Usborne Puzzle Adventure series

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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.

Contents

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. [1]

Series

Puzzle Adventures

This is the original series of books, aimed at 8 to 13 year-olds.

No.TitleAuthorIllustratorPublishedISBN
1Escape from Blood CastleJenny TylerGraham Round1984 9780746080603
2The Curse of the Lost IdolGaby WatersGraham Round1986 9780746085851
3 Murder on the Midnight Plane Gaby WatersGraham Round1986 9780860209522
4The Incredible Dinosaur ExpeditionKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1987 9780746080627
5The Intergalactic Bus TripMartin Oliver
  • Brenda Haw
  • Martin Newton
1987 9780746084366
6Time Train to Ancient RomeGaby WatersBrenda Haw1988 9780746080610
7Danger at Demon's CoveKaren DolbyGraham Round1988 9780746088678
8Agent Arthur's Jungle JourneyMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1989 9780746084342
9Agent Arthur on the Stormy SeasMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1990 9780746084335
10The Ghost in the MirrorKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1989 9780746088661
11The Haunted TowerSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1989 9780746088685
12Agent Arthur's Arctic AdventureMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1990 9780746084359
13The Vanishing VillageSarah DixonBrenda Haw1990 9780746088319
14Search for the Sunken CityMartin OliverBrenda Haw1989 9780746088692
15Journey to the Lost TempleSusannah LeighJohn Blackman1989 9780746088265
16The Pyramid PlotJustin SomperPeter Wingham1991 9780746080597
17The Invisible SpyMark FowlerPeter Wingham1993 9780746005101
18The Emerald ConspiracyMark FowlerMark Burgess1993 9780746088302
19Agent Arthur's Desert ChallengeMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1994 9780746088241
20Voyage to the Edge of the WorldLesley SimsPeter Wingham1994 0746016905
21Mutiny at Crossbones BayMark BurgessMark Burgess1994 9780746074985
22Castle of IntriguePaul StewartJane Gedye1994 9780746068922
23The Dark Dark KnightLesley SimsPeter Wingham1996 9780746069110
24Agent Arthur's Island AdventureLesley SimsPaddy Mounter1998 9780746088258
25The Crimebusters InvestigateMark FowlerAnn Johns1997 9780746020968
Agent Arthur's Mountain Mission (announced but never published)

Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibuses:

  1. The Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746001554)
    Collecting: The Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, The Intergalactic Bus Trip, Time Train to Ancient Rome.
  2. The Second Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746003107)
    Collecting: Danger at Demon’s Cove, Search for the Sunken City, Journey to the Lost Temple.
  3. The Third Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746005125)
    Collecting: The Pyramid Plot, The Emerald Conspiracy, The Invisible Spy.
  4. The Fourth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746020715)
    Collecting: Voyage to the Edge of the World, Mutiny at Crossbones Bay, Castle of Intrigue.
  5. The Fifth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746021484)
    Collecting: Agent Arthur’s Desert Challenge, The Dark, Dark Knight, The Crimebusters Investigate.
  6. The Usborne Book of Solve Your Own Mystery Stories ( ISBN   9780746000151)
    Collecting: Escape from Blood Castle, The Curse of the Lost Idol, Murder on the Midnight Plane.
  7. The Usborne Big Book of Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746054246)
    Collecting: Danger at Demon’s Cove, Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, Ghost in the Mirror, Escape from Blood Castle.
  8. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.1 ( ISBN   9780746087336)
    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.
  9. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.2 ( ISBN   9780746087343)
    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.
  10. Puzzle Adventure Omnibus Vol.3 ( ISBN   9780746095799)
    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.
  11. Agent Arthur's Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746001479)
    Collecting: Agent Arthur’s Jungle Journey, Agent Arthur on the Stormy Seas, Agent Arthur’s Arctic Adventure.
  12. Ghost Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746003367)
    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.

  1. Codename Quicksilver
  2. Cobra Consignment
  3. Mystery on Main Street

The series was reprinted in an omnibus edition.

  1. The Usborne Book of Advanced Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746007532)

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.

  1. The Flask of Doom
  2. The Time Warp Virus

Young Puzzle Adventures

This series uses softer illustrations and is aimed at younger children.

No.TitleAuthorIllustratorPublishedISBN
Lucy and the Sea MonsterKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1993 9780746088180
Chocolate IslandKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1994 9780746088197
Uncle Pete the PirateSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1994 9780746087442
Dragon in the CupboardKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1995 9780746087435
Molly's Magic CarpetEmma FischelTeri Gower1995 9780746049211
Halloween Surprise (previously Spooks' Surprise)Karen Dolby1995 9780746087725
Lucy and the Sea Monster to the RescueKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1997 9780746088715
Uncle Pete's Pirate AdventureSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1997 9780746087459
Wendy the WitchKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1998 9780746087466
Land of the Lost TeddiesEmma FischelDaniel Howarth1998 9780746088722

Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibuses:

  1. Young Puzzle Adventures ( ISBN   9780746060056)
    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) ( ISBN   9780746007358 , 0746007353). This includes the books Maps and Maze Puzzles, Codes and Ciphers and Logic Puzzles.

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References