60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles: Short Forensic Mysteries to Challenge Your Inner Amateur Detective

by Diane Capri

If you think you've got what it takes to be a crime scene investigator, then buy this book and consider yourself hired!

The worst of society is getting away with murder and only your keen sense of logic and sharp eye for suspicious details can stop them. As the chief crime scene investigator, you must correctly determine the answer to the question at the end of each of the 65 crime stories inside the book. In it you will peer over the medical examiner's shoulder as an autopsy is performed, you will listen carefully to the testimony of a toolmark expert, you will evaluate all of the gory details in front of you until you're sure that you can solve the puzzle. Each of the crime stories will test your knowledge of DNA analysis , suspect identification , forensic pathology , toxicology , and more. 

If you're any good, you'll catch the perpetrator before they can get away with more crimes!

Genres: Puzzles, Mystery

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

Bestselling author Diane Capri is a recovering lawyer. She’s a snowbird who divides her time between Florida and Michigan. An active member of Mystery Writers of America, Author’s Guild, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, she loves to hear from readers and is hard at work on her next novel.

Connect with her online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@DianeCapri
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-...

Here’s the Long version, if you’re looking for more info:

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author Diane Capri’s work is what the #1 worldwide publishing phenomenon Lee Child calls “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too.” Margaret Maron, Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Award-winning MWA Past President, says: “Expertise shines on every page.” And Library Journal raves: “….offers tense legal drama with courtroom overtones, twisty plots, and loads of atmosphere. Recommended.”

Diane’s new Jess Kimball series kicked off with Fatal Distraction, opening as the #3 Bestselling Legal Thriller, behind John Grisham. Diane’s new Hunt for Jack Reacher series began with Don’t Know Jack, which garnered #1 Bestseller spots on Mystery, Hard-boiled Mystery, Police Procedural, Women Sleuths, and Legal Thriller lists both in the U.S. and U.K. Don’t Know Jack was followed by two bestselling short stories in the Hunt for Jack Reacher series, Jack in a Box and Jack and Kill. Diane’s Judge Wilhelmina Carson mysteries were praised by Romantic Times and garnered the coveted “Top Pick.” Diane’s savvy, spunky character, attorney Jennifer Lane, stars in her own romantic suspense series, which kicks off with Annabelle’s Attack.

Diane is the past Executive Vice President of International Thriller Writers, past member of the Board of the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and active in Sisters in Crime and other writing organizations. She comes to writing after a successful legal career and is married to her college sweetheart. She loves her nomadic snowbird existence preferring perpetual summer migrating from Florida to Michigan each year.

Diane says she writes mystery and suspense for the same reason she reads: to find out what happens, why people do what they do, and how to bring justice to an unjust world.Her books are translated in twenty territories. Diane loves to hear from readers. Contact her at: DianeCapri.com/Contact to receive notice of new releases, subscribe to Diane’s blog, or simply connect with her.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading crime novels so the premise of this book really appealed to me. Short forensic mysteries, normally around 2 pages to challenge the reader to answer the question at the end of the mystery. 65 puzzles to solve with the answers at the back of the book. Unfortunately I found the puzzles either too obvious or a total guess and would have preferred more of a riddle to try and work the answer out. Great idea and sure that in the right setting could have a lot of fun but didn't quite achieve what I was looking for.

Reading the book on a kindle I also struggled to go back and forth to the answer page but maybe that was just my lack of technique. In general I found the book a little tiresome to read and quickly got fed up due to the cases not being challenging enough.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of teasers presents dozens of crime scenes. The instructions say that no pencil or paper is necessary. Readers are to read each teaser, and deduce the single question at the end. The solutions go from simple to impossible. My correct answers were about 50/50.

However, some were impossible to guess. What is more is that when you look at the answer key, some of the answers suggest quite a bit of speculation that would be needed to come up with the solution. Even some of the most obvious solutions tended to offer unusual details that could not be gleaned from the teaser. Actually, some of the responses provided extra clues difficult to glean from the teaser.

Overall, this is a very fun book. I can imagine it being used in a number of settings. It could be used singly, with the user solving a handful at a time in order to spend a few relaxing moments used to tax the brain. They could be used in today's difficult environment via video or audio chat with friends or family. Students could be given these by their teachers to work on critical thinking skills.

I love things like this and hope to see more quizzes in this format in the future.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Corp. - Fair Winds and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always dreamed of becoming a detective or private investigator trying to put together the clues to identify, locate and apprehend a criminal or work out the motive in a baffling case? Well, now you can from the comfort of your own home in a series of 65 crime-based brain-teasers that require you to piece together the puzzle from forensics through to DNA analysis, toxicology through to pathology. Employing and combining the skills and concepts of gut instinct, logic, perceptiveness, judgement, and analysis, each of the short forensic mysteries are independent of one another and vary in difficulty meaning there is something to suit all ages and abilities.

Using a keen eye for intricate detail, the puzzler must assess each condensed tale of greed, revenge or even good old depravity and using deductive reasoning as well as the clues and forensic details throughout the story answer the challenging question related to the crime which is posed at the end.

An original and unique book catering to the crime connoisseurs out there. Fun, simple and relatively lighthearted, this is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and one that can be dipped in and out of whenever the feeling takes you. Recommended to those with an interest in crime-solving techniques, crime fiction and true crime cases and/or those seeking something different to tax the brain a little. I felt it was accessible with well thought out situations to investigate so if this intrigues then grab a copy; to be quite frank, it would be criminal not to! Many thanks to Fair Winds Press for an ARC.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this one, and I didn't hate it either. It was honestly just a "middle of the road" type of book. Some puzzles were interesting, some...not so much. It also seemed geared more towards a younger crowd.

*ARC from NetGalley*

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

60 Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles by M. Diane Vogt  is a book of short “crimes” that the reader has to solve.


First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Quarto Publishing/Fair Winds Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis and Opinions:

Well, this was really interesting. I grew up loving puzzles and logic problems, so this idea of "solving" a crime really appealed to me. You don't even need a pen and paper. You read each "case", which is only about a page or so long, and then using logic, you answer the question at the bottom. There are 65 cases.

It helps if you are familiar with mystery novels and crime shows on television. Apparently I know a lot more about DNA and forensics than I thought I did. Most of the puzzles are very straight-forward (maybe too much so), but the answers are all at the back, so you can check after you think you've figured out the answer. I checked after each case, and think most of the puzzles were a little too easy, although I admit that I didn't always think of ALL of the reasons for my correct answer, so I did learn some things.

Now, what I wouldn't recommend is to sit and answer them all at once. After about a dozen in a row, I found myself a little bored. Just like a crossword puzzle book, you don't sit down and do them non-stop.

Also, I did not read this on my e-reader. I used Adobe Digital Editions on my laptop to read these, where I could more easily bookmark the puzzles and solutions, so that I could quickly go back and forth. I think it would be a little more difficult on my e-reader.

Anyway, it was a fun book to read, but I wish it had been a little more challenging, or had different levels of puzzles.




For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun Crime Puzzle and brain-teaser type book for those who want to be crime scene investigators or just like solving puzzles. There are 65 crime stories with questions to answer. You will get a chance to listen to testimonials of experts and evaluate gory details in order to help solve the crime. Some are very easy and others need more speculation in order to figure out what happened. All in all, I found the book interesting. I think the physical book would be easier than the ebook version in order to get to the back of the book where the answers are. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds for a free copy for an honest review.

[Steff Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

| Review on Reader Fox Blog |


I've always been a huge fan of puzzles and brain teasers. My curiosity was piqued when I came across Crime Puzzles: Short Forensic Mysteries to Challenge Your Inner Amateur Detective. Part of a series of 60-Second Brain Teasers by M. Diane Vogt, this was certainly an intriguing collection, though I think 60 seconds is a bit of an exaggeration. Whether because the answer is too simple you find yourself second-guessing whether it could possibly be correct or you're just not picking up on something, these puzzles will probably take more than 60 seconds.

What can you deduce?

As much as I adore puzzles, I don't personally feel like these were very puzzle-esque. Sure, you have to figure out the answer to the question and determine based on minimal knowledge what occurred. But, at the same time, much of it relies on outside background information that not everyone may have. Not only that, but there's not really much puzzling going on, at least in the way I would like. You're really just presented with a scenario and prompted to answer a question. It's not like the kind of puzzle you have to work at.

Frankly, I kind of just felt like any time I was able to determine the answer it was either because the answer was quite obvious or because I'd gotten lucky. Few of the puzzles actually left me feeling impressed. I also found myself second-guessing answers often, thinking that the simple solution was too simple. Other times, the answers were so obscure it just seemed silly.

the entertainment factor

Okay, so despite my complaints, this book was actually a lot of fun? I was definitely looking for something else when I picked it up, but I did genuinely find several of the puzzles engaging and entertaining. Plus, there are some pretty cool pieces of artwork decorating each scenario that I enjoyed well enough.

I feel like these puzzles could be enjoyed in a number of circumstances from long car trips and bedtime reading to a party with friends. It's fun, just not quite as fun as I'd hoped.

I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

A humdrum look at crime scenes, where we're supposed to think around things and work out the answer to a question – thankfully not always whodunnit it, but who witnessed it, was it even murder, or what? Unfortunately, the piece fails on a couple of levels. One, the scenarios are presented to us in a blandest of styles, and while it doesn't quite equate to an autopsy or police report it's almost as cold and unengaging. Second, the solutions aren't always wonderful – and while I admit to the following middle paragraph containing spoilers, it doesn't in any way contain sour grapes. Just problems.

Take Case Five – the cleaner found dead in the swimming pool. There's little wrong with the solution to the problem, but seeing as the key to the house allegedly disappears, how the heck can the authors pretend that is not relevant?? Scenario number 7 involves USA-only knowledge, boo hiss. Case 14 proves unsolvable because the word "shelter" as a clue is one of two needed; spoiler alert – it's not a homeless shelter here.

Those might be enough for a 'three strikes and you're out' declaration, but on the whole the solutions are a mixture of the unknowable and the patently obvious. I still think that's a fault only on a par with the writing style – the book tries to wear an edutainment hat, and in trying to act as a source of forensic knowledge as might be used by crime-fighters, comes across as dry as old rope. One and a half shuriken, then, embedded where they shouldn't be, perhaps.

[Bel Hernández · Rating 2 out of 5]

i received a copy of this book via NetGallet in exchange of a honest review, so here it goes.

I’m sorry, but I don’t see who would spend $13 in this book. If some of these “mysteries” were on the back of the paper, maybe I’ll entertain myself reading through them; as it is, I won’t be recommending this book to anyone. I spend part of the morning and the majority of the afternoon reading these ‘cases’ out loud trying to get my mom engaged but we just couldn’t care enough: the cases are just TOO basic and simple, or too incoherent, to the point where the ‘solutions’ are just more info in most of cases.

Now, all of that I can overlook, but there were instances when serious topics where badly handled. That way, in at least two instances girls were being stalked by a man and: the first one, a 20 years old, tell her friend her boyfriend is stalking him and getting violent (shows bruises which yeah, lack of vitamin and heart problems or whatever, he didn’t need to touch her, ok?), and the second one is actively being followed and that is clearly stated by the case but the moment she asks for her brother to stay on the phone while she enters her house the author claims “she knew she sounded like a total idiot” and NO, YOU DON’T SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT FOR BEING SCARED OF A MAN WHO IS FOLLOWING YOU AROUND and breaking and entering into your home. What on earth.

So, yeah. Cool edition, though the fact that the solutions are in the back is difficult for e-readers, but I’m not recommending this boring, either easy or ridiculous, book.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is a collection of short vignette brain teaser mysteries by Diane Capri (aka M. Diane Vogt). Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Fair Winds imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a collection of short vignette style mystery plots for armchair detectives to analyze and answer. They are 1-2 pages in length and set up very simply. There's little "puzzling" or reasoning involved and as such, some readers will be disappointed. The way the book's puzzles struck me were as very short capsule setups for mystery fiction taken more or less directly from a writer's idea journal for future works.

The author's solutions are listed in the back of the book, so readers won't be left hanging. Rated on a strictly puzzle/brain teaser level, I would give this two and a half stars. It's not a brain teaser book. Looked at as a glimpse at a published mystery writer's idea book, it's a solid 4 stars. This would make a superlative exercise book for creative writing classes and for would-be mystery writers to see the genesis of ideas for fiction. I am certainly not suggesting that writers plaigiarize the included vignettes (for one thing, the author's a lawyer!) but they do provide a good source to see how relatively simple ideas can be built into longer fiction.

Two and a half stars for the puzzle aspect, four for the value as an idea book/writing tool. If the author and publisher had marketed it as such, it might have found a wider audience.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Wal.li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rätselhaft

Im dreißig rätselhaften Geschichten kann man sich hier die Zeit vertreiben. Das ist einfach mal was anderes. Gerade wenn man gerne Krimis liest, kann man ja auch mal Spaß dran haben, das Lösen der kleinen Geschichten selbst in die Hand zu nehmen. Die erste Story bietet so eine Art Aufgalopp, ein wenig wie in der Schule, wo man auch schauen musste, was der Lehrer wohl von einem wollte. Hat man das Prinzip kapiert, lohnt es sich aufmerksam zu lesen. Dann wird man fröhlich feststellen, dass man zwar kein ganz gewitzter Detektiv ist, aber ein bisschen schon.
Dann ahnt man, wer die Frau getötet hat, wer es war, wer es nicht war oder auch wie das zu beweisen war. Natürlich liegt man manchmal falsch oder einem fällt eben nichts ein. Das ist nicht schlimm. Vielleicht eignet sich das Buch auch für einen Gruppenabend, an dem man dann gemeinsam rätseln und diskutieren kann. Beim ersten Lesen hat man sogar das Privileg, die verschlossenen Seiten öffnen zu dürfen. Nicht mogeln!

Auch die Aufmachung des Buches mit seinem auffälligen Cover und den verschlossenen Seiten, den sorgfältig ausgewählten Bildern und auch dem sonstigen Layout, ist sehr ansprechend.

Ein toller Zeitvertreib, der neben dem Lesen auch die Möglichkeit der aktiven Teilnahme an den Geschichten bietet. Vielleicht sollte man so etwas häufiger lesen, damit man bei den Romanen noch besser miträtseln kann.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book with little puzzles about crime. This book is not really for grownups, but more for YA. Overall, the idea behind the book is a great one, and it's something to pass the time. If you enjoy puzzles that make you think outside the box then this is a book for you.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really more of a YA workbook, not so much a book for adults. The graphics are charming, but the "brain teasers" are not so much.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently a gifted resource teacher, and this book has short puzzles that are great as a mind break, warm-up and fillers if you have a few extra minutes at the end of class. Summer Corner than others, and although they are all related to crime there's nothing too gory that you can't use with students.

[Marina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately. I didn’t find the scenarios intriguing enough to hold my interest. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very neat book. My son (12) and I had fun reading the puzzles and solving them together. It was interesting to see how our thought process worked. Some of them were tough to figure out. A fun, fast read.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to preface this review with the acknowledgment that it must be really hard to write puzzles like this. I wouldn't know where to begin. There's a requirement to write a little story and insert just the right amount of information, and have the solution work just right. I don't think I really liked the author's writing style (and there was some weirdness about gender and race here that just left me feeling like I was reading a really old book instead of one about to be published). I grew up on the Donald J Sobel 60 second mysteries, and thirty or so years later these don't improve on them at all.

Really, the reason I didn't like this and wouldn't recommend it is that none of the answers felt satisfying. They weren't based as much on logic as they were on 'do you know this specific fact? If you do then this answer will be obvious, but if you don't, there's nothing here to help you figure it out'. It's stuff like identical twins having the same DNA but different fingerprints and various forensic details. I've been really interested in the debunking of a lot of forensics, so I would have rather had some more logic based answers, or things you could work out from smaller details. Some of the puzzles fall under the "not enough info" category, where the solution spins a complete story involving lots of details that aren't anywhere in the puzzle. Somehow, from the detail of a man using a $50 bill as a tip, I was supposed to know it was a bad forgery that still had a picture of Lincoln on it instead of Grant. No, that was not in the puzzle, I just should have known, I guess. There's one especially weird puzzle about a Native American tribe where the puzzle tries to tell you that Native Americans can't have blue eyes, and the solution is just "yeah they can", with a huge GOTCHA attitude. I mean...of course they can. That's not how genetics works and let's not even get into the controversy of using a DNA test to then claim tribe membership. It just felt really weird.

So much of what I have a problem with is difficult to talk about without showing the actual puzzle in question, so I will just say that I never felt proud of getting a solution right, nor did I ever go "ooo!" about one I didn't. I just either went "well... yeah." or "There's no way I could have known that from the info provided." I never felt satisfied by the answer.

[Shoroli Shilon · Rating 3 out of 5]

এটা হচ্ছে সেই কায়দার বই, যে বইয়ের ছোট ছোট ফরেনসিক মিস্ট্রি সলভ করতে করতে আপনি আপনার ইনার অ্যামেচার ডিটেকটিভ সত্তার দিকে চ্যালেঞ্জ ছুড়ে দিতে পারবেন।

কিছু কিছু ক্রাইম পাজল খুবই হার্ড টু ক্র‍্যাক। বুঝতে বেগ পেতে হয়েছে। সাথে আনপ্রেডিক্টেবল সমাধান। বেশিরভাগই চমৎকার। সল্যুশন জেনে তাক লেগে গিয়েছে। তবে একেবারে যা তা লেগেছে এমন পাজলও আছে। একসাথে সব পড়তে যাবেন না। তাহলে একঘেয়েমি লাগতে পারে।

মজার জিনিস। ফ্রি তে পড়ছি। ফ্রি তে সাজেশন দিলাম।

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make a perfect stocking filler! It is filled with different puzzles guaranteed to keep anyone entertained on a plane, beach vacation or just some quality time indoors. Excellent, logical explanations.

I would like to thank M. Diane Vogt, Quarto Publishing Group - Fairwinds and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy in expand for a fair and honest review.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this is a grown-up's Encyclopedia Brown. Sort of. It's actually rather hit-or-miss; some puzzles are ok, others are... uh.

For instance, the VERY FIRST PUZZLE assumes something about the time, which is not made clear within the puzzle. That is, a thing happened "fifteen years ago," and the present day detective has to find a clue that they didn't find fifteen years ago. But fifteen years ago from when?? No dates are spelled out in the puzzle, so I can only assume the solution is presenting each puzzle as occurring at the time of the book's publication (2020). I've NEVER had a puzzle that required this degree of extrapolation before.

(Not to say such a puzzle book wouldn't be AWESOME, but this did NOT present itself, or any of the other puzzles, as requiring this amount of footwork.)

Others are... well, other books call them "lateral thinking" puzzles: scenarios that are presented to the audience with the requirement to concoct a convincing answer that fits, with no solid evidence that the answer is the "correct" one (there could be multiples!). Like one was a hooker who accidentally spilled the contents of her purse and "blew it." But the contents aren't described, and the hooker's motive isn't clear. (She's actually an undercover cop, and the handcuffs that fell out blew her cover.)

Then there was one where the answer was, "No, X doesn't necessarily prove Y, HOWEVER the criminal got caught anyway on further investigation."



I don't know... it was cheap and I got my money's worth I GUESS but not an heirloom I would keep to pass on to my nonexistent descendants.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am admittedly not always great at these books, but I was kind of disappointed in this one.

The scenarios have varying degrees of difficulty which is good, but I feel they could be organized better. We would go through 2-3 that we just couldn’t get and then the next one would be so obvious we’d think surely we were overlooking something. I feel like having sections or increasing difficulty may be better, but that’s pretty subjective.

The biggest issue I have with this book is that the presentation is incredibly boring. It’s just words on a page essentially. And while that’s what a book is of course, I feel books like this do better with an interactive element. Have some photos or something at least to look at as well as read. This isn’t really a fun family activity because it’s just me reading a paragraph out loud. I would’ve liked to be able to show some pictures or a scene that was relevant to the scenario.

One thing to mention is to pay attention to what question is being asked. Many times the answer would involve a long drawn out resolution that we’d have no way of knowing from the original scenario, but wasn’t necessary either. For instance, it would ask something like “Is it true she died before 3pm?” And the yes or no answer is able to be deduced from the story given; however, the answer would include this long drawn out background story. So we’d get frustrated because there’s no way of knowing that’s the reason behind the “yes or no” answer but then I’d have to stress that the yes/no is all that was asked. Hopefully that makes sense.

Overall I’m going with 3 stars because there were some fun mysteries but the presentation just wasn’t there for me.

I was given a copy of this book in return for my honest review. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this opportunity.

[Johanna Beachy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to follow, creative puzzles that the whole family can enjoy. While it is geared towards an adult audience, some of these I think can be used to help challenge a younger audience (age 8 - 10). One of my favorite features is that the solutions to the puzzles are located in a separate section so you cannot accidentally see the solution just by skimming the page.

Another aspect I thoroughly enjoy is that the solution or "answer" is not entirely clean cut. There is room for more or less insight into the crime. What I mean by this is that different people may come to the same general conclusion but via different routes. Furthermore, the two may have a combined insight that further solves the mystery. For example, my significant other is a lawyer and I did some of these puzzles with him. He saw things from a legal aspect and analyzed it that way whereas I am a more creative creature and just reasoned the solution out. We were both correct but, when combined, our answers almost directly matched the solutions.

I think this would be interesting group book or even maybe a book club book where the group can puzzle it all out together. The different viewpoints will make the book even more interesting than by just doing the puzzles on one's own.

[Michelle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

60 Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is a great fun read. It consists of 65 puzzles which each have a short scenario with a question posed at the end that ask the reader to solve the crime. As the puzzle should be read and solved within about a minute or so, a lot of the puzzles are not too challenging (as long as you are a crime fiction fan and know something on the topic) as the clues to help solve the crime are found in the scenario.
Some of the questions are more difficult than others and a couple I think that even the great Poirot may find challenging! I also got stuck on a couple due to the the fact that the author is American and I wasn’t aware of the answers (this wouldn’t be a problem for some more au fait with American culture and the legal differences from the UK).
This book could be read in its entirety in a couple of sittings or be dipped in and out of, either way it is a very enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, quick, and interactive book 60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is. M. Diane Vogt did a great job with the various levels in the book.

I love crime fiction and logic problems, so this was perfect for me. I liked I could do one or two at a time for some quick fun and then put it away.

Some I felt the answers were a little spoon fed. However, that is nice when you are starting out to get the reader used to the format and style. I would also love to see these done in the future in a longer format where you have to figure out multiple aspects. That could be lots of fun.

I could see these being fun for anyone who loves true crime, crime fiction, and/or logical problems. This would be great entertainment during a car ride or other type of travel.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy from Quarto Publishing Group- Fair Winds Press through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might Need a Psych Degree and More than a Minute...

This book contains 65 crime brain teasers, though I certainly wouldn't say that they only take a minute to figure out. These brain teasers are one- or two-page vignettes where something criminal is described in story format, like detectives discussing a case or someone actually witnessing criminal activity. Unfortunately, the author seems to assume that you know a fair amount about criminal psychology and forensics. Some answers were a bit of a stretch, given what the story scenarios were. Even though I have had several college-level psychology courses, I felt frustrated at times by the author's presumption of our knowledge of criminal psychopathology. Some details explained in the answers were not apparent in the stories. All in all, I found myself somewhat frustrated and annoyed by this book.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Syeda Sumayya Tariq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you have what it takes to be a spy? This includes 65 short crime puzzles that will take you less than 60 seconds to test your observation, reason, logic, and basic forensic knowledge. Thoroughly enjoyable and brain-teasing. This is like an adult version of Slylock Fox, but more with a forensic theme to it. I have quite a background in medical science so I was able to guess most correctly but I liked that the answers at the end of the book offered more insights into the crime of the puzzle.

I also loved the whole graphics and illustrations, and setting of the book, very creative and appealing to the eye. This makes for a perfect lunch break past time. As an ebook, it was a task to go back and forth between the puzzles and answers, but I think it should work very well with a physical book. Recommended for young sleuths!

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the eARC

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

Overall, the idea behind the book is a great one, and it's something to pass the time. The answers to the puzzles can be found at the back of the book, so luckily you won't be left hanging if you can't figure out the answers.

The print layout and illustrations were nice, and the colors were engaging, making for a book that was nice to look at for longer periods of time.

I know that the puzzles are really just 60 second brain teasers, but I really wanted there to be more to it. This book seems geared more towards younger ages, or someone who has never watched more than a couple of episodes of crime shows. I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't click with me.

[Oxana Tomova · Rating 4 out of 5]

60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is a collection of 65 mysterious cases, presented on one or two small pages each. Every puzzle ends with a question that you have to answer by going back to the text and finding clues.
The cases were interesting and definitely not the most popular ones, so even if you consume a lot of puzzles, you'll find a lot of new ideas in them. The book also provides the answers at the end, whether you want to check your answer or in case you get completely stuck.
This book can be fun to play with on your own, or with family and friends (even over video call), and I definitely recommend it.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

[Tove R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a cute book, if you can say that about solving crimes. 65 short cases to be solved within a minute or two. The cases are not that hard to figure out if you read through them carefully, and use your general knowledge. I still think they are nice brain teasers, and not much time or effort needed, so when you’d like a break from what you’re doing, this is a nice distraction. I think it’ll work well for a younger audience, and probably school classes too. Since the book is called ‘60- second...’ the name already states that the cases are not that complicated. There is no point in expecting hardcore criminal cases with lots of forensic evidence. I shared some cases with a few friends, and it works well during game nights. 3,5 stars.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles is a quick-solve book of crime puzzles. In the past I have picked up similar puzzle books only to be sucked in for hours, frustrated, or both! I was pleasantly surprised that these puzzles were actually quick, fun, and allowed me to put on my Sherlock Holmes hat.

The book offers 65 separate puzzles that ask you to use your forensic and deduction skills to solve the case. I loved that no pen or pencil is required and that everything can be worked out via "mental math."

I think this book would be better experienced in hard copy as it was difficult to read and interact with digitally. I would recommend as a coffee table book, a go-to for a group game night, or a stocking-stuffer for a budding detective.