SOLVED: 1980s book(s) of compiled short whodunnit mysteries for children

[Jon]

This is a book (maybe two or three) that I would have read in the 1980s (1983-85, perhaps). The book was a collection of short (2-4 page) mysteries that were each left open-ended with a closing question for the reader in italics (i.e. "How did the detective know the butler was behind the robbery?")

The book I seem to remember was hardback with an illustration on the black cover. It may have been published by Gollancz or Hodder & Stroughton. It was, I believe, written by a non-English author (possibly Swedish, or maybe French), translated into English. I think there were two or three volumes in the same series held by my local library at the time.

The individual stories were not linked although there may have been recurring detective characters in some of them. The book was illustrated.

Any clues to help solve this mystery?

[Summer]

Could it be Baffling Whodunit Puzzles: Dr. Quicksolve Mini-Mysteries or any of the other Dr Quicksolve books?

[Jon]

Summer wrote: "Could it be Baffling Whodunit Puzzles: Dr. Quicksolve Mini-Mysteries or any of the other Dr Quicksolve books?"

That's a really good shout. It isn't (because Dr Quicksolve was published first in 1996 and I would have been reading the book/s in question at least 10 years prior). However, I checked out some pages and it is clearly cut from the same cloth - very similar!

A key difference is that the stories tended to feature different characters (rather than the same detective or child characters in every story). Otherwise, the format is the same with the question posed at the end and a solution promised. It wouldn't surprise me if this series was inspired by the books I'm thinking of.

[Ann]

These books by Donald J. Sobol?
Two-Minute Mysteries
More Two-Minute Mysteries
Still More Two-Minute Mysteries

[Jon]

Ann wrote: "These books by Donald J. Sobol?
Two-Minute Mysteries
More Two-Minute Mysteries
Still More Two-Minute Mysteries"

Oh man, you know, it could be these...(Haledjian - the detective's name here rings a bell)...but I could have sworn the books I'm thinking of were (a) European, (b) more aimed at children (they were in the children's section of the library and, I think, didn't talk about murders and suicides) and (c) didn't have the same detective in all the stories.

But, again, a good match, Ann. That's how I remember the questions being set up (and the answers printed at the foot of the page, upside-down).