G. T. Karber’s Murdle is getting a seven-book expansion. Publishers Weekly reported on October 27 that Tytora has acquired the new books, with Merry Murdle: Ghosts of Christmas planned for fall 2027. For mystery readers, the announcement offers a reason to watch the series even if they have never picked up a puzzle book.
The practical question is where to start while those future releases take shape. Murdle already offers several ways to turn a love of fictional detectives into some sleuthing of your own.
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What has been announced?
According to Publishers Weekly, the seven-figure agreement will expand the series into different puzzle formats and genres, including romantasy. Its report does not supply all seven titles or a complete publication calendar.
That leaves plenty to discover about how the individual books will work. A genre mentioned in an acquisition announcement is not yet a detailed description of its puzzles, characters, or reading experience.
Tytora is St. Martin’s Publishing Group’s new puzzles-and-games imprint. Macmillan’s announcement says its publishing program begins in fall 2027.
What is Murdle?
Murdle combines murder mysteries with logic puzzles. Created by Karber and based on his online game, the series invites readers to investigate alongside Deductive Logico. Macmillan describes puzzles that range from elementary to impossible, asking solvers to establish details such as the culprit, method, location, and motive.
The appeal is easy to understand if your favorite part of a mystery is sorting through the evidence. A suspicious detail becomes something to test. A clue can eliminate a possibility and change how you interpret everything else.
For readers who like the limited suspect lists discussed in our closed-circle mystery guide, that structure offers a familiar pleasure in a more directly interactive form.
The distinction matters when choosing a book: expect to participate in solving puzzles, rather than simply follow a detective through a conventional novel.
The new Christmas book is different from Merry Murdle
Readers shopping for a holiday puzzle book should pay attention to the subtitle.
Merry Murdle is already available. Macmillan lists its U.S. publication date as October 14, 2025. It contains 25 festive murder-mystery logic puzzles and follows Logico’s investigation into a missing Santa Claus.
The newly announced Ghosts of Christmas is a separate forthcoming title. Do not assume an existing listing for the earlier book is a preorder for the new one.
For something to solve this holiday season, find the existing Merry Murdle on Amazon.
Where should newcomers start?
My recommendation is to choose according to the kind of mystery activity you want, rather than wait for the expansion.
| If you want… | Consider… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An introduction to the main series | Murdle: Volume 1 | A straightforward starting point before exploring the later numbered volumes. |
| A seasonal puzzle collection | Merry Murdle | Its 25 Christmas-themed mysteries give the collection a clear holiday focus. |
| A change from investigating murders | Murdle Heist | You use logic to help plan crimes and assemble a crew. |
Ready to try the original series? Find Murdle: Volume 1 on Amazon.
Murdle Heist, released in the U.S. on October 6, 2026, is a useful example of the series changing its premise. Its 56 capers ask solvers to work out criminal operations, including who handles different parts of a theft. Instead of reconstructing the crime afterward, you help put the plan together.
Prefer that approach? Explore Murdle Heist on Amazon.
You can also visit the official Murdle website to try the online puzzles before choosing a collection.
Why mystery readers should watch the expansion
The most interesting question is how new settings and genres might change the deductions themselves. A different cover or backdrop can be fun, but a fresh way to reason through the evidence would give returning solvers more to explore.
That is the standard I would use when evaluating future releases: does the premise create a different puzzle-solving experience?
For now, newcomers have an accessible route in through the existing books and online game. Readers who prefer their clues inside a full-length story can explore our Hercule Poirot reading guide alongside them.
Would you rather solve a murder, plan a heist, or try a mystery puzzle in a fantasy setting?
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