17 Best Books About Puzzles to Test Your Logic
We absolutely love puzzles and logic games so if you give either of us books about puzzles, we are completely hooked.
We gathered our favorite puzzle books for adults and middle-grade readers. These books have so many twists and turns, they were so much fun to read. There are thrillers, contemporary fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi books. No matter your genre of choice, there is a book in this list that you will adore.
What are books about puzzles? Any book that has a problem to solve is a perfect puzzle book for adults. We think of a lot of these books as modern-day treasure hunts. Many of these are mysteries with clues, logic puzzles, and codes to decipher along the way. This genre of book is so unique and fun to read. We hope you love these as much as we do.
*Books About Puzzles Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best Books About Puzzles
Best Puzzle Books for Middle-Grade
The Maze of Bones
Author: Rick Riordan
Year: 2011
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 8 – 11
More info: 39 Clues #1
Plot
Grace Cahill dies and leaves orphan siblings Amy and Dan an option – 1 million dollars or a clue. Amy and Dan decided to take the clue and figure out what happened to their parents. Along the way, they run into other families on the hunt for clues.
Why Jackie loves it
This is like The Da Vinci code for kids. It’s a kids’ mystery book series filled with secret societies, hidden secrets, and an epic quest for treasure.
Find this book in: Puzzle Books / Books Like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Mystery Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds
The Blackthorn Key
Author: Kevin Sands
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 10+
More info: The Blackthorn Key #1
Plot
Christopher Rowe is an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn, a job that involves learning to solve puzzles, crack codes, and create potions and weapons. But London’s apothecaries are being targeted by a strange cult and murders are popping up at an astounding rate. Now, Christopher needs to use his skills to discover what is threatening to tear the world apart.
Why Kirsten loves it
When I say my son devoured this series, I mean he read all 6 books in less than 2 weeks. It’s a great middle grade fantasy for tweens and even teens because it handles darker, more mature content.
Find this book in: Books like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Puzzle Books
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Mr. Lemoncello’s library is one of a kind. It’s full of holograms, logic puzzles, and hidden games. To officially open the new library, a few lucky kids get to spend the night inside as they try to win Mr. Lemoncello’s game and be the first team to escape.
Why We Love This Book: If you are looking for great bedtime stories for kids, this series will hit the mark. It will get your kids engaged with one-of-a-kid puzzles and delightful twists and turns.
Appropriate for ages 9-11
Find this book in Audiobooks for Kids / Netflix Book Adaptations / Middle Grade Mysteries / Books for 11-year-olds / Read Aloud Books / Best Puzzle Books
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Year: 2007
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 9 – 12
More info: Mysterious Benedict Society #1
Plot
This delightful story is about a group of extremely gifted children who are sent to spy on an evil organization. Together, these genius kids use logic and quick thinking to accomplish their secret mission without being caught! The children in the Mysterious Benedict Society must infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened to uncover a plot to control the minds of citizens around the world.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this story to my boys at bedtime and it was the perfect read-aloud. We all enjoyed the complexity of the story and the silly scenarios. Years later, we watched the Disney TV adaptation as well!
Why Jackie loves it
This is the first middle-grade book in a series that is geared toward older kids. It was funny and interesting and extremely clever.
Find this book in: Middle Grade Mystery Books / Books About Puzzles / Books like KOTLC / Secret Society Books / Best Gifts for 10-year-olds / Best Books for a 10-year-old / Books With Neurodivergent Characters
The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Year: 2020
Genre: YA Mystery
More info: Book 1 of 5: The Inheritance Games
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I knew I had to read this YA mystery series after it was compared to one of my favorite middle-grade mystery books, The Westing Game.
In this story, Avery, a poor orphan is told she’s just inherited a billionaire’s fortune. His family is determined to get to the money, but Avery has bigger fish to fry – the riddles and puzzles the deceased Tobias Hawthorne left behind for her to solve. As she teams up with unlikely allies, she’s forced to figure out who is a friend or foe. In order to receive the money, she must follow the clues.
Why Kirsten loves it
I flew through this story and can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the trilogy!
Why Jackie loves it
I loved everything about this series, from the characters to the plot to the mystery of “why”.
Adaptation Information
Amazon purchased the rights to this book intending to make a TV series with Osprey Productions. Grainne Godfree is writing it and Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of the producers. Release date is TBD.
Find this book in: Books for 13-year-olds / Best Mystery Books for Teens / Best Puzzle Books / Cozy Mystery Books / Fun Books for Teens / Books Becoming TV Series
Winterhouse
Author: Ben Guterson
Year: 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery / Fantasy
Age: 9 – 13
More info: Edgar Award Finalist, Agatha Award Finalist
Plot
Elizabeth is an orphan whose aunt and uncle have shipped her to Winterhouse for the Christmas holiday. There, she meets the owner, Norbridge Falls, and learns secrets about his slightly evil family. Along the way, she meets another child guest – Freddy – and becomes fast friends with him. Together, they unlock codes and solve puzzles. The best part is that the first page of each chapter has a mini puzzle for readers to complete.
Why Kirsten loves it
My boys and I like to listen to books together in the car or when doing a puzzle. The standout book for me this month was Winterhouse. This middle grade mystery was as enthralling to me as it was to my children. I loved the slight bits of magic in the story and the captivating setting of an expansive ski hotel on a snowy mountain at Christmas time.
Find this book in: Paranormal Books / Books for a 10-Year-Old / Books About Puzzles / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Hotel Novels / Christmas Chapter Books
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The tween book that got me into mysteries as a child is great as an audiobook as well! When Mr. Westing dies, he leaves the residents of Sunset Towers named in his will.
But they need to solve the mystery of his death in order to win control of his company and his vast fortune. Your family will love trying to work out what happened!
Why We Love It: This classic 70s book is still a must-read today! It has withstood the test of time.
Find this Book in Best Middle Grade Mystery Books / Books for 11-year-olds / Books About Puzzles
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J. K. Rowling
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 10+
More info: Harry Potter #4, New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Harry Potter finds himself participating in the Triwizard Tournament when someone tricked the Goblet of Fire and entered Harry’s name. He must compete against much more experienced wizards in tasks that will bring him glory or death.
Why Kirsten loves it
Harry faces dragons, dark wizards, and mermaids while performing magic he never thought possible. He faces the Deatheaters for the first time!
Why Jackie loves it
Although the order changes sometimes, this is my second favorite Harry Potter book in the series. In my opinion, it was the first book that really showed Rowling’s potential for great storytelling. If you are reading the Harry Potter books in order, as you should, you will LOVE this book.
Find this book in: Books About Secret Societies / Harry Potter Books in Order / Best Puzzle Books / Dragon Books for Tweens
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
When a famed Vermeer painting goes missing, Petra and Calder are thrust into the middle of a scandal! Can they solve an art mystery that’s stumped the F.B.I.?
Why We Love It: The first in a 4 book series, this is a great book that is interactive too. There are hidden puzzles in pictures and a code for readers to break in this tween mystery book.
Find this Book in Best Puzzle Books
Best Puzzle Books for Adults
The Twyford Code
Author: Janice Hallett
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Name a more unique mystery writer than Janice Hallett. You can’t because her mystery books are unlike any I’ve ever read before. It’s not just the incredible mysteries that keep you on your toes – it’s HOW the stories are told.
Smithy was in a remedial English class when he found a copy of a book written by author Edith Twyford. She believed that the writings in the book were part of a secret code. When the teacher goes missing, Smithy thinks she may have been correct.
Now Smithy is out of prison and is looking for answers.
Trigger Warnings
Prison
Why Kirsten loves it
The Twyford Code is laid out as a collection of audio file transcripts that you need to decipher to find the treasure. The ending BLEW MY MIND. The genius of Hallett to lay it out like that… I’m in awe of this book.
Find this book in: Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / Best Puzzle Books for Adults / Janice Hallett Books in Order / Janice Hallett Books in Order
The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers
Author: Samuel Burr
Year: 2024
Genre: Mystery
More info: National Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Clayton Stumper was raised by a group of puzzle makers in the commune where he was left as a baby. When the woman who raised him dies, she leaves him with one more puzzle to solve.
The solution will give him answers about his past and the secrets of his birth as well as point give him directions for his future.
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book in a day and found it even more delightful than the description. It was a medium-paced book, however, the puzzles within are engaging and the dual-timeline story made it unputdownable. I loved this 5-star read. #gifted
Find this book in: Best Puzzle Books for Adults / Best New Mystery Books of 2024 / Best Fiction Books of 2024
Plot
Luisa Voekler is in the CIA and while her colleagues are working on Cold War assignments, she is stuck decoding messages from World War II.
Harris Voekler is a journalist who was separated from his daughter after the Berlin Wall went up. When Luisa discovers letters written to her by the father she thought was dead, she begins to learn the truth about her family and risks everything to rescue her father.
Why Jackie loves it
I have not read many historical fiction books about Germany between 1961 and 1990. I found this book fascinating. The book starts as a dual timeline narrative until the stories come together. The codebreaking, the politics, the secrets, and the lies made for a fast-paced read that I absolutely loved.
Find this book in: Books About Female Spies / Best Books About Puzzles / Ultimate List of Best Historical Fiction Books / Best Beach Reads 2024 / Best Historical Fiction of 2024 / Books Set in the 80s
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Books About Puzzles
Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Year: 2011
Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller, A Major Motion Picture
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:16+
Plot
In 2045, most people spent their days in the OASIS, a virtual reality world. When the elusive creator of the OASIS dies and leaves clues behind, the first person to solve the riddles will be in control of the entire OASIS and a massive fortune.
When Wade Watts solves the first clue, he might fight for his survival to win along with his group of misfit friends. Love, a fight for survival, and a group of loyal friends all give me Lunar Chronicle vibes.
Why Jackie loves it
While this book is technically set in the future, everything about it screams 1980. As someone who lived her teenage years in the 80s, I consider myself an expert. This book is so unlike anything else I have read. It is smart and well-written. As a sci-fi, I feel like this would appeal to those who do not normally read sci-fi as well.
Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / Young Adult Dystopian Novels / Books Set in the 80s / Best Books About Puzzles / Books Like the Lunar Chronicles
The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Author: Stuart Turton
Year: 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered every day at 11:00 PM. In order to escape Blackheath, Aiden Bishop must solve her murder. He will wake up every day for 8 days inhabiting a different host body. He will experience the same day until he solves the murder.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best books that I have read in a really long time. It is so smart and so well written- the complexity of the plot line is mind-boggling and kept me entranced until the very last page.
Find this book in: Locked Room Mystery / Books About Puzzles / Best Time Loop Books / The 20 Best Books of 2018
Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Year: 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: New York Times Bestselling Fantasy debut
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When it comes to YA Fantasy books, this one is a classic. The story begins with letters from Scarlett to Legend, the leader of Caraval- a game played once a year in a far-off destination.
Every year, every time it is played, the game is different. Filled with magic and wonder, Scarlet plays this destination-based competition to win this year’s prize – her sister Tella – before anyone else can. This is a game filled with magic where the stakes become higher the longer Scarlet plays.
Why Jackie loves it
This is the first book in a three-part series that gets better and more complex with each new book. This series of YA fantasy romance books is a must-read.
Find this book in: Stephanie Garber Books / YA Fantasy Romance Books / Books Like the Selection / Best Puzzle Books / Popular Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books /Books About Sisters and Bonds of Sisterhood /14 Best Carnival and Circus Books / Best YA Romance Books
More Books About Puzzles
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
I was completely intrigued when I saw the description of this book. I had high hopes and this book exceeded my expectations. The description called this “books like The Da Vinci Code” which made this a must-read.
Mike Brink was once a promising football star until an injury ruined his career. It also had the side effect of a condition called Acquired Savant Syndrome which allowed him to have a perfect memory and an ability to solve puzzles other people cannot.
When Jess Price, an inmate convicted of murder sends Brink a puzzle he cannot solve, he gets sucked into her world and the world of the God Puzzle.
Why We Love It: I listened to this book in one day and was immediately taken in by the twists, turns, and puzzles in this book. It is such a unique book.
Find This Book In Puzzle Books For Adults
The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon Series #2) by Dan Brown
This is one of the first books about secret societies that I ever read. Dan Brown found a way to incorporate symbolism and brilliant riddles into this modern-day mystery.
While visiting Paris, Robert Langdon receives a phone call that the curator of the Louvre is dead. The body is covered in strange symbols that lead them on a search for the killer and for answers. This is one of the best murder mystery books I have ever read.
Why We Love It: The plot does not slow for a minute from the first page to the last. It is the first in the Robert Langdon series and my favorite as well. I love the mystery, the suspense, and the non-stop action in this amazing novel!
Find this Book in Novels About Art / Books About Puzzles
The Last Equation of Isaac Severy
Author: Nova Jacobs
Year: 2018
Genre: Mystery
More info: Wall Street Journal’s “Mysteries: Best of 2018”
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This book was compared to my favorite middle-grade mystery, The Westing Game so I immediately purchased it.
Days after Hazel’s grandfather, Isaac Severy, dies by apparent suicide, she gets a mysterious letter from Isaac imploring her to find and deliver his last equation before it falls into the wrong hands.
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s the perfect mystery novel for fans of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. This mystery is unique and so smart.
Find this book in: Books About Puzzles / Cozy Mystery Books
Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan
This book was not what I was expecting. There was a lot more mystery and action than I thought and a little more magic as well. The characters developed and changed and the story moved quickly.
This was a light and enjoyable magical realism book. When Clay takes a job in a bookstore, he thinks he will be selling books. He doesn’t realize that the “wayback” of the store is more like a library to an elite group of readers.
Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore is exactly the type of store that you will never want to leave.
Why We Love It: This is a book about a bookstore which is always something to love, but this book has puzzles to solve before you can understand why the bookstore is so special.
Find This Book In Books About Puzzles / Books About Bookstores
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Jack Masterson is the author behind the Clock Island series, a series of beloved children’s books. Now, years after he was thought to be retired, he has written a new book. There is only one copy of the book that will go to the winner of a contest held on Clock Island.
For Lucy Hart, winning the contest will mean everything to her. It will mean she can finally have the means to adopt Christopher, the little boy that she has grown to love.
Why We Love It: This book felt like an adult fairy tale. If you are looking for books about puzzles, this uplifting, feel-good book is the perfect book.
Find This Book in Books About Puzzles / Feel-Good Books
