39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game

[Jayati]

Can we use One of Us Is Lying? I mean, it is a puzzle about who was the murderer, so will that be okay?

[Hannah]

Pawn and Royals by J.C. Ahern both work for this prompt

[Darci]

Oh good, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore works for this prompt! I'm going with that.

[Jennifer]

I think it would work.

Jayati wrote: "Can we use One of Us Is Lying? I mean, it is a puzzle about who was the murderer, so will that be okay?"

[Sk888888]

Azrah wrote: "any other YA suggestions? (besides Harry Potter / the Hunger Games)"

Definitely The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak! Great fun!

[Soph ♡]

Jayati wrote: "Can we use One of Us Is Lying? I mean, it is a puzzle about who was the murderer, so will that be okay?"

Just in case UK folk didn't already know, this is 99p on today's Kindle Daily Deals 😉

[Kim]

Emily Roman wrote: "Kim wrote: "I'm intrigued by this book, Montague Island Mysteries and Other Logic Puzzles. I think it's actually a book, with a narrative, but is filled with puzzles to solve. Here ..."

I'm so glad you replied! I had that book in my Amazon cart last month, but it was no longer available, and the only one that was, was used, and selling for over $100! I forgot about it over the holidays, and then I saw your post here, and so I did another search and found it from Abe books. And they have free shipping in the states! So, it will be on it's way soon!

[Krys]

In case anyone is interested in a book around a tabletop RPG-type games (or MUDs), Wolf in White Van.

[Tytti]

I don't remember this being mentioned, Journal 29: Interactive Book Game. No idea, what it is and what it's like, but it sounds interesting and should fit the prompt.

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

The second novel in Sherry Thomas's lady Sherlock series, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, would fit here: a large part of the plot centers on Holmes working through a particularly difficult cipher puzzle.

[Jennifer]

I haven’t read the second book in a darker shade of magic trilogy yet and it involves an event called the Element Games so maybe I will finally get to it.

A Gathering of Shadows

[Jen]

Melody wrote: "I just stumbled upon Matthew Reilly's book The Tournament, which is historical fiction from young Queen Elizabeth I's point of view involving a high stakes...well...t..."

I have read both. They are fast paced and action packed if that is what you want at the time. Not masterpieces but definitely entertaining and pretty quick reads. I think I needed a day or 2 for each as that is usual for this author.

[Tracy]

on hold #1 for The Westing Game now 😊

[Ashlie]

Also, The Crown's Game would work.

Caraval

I think the Arcana Chronicles from Kresley Cole would work, since it's about the Tarot Cards coming together to defeat each other.

[Amanda]

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan would work. I’ve already read it so trying to find another one.

[Novels and Neckties -]

That´s the german edition, but i believe, there is an english translation

Schachnovelle

[Stephani]

The Westing game was a favorite when I was in jr high. It's one of those I wish I could re-read for the first time.

[Jen]

Amanda wrote: "Nerve by Jeanne Ryan would work. I’ve already read it so trying to find another one."

Loved this one!

[Johanne]

That's a great suggestion Kira. It is called Chess Story in English.

[Jen]

Having gone through my Matthew Reilly books I think there are actually a fair few of his which would fit esp re puzzle
The Four Legendary Kingdoms involves the great games
The Three Secret Cities follows on from 4 legendary kingdoms and involves solving a puzzle
The 5 Greatest Warriors solving a puzzle to prevent Armageddon
The Six Sacred Stones puzzle again
Scarecrow game 15 people compete to survive against bounty hunters
Temple solving a puzzle and translating ancient manuscripts
Contest the winner of the game gets to live
The Tournament chess to the extreme

[Laura]

Ready player one litrpg and game.

[Shekika]

I will begin reading The Hunger Games series with my son and daughter. Can't wait!

[Kara]

Michele wrote: "funny enough my 5th grade son just bought a book called The Gauntlet that will work perfectly for this."

I read this last year and enjoyed it!

[Ashlee]

Can 100% recommend The Last One

Still one of my favourite finds from the 2017 Reading Challenge

[Angelina]

Can’t see this listed yet, would it count? Just trying it as. An ebook from my library to see how good it is...or isn’t!



Also saw mention of American code breakers so if that’s the style you are going for try Bletchley park titles.The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The WWII Codebreaking Centre and the Men and Women Who Worked There Bletchley Park Brainteasers I’ve got some crossword books etc from Bletchley park but not sure they’d count tbh.

[Angelina]

I’ve downloaded the ebook of The Maze of Bones (39 clue series which seems dull to the choose your own adventures I read as a child). It’s come in a bumper pack from my library on Libby with

A Mutiny in Time (infinity ring series)
Wild Born (spirit animals series)

Will either of these count? Or maybe for the LitRPG challenge, as I’ve downloaded Ready Player One for that and realised I already know the story, must have been a drama on the radio I guess.
Also with each there’s stuff to do online, is this necessary or just a thing for the kids to do as a side line?

PS if you use Libby and the bumper packs available in your area great for kids as they can try first one of each to see which series they prefer.

[Dawn]

poshpenny wrote: "I love a puzzle-solving adventure! Scavenger hunt books are some of my favorites. This prompt is a gimme for me, I have two of these on my nightstand right now."

Oh wow, that's super helpful! Thank you! These look fun to read :)

[Dawn]

Tina wrote: "I've already read it, but Mr. Penumbra's bookstore would fit this prompt, if you haven't read it yet. Good book."

YESSS!!! I highly recommend this one, extremely enjoyable!

[Laci]

The Player of Games, part of the Culture Series, but can be read out of order

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard]

SarahKat wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Linda wrote: "Would The Westing Game work for this prompt?"
... Don't listen to The Westing Game on audio. I made that mistake last year."

I'm sorry you didn't like it; I loved the audiobook.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard]

The Night Circus is about a contest (a deadly game) between two magicians and their students.

I'm debating:
Heir Apparent (Vivian Vande Velde)
The Crossword Murder (Nero Blanc)
Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)
Warcross (Marie Lu)
Chasing Vermeer (Blue Balliet)

And several books I've read before, if I choose to combine with the "reread" prompt.

[Yvette]

I' ve read Warcross for this. Was a fun book about a life with computergames.
If you liked Ready Player One, and the The Circle you might like this.

[Christine]

Ooh! I just finished The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and the plot is highly dependent on a puzzle box!

[Lyra]

Someone wanted YA - but I have a middle grade one to share - The Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein. This is a fun one to read with 3-6th graders to get them excited about books. I read it with my son who liked books, but didn’t love them. This book kicked up his excitement to read a wider variety of books.

[WVrambler]

I tried Warcross for this, but just couldn’t get into it. So, I sent it back to the library and decided to read Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race instead.

[Tracy]

I finished The Westing Game. That was a fun little book, I didn't figure out what was going on at the end.

[Michelle]

Thegirlintheafternoon wrote: "The second novel in Sherry Thomas's lady Sherlock series, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, would fit here: a large part of the plot centers on Holmes working through a particularly diffic..."

Thank you for this suggestion! I had The Westing Game chosen and started....don't care for it at all.

[Jane]

Linda wrote: "Would The Westing Game work for this prompt?"

absolutely!!! I've already read it several times with fifth graders, and I immediately thought of it.

[SLLY]

Has anyone read The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)? I believe it is about a game? Seeking confirmation of quality/ suitability.

[Ketutar]

The Eight - about chess
I love that book. It's a bit dated now, but if you like stories like The Da Vinci Code (stories, not books - in my mind Katherine Neville is a lot better author than Dan Brown) or Labyrinth, you might like this one.

[Shannon]

For any fans of juvenile fiction out there, The Mysterious Benedict Society and its companion books would be perfect for this! It's about four kids who each get selected for membership in a secret society by completing a test of puzzles (which are given in the book, so you can actually solve along with them!) and then, as members of said society, they help to solve mysteries. They're very fun and the author's take on what makes a child "smart" is really wonderful.

That being said, I've already read those, BUT, luckily for me, Trenton Lee Stewart came out with The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, a prequel book about the founder of the society! So that's my pick for this prompt.

[Mike]

Sally wrote: "Has anyone read The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)? I believe it is about a game? Seeking confirmation of quality/ suitability."

It's been 30+ years since I've read this, but I do remember that the movie is very different, if that's what you're basing your question on.

The book (IIRC) involves a kind of game where a participant is hunted across the country, and not restricted to a limited area with a game show feel, like in the movie.

So my best answer is: I think it would work, but not 100% sure about that.

[VM]

Ashlee Overend wrote: "Can 100% recommend The Last One

Still one of my favourite finds from the 2017 Reading Challenge"

The description I found made me think of The Running Man. Going to try this one. Thanks.

[Debra]

I am in the middle of reading An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, and it totally fits this prompt!

[Lorry]

"Interstellar Pig" by William Sleator is a fun oldie-bit-goodie YA read about a bored young man who gets more than he bargained for after accepting an invitation to play a board game with the gorgeous new neighbors next door.

[Ian]

I just finished The Last Equation of Isaac Severy for this prompt. I only gave it two stars due to what I deemed problematic material.

Other prompts it might fit:

A book with a plant on the cover or in the title, A book about a family, A book told from multiple character POV's (although all done in third person),

[Alix]

twisted this for the triwizard tournament and doing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[Christophe]

Theresa wrote: "In doing some re-organizing of my Want To Read List, I've stumbled on some wonderful options for this category:

Life A User's Manual
....

One of my favourite books, and it fits in two different ways: on the one hand, one of the recurring characters is a maker of hand-made jigsaw puzzles; on the other hand the way the chapters are arranged follow the progression of a knight on a chessboard. Can't think of a better fit!

Another book I'd suggest would be Kawabata's The Master of Go, a mesmerizing, if slow-moving novel - even if you have no notion at all of how to play Go.

Obviously neither would work for me since I don't do reread for the challenge, except when the prompt is specifically a reread. I'm sure I'll find something at some point!

[Kathryn]

I’m thinking of the night circus for this prompt

[Shannon]

I know I already commented with what I plan to read, but the book I'm currently reading for the "book you wish was a movie" prompt would also work well for this. It's called The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente--it's a very whimsical story AND has the added benefit of having the Bronte siblings as its main characters (of course it's completely fictitious, but it's still fun imagining what they were like as children). Rather than being a mystery, it's about a game the kids play together suddenly becoming real.

For anyone following my comments on these prompts, yes, I read a lot of juvenile fiction for someone who is, technically, a full-grown adult. What can I say, I like the stories!