Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery

Secret

by Pseudonymous Bosch

I feared this may happen. I knew reading was a dangerous business, but now it's not safe for writers either! You see, the author of this book is missing. Well, maybe not "missing." A certain author whom I won't name (okay, me) has abandoned his book and has left his readers hanging out to dry. This is a crime, I admit, but there it is. Most of this book, well, I just haven't written it. And I'm not going to, either.
Why? Oh, I have my reasons. Big. Grown up. Author. Reasons. Unfortunately, I can't reveal them yet. Let's just say a life is at stake (mine) and leave it at that. So will you do it? Pretty please? You'll do it? Thank you! But please hurry! Time is of the essence and you can't wait any longer. You must WRITE THIS BOOK!


This imaginative companion to the New York Times bestselling Secret Series teases, prompts, and leads readers through the steps of writing a story. Bosch's signature rip-roaring voice delivers an engaging narrative (for the reader to help complete!) and interactive puzzles and games. Readers get the chance to create their own story while enjoying a satisfying mystery as well.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Writing, Young Adult, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Pseudonymous Bosch is the infamously anonymous author of the New York Times bestselling Secret Series and the Bad Books. Despite rumors to the contrary, his books are not actually written by his pet rabbit, Quiche; the rabbit is merely his typist.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, go ahead. Write this book. You can do it. P. Bosch will help you. It will be fun. Maybe more fun than reading a book. Go ahead. Write it.

[Maven Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Write This Book: A Do‑It‑Yourself Mystery by Pseudonymous Bosch is a wonderfully interactive, imaginative twist on storytelling that invites you to become both reader and author in one hilarious mystery‑writing journey.

Unlike a typical novel, this Secret Series companion is part mystery, part creative writing guide, and part gamebook, where Bosch’s mischievous narrator literally abandons the manuscript, leaving you to fill in the story yourself with clever prompts, interactive puzzles, activities, and choose‑your‑own‑adventure elements that shape your own unique narrative. Bosch claims the author has mysteriously disappeared, and your own success at completing the book is cast as essential to his survival, which gives the whole experience an urgent yet playful meta twist that feels like a game you share with the author.

What makes Write This Book such a joy (especially for young readers or anyone curious about writing) is how it teaches storytelling by doing it: you’ll learn about character development, plotting, dialogue, and genre choices as you solve a mystery and build a story of your own. The mix of games, puzzles, and guided writing exercises transforms the blank page from something intimidating into something full of possibility and fun, and Bosch’s snarky, playful voice keeps you smiling even while you’re thinking hard.

I loved how it demystifies the creative process and turns reading and writing into a collaborative adventure rather than a passive experience, making you feel like you’re part author, part detective, and part co‑conspirator of the narrative itself. It’s a clever blend of literary instruction and mystery, framed as an “unfinished” story that you are invited to complete, making it not just a book you read but one you help create.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving Write This Book: A Do‑It‑Yourself Mystery four stars because it’s ingeniously fun, creatively inspiring, and genuinely unusual in the way it blends storytelling, puzzles, and reader agency. It may not feel like a traditional mystery plot since the “story” grows out of your choices, but its interactive spirit and encouragement of imagination make it a memorable read for aspiring young writers, fans of the Secret Series, or anyone who has ever wondered what it’s like to write a book yourself.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great. I'd honestly give more stars if it were possible! I don't know. I guess I just really enjoyed writing my own mystery guided by P.B.'s snark, sarcastic but ultimately entertaining tone. God, don't read this review. I speak of nonsense. I'm in a half-awake (or half-asleep?) state. But it's just /that/ good.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

my ten-year-old stayed up till 3 am last night reading and writing this book! i could not love this more. thank you so much for turning on a new night-owl reader, and writer! GAH I AM SO EXCITED.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The good thing about writing fiction is that you get to make everything up. The bad thing is that you have to.”

Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars

Overall Thoughts: I really enjoyed this quick little break from my ordinary, more intense reading. Pseudonymous Bosch was one of childhood authors, and I always loved the footnotes and writing style in general of his, and this book was no exception. If anything, this book had even more footnotes, and even more of his personality seeping into it. I loved the book just for that, and not even considering the potentially invaluable information the book can hold for younger readers. Since this is not an ‘ordinary’ book, this will also not be an ordinary review.

The Good: Has some pretty good information, and is also extremely funny and engaging for readers! Even though I already was taught the same things in my high school English classes, I still enjoyed it, and see it’s worth for younger readers wanting an interesting way to learn about the writing process, or test out their skills using the “assignments” within the book!

The Bad: It is not a “real” book. It has a semblance of a story, but that is not the main point of this book at all. Most of it’s qualities rest in teaching people to write better, or give an insight into how Pseudonymous Bosch writes.

What this book can teach: This book covers most of the basics of writing, from POV (superbly explained by calling 3rd POV an observation, “he broke the glass,” 2nd POV an accusation, “you broke the glass,” and 1st POV a confession, “I broke the glass.”), to genre, using direct examples of Gothic, Fantasy, and Classic Crime in combination with Mystery to show the difference a genre can make on a book. It also speaks of the technical aspects of a book, from title to epigraph to copyright page (and of course, the importance of pseudonyms). However, even if you know all that, the little assignments can be pretty cool writing practice, and the book is even just interesting because of Bosch’s humor. A combination of funny footnotes, interruptions from Quiche the bunny, and “procrastination pages” that are way too true about writers, had me hooked the entire time, even if the information was all just repeat.

This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress....

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beschreibung 
Dieses Buch ist eine Geheimnis-Geschichte über einen verschwundenen Autor namens I.B.Anonymous - ein Autor von Geheimnis-Geschichten, der sein Manuskript aus der Hand legt, bevor es fertig ist. Wohin ist der Autor verschwunden? Ist er tot oder lebendig? Wurde er entführt? Verschleppt von Aliens? Als dem neuen Autor dieses Buches ist es am Leser herauszufinden, was dem ursprünglichen Autor zugestoßen ist!

Kurzmeinung
Der letzte und für mich auch am wenigsten interessante Band der Reihe. Ja, es sind Kinderbücher. Ja, das wusste ich vorher und mochte die Vorgänger dennoch sehr aber dieses ist interaktiv gestaltet und daher bei aller Liebe nicht passend für meine Mitte 40.
Für Kids und Fans der Geheimnis - Reihe zu empfehlen. 

[hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Series is one of my all-time favorites. But I feel that Bosch's later work (this book and Bad Magic) doesn't quite live up to The Secret Series. I can't give this less than three stars as Bosch is one of my favorite authors. It's great if you like writing stories. I enjoy writing, but if you are more into reading stories, this probably isn't for you.

On the plus side, if you are a novice writer, this book has a lot of great tips not to mention the book has Bosch's trademark voice that his writing has.
Overall, a pretty good book.

[1403Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who's read PB's previous books know just how entertaining and engaging they are. I almost felt embarrased to be finishing such an amazing author's book. Mainly because I lack a typwriting rabbit, but for other reasons as well. A reader simply cannot do justice to this...whatever you want to call it. That being said, this book offers priceless advice at being a successful writer as well as a not so successful writer. I feel the most helpful tips were the ones associated with chocolate.

[Uri Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's full title is Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery Written by You with the Reluctant Assistance of Pseudonymous Bosch (and illustrated by Gilbert Ford). This 2014 book is a companion volume to the Secret Series by "Pseudonymous Bosch" (the pen name of Raphael Simon). To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the series. But Write This Book is better. While obviously a tie-in with references to the series, it's a lighthearted guide for kids to write their own genre novel. The author starts telling a story about "I.B. Anonymous" (obviously himself) and how he needs to be rescued by two siblings. But the story is very basic, with lots of cues for the reader/writer to fill in parts. Write This Book introduces kids to a bunch of things to think about while writing, as well as the genres of mystery, horror, and fantasy. The main thing is that it tries to spark kids' imaginations to get started writing their own books.

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by A.H. : "Write This Book is truly a fun addition to Bosch's books, giving us a better idea of his creative process. Perfect for the aspiring writer (me), the novel perfectly balances a mix of creative freedom & careful guidance. As this balance is traditionally hard to capture, the book is a good testimony to Bosch's skill. Personally, I would say that this book taught me a considerable amount, from characters to plot map and dynamic endings. All in all, I would say that Bosch did an incredible job leading & teaching writing skills to potential novelists."

[Julia (Shakespeare and Such) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars, full review to come! This one is on me because 1) I’m not the target demographic, and 2) it’s hard to rate plot and characters and writing when you’re coming up with half of them yourself 🤡 but I will say this is a fun mix between an actual guide for beginning writers and a very meta series-of-unfortunate-events type middle grade story. I’m going to hold on to this to use with one of the kiddos I tutor and I think she’s going to have a blast with it!

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5

[Esi ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been years since i've read the Secret series but i remember how much i loved it. So when i saw this in the bookstore the other day, i bought it without a second thought. And i'm glad i did!

This was such a fun book, i couldn't put it down! I have never tried one of those diy books that have been popular for the last couple of years so i can't really compare this to them...
But this book was not only fun to read and write, it also actually taught me some really quality writing stuff :D

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read (and write!). Pseudonymous Bosch (aka PB) takes middle-grade readers (& adults) through the process of writing a mystery while actually giving the readers the opportunity to write portions of it. PB keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book with witty narrative and by employing side conversations with his helper, a rabbit named Quiche. This would be a great book if you have a child/grandchild who shows an interest in writing.

[Lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

With snarky footnotes, chocolate, and procrastination tips, it's everything I love. Also - I had to borrow it from the kids after listening to them alternating between genuine chuckles and evil laughs.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

👍

I love this series. It has been my go to read and has become one my favorite series. I was so excited to start reading this book,but then I realized it will a make it your own. I don't like make it your own,but that is 👍. I love this series and i can't wait to read book seven

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty fun and short read.
i remember reading the secret series last year, and it was okay but dragged in some places.
there are way better kid's book series in my opinion, this book on the other hand was actually decent and creative.

[PuniPoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

recomendado para ninos que quieran aprender a escribir sus propias historias, muy educativo..el autor te lleva de la mano construir tu propia historia y a como desarrollar futuras ideas...

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have stopped when I saw do-it-yourself

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to see if it could help me teach my grade 5 students to write mystery stories. The author gives helpful hints and suggestions for writing a mystery. Cleverly written.

[Nozer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name of my characters are Aliee and Zoey and there parents are Cass and Yo-Yoji

[Sarahi]

Gjvigvugvikvv.

[Tanyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book for kids. Loved it when I was a preteen and still enjoy rereading it. Covers all the basics, but might be a bit too intrusive if you're actually trying to write with it.

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4. There are some good tips and a bit of how-to. The advice was funny but overall it was just fine.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you have a kiddo dreaming of becoming a writer? Or maybe your kiddo is already deep into creative writing? Be sure to help them get their hands on Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery by Pseudonymous Bosch. I loved this! It’s funny and breaks down the writing of a mystery into such a doable, encouraging way.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, but it gets repetitive.

[İlke Günay]

Kitabın kurgusu harikaydı ama yazar kendisi daha fazla yazmalıydı. Sonuçta böyle harika kurgular bulmak zor :)

[Anuar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anuar Bessam ‘16
Write This Book by Pseudonymous Bosch

An author has gone missing, and the only two kids who know about it are about to embark on a journey. I would tell you their names and other details of the plot, but that’s it. That’s all that’s been written so far. Because you are going to be the one to write this book. You are going to get tips from the writer of the Secret Series. You will create your own characters from scratch, and fill in the blanks in their story. Literally. If you are a striving writer, or want to write, then read- I mean write, Write This Book, by Pseudonymous Bosch.
Pseudonymous Bosch has done an amazing job with the Secret Series, as he is an outstanding author. However, this book shows that he is also a great teacher, as he uses tricks and tips he has learned over the years of writing, in order to help you achieve your own dream of writing. This book teaches you how to write about characters, how to set up a story, how to make a detailed setting, and how to make the thing that he is amazing at. Suspense. All throughout the book are tips and fill in the blanks, and a lot of blank pages, because this book, will be written by you. I would recommend this book to aspiring writers, or simply if you need some tips on writing a story. This book is not intended for any one age group, as you can use it throughout your ages. If you are a fan of Bosch’s style of writing, read his other books, like the Secret Series, and Bad Magic, a not yet finished series.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

From July 2013 School Library Journal--
Gr 4–-7: —The author has taken it upon himself to teach his readers everything there is to know about the art of writing. He sets forth his proposition early on: "You, the reader of this book, shall be the author of this book." After he shares the basic premise of the plot--two siblings, A - - - and Z - - -, stumble on a mystery involving a missing author--he goes on to provide plenty of substance about the main elements of a story. Through his reluctant and snarky narration, readers learn about all the parts of a book, from the copyright page to "About the Author." An "official character assessment form" allows readers/authors to figure out what kind of person the main character is going to be before proceeding with the story, and a plot map literally shows the way from the inciting incident to the quest to the climax to the denouement. "Write This" directives followed by blank pages allow inspired readers an opportunity to jump in with their own ideas (librarians, beware!). The result is a marvelous tutorial, covering everything from how to write effective dialogue to choosing perspective to genre to world-building. As with other books in the series, PB's long-eared sidekick, Quiche, jumps in from time to time. Ford's whimsical spot art adds to the humor. Writing a book has never been so much fun. A must-have where the "Secret" series is popular.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book pretends to be a DIY book, the author is actually writing a story while prompting you to think critically about the book. There is also a lot of helpful advice for young writers. The theme of this book is creativity. The author urges you to pick your own path. You even get to choose the characters names! I think what the author is trying to say is that there's no recipe for creativity, you have to discover it for yourself. One use of symbolism in this book is the gold talisman. This is the beginning of when the tale splits into parts. It symbolizes the choices you have whenever you create. You're free to do whatever you want. This is a good book for kids that aspire to be an author. It's very insightful.

[S.E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Save for Lemony Snicket there is no one more nefarious in childrens literature than Pseudonymous Bosch. The big mystery this time is the mysterious disappearance of the author of this book. The readers must take the helm or the future of the original author will be in jeopardy. The reader won’t have to do it alone, Bosch gives them instructions and clues to completing an awesome mystery novel. Even the uncompleted novel is a fine mystery and whatever the reader comes up with just makes it richer. Bosch makes writing a game not a chore which when the writing is flowing it should be. (look for interactive literacy troupe The Story Pirates promoting this title in your area!)