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13 of the best quiz and puzzle books for adults

13 of the best quiz and puzzle books for adults

8 October 2026

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Quiz and puzzle books are more popular than ever: sales of puzzle books are up 91% in 2026 compared to 2019, according to NielsenIQ BookData. We’re not surprised, as these books are a great tool for keeping your mind sharp, as well as a source of escapism, giving you a satisfying sense of achievement with every problem solved.

With the festive season fast approaching, puzzle and quiz books also make for excellent stocking fillers (bonus: they have a much longer shelf-life than a chocolate bar). But which books are actually worth gifting? From crosswords and word searches to logic puzzles and quirky trivia, the following is our guide to the best quiz books and puzzles of 2026.

What are this year’s biggest puzzle books?

The Killer Isn't Alice by Iris Starling (2026)

This hugely addictive murder mystery puzzle book is currently no. 3 in The Bookseller’s Paperback Non-Fiction Chart. Alice Starling is missing, leaving behind a dead body in her apartment and a letter insisting she’s innocent. But can you help her to prove it? With 46,600 potential suspects, you must eliminate the names of those who don’t match the 18 clues and find the real killer. The Killer Isn’t Alice is perfect for fans of whodunnits and immersive puzzles like Murdle.

What Would Reacher Do? by Alan Connor (2026)

Jack Reacher is a sharp-thinking vigilante who’s constantly dissecting complex scenarios with cold logic. Now, you can take his place and solve crime-related puzzles, in this highly anticipated new release. Created by Alan Connor – the puzzle master for The Traitors and House of Games – this interactive book is perfect for anyone who loves a brainteaser with their cup of coffee. You don’t need to have read the Jack Reacher series to play along – you just need a cool, calm approach and a keen sense of justice.

What are the best brainteaser puzzle books?

Murdoku by M Garand (2025)

Murdoku is where Sudoku meets Sherlock Holmes – a puzzle-lover’s dream with a playful, criminal twist. Each colourful grid drops you into a mini murder mystery, where every chair, cat, or chessboard could be a clue. With 80 beautifully illustrated crime scenes to investigate, from bakeries to casinos, there’s plenty to keep your brain busy. The puzzles start simply enough but they build to truly head-scratching challenges, ideal for cosy winter evenings or a post-Christmas dinner brain workout.

The Penguin Book of Puzzles by Gareth Moore (2024)

From ancient riddles to modern brain-teasers, The Penguin Book of Puzzles is a treasure trove for curious minds. Packed with crosswords, sudoku, logic challenges, and surprising historical puzzles, it offers something for every skill level. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned puzzler, this collection will keep your wits sharp and your brain entertained for hours. It’s perfect for cosy winter evenings and festive family fun – and makes for a great stocking filler.

The GCHQ Puzzle Book by GCHQ (2024)

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to outsmart Britain’s brightest minds? The GCHQ Puzzle Book invites you into the world of real-life codebreakers – the geniuses behind everything from Bletchley Park to modern cybersecurity. Packed with fiendish riddles, cryptic codes, and brain-teasing challenges straight from GCHQ’s archives, this book is the ultimate mental workout. It’s perfect for family puzzling sessions over the holidays or a solo challenge by the fire, and will test your logic, creativity and nerve.

Think Twice by Alex Bellos (2024)

Puzzle aficionado Alex Bellos’ Think Twice is packed with 70 clever puzzles that seem simple at first glance but are carefully designed to fool you into giving the wrong answer. From maths and science to perception and logic, each challenge exposes the biases that make our brains so easily led astray. Yet the fun comes from getting it wrong – and then discovering why. This is a book that will train your mind to dig beneath the surface of a problem, to hone your analytical skills and, of course, to make you think twice.

Spydle by The National Archives, Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres (2024)

Step into the secret world of spies and codes with Spydle, a puzzle book that’s equal parts brain-teaser and history lesson. Inspired by five centuries of British espionage – from Elizabeth I’s spymaster to Bletchley Park’s codebreakers – each challenge draws on real-life intrigue and cryptography, using original documents, letters, plans, and telegrams to test your intelligence while immersing you in a fascinating snapshot of history. It’s perfect for fans of puzzle books and The Rest Is History alike.

The Traitors by Alan Connor (2025)

Step into a castle in the Scottish Highlands and test your cunning with The Traitors. Based on the hit BAFTA-winning show that is our current obsession, this interactive book lets you root out schemers, using logic, intuition, and a keen eye for deception. With over 20 standalone games, you can play solo or with friends, plotting, guessing, and strategising your way through twists and betrayals. Perfect for festive fun or family game nights, this is brain-teasing entertainment that will keep everyone guessing.

Only Fools and Horses: The Peckham Puzzler by Dan Sullivan and Neil Somerville (2026)

He who dares, wins, as Del Boy would say. Take a nostalgic trip to Peckham to join the Trotters Independent Traders in the ultimate Only Fools and Horses puzzle book. With everything from sudokus and word searches to crosswords and riddles, there’s plenty of lovely jubbly activities to solve – some more tangled than one of Uncle Albert's legendary wartime stories. So put your feet up, grab a castaway cocktail and get stuck in for hours of fun.

What's the best crossword puzzle book?

Minute Cryptic by Angas Tiernan and Liam Runnalls (2025)

Step into the addictive world of cryptic crosswords with Minute Cryptic, the perfect brain-teasing challenge for wordplay lovers from the phenomenally successful Minute Cryptic TikTok and Instagram team. With over 160 clues and a step-by-step guide to decoding every trick and twist, this book helps you to master the art of cryptic crosswords one puzzle at a time. Whether you’re a curious beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a playful, confidence-boosting place to start.

What are some popular quiz books for adults?

The 1% Club Book 3 by BBC Studios (2026)

Think you’ve got what it takes to join the top 1% of quizzers in the country? The 1% Club Book 3 is packed with brand-new brainteasers and quiz challenges straight from the hit TV show. Fifteen progressively tricky questions test logic, common sense, and quick thinking – with an eight-year-old as much a contender as an 80-year-old. Perfect for festive family fun, Christmas Day brain workouts, or some friendly competition, this book delivers hours of addictive, unputdownable quiz action.

The Unofficial Peep Show Quiz Book by Giles Bursnell (2026)

Do you consider yourself a bona fide Peep Show obsessive? Then you’ll love this unofficial quiz book dedicated to the dysfunctional world of Mark and Jez. Over 450 questions will test your knowledge on everything from Rainbow Rhythms to Super Hans philosophy, plus there are a bunch of activity pages, behind-the-scenes facts and El Dude trivia. Bring this one out after marathoning a few episodes to see who is the real biggest Peep Show fan.

The Penguin Book Quiz by James Walton (2019)

Test your literary knowledge – and have a laugh while doing it – with The Penguin Book Quiz. Packed with 400 questions spanning classics, modern bestsellers, children’s favourites, and tricky brain-teasers, this book is ideal for festive family fun or for showing off at a Christmas party. From Murakami to Jane Austen, Dahl to Dostoevsky, the quizzes mix books, movies, music, and more. Play solo or with friends, and see who can claim the title of ultimate bookworm.

Frequently asked questions

What are puzzle books?

Puzzle books are collections of challenges designed to make you think, from crosswords and word searches to logic puzzles and riddles. Some are purely for entertainment, while others sneak in educational titbits. Perfect for a rainy afternoon, a long train ride, or a cosy coffee break, puzzle books will give your brain a playful workout while keeping boredom at bay. Think of them as snacks for your mind.

Are puzzle books good for your brain?

Absolutely! Puzzle books aren’t just fun – they give your brain a workout, too. Crosswords, logic puzzles, and riddles engage memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. They can improve focus, mental agility, and even creativity, all while feeling like play instead of work. Regular puzzling has even been linked to keeping your mind sharp as you age.

13 of the best quiz and puzzle books for adults

What are this year’s biggest puzzle books?

What are the best brainteaser puzzle books?

What's the best crossword puzzle book?

What are some popular quiz books for adults?

Best Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts

Solve Alex Bellos' bookish puzzle

Book quiz questions for family quiz nights

Frequently asked questions

Best books for your Secret Santa and stocking filler gifts

Funny books guaranteed to make you laugh out loud

Quiz: What to read next, based on your favourite TV shows

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