A Mystery and Puzzles: for something extra special this month, we’re combining two of our favorites: spine-chilling mysteries and spooky puzzles.
October. The month for ghosts, goblins, witches, and jack-o-lanterns. A time when the ancients believed the souls of the dead returned to their homes, and evil spirits wandered the earth. A time when, “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio.”
Now you may wonder just how we combine a mystery and a puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles are typically pretty straight forward. Right? But a new puzzle trend has emerged! They are mystery puzzles, which combine different elements of mystery solving and the classic feeling of putting the final pieces of a puzzle together. Our first time putting the puzzle pieces together on some of these mysteries was something else, to say the least. However, they are now a fun way for us to relax at the end of our day.
To all our mystery fans, here are some spooky books with Mysteries and puzzles that complement them. We are certain you will enjoy these fun books and puzzle games.
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Fun Spooky Books: Mystery and Puzzles Too!
If y’all love holidays, small towns, undying relationships, southern food, animals, and a smidgen of homicide, THIS cozy mystery series is for you.
A Halloween Homicide by Tonya Kappes
CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES
It’s spooky season in Holiday Junction and Halloweenie Festival is a hauntingly great time. Treats aren’t just sweet and delicious, sometimes they’re also deadly.
Holiday Junction really knows how to throw holiday festivals, and it goes all out for Halloween.
The holiday celebration includes a ghost walk of haunting tales, a hay ride, carnival games, pumpkin carvings and costume party.
Violet Rhinehammer has the perfect assignment—represent the Junction Journal by attending all the fun festive activities and reporting on them.
When Violet reluctantly goes on the ghost walk, she realizes the body that fell out of the fake casket is a real one and not a prop. She knows trouble is brewing. She puts on a sleuthing costume after someone she loves becomes Chief Strickland’s number one suspect in order to catch the real monster.
Dear reader, if you love dogs, every holiday with all the holiday trimmings, and a cozy town, you’re going to love this new series by Tonya Kappes. It’s time to CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES in the town of Holiday Junction! Just because it’s the holiday, doesn’t mean it’s free of crime and murder! But I can guarantee this series is clean with no foul language or gore. Each book can be read as a stands alone because each murder is wrapped up. Grab your cozy blanket and a cup of tea or coffee! It’s time to sleuth along Violet Rhinehammer and celebrate good crimes!
Fun puzzles we found inspired by this book cover:
An online puzzle you can do by clicking this link or by clicking the picture below.
This puzzle combines a mystery with a puzzle to solve! It’s called The Witches’ Kitchen.
Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan
Bailey Briggs adores her year-round Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, but when she takes over her grandfather’s beloved bookshop, Lazy Bones Books, she accidentally discovers the town’s secret dark side . . .
Normally, spooky season is Bailey Briggs’ favorite time of year, and her Halloween-themed small town’s time to shine. But between managing Lazy Bones Books, working on her graphic novel-in-progress, and running the Spooky Season Literary Festival, Bailey hardly has a moment to enjoy Elyan Hollow’s spot-on seasonal vibes. Not to mention, at every turn she seems to be tripping over the contentious crew of Gone Ghouls, a ghost-hunting reality TV show currently filming around town. Bailey tries to stay focused on the Lit Festival, which is supposed to kick off Elyan Hollow’s annual Halloween Fair; instead, this year’s festival begins with a murder . . .
It’s bad enough Bailey discovered the victim, but now, as a lead suspect with some (admittedly) damning evidence pointing her way, she’s got to clear her name! With the help of her librarian friend, Colby, and Jack Skeleton, her world-class bookshop dog (and the absolute bestest boy ever), Bailey sets out to solve a murder . . .
As her investigation weaves through family secrets, professional rivalries, and town feuds, the list of suspects is growing fast . . . and unfortunately, so is the list of victims. If Bailey doesn’t find the killer soon, Elyan Hollow’s haunted reputation will get a little too real . . .
Fun puzzles we found inspired by this book cover:
We loved creating this one! Click here to solve this puzzle.
This puzzle was so fun to put together and is a fun escape room mystery to solve.
All Hallows by Christopher Golden
New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author Christopher Golden is best known for his supernatural thrillers set in deadly, distant locales…but in this suburban Halloween drama, Golden brings the horror home.
It’s Halloween night, 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, and two families are unraveling. Up and down the street, secrets are being revealed, and all the while, mixed in with the trick-or-treaters of all ages, four children who do not belong are walking door to door, merging with the kids of Parmenter Road. Children in vintage costumes with faded, eerie makeup. They seem terrified and beg the neighborhood kids to hide them away, to keep them safe from The Cunning Man.
There’s a small clearing in the woods now that was never there before, and a blackthorn tree that doesn’t belong at all. These odd children claim that The Cunning Man is coming for them…and they want the local kids to protect them. But with families falling apart and the neighborhood splintered by bitterness, who will save the children of Parmenter Road?
All Hallows. The one night when everything is a mask…
Fun puzzles we found inspired by this book cover:
We loved creating this one! Click here to solve this puzzle.
A puzzle mystery is sure to keep you guessing, and these high-quality pieces helped us complete puzzle after puzzle without getting frustrated by the pieces not quite fitting together right.
We found this one on Amazon along with several more “Hidden Horror” puzzles!
Afraid of the Shadows by multiple authors!
SPOOKY SHORTS FROM THE BIGGEST STARS IN CRIME FICTION
Perfect for fans of Stephen King, Susan Hill…and Halloween
STORIES THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Crime fighting duo, Tilly and Poe solve a mystery from inside a pantomime horse in an exclusive short by Gold Dagger winner, M.W. Craven. A psychopath takes Trick or Treating a step too far. And a woman’s dream of a quiet life is shattered by a knock on the door.
Afraid Of The Shadows is a collection of gripping- sometimes funny, always spooky- short stories from some of the biggest names in crime fiction.
From possessed sweaters to creepy wardrobes and disco shape shifters, there’s something for everyone in this Halloween bucket of short story goodies making it the perfect companion to snuggle up with as the nights draw in. Though be warned, you might want to leave the lights on…
Fun puzzles we found inspired by this book cover:
We loved creating this one! Click here to solve this puzzle.
Puzzle Mysteries are a great way to transform your normal puzzle routine, and this new puzzle box was so much fun to put together since it didn’t come with a template whatsoever.
Halloween Hexes & Handcuffs by Beverly A. Rearick
A hex of a Halloween awaits.
Samantha Reitenbach and her vampire beau, Sheriff Brandon Phillips, had planned for a day of spectral delights at the world-renowned Moonflower Halloween Festival—a gathering point for paranormals on the one day the veil between worlds thins. Their enchanting escapade takes a sinister turn when a mysterious hacker infiltrates Brandon’s station, sowing unease in the usually unflappable sheriff. To make matters more complicated, the sinister Paranormal Council takes over event security, leaving Brandon skeptical of their intentions.
Amidst the mystical allure of the festival, tragedy strikes when a body is unearthed within the haunted underworld ride with the victim connected to Samantha at a time when she’s been somehow enchanted to speak thoughts and opinions best left buried.
As they struggle to piece together the puzzle, they uncover a tangle of elusive clues and hidden motives. Each twist brings Samantha and Brandon closer to a haunting truth. It’s a scramble against time where clues float like fog over a moonlit graveyard.
Halloween, Hexes & Handcuffs is the sixth paranormal cozy mystery in the Moonflower Mystery Series.
Fun puzzles we found inspired by this book cover:
We loved creating this one! Click here to solve this puzzle.
We loved this puzzle mystery, and we DID solve it, can you?
We hope you enjoy our favorite pastime with this new twist! If you like these, be sure to check out more of our puzzle articles!
