying to beat the book and solve the murder. Filled with clues, codes and more than a few red herrings, it's the perfect read for any armchair detective."
--Katy Watson, author of The Three Dahlias

"Nostalgic, compulsive and totally addictive -- Can You Solve The Murder? is a masterpiece of interactive storytelling. Prepare your little grey cells to be given a THOROUGH workout as Johnston serves up a delightful slice of puzzling fun."
--Jonathan Whitelaw, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives

"Antony Johnston's pedigree in both crime novel and game writing coalesces delightfully here. Can You Solve the Murder? allows you to become an amateur Poirot or Miss Marple without ever leaving the comfort of your favourite reading spot. It's a smart take on the interactive novel formula that will delight crime lovers and gamers alike."
--Rhianna Pratchett, writer of videogame Tomb Raider

About the Author

Antony Johnston is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty books, graphic novels, and comic series, including the popular Dog Sitter Detective murder mysteries. His graphic novel The Coldest City was made into the multi-million-dollar blockbuster movie Atomic Blonde. He is also a celebrated videogames writer, and is credited with many franchise-defining titles. Johnston is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers' Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge, and sits on the Writers' Guild of Great Britain's videogames committee. He lives and works in England.