Best Books About Puzzles
I absolutely love puzzles and logic games, so if you give Jackie or me books about puzzles, we are completely hooked. I wanted to make a list of my favorite puzzle books!
I 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.
The Best Books About Puzzles
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Mystery Puzzle Book for Adults
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett- Jump to Section
Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy Puzzle Book
A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais – Jump to Section
Best Fiction Puzzle Book
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer – Jump to Section
Best “Other” Puzzle Book
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – Jump to Section
Best Middle Grade Puzzle Book
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trento Lee Stewart- Jump to Section
*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.
Mystery Books About Puzzles
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 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
Plot
Mila del Angél is hosting a writing retreat for J.R. Alastor, an anonymous writer. The retreat will take place on Alastor’s private island off the coast of Maine for six thriller authors who are all masters of the craft.
Mila is excited to organize a week of games, puzzles, and riddles, as well as the murder of one of the authors for whom she has an ax to grind. But when one of the authors turns up dead and it is not the author Mila planned to kill, she is trapped in a different weekend than the one that she planned!
Why Kirsten loves it
This twisty novel had me guessing from the very beginning. It reminded me of And Then There Were None in the best possible way. I loved the premise of all the writers having dark secrets worth killing over and I tried desperately to figure out who was really J. R. Alastor. If you are a fan of Clue, you’d probably love this story too.
Find this book in: Puzzle Mysteries / Locked Room Mysteries / Books Set in Maine / Mystery Novels About Writers
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
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Books About Puzzles
A Most Puzzling Murder
Author: Bianca Marais
Year: 2025
Genre: Not so Cozy Mystery
More info: Author of Hum if You Don’t Know the Words, one of Jackie’s Top 10 All-Time Favorite Books
December 2025 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Destiny Whip, an enigmatologist who has not left her house in a year, receives a mysterious job offer to be the Scruffmore family historian, a job she did not apply for. Try as she might, she can find no information about the family, but the invitation is a hidden message that promises to reveal family secrets. The best part? You, as the reader, get to partake in solving the clues.
Destiny is enticed by the idea of learning more about herself and follows the clues to Eerie Island. When she arrives, she discovers why the Island has the name “Eerie” and finds hidden messages, a looming murder, and a magical royal family. As her visions reveal a death that hasn’t happened, she must race to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Why Jackie loves it
I love a great puzzle, and this book not only has that, but it also allows you to interact with Destiny via email if you need help solving the clues. I did this for the fun of the interaction! There is also some choose-your-own-adventure in the story. This is the most fun I have had reading a book in ages. I added sticky notes in the pages because, even though Marais encourages you to mark within the pages, I could not bring myself to do it. If you are reading digitally, there is a printable to help you work out the puzzles!
Find this book in: Cozy Mystery Books / Best Beach Reads 2025 / Puzzle Books / Best Mystery Books of 2025
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 / 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 / Best YA Romance Books / Books Like the Night Circus
Fiction Puzzle Books for Adults
The Wishing Game
Author: Meg Shaffer
Year: 2023
Genre: Fiction
More info: National Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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 Jackie loves 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 / Books Set in Maine
Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Book Store
Author: Robin Sloan
Year: 2012
Genre: Fiction
More info: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore #1, New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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 Kirsten loves it
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.
Why Jackie loves 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 / Books About Secret Societies
More Books About Puzzles
The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
Year: 2003
Genre: Thriller
More info: Robert Langdon Series #2
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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 Jackie loves it
The plot does not slow for a minute from the first page to the last. It is the second in the Robert Langdon series and but it’s favorite. 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 / Best Mystery Books of All Time
The Puzzle Master
Author: Danielle Trussoni
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery Thriller
More info: The Puzzle Master #1
Age Range: 18+
Plot
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.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide
Why Jackie loves it
I was completely intrigued when I saw the description of this book. I had high hopes and this book exceeded my expectations. 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
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
Puzzle Books for Middle Grade
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 / Puzzle Books for Middle School/ Books like KOTLC / Secret Society Books / Best Gifts for 10-year-olds / Best Books for a 10-year-old / Books With Neurodivergent Characters
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Author: Chris Grabenstein
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 9 – 11
More info: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #1,
Plot
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 Kirsten loves it
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.
Find this book in: Audiobooks for Kids / Netflix Book Adaptations / Middle Grade Mysteries / Books for 10-year-olds / Read Aloud Books / Puzzle Books for Middle School
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 Lionsgate Television. This announcement comes after it had stalled in production.
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 / Best Books About Siblings / Best Books About Siblings
Our Favorite Logic Puzzles
Expert Tip
You do not need to be great and solving puzzles to love these books. If you need help choosing a book from this list, here are some tips.
- What are you in the mood for? I included descriptions of each book to help you choose the right vibe.
- Pick a book from your favorite genre. There is a lot to choose from on this list.
- Are you a “Kirsten” or a “Jackie”? See who read the book and why we loved it. Bonus, if we both read the book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a puzzle book for adults?
In puzzle books, the characters have to solve a puzzle to keep the plot moving forward. Most of the books I have on this list are mysteries and thrillers. However, I have some fantasy, fiction, and one historical fiction book on this list as well.
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