The GCHQ Puzzle Book II: Solve more than 100 brilliant brainteasers

by GCHQ

Train your brain with these fiendishly difficult puzzles, the perfect companion for anyone wanting to keep their mind busy'Fiendishly tricky' Daily MailWith their first bestselling book, The GCHQ Puzzle Book, the UK's intelligence and security experts tested us with puzzles, codes and real-life entrance tests from their archives.Now, they are back with a NEW collection of head-scratching, mind-boggling and brain-bending puzzles that will leave you pondering for hours.For those who often found themselves stumped with the first book, The GCHQ Puzzle Book 2 offers even more starter puzzles to get those brains warmed up. Puzzle aficionados needn't worry though, as there is also an 'Even Harder' section to test everyone to their limits . . .Not only that, but in celebration of GCHQ's centenary, the puzzles in this new book sit alongside stories, facts and photos from the organisation's first 100 years at the heart of the nation's security. From the Government Code & Cipher School, to Bletchley Park, through to protecting against cyberattacks, the security of our country is in the hands of GCHQ. With this book, you get exclusive snapshots into the organisation that keeps us all safe.Train your brain to compete with the smartest in the country with this stimulating book of puzzles. If you haven't yet tested yourself with the first instalment of The GCHQ Puzzle Book, check it out now!'This is the perfect gift to fuel his ludicrous presumption that he could have definitely been a spy - even better if he's already dog-eared the first version' Huffington Post

Genres: Nonfiction, Puzzles

511 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2018

Reviews

[Julian Onions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no ordinary puzzle book!
Well I read it in the sense I looked at most of the problems, and most of them are REALLY hard, and need a bit of studying. One or two I could see straight away, but most need some time with a pen and paper. However interspersed with the puzzles is a history of GCHQ - which is quite interesting. I learnt one or two new facts about them. Might take it on holiday to play with.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. Inspiring. Difficult!!!

[Cat {Pemberley and Beyond} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the team at GCHQ have finally cottoned on to just how tricky most readers found the puzzles of the previous book. The majority of the puzzles in the book were far easier than the ones in book I.
Sadly I gave up part-way through the meta in this one as well (partly because there was no prize to work towards). I also felt especially young when I saw the "Regex" puzzle. I had no idea what that was and had to make use of google before I understood what to do!

What made this one more interesting was the additions from the GCHQ archives. It was fascinating to read about how the organisation came about (before it became GCHQ), and interesting to see how it has adapted to respond to some more recent challenges.

Overall, I'd recommend this one over the first for the puzzle newbie. I'd also recommend that you treat this the way you would any other puzzle competition, and get at least one other interested party to sit with you and work together to solve the puzzles. It's more fun that way, especially for the incredibly exciting ones in the middle.

[David Lindley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A difficult book, as the solutions required masses of knowledge or tremendous aptitude to break codes. Having said that, the history of GCHQ was fascinating.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another puzzle book... can't put down, ongoing fun to do with the family or just to wind down. #thinkingoutsidethebox #thinktank