Catholic School Memories Inspire Author’s New Book

FORT SMITH — An award-winning author incorporated his time in Catholic schools in his latest book.

Greg Karber, writer of Murdle, Bordergrams and Murdle, Jr. mystery game books, visited Immaculate Conception School’s fourth- and fifth-graders Dec. 5.

“We sponsor visiting authors several times during the school year,” school librarian Kristi Stevens said, “but this is the first time we’ve hosted an author who is an Immaculate Conception graduate.” 

Karber talked about the latest book in his Murdle, Jr. series, “Sleuths on the Loose.” While his previous books have been murder mystery games based on logic grid puzzles, his second children’s mystery book follows a traditional novel format.

“I read chapters from ‘Sleuth on the Loose’ to our fourth and fifth graders for two weeks before Karber’s visit,” Stevens said. “The mystery takes place in a school that is very similar to Immaculate Conception, and the students said the settings reminded them of their playground, classrooms and library. The librarian was a nun, very much like our former librarian, Sister Mary Sarto (Gaffney, RSM). The library in the book has a closet leading to a secret passage, and they asked me whether our library closet led to other parts of the school.”

Karber, a student of Immaculate Conception and Trinity Junior High schools from 1993 to 2002, told Arkansas Catholic he has fond memories of his Catholic education. 

“I was a non-Catholic student, but I developed a deep love for Catholicism and became an ally, if not an honorary Catholic. When I visited, I was surprised that all the teachers I’d had in the 1990s were retired, and Mrs. (Sharon) Blentlinger was no longer the principal. I always felt protected and safe in IC, and while I was writing, I thought about how she had shaped the institution that nurtured and motivated me and was so grateful for my experience there.”

He dedicated “Sleuths on the Loose” to Blentlinger, who retired in 2023 after 37 years as principal.

“When I did an author’s event at Bookish last year, she was in the audience,” he said. “She came up and said, ‘I’m Mrs. B.’ and we had a great chat. My mom hand-delivered ‘Sleuths’ to her a few weeks later, so I got to hear about her reaction.”

He was surprised that the library no longer had a card catalog, but saw the same shelves and saw that many of his favorite books were still there. 

“Sister Sarto planted the seed that became ‘Murdle’ during our library classes,” he said. “She used to read short riddle-like stories to us, real lateral-thinking puzzles, and afterwards she’d ask us ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions about the stories. I always loved puzzles like that.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and English from the University of Arkansas, Karber received a master of fine arts from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, with the goal of becoming a screenwriter. 

In 2022, the L.A.-based writer created Murdle as a web-based daily game. After it was picked up in book format by St. Martin’s Press in the U.S. and Profile Press in the U.K., he turned to writing full-time. In 2023, he received the British Book Award for Book of the Year. His “Murdle” books have been on the USA Today and Sunday Times bestseller lists. Karber has created eight Murdle books, three Murdle, Jr. books for 8-12-year-olds, and several books in pre-publication.

“I remember a writer visiting I.C. when I was in school and saying that we could become writers, too,” Karber said. “I’ve been on book tours all over the United States and United Kingdom, and when I’m talking at schools, I try to pay it forward and convince kids that they can be writers, too. I loved books as a kid, being in the library and choosing books Sister Sarto recommended. Books are my life’s passion, and being able to be part of creating them is a blessing.”

Stevens said all of the school’s copies of “Sleuths on the Loose” books have been checked out, and there is a long waiting list. 

“The kids just loved his energy and his enthusiasm. He was so amazing,” she said.