Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this and will be picking up a copy as soon it releases. 💕
It was well written and I really enjoyed my time reading it.

Rating 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the realm of literary puzzles, John Finnemore’s “The Researcher’s First Murder: A New Cain’s Jawbone Puzzle” stands as a testament to the genre’s enduring allure. This enigmatic offering is not merely a book; it’s a cerebral expedition, a challenge that beckons the reader to don the detective’s hat and delve into a world where logic intertwines with creativity.

Finnemore, already renowned for his BBC shows and his prowess in crafting Listener crosswords, presents us with a locked-room mystery that is as confounding as it is captivating. The premise is simple yet ingenious: a body discovered, a room sealed, and no apparent means for the crime. The twist? A box of one hundred cryptic picture postcards that hold the key to not just one, but ten murders.

The physicality of the puzzle, with its loose-leaf pages, demands engagement. Readers are tasked with rearranging the narrative, piecing together the fragmented story to unveil the identities of the murderer, the victims, and the locations. The challenge is further compounded by the images on the reverse of the postcards, each a separate conundrum to ponder.

Finnemore’s narrative is a labyrinthine web of clues and red herrings, a dance of intellect and intuition. The prose is crisp, the plot thickens with every turned page, and the illustrations are as much a part of the story as the text itself. It’s a book that refuses to be passively consumed; it insists on interaction, on active participation from its reader.

“The Researcher’s First Murder” is more than a sequel to the TikTok sensation “Cain’s Jawbone”; it’s a clarion call to all puzzle enthusiasts, a challenge that dares you to solve it. It’s a book that doesn’t just sit on a shelf; it lives on your desk, sprawled out with notes and guesses, a constant companion in your quest for the truth.

In conclusion, Finnemore’s latest work is a triumph of interactive storytelling, a beacon for those who yearn for a challenge that tests the limits of their deductive reasoning. Be the first to solve it!

Rating: 5/5 - A must-have for any puzzle aficionado’s collection.