Usborne Puzzle Adventure series


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.TitleAuthorIllustratorPublishedISBN
1Escape from Blood CastleJenny TylerGraham Round1984
2The Curse of the Lost IdolGaby WatersGraham Round1986
3Murder on the Midnight PlaneGaby WatersGraham Round1986
4The Incredible Dinosaur ExpeditionKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1987
5The Intergalactic Bus TripMartin Oliver1987
6Time Train to Ancient RomeGaby WatersBrenda Haw1988
7Danger at Demon's CoveKaren DolbyGraham Round1988
8Agent Arthur's Jungle JourneyMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1989
9Agent Arthur on the Stormy SeasMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1990
10The Ghost in the MirrorKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1989
11The Haunted TowerSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1989
12Agent Arthur's Arctic AdventureMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1990
13The Vanishing VillageSarah DixonBrenda Haw1990
14Search for the Sunken CityMartin OliverBrenda Haw1989
15Journey to the Lost TempleSusannah LeighJohn Blackman1989
16The Pyramid PlotJustin SomperPeter Wingham1991
17The Invisible SpyMark FowlerPeter Wingham1993
18The Emerald ConspiracyMark FowlerMark Burgess1993
19Agent Arthur's Desert ChallengeMartin OliverPaddy Mounter1994
20Voyage to the Edge of the WorldLesley SimsPeter Wingham1994
21Mutiny at Crossbones BayMark BurgessMark Burgess1994
22Castle of IntriguePaul StewartJane Gedye1994
23The Dark Dark KnightLesley SimsPeter Wingham1996
24Agent Arthur's Island AdventureLesley SimsPaddy Mounter1998
25The Crimebusters InvestigateMark FowlerAnn Johns1997
Agent Arthur's Mountain Mission

Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibuses:
  1. The Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: The Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, The Intergalactic Bus Trip, Time Train to Ancient Rome.
  1. The Second Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: Danger at Demon's Cove, Search for the Sunken City, Journey to the Lost Temple.
  1. The Third Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: The Pyramid Plot, The Emerald Conspiracy, The Invisible Spy.
  1. The Fourth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: Voyage to the Edge of the World, Mutiny at Crossbones Bay, Castle of Intrigue.
  1. The Fifth Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: Agent Arthur's Desert Challenge, The Dark, Dark Knight, The Crimebusters Investigate.
  1. 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.
  1. The Usborne Big Book of Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: Danger at Demon's Cove, Incredible Dinosaur Expedition, Ghost in the Mirror, Escape from Blood Castle.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. Agent Arthur's Puzzle Adventures
Collecting: Agent Arthur's Jungle Journey, Agent Arthur on the Stormy Seas, Agent Arthur's Arctic Adventure.
  1. 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.
  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

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
Chocolate IslandKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1994
Uncle Pete the PirateSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1994
Dragon in the CupboardKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1995
Molly's Magic CarpetEmma FischelTeri Gower1995
Halloween Surprise Karen Dolby1995
Lucy and the Sea Monster to the RescueKaren DolbyCaroline Jayne Church1997
Uncle Pete's Pirate AdventureSusannah LeighBrenda Haw1997
Wendy the WitchKaren DolbyBrenda Haw1998
Land of the Lost TeddiesEmma FischelDaniel Howarth1998

Some of these books were re-printed in the following omnibus:
  1. 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 . This includes the books Maps and Maze Puzzles, Codes and Ciphers and Logic Puzzles.