List of Jigsaw Puzzles Related to “Mysteries”

In recent years, many people have become familiar with mystery jigsaw puzzles thanks to the wonderful bePuzzled jigsaws. In a search for similar puzzles to take their place on my puzzle table, I have found a huge number of other puzzles from a variety of companies. This list is intended to help other bePuzzled fans to expand their interests to other company puzzles. I am still in the process of compiling information on various mystery jigsaw puzzles – please contact me if you have additional titles/details or if you think there are inaccuracies in the information as provided. Most of the manufacturers are no longer in business, but I have included hot links to those which have a web page and/or to pages which contain more detail on the company.

Trying to locate some of these to purchase? See my puzzle locating tips page.

Story booklets: Trying to locate a copy of a story booklet or solution for one of these puzzles? Contact me. If I have it in my collection, I will scan the story or solution and add them to this webpage. If you have a copy of a booklet that I do not own, please let me know. I would be happy to add it to the collection for other puzzle enthusiasts to use.

* = I have a copy of the puzzle in my collection and can answer questions about it.

American Publishing Co.

Columbo Mystery Puzzle Game (by Elrich S. Wise, 1989, 550 pieces – also issued by Paul Lamond Games)

*Ashes to Ashes

*Death Foretold

Murder, She Wrote Mystery Puzzle Game (1984, 550 pieces, 18 x 24, no author listed, 4 page booklet, solution in mirror type in back of booklet – also issued by Paul Lamond Games)

*The Art of Murder

*The Unconventional Murder - #6726

Recipe for Murder – by Elrich S. Wise

Desktop Murder

Nancy Drew Mystery (1978, 121 pieces, 11 x 11”)

Austin Project Marketing Ltd. (England)

Detecto Puzzles (1975 --- 15 x 10” – 500 pieces; story is printed on box with answer in picture puzzle – author’s names are plays on Morris West, Dick Francis, etc.)

The Haunting of Pelham Grange, by Dorothy Sayles (deals with the staging of a haunting)

A Shot in the Back, by General Sir Arthur Scroper

Murder Mountain, by Morris East

Murder at the Music Hall, by Agatha Wilde

Mystery of the Bluebird Crash, by Nicholas Forsythe

Death on Derby Day, by Frances Dicks

Kojak Crime Story Plus Jigsaw (750 pieces, 18 x 24” – these also have “Detecto Puzzles” emblem on the box cover)

1. Sting, The

2. *Inside Job (1976 – this one is a murder)

The Sweeney Crime Story Plus Jigsaw (750 pieces)

Masked Ball

Public Execution (1976, jigsaw with an 8 page booklet containing a story and criminal records of the suspects. The object is to read the story, solve the crime then assemble the jigsaw to find out the solution.)

Bear, Bear, & Bear Ltd. (England)

Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle (125 piece mystery jigsaw without a solution)

Coronation St. Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle (1995 – “who’s at the bar in the Rovers Return?”)

*What the Butler Saw (1996 – "only when the puzzle is completed will you see....what the butler saw." – 280mm x 160mm)

bePuzzled – see separate list of bePuzzled mystery titles

Bestime – see separate list of Famous Five puzzles

Bits & Pieces

3 Mystery Solver Jigsaw Puzzles – set containing 3 separate puzzles (Murder at Bedford Manor, Murder at the Museum, and Murder on the High Seas) – each puzzle is individually bagged and solutions are included in box.

Continuing Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (550 pieces, 18 x 24” – no author listed, 8 page booklet, solution in very small print in back of booklet)

1. Adventures of the Fellow Lodgers, The – by Hy Conrad, 1996

2. *Phantom of Sorrel House, The – 1996

3. Adventure of the Suicidal Secretary, The – 1997

4. Case of the Meddling Maid, The – 1997

5. Sins of the Father

6. Kent Chapel Murders

7. Watson Inheritance, The – by Hy Conrad

8. Case of the Fallen Actress, The – by Hy Conrad

1. *Murder at Bedford Manor – story by Claudia Busto – artwork by Gene Dieckhoner, 2002 – 1000 pieces, 20 x 27” – enclosed story booklet. Originally issued as part of a contest with no solution provided. Later versions of the puzzle contained a booklet with solution included.

2. *Murder on the High Seas – 2003 – 1000 pieces, 20 x 27” – $1000 contest to find answer – enclosed story booklet. Originally issued as part of a contest with no solution provided. Later versions of the puzzle contained a booklet with solution included.

3. *Murder at the Museum – story by Claudia Busto, art by Gene Dieckhoner, 2004 – 1000 pieces, 20 x 27” – enclosed story booklet. Originally issued as part of a contest with no solution provided. Later versions of the puzzle contained a booklet with solution included.

4. Mystery at the Fairgrounds – story by Claudia Busto, 2006 – 1000 pieces, 20 x 27” – enclosed story booklet. Issued as part of a contest, with no solution provided. Solution was later provided on company website.

Mystery at Heathmoor Manor (glow-in-the-dark clues, $1000 contest to find answer, solution not included, 1000 pieces, 20 x 27, no author listed)

1. *Ghosts of Heathmoor Manor, The (1996) – story booklet

2. Fall of Heathmoor Manor, The (1997)

3. Curse of Heathmoor Manor, The – original artwork by Gene Dieckhoner

Secrets of the Sands – 1000 pieces, 20 x 27”

Buffalo Games

3D Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle (the first 4 have: no author, 504 pieces, 7”long x 5½ wide x 15½ high – cute story with Inspector I. M. Clueless)

1. Hotel Whodunit – 1993

2. CallaCop Casualty Company – 1994

3. *Testimony Tower – 1994, copyrighted by Dan Scott Associates – solution & image of assembled puzzle

4. Last Resort

5. Culprit Castle

Mystery of the Pyramid 3D puzzle (1999, 504 pieces – 18” square and 7” high – pyramid can be assembled in a number of ways, but there is a secret message to be found when they are assembled in a certain order – includes “explorers booklet.”)

Police lineup (all published in 1995, 513 pieces, 21½ x 15”; 2-sided crime scene on side 1, pick crook from lineup on side 2; clues printed on surface, box cover has vital clues removed)

1. *Grand Theft Auto (box says this is the first in the “Desktop Detective Series”) – solution

2. Smash & Grab

3. *Sticky Fingers – solution

World's Most Difficult jigsaw puzzle

Monarch's Mystery. (1989 – 529 double-sided pieces. Not a mystery! The myth presented on the box back says a wizard designed the puzzle - "to an ordinary person, the puzzle reflected the ever changing present, but to the right one, it would reveal a short distance into the future." The puzzle actually has the same picture on both sides - one is rotated ninety degrees from the other.)

BV Leisure Ltd. (England)

Adventure of the Speckled Band (1000 pieces – by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – 23 x 29” – originally issued by BePuzzled in the U.S.)

Cat Show Killer (1000 pieces – 2006)

Body in the Bunker (1000 pieces – by Derek Bullard – 19 x 27”– contains story booklet. This puzzle was also manufactured and distributed by the Great American Puzzle Factory in the U.S.)

Murder at St. Andrews (1000 pieces – by Larry Zacher – 23 x 29” – originally issued by BePuzzled in the U.S. in 1999.)

Murder on the Nile (1000 pieces – by Emily Winslow, 2000 – 19 x 27” – contains story booklet. This puzzle was also manufactured and distributed by the Great American Puzzle Factory in the U.S.)

Prizewinning Murder (1000 pieces – 2006)

Slice of Death (1000 pieces – 2006)

Canada Games Company Ltd. – was in business from 1984-1997. Boxes and story booklets contain both English and French text.

Puzzling Mysteries

Case of the Missing Links / Mystere et Balles de Golf – by Christopher King, 1991 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” (separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1990)

Check Out Time – by Max Haines and Larry Zacher – 500 pieces, 20 x 20”

Double Cross / La Vie en Rose – by John Lutz, 1993 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” – #40977 (separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1989)

*Final Run / La Derniere Descente – by Alan Robbins, 1993 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” – #40978 – copyrighted by Lombard Marketing and has bePuzzled logo on back of box (separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1991).

*Other People’s Money / L’Argent des Autres – by Max Haines and Larry Zacher, 1996 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” – #40994 – no mention of Lombard or bePuzzled on box)

Purr-ceptive Detective – by Robin Allen (also issued by bePuzzled in 1994 and Western Publishing in 1991)

Sinister Smorgasbord / Un Plat Qui Se Mange Froid - by Matthew Sawyers, 1992 – 1000 pieces, 19 x 28¾” – #40683 (also issued by Western Publishing in the Golden Mystery series in 1991)

Stalking Dr. Strang (1991– separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1989)

Sweet Revenge / Douce Vengeance – by Allan Robbins,1991 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” (separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1990)

Till Death Do Us Part – by Robin Allen, 1992 – 500 pieces, 15½ x 18” (also issued by Western Publishing in the Golden Mystery series in 1991)

Vosburg Diamond, The / La Disparition Du Vosburg – by Robin Allen, 1992 – 1000 pieces, 19 x 28¾” – #40681 (also issued by Western Publishing in the Golden Mystery series in 1991)

Working Overtime / Temps Supplementaire – by Max Haines and Larry Zacher, 1996 – 500 pieces, 14 x 19” – #40993 (no mention of Lombard or bePuzzled on box)

Canadian Sales Check Book Co. Ltd. (Toronto)

Hoax Mystery, The. (1930s --- 4 different untitled puzzles that are all part of the same mystery. Issued weekly. Last puzzle gives solution. Each puzzle is 10.5 x 13.25”, 192 pieces)

Ceaco

Mystery Match (100 piece jigsaw puzzle, 16 x 16" – use the red lens decoder included in box to locate all of the pictures that rhyme with the pictures on the border of the puzzle. For ages 5-10.)

Beach Mystery Match (1996)

Fair Mystery Match (1994)

*House Mystery Match (1994, puzzle #1726-2)

Decipher Inc.

Armchair Detectives Mystery Puzzle Game (1997 --- by Neal Schusterman; billed as the world’s first competitive jigsaw; comes with audio cassette tape detailing crime, 2 identical 300 piece 16 x 16 inch puzzles containing secret clues, 2 sets of instructions, clue worksheets and manuscript of story; idea being for 2 teams or people to race each other to finish the puzzle and solve the mystery; solution at end of cassette tape; several places mention it is NOT affiliated with Armchair Detectives Magazine)

1. The Greedy Gourmet

2. *Virtual Mortality

3. Blaze of Glory

Detecto Puzzles – see Austin Project Marketing Ltd.

Douglass Novelty Co.

Fingerprint Mystery (1930s --- 300 pieces; not really a mystery puzzle, shows fingerprints of “white man, yellow man, brown man, black man, chimpanzee” on puzzle…puzzler is supposed to figure out which is which; could send 10 cents for solution.)

Einson-Freeman (list of titles in three of these series from Anne D. Williams’ article in Game Times, June 1997)

Crime Club jigsaw puzzle (1933, by Edgar Wallace --- about 200 pieces; 16 page booklet; puzzle picture shows solution)

1. The Death Safe

The Torch Murder

The Ringer’s Revenge

Eye Witness (1933)

Corpse in the Cell

Death by Microbes

Death for the First Mate

Murder at the Yacht Race (exists in hands of a Netherlands collector – may have been sold in Europe only?)

Mystery-Jig Puzzle (1933, by Arthur Houston, 300 pieces; 14 x 20 ; 5 page story booklet, solution on back page is invisible, hold paper up to warm light bulb to reveal solution; part of solution evident from picture but thought required; 7-10 figural pieces, including 1 gun-shaped piece)

1. The Matinee Murder

2. *By Whose Hand? (artist = Ray Morgan; good story, medium difficult solution; other puzzles in series listed on box bottom)

3. Murder by the Stars

4. The Dream Murder

Problem Jig-Saw Puzzle Series (1933, oval shape, 200 pieces; solution to puzzle printed on surface; vivid colors and patterns make it appear simple, harder than it looks; no booklet, riddle presented on box)

1. Princess & Peasant

2. *The Traveler’s Problem (artist = Ray Morgan; solution is super simple)

3. The Jockey

4. The Chimney Sweep

Great American Puzzle Factory

Body in the Bunker (1000 pieces – by Derek Bullard – 19 x 27” – #7100 – contains story booklet. This puzzle was also manufactured and distributed by B.V. Leisure in England)

* The Da Vinci Quest Mystery Puzzle (2005 – by Graham B. Milne – 1000 pieces – 19¼ x 26 5/8 ” or 46 x 67 cm – #8673 – 10 page story booklet with solution – puzzle image contains clues. Strictly a solve-the-mystery - not a murder. Puzzle fairly challenging – mystery very easy to solve.)

Murder in India (1000 pieces – by Clarence Leaphard – 23 x 29”)

Murder on the Nile (1000 pieces – by Emily Winslow – 19 x 27” – #7102– contains story booklet. This puzzle was also manufactured and distributed by B.V. Leisure in England in 2000)

Murder on the Web (1000 pieces – by Clarence Leaphard – 23 x 29” – #7103– contains story booklet)

Murder Plot (1000 pieces – by Emily Winslow – 19 x 27” – #7101– contains story booklet)

Ready, Steady, Die! (1000 pieces – by Emily Winslow)

Tell-tale Press Mystery Series – these are not mysteries...see Puzzle Twists page instead

*Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? (1993 – 300 pieces – 20 x 27 – includes 20 page Crimesolvers Handbook containing 10 crime cases with solutions to solve thefts)

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1993 – 300 pieces – 20 x 27 – includes 20 page Crimesolvers Handbook)

Grosset & Dunlop

Jig-saw Puzzle Murder by Walter F. Eberhardt (1933 – 184 page book with solution and jigsaw puzzle --- only one title, not part of a series)

Hallmark – Ambassador – see also Springbok

*Murder in Disguise by Richie Tankersley Cusik (1985 --- only 1 title in series is mystery; 500 pieces, 18 x 23½; 5 page story booklet with 2 page “sealed” solution; final clue revealed when puzzle assembled; different from box cover)

Harrap (London)

Harrap Jig-saw Mystery – these are hardcover books with jigsaw pieces in a box attached to the inside back cover that visually explains the solution to the case – spine says “A Harrap Jig-Saw Mystery”

The Case of the Velvet Claws (1934 – by Erle Stanley Gardner; 250 page murder mystery with jigsaw puzzle)

Murder of the Only Witness (1934 – by J.S. Fletcher; 251 page murder mystery with 100 or so jigsaw pieces)

The Secret of Tangles (1934 – by Leonard R. Gribble; 288 page murder mystery novel with 150 piece jigsaw puzzle)

Hassenfeld Brothers (later called Hasbro)

Whodunit (1967 – clues and solution are on a record – these are NOT murders – listen to side 1 of the record for story – listen to side 2 “to see if you are right”)

#2950 – The Case of Old Mr. Ahab

#2951 – The Case of the Missing Mondrian

#2952 – The Bogus Payroll Case

#2953 – No. 4 – *The Shakespeare Folio Case

Heye

Most Wanted! Jigsaw Puzzles – 1000 pieces, 19 x 27” – there is an interesting story behind each one and a cartoon character criminal hiding in each puzzle that cannot be seen in the image shown on the box top. Assemble the puzzle and locate the criminal.

Safe-Cracker Suzie

Door Lock Tonio

Diamond Dick

Getaway Car Fred

Independent News Co.

Detective Jig Saw Puzzle (1930s – only 1 title; 250 pieces; story printed on box; solution shows in puzzle picture)

Pretty Nurse Held for Murder

International Polygonics

Under-ground Jigsaw Puzzles (1980s --- have seen references to these, but not puzzles. Series based on classic novels.)

The Hostage – from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island (16 x 20”)

Unnamed series (1986, 7” x 7”, 100 pieces, pink boxes – includes a short mystery story. Picture is different from box cover, although cover includes clues.)

Pictures Don't Lie (by Clayton Rawson,)

The Terrier Recognition (by Edward D. Hoch)

Tiger! Tiger! (by George Baxt)

Who Trashed the Super? (by Eleanor Sullivan)

IPC Magazines

Sherlock Holmes Follow-the-Clues – 1970 promotional tie-in to the Billy Wilder film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes– 850 pieces, 19 x 24”

Janus Games

Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle (500 pieces – 15 x 22” – figural pieces – story on box bottom.)

1. The Case of the Snoring Skinflint (1973, by Henry Slesar)

2. The Case of the Shaky Showman (1973, by Henry Slesar)

3. *The Case of His Headless Highness (1973 – an Ellery Queen story)

4. *The Monster of Midvale (1974, by O.H. Leslie)

Mini-Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle for children

1. The Case of the Puzzling Pickpocket (1972, by Henry Slesar)

2. The Boy Who Walked Through Walls (by Henry Slesar)

3. The Case of the Terrible Twins (1973, by Henry Slesar)

Jaymar Specialty Co.

Detective Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle (1944, story on single sheet, read story first; finished puzzle shows murder happening and text on puzzle surface explains events; 10-15 figural pieces including 1 gun-shaped piece; figural piece shapes do not appear to have any connection to the story)

*The Case of the Duke’s Debtor (310 pieces, 14 x 22”)

Dick Tracy’s 2-in-1 Mystery Puzzle (2 puzzles in box; first put together the larger pieces showing the crime as Dick first saw it, then put together the smaller ones and get the solution to who done it; info from eBay auction buyer)

The Murder of the Gem Collector (1948; no story booklet)

Lagoon Games (London)

Who Dun It? – 1000 pieces, 23 x 29”

A Killing in Paradise

Murder at Pelham Castle

Final Curtin

Lombard Marketing – see bePuzzled

Madmar Quality Co.

Mystery Picture Puzzle (1930s; only 1 title not a series? 32 pieces, 8 x 12, double-sided. Puzzle shows witch on broomstick on side 1 and animals listening to a story on side 2. Guide picture for witch side. Artist = Johnny Gruelle.)

Milton Bradley

Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle

Man from UNCLE (1965, 612 pieces, 14 x 24, 8 page booklet with solution concealed in uncut pages; box cover is a “portion” of the puzzle inside.

#4581-3 *Micro-film Affair

#4581-4 The Impossible Escape

#4581-? The Loyal Groom

#4581-? Vital Observation

Man from UNCLE (1966 – British version of the above series – unknown maker)

Secret Plans

The Frogmen Affair

Solo in Trouble

The Getaway

The Addams Family (same design, size/pieces as UNCLE ones)

1. Ghost At Large (1965)

2. Fester’s Magic (1966)

#4581-1 Cleopatra’s Plight (1965)

Lurch’s Word Game

Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA --- 1980? – have seen references, but not seen puzzle)

Mummy Mysteries: a challenging double-sided jigsaw puzzle (504 pieces, 11 x 29”; side 1 – Mummy Case of Tabes; side 2 – Mummy Case of Ankh-pef-hor)

Parker Brothers – see also Waddington Games

Clue for Kids Mystery Jigsaw Puzzles (200 pieces)

Sounds Like A Robbery – 1996

The Curse of Bledmore Mansion – 1996

Clue Mystery Puzzle (no author listed, 513 pieces, approx. 14 x 20; traditional “Clue” characters such as Colonel Mustard; box cover differs from puzzle; packaged VERY similar to bePuzzled products – comes with a red plastic “magnifying glass” which makes solution visible; booklet with solution on last page)

#4354-1. *Six Cases of Murder (1992 – Milton Bradley, by Henry Slesar) – story booklet with solution on last page

#4354-2. *Garden of Evil (1992 – Milton Bradley) – story booklet with solution on last page

#4354-3. *Killers in the Kitchen (1992 – Milton Bradley, by Henry Slesar) – story booklet with solution

#4354-4. *Death in the First Edition (1992 – Milton Bradley, by Henry Slesar)

#4354-5. *Diamonds Can Be Deadly (1993 – Milton Bradley)

#4354-6. Killer on Board (1994)

#4354-7. *The Color of Murder (1993/1994)

#4354-8. A Merry Little Murder (1994)

#4354-9. *Death Foretold (1994)

#4354-10. To Kill a Dying Man (1995)

#4354-11. Framed for Murder (1995)

Masquerade Murder (1996)

A Ghostly Murder (1996)

#4354-14. The Country Inn Murder (1998)

#4354-15. Death on Safari (1998)

Paul Lamond Games Ltd. (England)

Agatha Christie – Poirot Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Game (750 pieces)

1. Poirot’s Christmas (1996)

2. King of Clubs

3. Murder on the Links

4. Death on the Nile

5. Remember, Remember

6. How Does Your Garden Grow?

Agatha Christie – Miss Marple Jigsaw Puzzle Game (750 pieces)

The Body in the Library (2000)

Alphabet Murder Puzzle Series – this series has also been attributed to TDC Games – dates on Lamond versions are earlier than TDC versions. (Each mystery contains TWO 13 x 19” 500 piece puzzles whose pieces have been mixed in the same bag. After reading a story, and assembling both puzzles, solve the mystery by using the "before" and "after" crime scene photos you have just assembled.)

A is for Arson

B is for Bullet (1999)

C is for Chocolate (1999) – story booklet with solution on last page

D is for Diamonds

E is for Espresso

F is for Feline

Columbo – also issued by American Publishing

Ashes to Ashes (1989, 550 pieces, 18x24” - #9000)

Enid Blyton’s Adventure Series

The Mountain of Adventure (250 pieces, 1996)

The Sea of Adventure (250 pieces)

Enid Blyton’s Famous Five – see also separate info on Famous Five Puzzles

Five on a Treasure Island (250 pieces, 1991)

(see also Unknown section at bottom of page)

Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven

Secret Seven on the Trail (250 pieces, 1991)

Inspector Morse – (550 pieces, 18 x 24”)

The King’s Men (1989)

Murder Afoot (1989)

Murder, She Wrote (550 pieces – also issued by American Publishing)

The Art of Murder

Desktop Murder

Recipe for Murder

The Unconventional Murder

Taggart

Dead End (550 pieces – 1993)

The Bill

On the Rocks (550 pieces)

Pearl Publishing Co.

Mystery Puzzle of the Month (approximately 200 pieces, all 4 published in 1949, each contains a 15 page booklet – hold the final page of the story to the mirror to read the solution – all are murder mysteries.)

1. *Date-line for Doom: An Original Michael Shayne Mystery, by Brett Halliday

2. Case of the Duplicate Door: An Original Basil Willing Mystery, by Helen McCloy (208 pieces, 10.5 x 13.5 inches)

3. Pictures Don’t Lie: An Original Merlini Mystery, by Clayton Rawson

4. Case of the Lonely Heart: An Original Jeff & Haila Troy Mystery, by Kelley Roos

Pressman Toy Co.

MindTrap Mystery Jigsaws (no author listed, 500 pieces, 18 x 24, has 12 page booklet with solution written upside down on last page of booklet, box cover differs from puzzle; Detective Shadow; puzzle picture contains “secret puzzle image”; titles listed in order shown on booklet)

Murder by Will (1996)

An Unsavory Demise

Revenge in Paradise

*Murder in Fashion (1997)

Puzzle Books Ltd.

No series title (1930s --- 126 page book, contains 42 piece puzzle in envelope inside back cover; puzzle shows treasure map; by John Courage; published by Morrison and Gibb Ltd., London & Edinburgh)

Bells of Mystery (by Joan Inglesant, 1933)

The Buccaneer’s Parrot

Fosca the Fowler (by Draycot Dell)

Read Printing Co.

Detective Jig (1930s --- by Edwin Johns)

The Muffled Shot (about 200 pieces)

The Case of the Gay Columnist (definitely a murder)

Samuel Gabriel & Sons

Jig Saw Murder Case (1933, author is Robert Wallace; book with a falsecenter, contains a 26-page murder mystery in the front, and a 200-piece jigsaw puzzle explaining the solution to the story in text on the surface; puzzle is housed in the hollow in the back; not sure if only one title or part of series)

Springbok

Children’s Mystery Puzzles

1. Mystery of the Silver Dragon (by Tina Hacker, illustrated by John Overmyer, 1976, 110 pieces – CKE63)

2. Search for the Flying Saucer (CKE73)

Floor Puzzle

Volcano Island Mystery – 54 pieces – over 2 feet wide

Mystery Story Series

1. *A Puzzle Most Murderous by Pat Cadigan (1983 issued as part of the Puzzle Plus Series, reissued in 1985 as part of the Mystery Story Series; 500 pieces, 20 x 20, PZL3405 – 3 page story with a 2 page “sealed” solution; box cover different from puzzle)

2. *The Puzzle of the Arabian Nights: A Marcus Q. Hall Mystery (1985 – by Dorothy R. Colgan; 500 pieces, 20 x 20) – story booklet

3. *The Mystery of the Vanishing Magician: A Marcus Q. Hall Mystery (1986; 500 pieces, 18 x 23½; PZL3417 – read mystery then piece together puzzle; box different from puzzle --- my copy missing booklet & solution)

4. *A Star is Iced (1987 – by Dorothy Colgan, 500 pieces, 18 x 23 – PZL3422) – story booklet

5. *Just Desserts (1990 – by Dorothy R. Colgan, 18 x 23½” – 500 pieces – PZL3433 – puzzle shows a different scene from the top of the box, and contains vital clues)

Puzzle Game (there were 5 titles in this series, only one was a “mystery”)

*Mystery of the Musical Requiem (1975 - by Robert Aldace Wood; 500 pieces, 20 x 20, 2 page story and decoder chart to translate musical notes on puzzle into solution; box cover differs from puzzle) – story booklet

Puzzle Plus Series --- See Mystery Story series listed above

Sherlock Holmes' Silver Blaze Mystery, by Barry Evans, 1966 – 20.25" in diameter – includes 2 booklets, one is a short story and the other is the solution – #C932.

Standard Publishing

Get a Clue! Mystery Puzzles – 250 piece puzzles with story booklets written by Mark Littleton – Christian themes

1. Aliens Among Us (1997)

2. The Mysterious Mansion (1997)

3. Abominable Snowbeast (1997)

4. The Phantom Custodian (1997)

5. Pirate Island (1998)

6. Curse of the Mummy (1998)

Stave Puzzles

Limited Edition Mystery Story Puzzles (only 50 of each were made). “Whodunit is woven into the story, image and silhouettes in the puzzle.”

1. Hexed (1996)

2. Pentagon – Five part sequential puzzle, each part in its own bag, plus mystery story written by Suzanne Stofflet (1996)

3. At the End of His Rope

Story Puzzle Co.

Weekly Mystery Story Puzzle (1933 --- 200 pieces; story printed on back of box, puzzle shows solution)

1. Five Finger Mark

2. Mixed Motives for Murder

3. The Death Gas

TDC Games

Alphabet Murder Puzzle Series - this series has also been attributed to Paul Lamond Games – dates on Lamond versions are earlier than TDC versions. (Each mystery contains TWO 13 x 19” 500 piece puzzles whose pieces have been mixed in the same bag. After reading a story, and assembling both puzzles, solve the mystery by using the "before" and "after" crime scene photos you have just assembled.)

A is for Arson (2001)

B is for Bullet

C is for Chocolate (2001) – story booklet with solution on last page

D is for Diamonds

E is for Espresso

F is for Feline (2003)

G is for Golf

H is for Housewives

Lost: Mystery of the Island Jigsaw Puzzle (2006; 1000 pieces, 19 x 26” – these are not technically mysteries to solve – each of the assembled puzzles are a collage of scenes that provide clues to future episodes of the TV Series)

1. *The Hatch

2. The Others

3. The Numbers

4. Before the Crash

Tower Press (England)

Inspector Brown Jig-Saw Puzzle: Murder at the Manor House (9” x 11.25” – circa 1935 – 180 plus 60 pieces. The 60 have the solution and replace corresponding section of large puzzle.)

Universal Studios

Hardy Boys Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle – there were 2 of these – both copyrighted 1978 – NEITHER of these involves actually solving a mystery.

121 pieces, shows a scene from one of their episodes, 11 x 11”

200 pieces, shows the 2 actors in the TV series, 11 x 17”

University Games – see separate list of BePuzzled mystery titles

Vitaplay Toy Co.

Museum Mystery Jig Saw Puzzle (1940s --- have seen references, but not puzzles)

W.H. Brady Co. (Eau Claire, Wis.)

Touchdown Extraordinary (by Austin Ripley – has 3 separate puzzles with scene, clues and solution.)

Waddington Games (UK distributor of Hasbro puzzles)

Cluedo! (750 pieces – 613 x 413mm, British puzzle series which Parker Brothers picked up and started manufactured in the U.S. a year after the Waddington Games version. Parker Brothers version has many more puzzles than Waddingtons.)

Series 1

1. Garden of Evil – 1991

2. Death in the First Edition – 1991

3. Six Cases of Murder – 1991 (Ref# 15011)

4. Killers in the Kitchen – 1991

Series 2 - A second series of the jigsaws were released a few years later, the boxes of which were spruced up by having a "window" and sliding out like drawers.

1. Killer on Board

2. The Colour of Murder

3. A Merry Little Murder

4. Diamonds Can Be Deadly

Waddington Sanders Ltd (Canada)

Bomb / Bombe – by R.D. Zimmerman, 1988 – 500 pieces, 20 x 20” (separately produced version marketed in the U.S. by bePuzzled in 1987)

Warren Inc. – see also the CSI puzzle made by Bepuzzed in separate list

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

(750 pieces, almost 19 x 27” – includes an Ultraviolet flashlight powered by 3 button cell batteries, and a 12-page mystery story booklet. Need to use the UV flashlight to see additional clues on puzzle surface and to read solution in booklet. Box cover differs from puzzle. These also have the Missing Piece Mystery Puzzle logo on box – not sure if they were issued before or after other 4 listed separately below.)

*Unbalanced Death – by Max Allan Collins, 2004 – solution

*Stabbing Pain – by Max Allan Collins, 2004 - solution

Double Down – 2006?

CSI: NY

Drop Deadline – by Max Allan Collins, 2005

Show Stopper – by Max Allan Collins, 2005

Missing Piece Mystery Puzzles

(750 pieces, almost 19 x 27” – includes a 12-page mystery story booklet, solution in mirror type in back of booklet – box cover differs from puzzle.)

1. Murder Unleashed

2. Something Wicked This Way Grows

3. Piper’s Ghost

4. Cursed Cargo

Murder, She Wrote

(750 pieces, 19 x 27” – includes a 12-page mystery story booklet, solution in mirror type in back of booklet – box cover differs from puzzle. Originally issued in 1984 by American Publishing Company. These also have the Missing Piece Mystery Puzzle logo on box – not sure if they were issued before or after other 4 listed separately above.)

The Art of Murder – 2005

Desktop Murder – 2005

Western Publishing Co.

Golden Mystery Puzzle (500 pieces, 15½ x 18; 16 page booklet, solution provided in mirror type in back of booklet; box cover differs from puzzle – all of these were also issued by Canada Games in 1992.)

*Vosburg Diamond, The (by Robin Allen, 1991; #5026)

*Sinister Smorgasbord (by Matthew Sawyers, 1991; #5027)

Purr-ceptive Detective (by Robin Allen, 1991; #5028 – also issued by bePuzzled in 1994 and Canada Games)

*Till Death Do Us Part (by Robin Allen, 1991; #5029)

Golden Mystery Puzzle (200 pieces, 14x18 – aimed at teenagers)

Girl Talk: The Mysterious Mix-up (by Kathy Pelta, 1991)

*Mummy’s Crypt, The (by Robin Allen – #5032 – this one has only 200 pieces and is 14 x 18 – “puzzle concept by Lombard Marketing” – also contains 16 page booklet similar to others in series)

Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?

Whitman Publishing – see separate info on Famous Five puzzles

World Syndicate Publishing Co.

Mystic Jig (1933)

1. Cross Examination (by John Varley)

Individual mystery books with jigsaw puzzles included:

Bertie & Gertie Space Detectives! – written by Antje Von Stemm. Includes pop-ups, a mini jigsaw puzzle, and a 4” fuzzy finger puppet. Jigaw is 1¾ x 1¾” when finished. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1996.

Jigsaw – written by Miriam Moss – Illustrated by Tony Smith. Includes a 30 piece jigsaw puzzle inside the back cover of the book. Brookfield, Conn: Millbrook Press, 1997.

Jigsaw Jones series by James Preller. A few have inlaid sheets with puzzle pieces to fit together.

Little Golden ABC – Little Golden Book no. 101. Twenty-eight page book with 12-piece frame tray puzzle (8”x 6”) inside back cover. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1951.

Maurice Sendak’s Christmas Mystery – contains 48 large pieces – and a book of clues to help you solve the mystery. New York : Michael di Capua Books, 1995.

Popinjay’s Jig-Puz Book. Ten page book – 5 pages hold frame tray puzzles, each 8”x6¼” with 48 pieces. London, England: John Leng & Co. 1930’s.

The Secret of Pirate’s Manor – written by Berthe Amoss and Eric Suben, 1995.

Sherlock’s Missing Bone – written by Dawn Bentley, Illustrated by Siobhan Dobbs. A Picture Puzzle Board Book. On board pages with 12 jigsaw puzzle pieces contained in box attached to p. 3 of cover Santa Monica, CA : Piggy Toes Press, 1999.

You Be the Detective – written by Marvin Miller and Bob Roper. “Seven baffling crimes have been committed. Study the evidence, then put together the jigsaw puzzle at the end of each case, and solve the crime.” New York: Scholastic, 1991.

You Be the Detective II – written by Marvin Miller and Bob Roper. “Seven baffling crimes have been committed. Study the evidence, then put together the jigsaw puzzle at the end of each case, and solve the crime.” New York: Scholastic, 1992.

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Will Shortz and Anne Williams for details on some of the titles/series.

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Page created in 2003.

Last updated: October 23, 2009

Links last checked: July 3, 2007