Kayote B. (kayote) reviewed on 1/8/2009 + 254 more book reviews

Hrm.

I like logic puzzles (what order are these folks in from these clues?). And I like solve-it-yourself mysteries.

But when I expect the latter, I'm a bit grumpy to find a book that's mostly the former. And since it's mini-mysteries, they aren't very hard logic puzzles either.

Most of the actual mysteries were pretty good, but I didn't agree with them at times. (An attache case with a key-lock? I have never seen one of those. All of them I've seen are combination. The rest of the solution made sense). It was also a bit annoying that they were written such that there was an obvious alternative--such as in the above mentioned case--go ask the checking room! I know, I know, it's a setup and the point is the puzzle. But I have a preference to ones that are written without an obvious simple way for the detective to solve it. :P Minor point compared to the fact it's mostly a book of little logic puzzles.

And no, it isn't sour grapes. :) I figured out most of the actual mysteries (missed half the solution on one--dang it), and all the logic puzzles I actually worked--I wasn't well stocked with paper, and they were somewhat repetitive. (And the door one had an alternative solution--because the door also stops the cracks, and there are 2 doors, there are multiple orders the door could have been shot in. :P))

It's cute, but it's more for the fan of logic puzzles looking for short ones to test their speed on than for the fan of mini-mysteries looking for mysteries to solve.

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