University of Arkansas alumnus G.T. Karber loves a good mystery. Karber is the creator of Murdle, a murder mystery puzzle series that has received international acclaim and a loyal following from those who want to test their deduction abilities and figure out 'whodunit.'

In "Short Takes: The Man Behind Murdle," Karber explains how his award-winning series came to fruition (hint: there's a sketch on a napkin involved), and how his experience at the University of Arkansas played a role.

"I came to the University of Arkansas because I wanted to creatively write," he said. "This was the place that was going to allow me to do that in the most free-wheeling, adventurous way."

Karber hails from Fort Smith and was part of the Honors College. He double-majored in English and mathematics with a minor in psychology, before earning an M.F.A. in screenwriting from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. At the U of A, he was named a Bodenhamer Fellow, which gave him the opportunity to study abroad three times over the course of his undergraduate years.

That experience proved to be instrumental, as traveling to the United Kingdom provided him with the opportunity to immerse himself in creative writing, theater and philosophy. 

"Without those experiences, I don't know that I would've had the breadth of knowledge that allowed me to pursue my passion," he said.

Karber's puzzles have expanded into a three-volume book series, collegiate spin-off, junior version, board game and future television series. He even won "Book of the Year" at the 2024 British Book Awards.

Watch "Short Takes: The Man Behind Murdle" to learn more about Karber's penchant for puzzles. And for additional Short Takes videos, visit shorttakes.uark.edu.