The Puzzle Adventure book series from Usborne Publishing Ltd was first created in 1984 with the release of Escape from Blood Castle. The first three volumes of the series were originally released as "Usborne Solve It Yourself". Each book contains a vividly illustrated story, with a plot-related puzzle to solve on each double page.
The series's success inspired the creation of three related series: Advanced Puzzle Adventures, Young Puzzle Adventures and Science Puzzle Adventures.
Many of the Puzzle Adventures and Young Puzzle Adventures series have been re-released over the past few years.
Series Puzzle Adventures This is the original series of books, aimed at 8 to 13 year-olds.
No. Title Author Illustrator Published ISBN 1 Escape from Blood Castle Jenny Tyler Graham Round 1984 2 The Curse of the Lost Idol Gaby Waters Graham Round 1986 3 Murder on the Midnight Plane Gaby Waters Graham Round 1986 4 The Incredible Dinosaur Expedition Karen Dolby Brenda Haw 1987 5 The Intergalactic Bus Trip Martin Oliver 1987 6 Time Train to Ancient Rome Gaby Waters Brenda Haw 1988 7 Danger at Demon's Cove Karen Dolby Graham Round 1988 8 Agent Arthur's Jungle Journey Martin Oliver Paddy Mounter 1989 9 Agent Arthur on the Stormy Seas Martin Oliver Paddy Mounter 1990 10 The Ghost in the Mirror Karen Dolby Brenda Haw 1989 11 The Haunted Tower Susannah Leigh Brenda Haw 1989 12 Agent Arthur's Arctic Adventure Martin Oliver Paddy Mounter 1990 13 The Vanishing Village Sarah Dixon Brenda Haw 1990 14 Search for the Sunken City Martin Oliver Brenda Haw 1989 15 Journey to the Lost Temple Susannah Leigh John Blackman 1989 16 The Pyramid Plot Justin Somper Peter Wingham 1991 17 The Invisible Spy Mark Fowler Peter Wingham 1993 18 The Emerald Conspiracy Mark Fowler Mark Burgess 1993 19 Agent Arthur's Desert Challenge Martin Oliver Paddy Mounter 1994 20 Voyage to the Edge of the World Lesley Sims Peter Wingham 1994 21 Mutiny at Crossbones Bay Mark Burgess Mark Burgess 1994 22 Castle of Intrigue Paul Stewart Jane Gedye 1994 23 The Dark Dark Knight Lesley Sims Peter Wingham 1996 24 Agent Arthur's Island Adventure Lesley Sims Paddy Mounter 1998 25 The Crimebusters Investigate Mark Fowler Ann Johns 1997 Agent Arthur's Mountain Mission (announced but never published)
Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibuses:
The Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: The Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, The Intergalactic Bus Trip, Time Train to Ancient Rome. The Second Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Danger at Demon's Cove, Search for the Sunken City, Journey to the Lost Temple. The Third Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: The Pyramid Plot, The Emerald Conspiracy, The Invisible Spy. The Fourth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Voyage to the Edge of the World, Mutiny at Crossbones Bay, Castle of Intrigue. The Fifth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Agent Arthur's Desert Challenge, The Dark, Dark Knight, The Crimebusters Investigate. The Usborne Book of Solve Your Own Mystery Stories () Collecting: Escape from Blood Castle, The Curse of the Lost Idol, Murder on the Midnight Plane. The Usborne Big Book of Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Danger at Demon's Cove, Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, Ghost in the Mirror, Escape from Blood Castle. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.1 () Collecting: Escape from Blood Castle, The Curse of the Lost Idol, Murder on the Midnight Plane, The Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, The Intergalactic Bus Trip, Time Train to Ancient Rome, Danger at Demon's Cove. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.2 () Collecting: Agent Arthur's Jungle Journey, Agent Arthur on the Stormy Seas, Agent Arthur's Arctic Adventure, The Haunted Tower, The Vanishing Village, The Ghost in the Mirror, Search for the Sunken City. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.3 () Collecting: Mutiny at Crossbones Bay, Agent Arthur's Island Adventure, The Pyramid Plot, Castle of Intrigue, The Emerald Conspiracy, Journey to the Lost Temple, The Dark, Dark Knight. Agent Arthur's Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Agent Arthur's Jungle Journey, Agent Arthur on the Stormy Seas, Agent Arthur's Arctic Adventure. Ghost Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: The Vanishing Village, The Haunted Tower, The Ghost in the Mirror.
Advanced Puzzle Adventures This is a more difficult series aimed at older children, currently out of print.
Codename Quicksilver Cobra Consignment Mystery on Main Street
The series was reprinted in an omnibus edition.
The Usborne Book of Advanced Puzzle Adventures ()
Science Puzzle Adventures The Science Puzzle Adventures series written by Clive Gifford contains science-related puzzles. Each tale pits the wits of Dr. Genius and his resourceful team against the world's most evil criminal superbrains. This series is also currently out of print.
The Flask of Doom The Time Warp Virus
Young Puzzle Adventures This series uses softer illustrations and is aimed at younger children.
No. Title Author Illustrator Published ISBN Lucy and the Sea Monster Karen Dolby Caroline Jayne Church 1993 Chocolate Island Karen Dolby Caroline Jayne Church 1994 Uncle Pete the Pirate Susannah Leigh Brenda Haw 1994 Dragon in the Cupboard Karen Dolby Caroline Jayne Church 1995 Molly's Magic Carpet Emma Fischel Teri Gower 1995 Halloween Surprise (previously Spooks' Surprise) Karen Dolby 1995 Lucy and the Sea Monster to the Rescue Karen Dolby Caroline Jayne Church 1997 Uncle Pete's Pirate Adventure Susannah Leigh Brenda Haw 1997 Wendy the Witch Karen Dolby Brenda Haw 1998 Land of the Lost Teddies Emma Fischel Daniel Howarth 1998
Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibus:
Young Puzzle Adventures () Collecting: Molly's Magic Carpet, Wendy the Witch, Uncle Pete the Pirate, Lucy and the Sea Monster.
Superpuzzles
In 1995 Usborne released a 3-in-1 collection of even more advanced puzzles, The Usborne Book of Superpuzzles by Sarah Dixon, Mark Fowler, Radhi Parekh (illustrator) (). This includes the books Maps and Maze Puzzles, Codes and Ciphers and Logic Puzzles.
See also Usborne Spinechillers
References
External links Usborne.co.uk, the official site of Usborne Publishing