Book Review: You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper
You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper
Published: September 25th 2025 by Harvill/Vintage Books
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Genres: Activity Book // Mystery, Crime
Quick Thoughts: Fun, interactive and magnetic through-and-through. The magic touches of Maureen Johnson’s ways with thrills and mystery was evident and enchanting as the sinful scandals and vicious vendettas arose from the backdrop of old London.
I was gifted this book via the Publisher/PR. There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating. All views are my own. I remain entirely impartial.
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Reader Information: View Content Warnings.
TW: this book contains mentions of murder/descriptions of death, poison, drug use, murder, blood, and crime. Readers 18+.
Murder Mystery
Solve The Crime
You Are The Detective
Who’s The Killer?
About This Book:
Dear Detective,
We need your help. You will be aware from the papers that famous writer Roy Peterson has been murdered. There were 6 people in the room when it happened, but none of the suspects saw the crime be committed … or so they say.
Our best people haven’t been able to solve the mystery, and now we are giving this case file to you. Can you decipher the clues, decode the witness statements, and identify the murderer? You are our last hope. Can you crack the Case of the Creeping Hand?
Yours truly,
Detective Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police
Set in 1930s England, this is an interactive murder mystery filled with humorous illustrations, detailed maps, and twisting tales, that is head-scratching fun for the amateur sleuth in us all.
Survey the crime scene, interview the suspects, and piece together the evidence to find out who really dunnit.
YOU are the Detective.
First Thoughts
I’ve been a huge Maureen Johnson fan for such a long time, and have loved getting to be a part of so many early reads and peeks at her books, so when I was kindly sent You Are The Detective (thank you Mia and also Nina!) I was so excited to solve another mystery and submerge myself in another twisty mystery by one of the best! I haven’t had the chance to read anything by Jay Cooper yet, nor read anything by Maureen in this sort of format, so I was beyond thrilled to start and solve the mystery.
My Review
We are thrown into the mystery from the get-go, an enigma of a night that changes the lives of party recipients in 1930’s London. After receiving poison pen letters, willed to follow directions, seven people are thrown into chaos and confusion. Who is this mysterious person who knows their secrets? After being instructed to attend a glitzy townhouse, the uncertainty is strong—but not more so than the person who wants these people all gathered together. And when one of the partygoers is stabbed in front of the others, yet their killer without so much as being seen, it throws the night and their lives into disarray.
It’s then, with these facts, that we become The Detective. Piecing together the puzzle is not without it’s quirks and intrigue, and the more that we read excerpts of the partygoers interviews with the police, reports of their past misdeeds and drug use in the glamour of stardom, fame and behind the scenes, we are faced with clues and misdirection against motive and malice. Is anyone telling the truth, or did they all have a part to play in how this night went? After all, what does an actress, Earl, telephone operator, cook, poet and lothario truly have in common to be here tonight? Suspects-a-plenty are rife, and armed with all the information, we’re put to task. Can we be the detective and solve the crime?
Overall, You Are The Detective was fun, interactive and magnetic through-and-through. The magic touches of Maureen Johnson’s ways with thrills and mystery was evident and enchanting as the sinful scandals and vicious vendettas arose from the backdrop of old London, creatively illustrated by Jay Cooper with gritty, punchy monochrome and reds to match the tantalisingly taut riddles I turned pages into the night to solve. I must admit, at one point I did crack out a notebook and made my own notes of who I thought might be the real killer. And although I did unfold many aspects of the crime and suspects, there were some pesky, smart things that totally escaped my brain and made for a grand reveal that blew me away. This was so much different than I’m used to—reading a mystery book in the generic sense—giving anyone a chance of stepping into their main character energy to channel being the Detective. I thoroughly adored this solve-it-yourself book that would make an incredible gift.
RATING:
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Happy Reading!
