If you’re like us here at the Mystery Review Crew you may be a bit obsessed with puzzles of all shapes and sizes, we’re self-labeled puzzle enthusiasts. From 1000-piece puzzle’s to 500-piece puzzle’s and even smaller puzzle sizes. There is a puzzle for every skill level as long as you have enough space to do them.
A thousand-piece puzzle can be a fun holiday tradition to start and a great way for the whole family to interact and is guaranteed to bring hours of entertainment to everyone. We always have one going on our coffee table or dining room table when we get together.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means the Mystery Review Crew may receive a commission if you purchase using these links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Puzzle Sizes
Standard Size Puzzles (as finished size:)
1,000-piece puzzle dimensions are roughly 27″ x 20″ when completed – This is the standard size, however, keep in mind that it can vary from puzzle to puzzle depending on the size of the pieces. While “1,000-piece puzzles” may sound difficult, it usually doesn’t take more than a few hours to complete if you are continuously doing it.
500-piece puzzle dimensions are roughly 19.5″ x 14.25″ when completed – this number can vary though depending on how large the puzzle pieces are.
250-piece puzzle dimensions are roughly 8.5″ x 15″ when completed – this number can vary though depending on how large the puzzle pieces are, especially when buying puzzles directed at a younger audience.
100-piece puzzle dimensions are roughly 19.41″ x 14.25″ when completed – this number can vary though depending on how large the puzzle pieces are, especially when buying puzzles directed at a younger audience.
The first step before starting your puzzle is to make sure you have a flat surface table that is BIGGER than your **** piece puzzle, with room for you to lay the pieces around the edges for easy access and a place to put the puzzle box for referencing as well. Many people have started using a portable puzzle table so that they can easily store their puzzles while working on them. However, that is not necessary unless you want to invest that money upfront.
Often the best way to complete large puzzles is by starting with the edge pieces (or border pieces) so you have the corner pieces framed out and therefore have a good start to your base, then work from the larger pieces (or large focal points) and work inward with the smaller pieces. While working in this way it’s a good idea to sort through the individual pieces and put them into smaller sections of similar colors together so they are easier to find later.
The difficulty level of puzzles is not always clearly defined by higher piece count. Rather, it is based on a number of components such as the number of jigsaw puzzle pieces, the actual puzzle picture (if it has lots of similar colored pieces that will raise the level of difficulty), and the amount of time spent on putting it together.
Books We Recommend Listening To While Putting Puzzles Together
And of course, we have some bookish recommendations to listen to while putting your puzzle together!
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barns is a labyrinth in and of itself
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why — or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch — and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.
There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.
We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.
Understood? Then let’s begin . . .
Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others . . .
The most inventive debut of the year twists together a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave listeners guessing until the very last second.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”
When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?
For some smaller puzzles that are digital, here is our collection of free jigsaw puzzles separated by categories:
Fall puzzles:
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/84mzh497/fall-colors/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/05o6dnwu/it-s-fall-y-all/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/25n2t02e/somewhere-in-fall/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/7gesdrqi/the-blue-ridge-mountains-of-tennessee/
Halloween:
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/gywdsq5z/spooky-lights/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/lw8yf2rc/happy-witch/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/kg5zuukb/a-ghostly-flyby/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/vp4oihdx/the-13th-grave/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/hg92gvmw/pumpkins-and-books/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/nazq1fhl/halloween-greetings/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/shgggs4p/happy-halloween/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/02bv4inf/pumpkins-galore/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/urodevws/superstitious-origins/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/bv41n2qe/let-the-ghoul-times-roll/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/2u512eyf/a-haunted-halloween/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/fj1fho6q/moon-cat-happy-halloween/
- https://www.jigidi.com/solve/jh0ccp9p/not-berry-humorous/
Christmas:
Coming Soon!
Some of our favorite puzzle makers because of the high-resolution image quality and vibrant colors and quality of the puzzle pieces are Ravensburg, The Magic Puzzle Store, Masterpieces, and if you’re in the mood for a 3D puzzle we love Wrebbit 3D.
We have also enjoyed doing these actual mystery puzzles!
