Last Updated on April 22, 2026
Hazell Ward’s debut novel, The Game is Murder, is certainly one of the most intriguing books hitting shelves this year.
It’s not your average murder mystery—oh no. This one invites you, dear reader, to step into the shoes of the Great Detective and solve the case yourself.
The concept is bold, the execution ambitious, but does it deliver?
Well, that depends on how much you enjoy being directly addressed by a book and whether you’re ready to commit to a 464-page mental workout.
Let’s break it down.
A Murder Mystery Party with a Twist
Here’s the setup: You’re invited to a dinner party at 8 Broad Way, hosted by David Verreman.
The occasion? To solve a decades-old murder that has haunted his family since 1974.
That year, a nanny was found dead in the basement of the Verreman mansion, and all signs pointed to Lord Verreman, David’s father, as the killer.
The only witness was David’s mother, who herself was also attacked, and who is adamant that Lord Verreman did it.
However, he fled before he could be arrested, only telling a friend that he was passing by the house and was there to help and that he is completely innocent.
With the crime unsolved, we fast forward to today, and you’re sitting at the dinner table with an assortment of suspects, witnesses, and experts.
Your mission? Listen to their testimonies, sift through evidence, and piece together what really happened that fateful night.
But there’s a catch: you can’t just say who did it. You need to explain how and why as well. And trust no one; everyone has secrets, and nothing is quite as it seems.
The plot unfolds in three acts, with each section delving deeper into the mystery while layering in clues, red herrings, and conflicting accounts of the crime.
It’s immersive and clever, but also repetitive at times, as the same event is recounted from multiple perspectives.
What Is “Meta,” Anyway?
Before we get into my thoughts on the book, let’s talk about its “meta” nature.
In literature, “meta” refers to stories that are self-aware; they acknowledge they’re fictional or directly involve the reader in some way.
Think of it as breaking the fourth wall in books. Instead of immersing you fully in another world, metafiction reminds you that you’re reading a story by calling attention to its own construction or involving you as an active participant (like this book does).
While meta elements can be fun and innovative, think Ian McEwan’s Atonement or even shows like Fleabag, they’re not for everyone.
Some readers find them distracting or overly clever, pulling them out of the narrative instead of drawing them in.
So, with that in mind, what did I think about The Game is Murder?
A Marmite Book
So here’s where I stand on The Game is Murder: it’s a bit like Marmite – you’ll either love it or leave it on the shelf.
The idea of turning a murder mystery into an interactive experience is undeniably cool. It feels fresh and different from your standard whodunit.
Ward’s prose is sharp, her characters are distinct (if not always likable), and her attention to detail is impressive.
So, if you love puzzles or escape rooms, this book will scratch that itch as you really have to think the whole way along in order to solve the mystery.
However, being addressed directly as “the Great Detective” felt fun at first, but quickly became tiresome for me. It kept pulling me out of the story instead of immersing me in it.
As well as that, hearing about the same crime from multiple perspectives got old fast. While I understand what Ward was aiming for – layering complexity – it felt like overkill.
Even more so when the book is rather hefty and at least 30% longer than most mysteries I’ve read.
Given its closed-circle plot (everything happens within one house), it starts to feel claustrophobic after a while.
I can see what Hazell Ward was trying to do here. She wanted to create something unique that celebrates and subverts classic detective fiction; however, for me personally, it didn’t quite land.
That said, I know plenty of readers who will absolutely adore this book for its ingenuity alone.
Final Verdict
The Game is Murder isn’t your typical cozy mystery or fast-paced thriller. It’s more like an elaborate mental exercise wrapped in a murder mystery party invitation.
If you’re someone who loves solving puzzles and doesn’t mind being reminded that you’re reading a book (a very long book), then this might just be your next favorite read.
But if you prefer your mysteries immersive and tightly plotted without too much narrative gimmickry, this one might not be for you.
For me? It’s a pass, but I’ll be keeping an eye on Hazell Ward because there’s no denying she has talent and ambition in spades.
Who knows? Maybe her next novel will strike just the right balance between innovation and immersion.
So what do you think? Are you ready to play detective – or would you rather leave this case unsolved?
