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Click Your Poison #2
Murdered: Can You Solve the Mystery?
3 Unique Storylines. Over 50 Possible Endings. Just one question... Could YOU Solve a Murder?
MURDERED is a mystery novel unlike any other -- YOU are the main character. Follow clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the puzzle before the killer gets away! It's up to you to solve the case in this action-packed, dark and humorous thriller.
You're in a dark alley, a lost tourist in Brazil, when you stumble across a woman's body and a revolver atop a grisly note which reads, "PICK ME UP." That's when you realize you're not alone....
-Pick up the gun. Go to page 7
-Leave it. Go to page 15
What starts as an exotic vacation ends up as the opportunity of a lifetime when you inadvertently witness a man fleeing the scene of a murder. Work side-by-side with US Diplomatic Security agents (DSS) and Brazilian Police Officers inside the lawless slums of Rio de Janeiro -- but choose wisely, no one is who they truly seem to be.
Get MURDERED!
MURDERED is a mystery novel unlike any other -- YOU are the main character. Follow clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the puzzle before the killer gets away! It's up to you to solve the case in this action-packed, dark and humorous thriller.
You're in a dark alley, a lost tourist in Brazil, when you stumble across a woman's body and a revolver atop a grisly note which reads, "PICK ME UP." That's when you realize you're not alone....
-Pick up the gun. Go to page 7
-Leave it. Go to page 15
What starts as an exotic vacation ends up as the opportunity of a lifetime when you inadvertently witness a man fleeing the scene of a murder. Work side-by-side with US Diplomatic Security agents (DSS) and Brazilian Police Officers inside the lawless slums of Rio de Janeiro -- but choose wisely, no one is who they truly seem to be.
Get MURDERED!
370 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2013
211 people are currently reading
1890 people want to read
About the author
James Schannep
12 books154 followersJames Schannep has no tragic backstory.
Having grown up in a fairly ordinary suburban household, with a family who loved him, he was forced to dream up far flung adventures on strange new worlds where the hero can save the day and make a difference through strength of character alone.
Schannep attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in English Literature with a minor in General Engineering. After serving honorably as a Nuclear Missile Command and Control Officer, he returned to trying to make a difference through story.
As a screenwriter, game designer, and novelist, he is probably best known for his Click Your Poison series of interactive gamebooks.
Social Vampire is his first novel.
When not dreaming up strange new worlds, James lives in the one inhabited by his wife, who faithfully remains the patroness of his art, and with his children, who don’t quite grasp what they’ve inherited yet with such an eccentric father.
Having grown up in a fairly ordinary suburban household, with a family who loved him, he was forced to dream up far flung adventures on strange new worlds where the hero can save the day and make a difference through strength of character alone.
Schannep attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in English Literature with a minor in General Engineering. After serving honorably as a Nuclear Missile Command and Control Officer, he returned to trying to make a difference through story.
As a screenwriter, game designer, and novelist, he is probably best known for his Click Your Poison series of interactive gamebooks.
Social Vampire is his first novel.
When not dreaming up strange new worlds, James lives in the one inhabited by his wife, who faithfully remains the patroness of his art, and with his children, who don’t quite grasp what they’ve inherited yet with such an eccentric father.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 27, 2015
This was my first "interactive" book and I had a lot of fun with it. With this book, you, in effect, choose your own mystery. You become the main character and you pick or ignore the clues and choices at your own risk.
The book is divided into a series of chapter-like scenes. At the end of each scene, you are given a choice of actions to take. Each choice leads you into another scene and at the end of that, another choice. In a very real sense, the book becomes a game which you can either win or lose. The first time I read the book, I played it hard-boiled. The second time I read the book, I flipped a coin with each choice and was led down the path by chance to a completely different adventure.
I have to give the author, James Schannep, major kudos for devising such an entertaining mystery. When you stop to think of the number of combinations that your choices involve, you realize that he has, in a very real sense, written 50 different stories all within the confines of "one" book.
This is the kind of book that will appeal to the adult mystery reader as well as the younger "smartphone" generation. All I can say is, give it a try. You might just find yourself slapping yourself on the forehead and saying, "Why did I do that?" Sometimes making the "right" choice is not all that easy.
The book is divided into a series of chapter-like scenes. At the end of each scene, you are given a choice of actions to take. Each choice leads you into another scene and at the end of that, another choice. In a very real sense, the book becomes a game which you can either win or lose. The first time I read the book, I played it hard-boiled. The second time I read the book, I flipped a coin with each choice and was led down the path by chance to a completely different adventure.
I have to give the author, James Schannep, major kudos for devising such an entertaining mystery. When you stop to think of the number of combinations that your choices involve, you realize that he has, in a very real sense, written 50 different stories all within the confines of "one" book.
This is the kind of book that will appeal to the adult mystery reader as well as the younger "smartphone" generation. All I can say is, give it a try. You might just find yourself slapping yourself on the forehead and saying, "Why did I do that?" Sometimes making the "right" choice is not all that easy.
March 10, 2015
As the author, I'm admittedly biased. Of course I think my book deserves 5-stars! But here's why you should too....MURDERED is the ultimate "fair play" mystery novel.
YOU must solve the case, or the killer(s) get away. Follow clues. Interrogate suspects. 3 unique storylines, 50+ possible endings, just one question...can you solve a murder?
As the author of the Click Your Poison series, I hope you love reading MURDERED as much as I enjoyed writing it. This book really put me to the test. I meticulously researched Brazil, combining that knowledge with my own travels to make you feel like you're truly there. I interviewed real-life US Diplomatic Security agents to bring my characters to life. But the real test, lies with you, the reader. Make your own decisions. Be an amateur detective. Get MURDERED!
Check out the book trailer on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNqTa...
James Schannep
August 27, 2023
You step into a room with a murdered woman. You see a gun on the table beside the deceased with a note that says pick me up. Would you grab the gun?
Well, spoiler alert...I picked up the gun. 100 pages later. I was the dead one. *wheeze*
I learned a valuable lesson while I was reading this choose-your-own-adventure book...I am not fit for making out of pocket decisions. There were times where a choice would need to be made and I would simply put the book down for hours then come back to move forward. This book stressed me out. I was not ready for how intimidating it truly was to navigate through this story.
Murdered is a great story. From re-reading and circling back to different life paths, I came to find that this book is extremely twisty. I got to a part where I was stabbed by a character. I audibly yelped from surprise. The only issue with discovering the mind-bending twist was starting from square one to uncover the secrets that you missed before. I wish that James had a resource that clearly wrote out all the different endings and secrets so that I didn't have die forty times from picking up a gun.
I highly recommend reading on of James books for your book club. It is extremely fun discussing everyone's end results. It creates easy discussion. I guarantee you and your members will be wanting to talk about this book for hours. I am hoping to convince another book club to read the zombie apocalypse adventure for our next read.
Well, spoiler alert...I picked up the gun. 100 pages later. I was the dead one. *wheeze*
I learned a valuable lesson while I was reading this choose-your-own-adventure book...I am not fit for making out of pocket decisions. There were times where a choice would need to be made and I would simply put the book down for hours then come back to move forward. This book stressed me out. I was not ready for how intimidating it truly was to navigate through this story.
Murdered is a great story. From re-reading and circling back to different life paths, I came to find that this book is extremely twisty. I got to a part where I was stabbed by a character. I audibly yelped from surprise. The only issue with discovering the mind-bending twist was starting from square one to uncover the secrets that you missed before. I wish that James had a resource that clearly wrote out all the different endings and secrets so that I didn't have die forty times from picking up a gun.
I highly recommend reading on of James books for your book club. It is extremely fun discussing everyone's end results. It creates easy discussion. I guarantee you and your members will be wanting to talk about this book for hours. I am hoping to convince another book club to read the zombie apocalypse adventure for our next read.
February 12, 2018
MURDERED: Can YOU Solve the Mystery by James Schannep is, according to the author, a work of fiction that features actual locations and businesses in conjunction with fictional and fictionalized elements—woven together to give the story a “noir” feel.
You (yes, YOU are one the main characters in this book!) are on vacation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You are counting days to the Carnaval—touted as one of the grandest fiestas on the planet. You are a bit high on drinks and have gotten separated from your friends thanks to the pre-Carnaval crowd. There are non-stop drumbeats behind you—creating a sort of background score to the whole scene you are about to encounter. While roaming the streets and taking in the sights like every other tourist, you stumble upon the dead body of a woman. Just across from her is a revolver with a note that simply says "Pick Me Up.”
Here comes choice #1. Do you pick that gun up or just leave it there? And, that’s when the story begins…
I don’t usually opt for murder mysteries—especially if they involve gore. I read the blurb of the book and found it to be fairly “safe” in that area. Hence, I really was looking forward to reading it—for all the mystery and action. Once I started off with my first choice, I kept going ahead with the story not quite realizing how far I was moving ahead with it. I quickly found that reading the book gave you this feeling that you are actually reading multiple books at the same time—given the innumerable choices you get to make throughout the book—each choice leading you to a different flow of the story.
I found the writing style to be fresh. It’s not always that the reader gets to be “in” the story. I found just a couple of grammatical errors—nothing major—but they were well-separated and didn’t affect the quality of the reading in any way.
The tone of storytelling is quite youthful and upbeat. To be quite honest, however, though I enjoyed clicking on the choices and seeing where they landed me in the story—toward the end—the available choices could not keep me engrossed. I am not implying that the story was not engaging enough. I just feel that the chapters could have been a little longer—just enough to flesh up the characters a little more—before the choices were sprung on me. Also, some chapters just gave me one choice and still the text underneath it read “Make Your Choice.” That made me feel like there needed to be other alternative routes I could have been offered, but I had to go with the one choice that the author wanted me to take.
As an example, here’s an excerpt from the book:
Once out of earshot of the others, Danly says, "I need to spend a few hours at the consulate. Can you take a taxi back to the hotel? Take a shower, maybe a nap—I’ll check on Bertram and ring your room when I get back.”
“Sure thing,” you reply.
>Back to Rio
MAKE YOUR CHOICE
I did expect so much more from the story itself. Once you have reached the end of the book, it offers the reader a choice to start over with different choices. I went through the choices once more and went through the whole “new” version of the story. But, I did not find both versions compelling enough for me to go through the next sets of options and see where the story went from there.
I must add here that it is an interesting approach to mystery writing. One cannot deny that. However, it is the short length of the chapters and the lack of substantial character development that influenced my rating for the most part. I wish the story gave more of an opportunity for the readers to get emotionally invested in the characters more. However, I would like to stress that this is just my personal opinion, as I have seen many other sites showcasing 5-star reviews of the same book. So, I guess it is just a matter of personal preference. I think the book will resonate with the YA-lovers the most.
You (yes, YOU are one the main characters in this book!) are on vacation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You are counting days to the Carnaval—touted as one of the grandest fiestas on the planet. You are a bit high on drinks and have gotten separated from your friends thanks to the pre-Carnaval crowd. There are non-stop drumbeats behind you—creating a sort of background score to the whole scene you are about to encounter. While roaming the streets and taking in the sights like every other tourist, you stumble upon the dead body of a woman. Just across from her is a revolver with a note that simply says "Pick Me Up.”
Here comes choice #1. Do you pick that gun up or just leave it there? And, that’s when the story begins…
I don’t usually opt for murder mysteries—especially if they involve gore. I read the blurb of the book and found it to be fairly “safe” in that area. Hence, I really was looking forward to reading it—for all the mystery and action. Once I started off with my first choice, I kept going ahead with the story not quite realizing how far I was moving ahead with it. I quickly found that reading the book gave you this feeling that you are actually reading multiple books at the same time—given the innumerable choices you get to make throughout the book—each choice leading you to a different flow of the story.
I found the writing style to be fresh. It’s not always that the reader gets to be “in” the story. I found just a couple of grammatical errors—nothing major—but they were well-separated and didn’t affect the quality of the reading in any way.
The tone of storytelling is quite youthful and upbeat. To be quite honest, however, though I enjoyed clicking on the choices and seeing where they landed me in the story—toward the end—the available choices could not keep me engrossed. I am not implying that the story was not engaging enough. I just feel that the chapters could have been a little longer—just enough to flesh up the characters a little more—before the choices were sprung on me. Also, some chapters just gave me one choice and still the text underneath it read “Make Your Choice.” That made me feel like there needed to be other alternative routes I could have been offered, but I had to go with the one choice that the author wanted me to take.
As an example, here’s an excerpt from the book:
Once out of earshot of the others, Danly says, "I need to spend a few hours at the consulate. Can you take a taxi back to the hotel? Take a shower, maybe a nap—I’ll check on Bertram and ring your room when I get back.”
“Sure thing,” you reply.
>Back to Rio
MAKE YOUR CHOICE
I did expect so much more from the story itself. Once you have reached the end of the book, it offers the reader a choice to start over with different choices. I went through the choices once more and went through the whole “new” version of the story. But, I did not find both versions compelling enough for me to go through the next sets of options and see where the story went from there.
I must add here that it is an interesting approach to mystery writing. One cannot deny that. However, it is the short length of the chapters and the lack of substantial character development that influenced my rating for the most part. I wish the story gave more of an opportunity for the readers to get emotionally invested in the characters more. However, I would like to stress that this is just my personal opinion, as I have seen many other sites showcasing 5-star reviews of the same book. So, I guess it is just a matter of personal preference. I think the book will resonate with the YA-lovers the most.
May 1, 2014
This book is awesome in that you get to pick what is next after every chapter, and the longest chapter I had was 4 or 5 pages. This book is almost like a game where you get to be Sherlock Holmes. I went back to the beginning 3 times before I was happy at where I was headed. Sometimes I knew immediately what I wanted to do and sometimes I just closed my eyes and picked.
Throughout this book I ended up as the murderer (yes hangs my head in shame), I ended up being killed numerous times and in the end I helped solve the murder.
I love a good long book but this one is fun. It is a book you can pick up one night and loose track of all time. Kudo to James because this is an innovative way to write a book and it is one that I will continue to come back to until I solve all 50+ ways.
I did receive this as a gift from the author for my honest review.
Throughout this book I ended up as the murderer (yes hangs my head in shame), I ended up being killed numerous times and in the end I helped solve the murder.
I love a good long book but this one is fun. It is a book you can pick up one night and loose track of all time. Kudo to James because this is an innovative way to write a book and it is one that I will continue to come back to until I solve all 50+ ways.
I did receive this as a gift from the author for my honest review.
Read
May 26, 2025I had choice stress the entire time!!! but hey I only died once. it was very fun to buddy read this with my bff and see if we would make the same choices!
June 9, 2014
This isn’t a standard book review of “Murdered” by James Schannep because “Murdered” isn’t your standard book. Schannep employs a unique storytelling technique allowing the reader, by providing alternate options at the end of the chapters, to select how the story will unfold. It’s fascinating and intriguing and I went through different scenarios multiple times just to see how they differed based on my alternate selections. How the story begins is the only consistent element of the story as Schannep weaves multiple twist and turns with as many outcomes. This is a story tree gone wild with as many branches as a thousand-year-old oak.
“Murdered” gets high marks for its ingenuity. It’s written in the second person which is unheard of in fiction. The only way for the evolution of the story to work is for the reader to be the main character in the book as the options are based on how you, the reader, choose to go. Options like “[You] pick up the gun” or “[You] Leave it” are how the reader moves the story forward. It’s fun and dynamic and similar to the Rubik’s Cube provides an interesting and fun challenge, that is until you’ve figured it out and are no longer enthralled by the shiny object.
The downside to this technique is a complete lack of emotional involvement with the characters as well as missing any of the classic elements that capture readers’ interest. Outside of the novelty there’s no reason to keep reading. It is an inherent drawback to this form as you’re told what to you and how to feel (“You’re stunned into silence.”) and that may not even have been an objective but as a reader I want to want to know more and not just because it’s a shiny, new toy.
There’s no character development and too many inciting incidents to care what happens. A character is your enemy in one scenario and your ally in another depending on which path you’re on and while the setting is consistent the action and how the characters react is, again, predicated on which path you take. Assuming you only go down one path (as I did on my first read through) it is still difficult to find any connection with the characters or the story because (1) you are a character in the book and because you, the person, aren’t really you, the character, there’s no way to understand how and why things unfold and (2) it’s written (I’m assuming) intentionally this way so each potential scenario unfolds appropriately.
I must give Schannep credit as creating this was no easy task. This would never have been an option pre-ebooks and he must have been thrilled to know he could exploit the capabilities in a new and unique way. There were a couple scenarios that didn’t track like a reference I, as a character in the book, think “leave it to an engineer” when the track I followed didn’t say he was an engineer prior. Again, considering how well he wove the multiple permutations I can let that and the few other inconsistencies slide.
This is a very clean book in that I didn’t find any type-o’s or glaring grammatical issues. There are enough passive verbs and unnecessary use of “that” for me to recommend Schannep be more aware of them in future work but they aren’t rampant like in most modern fiction. It’s technically sound and aside from one paragraph (in 7000+ Kindle pages) with two different people’s dialogue, whomever did the copy editing did a great job.
Overall, if you’re looking for a unique reading experience I would highly recommend “Murdered”. It’s fun and dynamic and peaks a curiosity not normally touched in a standard book. I think of it as Mad Libs for fiction. However, if you like getting emotionally involved with characters and seeing their dynamic change and evolve within a well crafted plot this probably isn’t the book for you.
“Murdered” gets high marks for its ingenuity. It’s written in the second person which is unheard of in fiction. The only way for the evolution of the story to work is for the reader to be the main character in the book as the options are based on how you, the reader, choose to go. Options like “[You] pick up the gun” or “[You] Leave it” are how the reader moves the story forward. It’s fun and dynamic and similar to the Rubik’s Cube provides an interesting and fun challenge, that is until you’ve figured it out and are no longer enthralled by the shiny object.
The downside to this technique is a complete lack of emotional involvement with the characters as well as missing any of the classic elements that capture readers’ interest. Outside of the novelty there’s no reason to keep reading. It is an inherent drawback to this form as you’re told what to you and how to feel (“You’re stunned into silence.”) and that may not even have been an objective but as a reader I want to want to know more and not just because it’s a shiny, new toy.
There’s no character development and too many inciting incidents to care what happens. A character is your enemy in one scenario and your ally in another depending on which path you’re on and while the setting is consistent the action and how the characters react is, again, predicated on which path you take. Assuming you only go down one path (as I did on my first read through) it is still difficult to find any connection with the characters or the story because (1) you are a character in the book and because you, the person, aren’t really you, the character, there’s no way to understand how and why things unfold and (2) it’s written (I’m assuming) intentionally this way so each potential scenario unfolds appropriately.
I must give Schannep credit as creating this was no easy task. This would never have been an option pre-ebooks and he must have been thrilled to know he could exploit the capabilities in a new and unique way. There were a couple scenarios that didn’t track like a reference I, as a character in the book, think “leave it to an engineer” when the track I followed didn’t say he was an engineer prior. Again, considering how well he wove the multiple permutations I can let that and the few other inconsistencies slide.
This is a very clean book in that I didn’t find any type-o’s or glaring grammatical issues. There are enough passive verbs and unnecessary use of “that” for me to recommend Schannep be more aware of them in future work but they aren’t rampant like in most modern fiction. It’s technically sound and aside from one paragraph (in 7000+ Kindle pages) with two different people’s dialogue, whomever did the copy editing did a great job.
Overall, if you’re looking for a unique reading experience I would highly recommend “Murdered”. It’s fun and dynamic and peaks a curiosity not normally touched in a standard book. I think of it as Mad Libs for fiction. However, if you like getting emotionally involved with characters and seeing their dynamic change and evolve within a well crafted plot this probably isn’t the book for you.
February 23, 2017
Rating overview
Writing: ★★★★ 1/2
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★ 1/2
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4.0)
---
This book was given to me in a Giveaway.
The story takes place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil about a tourist who takes the wrong street only to find himself caught up in a murder investigation that winds up involving the local police, US state department and drug dealers. It's a pick your path book where the next pages are based off of your decisions.
The critical points
Writing: James writes quite well, editing all matches up and I found there were many quotable areas along the journey. The great part about this book, even though I mistakenly killed myself (I always die in pick your adventure books), there is always a reason to go back and start all over again. The chapters can be short and read in small chunks, perfect for travel or those looking for micro escapes.
Story: The premise is great, finding out more and more about the lead character (played by you) as the story unfolds. The only thing was trying to get a sense of all the things he was encountering. It's hard to do in a fast paced ride like this one, but I only got some cursory feel for the area in the beginning. I'll probably find out more on my next run through.
Characters: The characters all start to take more shape the further I read, but there wasn't a great sense of what makes most of them tick beyond putting my own imagination to it. If anything, I'd like to know more about the character we're set to follow around so I "know who I am" to some degree. Granted, my choices make me decide, but I'd like a little guidance in the acting my brain is doing.
Appearance: I like the cover, it reminds me of a throwback drawn cover like murder mysteries used to have when I looked through my parents book shelves. It stands out and draws a reader in.
Writing: ★★★★ 1/2
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★ 1/2
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4.0)
---
This book was given to me in a Giveaway.
The story takes place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil about a tourist who takes the wrong street only to find himself caught up in a murder investigation that winds up involving the local police, US state department and drug dealers. It's a pick your path book where the next pages are based off of your decisions.
The critical points
Writing: James writes quite well, editing all matches up and I found there were many quotable areas along the journey. The great part about this book, even though I mistakenly killed myself (I always die in pick your adventure books), there is always a reason to go back and start all over again. The chapters can be short and read in small chunks, perfect for travel or those looking for micro escapes.
Story: The premise is great, finding out more and more about the lead character (played by you) as the story unfolds. The only thing was trying to get a sense of all the things he was encountering. It's hard to do in a fast paced ride like this one, but I only got some cursory feel for the area in the beginning. I'll probably find out more on my next run through.
Characters: The characters all start to take more shape the further I read, but there wasn't a great sense of what makes most of them tick beyond putting my own imagination to it. If anything, I'd like to know more about the character we're set to follow around so I "know who I am" to some degree. Granted, my choices make me decide, but I'd like a little guidance in the acting my brain is doing.
Appearance: I like the cover, it reminds me of a throwback drawn cover like murder mysteries used to have when I looked through my parents book shelves. It stands out and draws a reader in.
September 14, 2015
I received this copy from a giveaway. The book looks promising and it's interesting because you feel like you're playing a game where you make your own decisions and change your path according to what you chose. I just got one good ending and I thought that it was too fast, I think it should be a bit longer so I could enjoy more of the story before trying to get another ending. There were a few portuguese mistakes, but nothing that could change the enjoyment. The book is great and deserve to be read.
November 11, 2014
A delightful fun read. I adore the interactive and it's perfect for lovers of thrillers.
I've died twice.
I've died twice.
January 19, 2022
For mystery lovers everywhere! This is a really different and fun way to dive into a story. Three different story lines and lots of turns and twists and choices and endings. It all begins with you as the main character. You are in Rio to enjoy Carnival when you are separated from your friends and find a woman's body.....there's a gun, with the note Pick Me Up...what do you do? And so it goes from there. I wasn't sure about this in the beginning, and really enjoyed the style of writing. I felt like I was watching a favorite mystery show where I made the story unfold by my decisions...then I had to go back and try a different way, because I was so intrigued!
August 1, 2019
3.5 stars
Made it through every single one of the chapters whoop.
Definitely an entertaining read.
Made it through every single one of the chapters whoop.
Definitely an entertaining read.
August 21, 2024
SOLVED! This was fun. Although the storyline isn't something I would normally read, I enjoyed jumping around and choosing my own path throughout the story.
July 3, 2025
For a "game" type book, this one is a little long. The choices are rather obvious unless you want to do something reckless. As just a civilian on vacation your realistic choices are minimal.
August 27, 2023
S/O to Virtual Readers Book Club for getting me back into "choose your own ending" books. This was filled with nostalgia just from reading books like this growing up. While the book itself was pretty average, I LOVED the idea of using a book like this for a book club!
April 15, 2015
Note: I was contacted by James Schannep, author of MURDERED, and given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Here is said review.
When I was a kid, I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books. Written in second person (“You step outside and survey the landscape…”), the stories felt as if I lived through them, and at every decision-point, I was given options. “If you choose to follow the strange man, go to page 23. If you choose to stay with your injured teammate, go to page 79.” It was tons of fun, going through the same adventure, but a different storyline, several times, to see which decision path gave me the best ending—or at least kept me alive.
James Schannep’s Click Your Poison books is based on the same idea, but is written specifically for grown-ups. Sound fun? It is. Because the book is written for grown-ups, it includes a more complex plot, and some adult-themed content.
Plot Summary
MURDERED involves, as the title implies, a murder. The events take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which the holiday of Carnaval coincides with the Energy Summit, a meeting of world leaders in renewable energy. You become a Corroborating Witness as you track down answers about why the victim was killed and who killed her. Agents Danly and Bertram, of the US Diplomatic Security, head the investigation as they hunt a trained killer, the deceased woman’s slippery fiancé, and answers that seem to dance in and out of the shadows. There is a lot more here than meets the eye, and, as an author’s note points out, although there are many endings, there is only one best ending.
What I Didn’t Like
Some things that decreased my enjoyment of the story were the bad language and the sexual content. Now, I can take a few D words or F bombs, but when that kind of language becomes repetitious, it gets wearisome, and, unfortunately, Agents Danly and Bertram are liberal talkers. ‘Nuff said. Also, the promiscuity and sexual undertone of Carnaval is mentioned a few times. Again, in the context of the story, I can pass over that. However, one of the story lines involves a sexual experience and, while the actual act itself is not described, the descriptions leading up to it are quite sexually charged. Because of my personal discomfort with this degree of language and sex, I knocked off a star.
Also, as some other reviewers have noticed, the depth of character is not as strong as you might get in a traditional novel, and I sometimes got Agents Danly and Bertram mixed up because their personalities seemed essentially the same. However, since this is not a traditional novel, I can forgive that for the sake of the mystery.
What I Did Like
Some things that I felt were well done include the descriptions of place and culture, the details about the Energy Summit, and the overall writing quality. I’ve never been to Brazil, so I do not know if Mr. Schannep’s descriptions are accurate, but they were certainly quite vivid. I rarely get a strong sense of a culture when I read a book set in a foreign country—I get smudges of scene and cultural background, but nothing strong. MURDERED, however, made me feel as if I had taken a tour in Brazil. The information behind the Energy Summit, with discussions of various types of renewable energy, may seem to some to be a detour from the story. As for me, I loved it. I’m sure some of it was made up, but I got the feel that much of the information is based on actual fact, and I was fascinated by the problems and potential solutions that the author covered. With all of this technical detail mixed in amidst a complex mystery, I was both entertained and enlightened.
My Recommendation
If language and sexuality bother you, I would say this story may not be your cup of tea. Otherwise, I would recommend Mr. Schannep’s Click Your Poison Books to any readers who wish for an adult version of the childhood choose-your-own-adventure series. And I wish you better luck than I had. I died on my first storyline. Choose wisely.
You have two choices. Walk away and read something else. Or see if you can survive MURDERED. What will you choose?
When I was a kid, I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books. Written in second person (“You step outside and survey the landscape…”), the stories felt as if I lived through them, and at every decision-point, I was given options. “If you choose to follow the strange man, go to page 23. If you choose to stay with your injured teammate, go to page 79.” It was tons of fun, going through the same adventure, but a different storyline, several times, to see which decision path gave me the best ending—or at least kept me alive.
James Schannep’s Click Your Poison books is based on the same idea, but is written specifically for grown-ups. Sound fun? It is. Because the book is written for grown-ups, it includes a more complex plot, and some adult-themed content.
Plot Summary
MURDERED involves, as the title implies, a murder. The events take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which the holiday of Carnaval coincides with the Energy Summit, a meeting of world leaders in renewable energy. You become a Corroborating Witness as you track down answers about why the victim was killed and who killed her. Agents Danly and Bertram, of the US Diplomatic Security, head the investigation as they hunt a trained killer, the deceased woman’s slippery fiancé, and answers that seem to dance in and out of the shadows. There is a lot more here than meets the eye, and, as an author’s note points out, although there are many endings, there is only one best ending.
What I Didn’t Like
Some things that decreased my enjoyment of the story were the bad language and the sexual content. Now, I can take a few D words or F bombs, but when that kind of language becomes repetitious, it gets wearisome, and, unfortunately, Agents Danly and Bertram are liberal talkers. ‘Nuff said. Also, the promiscuity and sexual undertone of Carnaval is mentioned a few times. Again, in the context of the story, I can pass over that. However, one of the story lines involves a sexual experience and, while the actual act itself is not described, the descriptions leading up to it are quite sexually charged. Because of my personal discomfort with this degree of language and sex, I knocked off a star.
Also, as some other reviewers have noticed, the depth of character is not as strong as you might get in a traditional novel, and I sometimes got Agents Danly and Bertram mixed up because their personalities seemed essentially the same. However, since this is not a traditional novel, I can forgive that for the sake of the mystery.
What I Did Like
Some things that I felt were well done include the descriptions of place and culture, the details about the Energy Summit, and the overall writing quality. I’ve never been to Brazil, so I do not know if Mr. Schannep’s descriptions are accurate, but they were certainly quite vivid. I rarely get a strong sense of a culture when I read a book set in a foreign country—I get smudges of scene and cultural background, but nothing strong. MURDERED, however, made me feel as if I had taken a tour in Brazil. The information behind the Energy Summit, with discussions of various types of renewable energy, may seem to some to be a detour from the story. As for me, I loved it. I’m sure some of it was made up, but I got the feel that much of the information is based on actual fact, and I was fascinated by the problems and potential solutions that the author covered. With all of this technical detail mixed in amidst a complex mystery, I was both entertained and enlightened.
My Recommendation
If language and sexuality bother you, I would say this story may not be your cup of tea. Otherwise, I would recommend Mr. Schannep’s Click Your Poison Books to any readers who wish for an adult version of the childhood choose-your-own-adventure series. And I wish you better luck than I had. I died on my first storyline. Choose wisely.
You have two choices. Walk away and read something else. Or see if you can survive MURDERED. What will you choose?
March 14, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Until holodeck technology is perfected, text--with its unlimited casting and special effects budget--will be the most indispensable tool for interactive fiction. The old Choose Your Own Adventure books constitute some great childhood memories for me, even if I can't recall the details of a single story I read. Half the fun was just indulging in the variety of outcomes available, even if that just meant taking the "wrong" paths to meet hilarious and/or grisly ends.
Does the formula work with adult-oriented content? Kinda. Some of the weaknesses of the format are still there, particularly the fact that "you" are, by necessity, pretty dull, limited to generic reactions (and limited choices) to what goes on around you. And the other characters around you would have much more potential for interest if an omniscient narrator, or a limited narrator with a point of view, could get inside their heads once in awhile.
That leaves the plot, and here the author has made some adjustments to the formula. There are a few different narrative pathways you can take, all of which contain relevant information not available in the other paths, so that the book is really designed to be read several times in order to get a sense of the whole story. A few loops are available in which you can indulge in some extra sex and violence without messing up your destination. But more innovatively, some pathways are tainted with misinformation, and "you" and your comrades can jump to logical, but wrong, conclusions. There are a number of endings in which you can "solve" the mystery, but with a sense of dissatisfaction that clearly pieces are missing from the solution.
On the downside of that, there are some sizable chunks of narrative in which you have NO chance of solving the mystery, and in fact a fairly innocuous choice in the first half of the narrative puts you irrevocably into that territory. This is very frustrating if there's a part of you that sees this exercise as a test of your decision-making skills. But really, getting the hunches on the "wrong" paths that kept getting me killed was more fun than having them eventually confirmed in a happy ending.
If you do not have at least somewhat of an obsessive nature, you may deduct at least one star from this review for your own purposes.
Until holodeck technology is perfected, text--with its unlimited casting and special effects budget--will be the most indispensable tool for interactive fiction. The old Choose Your Own Adventure books constitute some great childhood memories for me, even if I can't recall the details of a single story I read. Half the fun was just indulging in the variety of outcomes available, even if that just meant taking the "wrong" paths to meet hilarious and/or grisly ends.
Does the formula work with adult-oriented content? Kinda. Some of the weaknesses of the format are still there, particularly the fact that "you" are, by necessity, pretty dull, limited to generic reactions (and limited choices) to what goes on around you. And the other characters around you would have much more potential for interest if an omniscient narrator, or a limited narrator with a point of view, could get inside their heads once in awhile.
That leaves the plot, and here the author has made some adjustments to the formula. There are a few different narrative pathways you can take, all of which contain relevant information not available in the other paths, so that the book is really designed to be read several times in order to get a sense of the whole story. A few loops are available in which you can indulge in some extra sex and violence without messing up your destination. But more innovatively, some pathways are tainted with misinformation, and "you" and your comrades can jump to logical, but wrong, conclusions. There are a number of endings in which you can "solve" the mystery, but with a sense of dissatisfaction that clearly pieces are missing from the solution.
On the downside of that, there are some sizable chunks of narrative in which you have NO chance of solving the mystery, and in fact a fairly innocuous choice in the first half of the narrative puts you irrevocably into that territory. This is very frustrating if there's a part of you that sees this exercise as a test of your decision-making skills. But really, getting the hunches on the "wrong" paths that kept getting me killed was more fun than having them eventually confirmed in a happy ending.
If you do not have at least somewhat of an obsessive nature, you may deduct at least one star from this review for your own purposes.
July 14, 2014
I remember many many years ago, when I was young, reading a book that had multiple endings and you had the option of choosing different paths for a totally different result. As I recall that book was a murder story as well although I can't recall the title of the book. Thus when I saw this book and read the synopsis and a couple of reviews I was intrigued and bought it on a whim.
I wasn't disappointed at all. This is one of those books that utilises modern technology to provide a seamless reading experience. Simply clicking on one of the links at the end of each scene will take you somewhere else and if you're not careful you could wind up dead in a very short time. We start in Rio when our hero, that's you by the way, stumbles across a still warm body, a gun and the fleeting glimpse of someone who might be the murderer. As you make your selections you're introduced to investigators from the US embassy who're keen to catch the murderer. You are also a suspect in the murder too so be careful with those links. If you wind up dead or charged with murder you can always go back and start again. I managed to get all the way through and am going to start again one rainy and make different choices.
The book is simply written with sparse descriptions but that doesn't take away from it at all because you're following links and hoping you make it through the scene in one piece, more or less.
A well deserved five stars.
P.S The book may not translate well on all devices, Amazon does have a link from the purchase page for those with questions. It worked fine on my Samsung S3 phone though.
I wasn't disappointed at all. This is one of those books that utilises modern technology to provide a seamless reading experience. Simply clicking on one of the links at the end of each scene will take you somewhere else and if you're not careful you could wind up dead in a very short time. We start in Rio when our hero, that's you by the way, stumbles across a still warm body, a gun and the fleeting glimpse of someone who might be the murderer. As you make your selections you're introduced to investigators from the US embassy who're keen to catch the murderer. You are also a suspect in the murder too so be careful with those links. If you wind up dead or charged with murder you can always go back and start again. I managed to get all the way through and am going to start again one rainy and make different choices.
The book is simply written with sparse descriptions but that doesn't take away from it at all because you're following links and hoping you make it through the scene in one piece, more or less.
A well deserved five stars.
P.S The book may not translate well on all devices, Amazon does have a link from the purchase page for those with questions. It worked fine on my Samsung S3 phone though.
March 6, 2014
Law & Order: Choose Your Own Adventure Unit
In MURDERED, the latest "Click Your Poision" title from James Schannep, you are cast as a vacationer in Rio during Carnivale. As your bad luck would have it, you stumble upon a dead body, an abandoned gun, and a choice. The choice you make will start your adventure into the world of solving crimes in Rio, or it could possibly get you killed. With 3 unique storylines and 50 possible endings you never quite know what your fate will be.
I was a huge fan of the last "Click Your Poison" title, Infected. While MURDERED is free from the living dead, the tale is just as suspenseful and mind taxing as ever. There is apparently something broken in my brain since no matter how much I try to look at things from a different angle I find myself at the same (mostly positive) ending. I can't help but think that I am missing just one little thing that will get me to the best possible ending, and that is what keeps me going back to the book.
The story is fast-paced while requiring you to pay attention to the details so you can make educated decisions when the time comes. Remember, there is no going back once your choice is made (which is why I love this type of story in an e-book format) so you must ride it out to the end! Make smart choices as one wrong move could mean your untimely demise. I highly recommend this book, and if you missed it go pick up Infected as well!
In MURDERED, the latest "Click Your Poision" title from James Schannep, you are cast as a vacationer in Rio during Carnivale. As your bad luck would have it, you stumble upon a dead body, an abandoned gun, and a choice. The choice you make will start your adventure into the world of solving crimes in Rio, or it could possibly get you killed. With 3 unique storylines and 50 possible endings you never quite know what your fate will be.
I was a huge fan of the last "Click Your Poison" title, Infected. While MURDERED is free from the living dead, the tale is just as suspenseful and mind taxing as ever. There is apparently something broken in my brain since no matter how much I try to look at things from a different angle I find myself at the same (mostly positive) ending. I can't help but think that I am missing just one little thing that will get me to the best possible ending, and that is what keeps me going back to the book.
The story is fast-paced while requiring you to pay attention to the details so you can make educated decisions when the time comes. Remember, there is no going back once your choice is made (which is why I love this type of story in an e-book format) so you must ride it out to the end! Make smart choices as one wrong move could mean your untimely demise. I highly recommend this book, and if you missed it go pick up Infected as well!
March 7, 2015
I was contacted by the Author of this book and asked if I would like a copy for an honest review. I'm glad he contacted me. I read this book multiple times in one day.
Out of all the books I read this year so far, this was the most entertaining one. It is a choose your own adventure book. I used to love them when I was a kid and when I was offered the chance to read this one I jumped at it.
I went through the book on 5 different occasions.
My first attempt I found a hidden Easter egg.
My second attempt I died in glorious fashion.
My 3rd attempt I was a hero but didn't get the best ending.
My 4th attempt I died again.
My 5th attempt I solved the case but didn't get the best ending.
I love this book and would suggest it to anyone. I plan on continuing with it until I find the best ending possible.
With that out of the way, the book itself was a good murder mystery. It was informational, entertaining and had a good pace. The characters (besides you being the main one) were created nicely and I had a good time with them. I know when I get the best ending I'll find out more about the case but until than I will keep trying.
If you like a good mystery and you like the choose your own adventure books. This one is for you. I plan on buying the Author's other books now because of this one.
Out of all the books I read this year so far, this was the most entertaining one. It is a choose your own adventure book. I used to love them when I was a kid and when I was offered the chance to read this one I jumped at it.
I went through the book on 5 different occasions.
My first attempt I found a hidden Easter egg.
My second attempt I died in glorious fashion.
My 3rd attempt I was a hero but didn't get the best ending.
My 4th attempt I died again.
My 5th attempt I solved the case but didn't get the best ending.
I love this book and would suggest it to anyone. I plan on continuing with it until I find the best ending possible.
With that out of the way, the book itself was a good murder mystery. It was informational, entertaining and had a good pace. The characters (besides you being the main one) were created nicely and I had a good time with them. I know when I get the best ending I'll find out more about the case but until than I will keep trying.
If you like a good mystery and you like the choose your own adventure books. This one is for you. I plan on buying the Author's other books now because of this one.
March 20, 2015
As a child I used to love interactive adventure books where I could decide how the story developed depending on what choices I made. When I stumbled across this book I immediately thought of my childhood and could not resist trying this out for adults! Would it be as good and fun as I remembered?
I was not let down. Almost from the start you are making decisions which takes you into all sorts of directions. Its also very personal as it is YOU that is the person solving the mystery rather than talking as a third person. There are so many different options and I have not yet managed to explore all the endings yet, nor found out the murderer! I have a feeling this book is almost like several books in one as there are so many possibilities. You have to remember which options you took in order to explore the other ones!
The way the story has been written is enjoyable, with the ability to make your own decisions adding a new dimension to it. The characters are believable and it flows nicely despite the fact that obviously you are changing the direction of the story all the time, as it could have been disjointed but isn't. This book is well and truly an interactive adventure that I am loving reading and being a part of!
I was not let down. Almost from the start you are making decisions which takes you into all sorts of directions. Its also very personal as it is YOU that is the person solving the mystery rather than talking as a third person. There are so many different options and I have not yet managed to explore all the endings yet, nor found out the murderer! I have a feeling this book is almost like several books in one as there are so many possibilities. You have to remember which options you took in order to explore the other ones!
The way the story has been written is enjoyable, with the ability to make your own decisions adding a new dimension to it. The characters are believable and it flows nicely despite the fact that obviously you are changing the direction of the story all the time, as it could have been disjointed but isn't. This book is well and truly an interactive adventure that I am loving reading and being a part of!
April 28, 2015
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Your on vacation in Rio de Jaeiro, Brazil. In four days the biggest party on earth will be underway, aka the Carnival.
While minding your own business you discover a dead women with a note "pick me up" . . . . . then you ask yourself what do I do . . . Then the story begins . . . .
I was truly captivated with this novel. I wanted to click on all the options and see where the story took me. It was great to be apart of the story and see how it plays out. The different scenarios' it takes you thru is awesome :) I did not come across one dead end click ! Its one of those stories you don't want to give away to much. All I can say is great read . . . take one click at a time . . . sit back and enjoy as you are taking into a murder mystery.
5 clicking stars
Wende
Your on vacation in Rio de Jaeiro, Brazil. In four days the biggest party on earth will be underway, aka the Carnival.
While minding your own business you discover a dead women with a note "pick me up" . . . . . then you ask yourself what do I do . . . Then the story begins . . . .
I was truly captivated with this novel. I wanted to click on all the options and see where the story took me. It was great to be apart of the story and see how it plays out. The different scenarios' it takes you thru is awesome :) I did not come across one dead end click ! Its one of those stories you don't want to give away to much. All I can say is great read . . . take one click at a time . . . sit back and enjoy as you are taking into a murder mystery.
5 clicking stars
Wende
May 14, 2015
The author contacted me in order to give an honest review of the book.
A choose-your-own-adventure type book, like the kind from our childhoods, this book was FUN. I have reached many different endings, and would immediately go back to the beginning or to the chapter I was on to take an alternate route. I was certainly engaged! The writing isn't anything special, but it was so fun--it's hard to explain. I THINK I found the best ending, but I honestly might go back in and try one more story line. I recommend it! Few moments of explicit language, but no excessive violence (besides the murder, but that should be obvious) or sex (just a smidgen). I am honestly intrigued into possibly reading more of his books.
A choose-your-own-adventure type book, like the kind from our childhoods, this book was FUN. I have reached many different endings, and would immediately go back to the beginning or to the chapter I was on to take an alternate route. I was certainly engaged! The writing isn't anything special, but it was so fun--it's hard to explain. I THINK I found the best ending, but I honestly might go back in and try one more story line. I recommend it! Few moments of explicit language, but no excessive violence (besides the murder, but that should be obvious) or sex (just a smidgen). I am honestly intrigued into possibly reading more of his books.
April 6, 2018
I used to love "Choose Your Own Adventures" as a kid, so I was really excited to receive a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
This was every bit as fun as I remembered. The story itself was decent, but most of the fun comes from choosing your own path.
I am also excited to see that this is labeled "Click Your Poison #2). Which means there is a #1, which I will be looking for next!
This was every bit as fun as I remembered. The story itself was decent, but most of the fun comes from choosing your own path.
I am also excited to see that this is labeled "Click Your Poison #2). Which means there is a #1, which I will be looking for next!
March 20, 2017
Amusing. Haven't read a choose your adventure in years. (Well, the NPH autobio, but not a regular fiction one). Found 3 solved endings, and many ends. I'll go back through to make sure I get through all the chapters the awkward way, see what other scenes I may have missed. Nice to start off my KU month with something fun, though.
March 8, 2018
This book was pretty cool. I used to love reading these as a kid and this one didn't disappoint. It's definitely an adult book and wouldn't be suited for children, but the different twists and turns and the Rio storyline definitely kept me going back for more.
July 26, 2022
I won!
February 22, 2020
I enjoyed this book and thought it was good fun.
It was written in a humorous way and it was quite challenging to find the right pathway, as well as exciting as you could literally die at any moment. Another thing I particularly liked was the setting; this book talked a bit about Brazil, which I did not know a lot about, as well as U.S organisations within Brazil that I was very interested by. Also, I did find it cool trying to solve the murder, and was slightly crushed whenever I died (in one ending I had gasoline-filled tyres piled on top of me that were lit up and fused into me as I burnt!?)
I’m reviewing this after finding my first successful ending, however it left a lot of loose ends that would probably be resolved if I’d taken a different pathway, so I’ll probably reread it in the future.
I like that whilst there are many ways of solving the murder mystery, there seems to only be one way that solves it entirely, so the book still has plenty of reread ability but there is still a perfect ending so you can end the book feeling satisfied rather than slightly lukewarm.
I gave this four stars because whilst I really liked this book, I didn’t love it. My favourite CYO adventure book is still Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North, though that’s more personal preference than because I found this book wanting in anything. I just don’t think CYO adventure books have the depth or character-development possible to make them a five-star read, probably because of the style of writing, unless they are just pure comedy like Romeo and/or Juliet, which I found too fun to not give five stars.
It was written in a humorous way and it was quite challenging to find the right pathway, as well as exciting as you could literally die at any moment. Another thing I particularly liked was the setting; this book talked a bit about Brazil, which I did not know a lot about, as well as U.S organisations within Brazil that I was very interested by. Also, I did find it cool trying to solve the murder, and was slightly crushed whenever I died (in one ending I had gasoline-filled tyres piled on top of me that were lit up and fused into me as I burnt!?)
I’m reviewing this after finding my first successful ending, however it left a lot of loose ends that would probably be resolved if I’d taken a different pathway, so I’ll probably reread it in the future.
I like that whilst there are many ways of solving the murder mystery, there seems to only be one way that solves it entirely, so the book still has plenty of reread ability but there is still a perfect ending so you can end the book feeling satisfied rather than slightly lukewarm.
I gave this four stars because whilst I really liked this book, I didn’t love it. My favourite CYO adventure book is still Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North, though that’s more personal preference than because I found this book wanting in anything. I just don’t think CYO adventure books have the depth or character-development possible to make them a five-star read, probably because of the style of writing, unless they are just pure comedy like Romeo and/or Juliet, which I found too fun to not give five stars.
January 23, 2019
Just WOW.
I honestly think I may have hit around forty endings, seriously, before finally getting the one that didn’t leave me with any remaining questions. I invested so much time in this book. I literally spent thirteen hours reading it yesterday and finished it today. It engulfed me. Last night I was so incredibly frustrated because I kept hitting dead ends. Either dying or “solving” the story but left with so many questions. I actually got to the point I tried to google the ending just so I could put my mind to rest however the google search brought me here thankfully without spoilers (in retrospect) and I read a review that said something similar to how I was feeling. The review said that they “were almost embarrassed they didn’t see an option”(paraphrasing) which brought me some relief and broke my brain at the simultaneously.
So with that encouragement I took a deep breath and tried a few other choices and then I saw IT. With that I fell asleep.
Once I woke up I immediately gave it my full attention and read an entirely different story that has just as many frustrating complications and dead endings. Mixing the new path with my knowledge of the other one allowed me to compare stories based on timeframe alone and that made it really entertaining.
BUT the excitement when I finally got THE ending. The one that answered every SINGLE question and even tied something together I didn’t even realize was a loose end.
Yes I liked Infected. It was fun. But MURDERED consumed a total of close to 20 hours of my life and I wouldn’t undo it. I even kept a notepad next to me to map my own progress and jot down questions I had. It was so satisfying getting all the answers. I just had to give it my time.
I honestly think I may have hit around forty endings, seriously, before finally getting the one that didn’t leave me with any remaining questions. I invested so much time in this book. I literally spent thirteen hours reading it yesterday and finished it today. It engulfed me. Last night I was so incredibly frustrated because I kept hitting dead ends. Either dying or “solving” the story but left with so many questions. I actually got to the point I tried to google the ending just so I could put my mind to rest however the google search brought me here thankfully without spoilers (in retrospect) and I read a review that said something similar to how I was feeling. The review said that they “were almost embarrassed they didn’t see an option”(paraphrasing) which brought me some relief and broke my brain at the simultaneously.
So with that encouragement I took a deep breath and tried a few other choices and then I saw IT. With that I fell asleep.
Once I woke up I immediately gave it my full attention and read an entirely different story that has just as many frustrating complications and dead endings. Mixing the new path with my knowledge of the other one allowed me to compare stories based on timeframe alone and that made it really entertaining.
BUT the excitement when I finally got THE ending. The one that answered every SINGLE question and even tied something together I didn’t even realize was a loose end.
Yes I liked Infected. It was fun. But MURDERED consumed a total of close to 20 hours of my life and I wouldn’t undo it. I even kept a notepad next to me to map my own progress and jot down questions I had. It was so satisfying getting all the answers. I just had to give it my time.
January 26, 2025
I finished reading Murdered by James Schannep and when I mean finished I mean I went through all the options and mapped out the book. I'm a bit confused by what 3 different story lines there may have been since I only really found two-one which you follow Viktor and one in which you follow the detectives. Perhaps the author meant three different solutions? One solution made the most sense, another you know isn't the whole story, and one where the author stated you found the only Easter egg.
Through reading this and mapping out the book I found that a lot of the options would loop back in so it didn't branch out as much as I thought it would. I found that James perhaps wrote this book for some alternative endings but ultimately I think gave the reader a choice of if they wanted more description or less description on things and what of. For example, if you follow the storyline of the detectives sometimes I had a hard time deciding what detective to follow and worried I would miss out on key evidence to help me solve the crime. However, since the book has points of convergence despite me following one detective there would be points where no matter what detective you follow you learned what the other one did. This makes it so the reader didn't lose out on pertinent information to the case but also allowed the reader to read the storyline that might have appealed to them more.
Of interesting note I did notice that one path had the wrong page number written down. On page 6 one of the options was to give a security guard $100 to put a note on a windshield of a car, and if you were to pick this option it says to go to page 295. It's actually meant to go to page 289.
I will have to check out some of his other books to see how they compare.
Through reading this and mapping out the book I found that a lot of the options would loop back in so it didn't branch out as much as I thought it would. I found that James perhaps wrote this book for some alternative endings but ultimately I think gave the reader a choice of if they wanted more description or less description on things and what of. For example, if you follow the storyline of the detectives sometimes I had a hard time deciding what detective to follow and worried I would miss out on key evidence to help me solve the crime. However, since the book has points of convergence despite me following one detective there would be points where no matter what detective you follow you learned what the other one did. This makes it so the reader didn't lose out on pertinent information to the case but also allowed the reader to read the storyline that might have appealed to them more.
Of interesting note I did notice that one path had the wrong page number written down. On page 6 one of the options was to give a security guard $100 to put a note on a windshield of a car, and if you were to pick this option it says to go to page 295. It's actually meant to go to page 289.
I will have to check out some of his other books to see how they compare.
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