The Perfect Murder Puzzle: 20 Logic Challenges To Solve A Murder Mystery And Think Like A Detective

by Julian Hartfield

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2026

About the author

Julian Hartfield is an author, and a storyteller of the fascinating, and the unexpected.

Reviews

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another riveting story of “who done it and why.” This sure was a great story and the puzzles are top notch fun and exciting with a tad bit of character progression and clues.. The puzzles were amazing and as the story got trickier the puzzles matched and made it so much fun trying to figure it all out.. Definitely recommend this for anyone.. that might’s escape rooms and solving problems to complete a story..

[Angie Meier-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book

I just wanted to leave a review on the book, it was decent but not for me. If you are really good at puzzles and think outside the box this is a book for you.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest opinion from Arc reader and a lover of puzzles . If you enjoy books that don’t just tell a mystery but invite you to solve it, The Perfect Murder Puzzle is a fantastic experience. Rather than simply following detectives, readers become active participants, tackling logic grids, ciphers, coordinate puzzles, mazes, cryptograms, Pigpen ciphers, and more alongside the characters. It’s an immersive blend of an escape room, a classic whodunit, and a puzzle book that constantly keeps your brain engaged.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is how naturally the puzzles fit into the story. They never feel like random interruptions—instead, each solution uncovers another layer of the mystery and steadily raises the stakes. The puzzles progress in difficulty, giving readers a satisfying sense of accomplishment while still providing a challenge. The pacing rarely slows because every puzzle reveals meaningful information rather than existing simply for entertainment.

The atmosphere is another standout. The underground facility, malfunctioning systems, hidden control rooms, and constant uncertainty create a tense, cinematic environment. Every chapter ends with just enough revelation to make it nearly impossible to stop reading. The author clearly understands how to build suspense without relying on cheap cliffhangers.
I also appreciated the logical consistency. Clues introduced early continue to matter later, rewarding readers who pay close attention to details on the story and follow the clues.

Overall, this is an incredibly clever concept that’s executed with impressive attention to detail. It’s obvious that a tremendous amount of work went into designing puzzles that are fair, interconnected, and rewarding. Fans of interactive mysteries, escape rooms, and deductive reasoning will find a lot to love here. I found myself repeatedly saying, “Just one more puzzle,” until I realized I’d read far longer than I intended.

A highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys exercising their brain while unraveling an engaging mystery.

[Linda Hallberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Murder Puzzle is unlike any mystery I have read before. It isn’t just a murder mystery—it makes you part of the investigation. The idea is incredibly clever, and I found myself completely drawn into the story, wanting to uncover the truth alongside the characters.

What makes this book so unique is also what makes it challenging. Every clue is hidden behind puzzles, codes, ciphers, and logic challenges. Solving them is essential if you want to fully experience the mystery.

For me, this was both fascinating and frustrating.

I live with brain fog, I’m a very impatient person, and English isn’t my first language, so some of the puzzles were genuinely difficult. There were moments when I felt more frustrated than entertained, and I even caught myself feeling “not smart enough” to solve some of the challenges. I’m also the kind of person who gives up on jigsaw puzzles, never does crosswords or Sudoku, so this book pushed me well outside my comfort zone.

At the same time, I couldn’t help admiring how brilliantly it was designed. The concept is original, the story kept me engaged, and the amount of thought that must have gone into creating this experience is simply impressive. It’s not just a book—it’s an interactive mystery that asks a lot from its readers.

Because of that, I think this book isn’t for everyone. If you love puzzles, logic games, ciphers, escape rooms, or mysteries where you actively participate in solving the crime, you’ll probably have an amazing time with this book. If, like me, you’re impatient or struggle with puzzles, be prepared for a challenging experience.

I have mixed feelings about my own reading experience, but I have nothing but admiration for the creativity behind it. It’s one of the most original mystery books I’ve ever come across.

[Karron S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me the full thrill of an escape room from the comfort of my home.

The characters arrive on a secluded island competing for a ten-million-dollar prize by solving puzzles. Since each character has a unique puzzle solving strength, it takes a team effort to crack the varying puzzles. The contest takes a sharp turn when a death happens, forcing them to solve a puzzle none of them signed up for - what happened to the victim.

The mystery unfolds alongside an assortment of puzzles that you work through with the characters. I admit, I am not someone you would want on your escape room team as puzzles are not my strong suit, but that didn't stop me from having a blast trying. I appreciated that the book includes an answer key for those of us who are puzzle challenged. I gave each puzzle my best effort, celebrated the puzzles I solved on my own, and shamelessly checked the answers when a puzzle got the best of me.

What I enjoyed most was feeling like I was part of the adventure rather than just a reader. Playing along with the characters to crack the codes and solve the mystery made me feel like a contestant myself, even if I would have been eliminated embarrassingly early without that answer key. This journey is just as much fun for master puzzle solvers as it is for beginners. You get all the excitement of a great mystery, and if you are not a natural puzzle person, there is plenty of help built right into the book so you never get stuck.

I received a free ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tina Valley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Murder Puzzle by Julian Hartfield is a fantastic collection of logic puzzles that will truly put your deductive reasoning skills to the test. With 20 cleverly designed murder mysteries to solve, it offers the perfect combination of brain teasers and mystery, making it an engaging experience for puzzle lovers.

My family enjoys working through puzzles and mysteries together during holidays and vacations, and this book was a wonderful addition to our evenings. While some of the puzzles were a bit challenging for the younger kids, they still had a great time watching the adults debate theories and work through the clues. I also appreciated the flexibility of being able to use it on an iPad or print the puzzles to share with everyone. This is the second book by Julian Hartfield that we've enjoyed together as a family, and we'll definitely be looking forward to more of his puzzle books in the future.

[Jea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Murder Puzzle is a short read (120 pages) that keeps you engaged. Aldric Thorne is a billionaire who invites 8 renowned puzzle solvers to win $10,000,000 by simply solving 20 puzzles. When they arrive in the central chamber with Aldric, he is murdered. Everyone is present in the room, yet no one can figure out how it happened. Once the first puzzle begins, Ethan, Zara, Gabriel, Isla, Sebastian, Marcus, Petra, and Lucas must begin solving the puzzles to gather the clues to solve the mystery of who killed Aldric and how. This is a fully immersive book, as you, the reader, must solve all types of puzzles - word searches, logic grids, mazes, ciphers, etc. - in order to gather clues. If you're a fan of escape rooms, or just puzzles in general, you will enjoy this book!

[Darlene Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Murder Puzzle by Julian Hartfield is a fun locked-room mystery with a clever puzzle twist. A billionaire invites eight puzzle solvers to compete for $10 million, but when he is murdered in front of everyone, the real challenge becomes figuring out who did it and how.

I liked the impossible-murder setup and the way the puzzles reveal clues as the story moves forward. It kept me reading without getting too heavy.

A solid, entertaining mystery for readers who enjoy puzzle-box stories.

I received a free copy to read and review, and these are my honest thoughts.

[Leah Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great idea for a book. I enjoy logic puzzles and a good mystery book, so I had to read this one. There are 20 puzzles that the reader can solve, along side the characters in the book. Some are easier than others. The story itself isn't too long, but an interesting mystery. The murder, however, will surprise you. There didn't seem to be any hints along the way as to whom it may be, which I would prefer to be able to figure it out as the story goes along. Overall a nice quick read for want to solve the mystery as the story goes along.

[Melissa Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like challenging puzzles this book is for you. I love puzzles but I found that working them took away from the story and I lost track of what was happening. Also, make sure to have a pencil and paper handy.

I see this as a great puzzle book rather than a story with puzzles. I was disappointed. I never read the author’s books prior to reading this one, so I was expecting a lot more out of it storyline wise.

[ALYSA HORSMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery puzzler.

This time a group of individuals are tasked to solve a mystery murder with mind challenging puzzles. This mystery keeps you guessing at which individual may have done it, yet keeps change with each puzzle challenge. In the end, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the one that actually did it.

I highly recommend this to any one looking for a good mystery and mind challenging puzzles.

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blast of fun trying to solve a murder and puzzles at the same time! Julian brings us Aldric, a billionaire, who brings together some experts in puzzles to help solve who killed him and why. Twenty puzzles with varying difficulty lie in wait to help the reader figure out the killer along with the puzzle solvers in the story. The combination of murder mystery and puzzles works great and is a must for any fans of mysteries and puzzles. I can't wait to read more of Julian's books.

[Lori Soderlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very clever puzzle solving story that made the reader stop and think often during the story. I appreciated the complexities of the puzzle and often I felt stumped at first and needed careful time to process the challenge. I did enjoy the read but recommend the reader has a paper nearby to work on the puzzle at the time of the challenge presenting in the book. I would recommend to those that love a mystery and a puzzle enjoy this read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book; I do wish I would have had paper and pen handy to keep up with the puzzles but since I read it in bed at night I didn't. I am usually good at figuring out the who done it, I didn't with this one. The only thing I would have made me like the book more is a little less puzzle work and more story line but over all I did enjoy the book. I would pick up another book from the author.

[Brianna Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy logic grids or deduction games, you'll love this. Each of the 20 challenges feels unique, and it really forces you to pay attention to the smallest details. It’s a great way to unwind while still giving your brain a solid workout. Highly recommend for anyone who likes "thinking like a detective"!

[Jamie Lynn DaVault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

I loved this book.

If you like cryptic puzzles and escape rooms then this book is for you. It begins with a murder. To find out who the murderer is, solve each cryptic puzzle along with the characters in order to move on to the next area with another set of clues and puzzles.

[Michelle Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of logic and word puzzles… give this book a try. There’s a group of people trying to solve a mystery. They have 20 puzzles to solve to find out who did it. Each puzzle is different so it stays interesting.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. A classic who done it with interactive puzzles. It made you feel like you were a part of the story the whole time. It was. Slow unraveling and unexpected fun! Can’t wait to try/read more of his books!

[Katherine May · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first chapter I could feel the intensity of what lay ahead - I wasn’t wrong or disappointed. Full of puzzles, some easier to complete than others but non detract from the story. A book that is continually intriguing and compels you to keep reading until the end. This is a must read!

[The_first_last_page · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading and an intriguing mental challenge at the same time this book is for you! The thought process to plan and execute not only the plot, and characters but to throw in different challenges is amazing

[Julie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! You can work and solve the puzzles right along with the characters! They are tough and make you think but keeps you active with the story line. 5 star foe sure

[Louise Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The story was great and I loved solving the problems in order to progress. Highly recommended

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a great interactive read with some mystery then this is for you. This kept me engaged and entertained throughout the entire book. Loved it! Highly recommend

[Country · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a neat idea with puzzles incorporated in to it! I enjoyed following alongside the characters solving the puzzles they were to figure out the clues!