Growing up I loved a good puzzle book, now as an adult I’ve become addicted to the clever, unique offerings found in this genre. For many Murdle was rekindled a love of logic puzzle books like no other with is witty through line story as you solved each logic grid. These books have that same magic. Each one does something a little more unique than the last. They’re the kind that make you want to stay up too late finishing one more puzzle and they’ll for sure be the first thing you pack on your next trip!
I have all of these on my shelf. Some I’ve devoured, some I’m still working through. All of them earned a spot on this list because they do something a little different, and I think you’re going to love having these waiting for you.
Montague Island Mysteries by R. Wayne Schmittberger
There’s a whole story woven through the puzzles, characters you get to know, an island estate, a hidden secret, and maps that pull you in. You’re not just solving standalone puzzles, you’re uncovering something. Fair warning: these are hard. Like, genuinely challenging. But every answer is fully explained in the back so you learn exactly how it was solvable, which makes it uniquely satisfying rather than just frustrating. Not your average puzzle book. These puzzles are tricky, don’t be surprised if you can’t solve one in a single sitting!
Murdoku by Manuel Garand
The most clever take on Sudoku I’ve come across. Each puzzle drops you into a mini murder mystery with full color visual representations of the crime scene and you solve it using Sudoku-style logic. There isn’t a running novel connecting them. Each one is its own self-contained case, but the visual element makes it feel completely different from anything else on this list. 80 crime scenes, starting easy and getting genuinely difficult.
Murder Among the Stacks by Rosie A. Point
This one is for the cozy mystery lovers. Abby Jones moves to a charming small town, opens a bookstore, and promptly finds herself in the middle of a suspicious case on opening night. The format is one page of story for every word search, so it’s lighter on the puzzle intensity and heavier on the charm. If you want something you can pick up and put down easily without losing your place in a complex logic chain, this is your book. (I complete a few each night before bed!) I’ve been highlighting the word search using these highlighters which are perfect and haven’t bled through the pages.
The Murder Mystery Club Puzzle Book: Murder in the Village by Gareth Moore
70+ puzzles woven into one mystery you’re actually solving. A suspicious case in a charming English village, a group of amateur sleuths, and you’re one of them. The variety of puzzle types keeps it interesting all the way through, and the cozy mystery atmosphere makes it feel like a page turner even when you’re pencil deep in a logic problem. Cozy mystery fans, this one is for you.
Puzzles and Perils: The Crystal Quest by Dr. Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres
This one is trying to be two things at once, a full fantasy novel and a full puzzle book. Each turn of the page gives you part of the story along with a new puzzle to solve with a good variety in the types of puzzles you’re presented with. You’re solving hidden symbols, secret routes, and logic puzzles to move the story forward, which means the puzzles actually matter to the narrative in a way that feels genuinely immersive. There’s a lot of content here. If you want something that commits fully to both the story and the puzzle experience, this delivers.
Murder Most Puzzling by Stephanie von Reiswitz
The most visually distinct book on this list. The puzzles are murder mystery themed, illustrated, and witty in a way that feels more than a standard activity book. It’s not a grab your pencil and fill in the blanks experience. It’s something you sit with and enjoy differently. Agatha Christie fans especially will feel right at home here.
Bordergrams by G.T. Karber and others
From the same mind behind Murdle! This one has more variety in puzzle types rather than focusing on just one format, which makes it a great next step if what you loved about Murdle was the logic and mystery atmosphere but you’re ready to stretch into something a little different. Genuinely tricky at points, this will be a puzzle book that takes you a while to fully solve in the best way. My daughter and I have been trading off solving puzzles in this one and they’ve all been delightful.
Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles
If what you loved most about Murdle was the pure logic grid experience and you want more of exactly that without the mystery story wrapper, this is your book. Straightforward logic puzzles that range in difficulty, with a fun competitive element built in. You can check your completion time against the average, the record, and the percentage of people who actually finished. Turns out a little competition with strangers makes a puzzle book significantly more addictive.
Murdle by G.T. Karber
And if somehow you found this post without having read Murdle yet, it’s time! This is the one provided a shot of esspresso to this genre the past couple years and it absolutely earns the obsession it’s got from fans. Self-contained logic mystery puzzles, clever writing, and genuinely satisfying solves.
The good news is there’s a whole series waiting for you. Work your way through Volume 1,ย Volume 2,ย andย Volume 3, take a detour intoย The School of Mysteryย orย The Case of the Seven Skulls, cozy up withย Merry Murdleย when the holidays roll around, and if you want something to look forward to,ย Murdle Heistย is available for preorder now!
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Interactive Puzzle and Activity Books for Kids, Teens, and Families
