I really enjoyed the concept of this one, that as the reader we were also the detective.

I love anything set in the 1970’s too, and liked the dinner party element,

That’s the positives, overall whilst this had the potential to be so good it just felt a bit flat and anti- climatic.

I think some people will really enjoy the style though!

You are a "Great Detective" and have been invited to to a dinner party with a twist...its actually a murder mystery about a case from the 1970's. Overall the course of the dinner you will interview all the witnesses from the original case and then have to fight the case in court.

Sounds easy enough, except...you can't trust anyone, the witnesses or the host.

This was pitched as an immersive murder mystery which puts you right in the middle of the story. The reality is, the narrative gets very confusing, as at first you are given the role of detective and then very soon after, it's taken from you.

The narrative acts like you are in control but it's the opposite. You literally can't trust anything as nothing is what it appears to be. Conceptually this should be a great fun read but in reality I don't think it did what it delivered.

While the story had great potential to be a great murder mystery, unfortunately it just fell flat. The witnesses would have made some fun characters but again the twist in the narrative.

Overall had potential but felt confused and flat...sorry this one wasn't for me.

Favourite quote(s):
"None of those clues is labelled for the better edification of the detective. Like Sherlock Holmes, you have to seek them out. Waddaya think the magnifying glass is for?"

You are invited to a very special murder mystery party. The game is simple: Listen to the witnesses. Examine the evidence. Solve the case. Be careful. Trust no one. All might not be as it seems.

If you agree to play the role of the Great Detective, you must undertake to provide a complete solution to the case. A verdict is not enough. We need to know who did it, how they did it, and why. Are you ready?

I don't think I was ready! I really struggled with this read. When I saw the concept I thought it would be really interesting and a new take on a popular genre, but I was stuck in piles of repetitive dialogue (almost constant dialogue). Points for the idea but not the best execution.

This sounded amazing on paper but it wasn't executed very well for me. I love a slow book but it just kept going on and on and it dragged. Really didn't find it satisfying and did not end up being able to finish.

A murder mystery party investigating a cold case from the 1970's... the reader is the detective!
I was really looking forward to reading this book, as it seemed so different. The narrator gives lots of clues , including red herrings, & it includes some good quotes.
Just like a dinner party some of the characters just disappear into the background where as others jump out at you.
I found it was too long & repetitive especially in the middle. Unfortunately it didn't meet up to my expectations.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC
in exchange for an honest review.

The Game is Murder starts with a clever, ambitious concept, but unfortunately, it doesn’t follow through. At almost 500 pages, it’s far too long for the story it’s trying to tell, and the pacing really suffers.

What makes it most frustrating is how often the book shifts tone and rewrites its own rules. Just as you think you’ve got a handle on what’s going on, the premise changes again—making it confusing, inconsistent, and hard to stay invested. The characters don’t offer much emotional depth either, which makes the constant twists feel more tiring than intriguing.

There’s a good idea at the heart of this, but it’s lost under too much complexity. I really wanted to like it, but in the end, it just didn’t work for me.

DNF
Unfortunately I didn’t really get on with the writing style of this book.
I thought this book sounded very interesting but it just wasn’t for me!

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book and had to give up reading it at 20% this book may have got better as it went on but it just didn’t engross me

Loveeeee!
This was amazing! I cannot fault this author I thought the book was great!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book!

Described as an ‘immersive’ detective novel, in The Game is Murder the reader is invited to take an active role in solving a fictional murder, a crime which bears a strong and somewhat tasteless resemblance to the actual 1974 murder of Sandra Rivett, nanny to the children of Lord Lucan, who famously disappeared that evening, never to be seen or heard of since.

In the book, the shadowy figure of the detective acts as the reader’s proxy and events are orchestrated by David Verreman, son of the absconding aristocrat, who was a child at the time of his nanny’s murder. Evidence is produced, key witnesses revisit their statements and are cross-examined, and movements on the night in question are reconstructed.

This is quite an interesting approach, but it just doesn’t come off. It’s well-nigh impossible to feel any emotional engagement with the characters; and the references – with which the book is packed – feel too clever-clever. At not much short of 500 pages it’s overly long and really drags in places. In fact, by the time The Game is Murder finally draws to a close, the reader, even if they’re taking their whodunnit responsibilities seriously, has probably lost the will to live. Sadly, I really wanted to love this, but just couldn’t.

I can’t work out if I liked this book or not. The writing style is so different to anything I’ve ready before and I found tricky to follow at times although I had to keep going to know how it ended so it definitely sucked me in.
It definitely requires concentration although the book did say that at the start.
I wasn’t sure if I was meant to actually complete the different questions or if it was actually part of the writing style.
Confusing is my main thought on it!

I am sorry to day that this was not my cup of tea. I tried ever so hard to get into it but found all the narrative rather boring. I found i was forcing myself to read it and finally decided to give up.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This sounded a really interesting book and exactly the sort of thing I would read, but as in the book nothing is what is seems to be on the surface. You are at once the Great Detective tasked with solving the crime, also the juror and the I feel somewhat spoken down to reader. It’s all really rather confusing and somewhat surreal and a hard discounted read. Did I enjoy it ? not really although it’s a clever concept.

Very original, different interesting book. I like it, but I had a bit difficult to read its complete different than everything that I read before.
I recommend to anyone that is tired of the mystery and suspenseful books that read in a normal way.
I am pleased that I read this book, give me a different way of thinking, and how look into it.

A great read. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

This was a complicated read at first as you adjust to the narrative style but once your in there's no escape as it's captivating.

A truly unique mystery novel that's unlike anything else I've ever read - enjoyable- exciting and fascinating.

It was almost like playing a board game. Give it a try!

I dove into Hazell Ward’s The Game Is Murder expecting a straightforward whodunit—and instead found myself cast as the Lead Detective, charged with reopening a dusty 1970s cold case. Ward’s decision to shatter the fourth wall and enlist readers in the investigation is nothing short of brilliant. Clues are laid out like game pieces, witness statements read like puzzles, and every turn of the page feels like another move on the board.

What stood out most was how effortlessly the novel evokes the era: vintage details and period vernacular enrich the setting without ever bogging down the central mystery. Ward’s layered plot boasts plenty of satisfying twists, and puzzle enthusiasts will relish the challenge of teasing out tautly woven leads.

That said, there are moments—particularly in the middle—that wade into repetitive territory. Some interview transcripts and evidence breakdowns felt like déjà vu, slowing my momentum just as I was ramping up my detective’s hunches. And although a handful of characters burst with personality, others drift into the background, their identities sometimes melding into one another amid the sprawling cast.

Despite these hiccups, The Game Is Murder delivers a fresh, interactive spin on the classic murder mystery. Its inventive format and clever storytelling more than compensate for a few pacing stumbles. If you’ve ever fancied yourself a sleuth, this is your chance to prove it—look for it on shelves July 29!

I received an advance copy of this novel. All thoughts and impressions are entirely my own. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC.

What a very long, dull and convoluted read.
Weird imaginary characters and scenes, a murder that no-one cared about that took place 50 years previously.
Couldn't wait to end it and not going to lie, I definitely skipped a lot of repetitive waffle.

Hazell Ward’s The Game is Murder offers a fresh and imaginative spin on the traditional murder mystery. Rather than following a detective character, the book casts the reader as the Lead Detective, tasked with reopening a cold case from the 1970s. Ward masterfully breaks the fourth wall, turning the story into an immersive, game-like experience. This interactive format is one of the novel’s greatest strengths—engaging the reader directly and transforming the narrative into an active investigation. The atmospheric setting vividly evokes the era without overshadowing the plot, while the multi-layered mystery unfolds with rewarding twists and turns. Fans of puzzles will especially enjoy the intricate design and the intellectual challenge of connecting the clues.

That said, the book isn’t without its rough patches. The pacing lags at times—particularly in the middle, where certain witness interviews and evidence reviews start to feel redundant. While the interactive structure is engaging, it can also bog down the story when it becomes overly detail-heavy. Additionally, although some characters are vividly drawn, others lack distinction, making it difficult to keep track of the expansive cast amid the complex storyline.

Despite these minor shortcomings, The Game is Murder remains an engaging and inventive read. Ward’s bold narrative approach and clever construction make this more than just a mystery—it’s an experience. Ideal for readers who love solving puzzles and want to step into the detective’s shoes.

This is the ultimate locked room mystery for all Agatha Christie lovers out there. If you loved Clue, this the the right read for you!