Murderous Most Puzzling: The Clairvoyants’ Convention
500 Pieces
Chronicle Books
My amazing daughter gives amazing gifts… and this terrific puzzle is a recent example! She actually gave this to me last year, but the mood finally struck this weekend and I decided to dig in. So much fun!
This is a jigsaw with a twist. The inside cover of the box provides the setup to a mystery: Someone has been murdered at a convention of clairvoyants! The detective in charge needs our help — but to solve the mystery, we first have to solve the puzzle!
As a low-key puzzle snob (sorry…), I was wondering whether a 500-piece puzzle would be much of a challenge, since I usually stick to 1000 pieces or more. I needn’t have worried! The trick here is that there’s no picture provided as a guide, so the puzzle is solved without anything to refer to. I’m definitely not used to doing puzzles that way, and it was really a great brain challenge.
In the end, the finished puzzle is gorgeous to look at, with terrific artwork, bright colors, and so many interesting little details.
But wait! Once the puzzle is done, there’s still a mystery to solve! I’m not usually very good at deciphering visual clues, but after looking at the puzzle for a while, stepping away for a bit, and then coming back to it, I thought I had my answer.
There’s an envelope provided, but don’t open it until you’re ready for a clue (or you’re totally stuck, and need help). Opening the envelope halfway provides a clue… and then, fully opened, provides the full picture of the puzzle as well as the answer to the mystery.
I guessed correctly (*patting myself on the back*), although I wasn’t sure that what I guessed was going to be the right answer… but it was!
This was a really fun puzzle experience, and I had a blast doing it!
Beyond the puzzle image and the mystery challenge, I also appreciated the quality of the puzzle itself. The pieces are well-cut and sturdy, no fraying or split edges, and the fit is satisfying and precise. The puzzle comes in a book-shaped box that looks very cute on a bookshelf!
The puzzle creator, Stephanie Von Reiswitz, has a book of visual puzzles available, as well as another mystery-themed jigsaw puzzle… which may tempt me at some point down the line. It looks adorable!
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Bookshelf Fantasies 
Beautiful puzzle and so different. I’ve never done a puzzle without a picture. Makes me tired just thinking about it. I’ve never done a 100 pc. puzzle and never will. I’m so glad you had so much fun. I can certainly see why. 🙂
Thanks! I was more than a little intimidated when I realized there was no picture to work from, but the images are so sharp that I could figure it out in the end. 🙂
This looks wonderful, Lisa. I’d love a puzzle with a mystery woven in but I wonder if I can do one without a picture.
I know some people who do all puzzles without looking at the picture, which I really can’t fathom at all! In this case, it was a fun challenge because it related to the mystery, and I had a good time with it!
I can’t either. I have found these on Amazon here as well and will likely get one.
Oh wow this is amazing! What a gift!
My daughter is the best! 🙂 And this was really fun.
Wow! That’s so cool, what an immersive puzzle and you get so much out of it!
It was a great treat, very different from the puzzles I usually do!
How very original! Sounds like fun!
A great way to spend a lazy weekend!
What a unique puzzle idea! I haven’t done a puzzle in years but I’d definitely try this😁
I did a LOT of puzzles during the pandemic, not as many since then… but this one got me motivated and kept me hooked!
Solving a mystery while putting a puzzle together sounds cool. I love doing puzzles and solving mysteries. Doing both is a neat idea.
I agree! It’s a really fun concept, and it worked so well!
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That sounds so fun.
It was a blast! I do a lot of puzzles, and it was really fun to come across one with a twist.
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I really like the idea of having a halfway clue- it’s such a fun way to do a puzzle.