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Almost Perfect Crimes: Mini-Mysteries For You To Solve
Study evidence, look for clues, and use your powers of deduction to solve more than a dozen dastardly crimes. Following each short story puzzle are five pieces of evidence, including things like witness testimony, autopsy and crime scene reports, background checks, car and house searches, and personal effects, that you can investigate by turning to different pages of the book. Examine them all, or just a few, in order to come to a conclusion.
- GenresMystery
96 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 1995
5 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Hy Conrad
46 books168 followersHY CONRAD has made a career out of murder, earning the 2022 Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (“The Fixer’s Daughter”) and 2022 NYC Big Book Awards for Best Mystery Series (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” “Sins of the Family”), a Scribe Award for Best Novel (“Mr. Monk Helps Himself”) and garnering three Edgar nominations from the Mystery Writers of America (for the “Monk” TV series). Along the way, he developed a horde of popular games and interactive films, hundreds of short stories and a dozen books of solvable mysteries, published in over 15 languages. Hy is best known for his eight seasons as writer/co-executive producer for the ground-breaking TV series, “Monk.” Other shows include “White Collar” and “The Good Cop.”
As a novelist, Hy authored the final four books in the Monk series, the Amy Travel Mysteries (“Toured to Death,” “Dearly Departed” and “Death on the Patagonian Express”) and the Callie McFee Mysteries (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” a Barnes & Noble bestseller and “Sins of the Family”).
In the world of theatre, his produced works consist of “Home Exchange” (a mystery), “Ta-Dah!” (a musical), and “Quarantine for Two” (a socially distanced dark comedy about the pandemic).
When he looks up from his keyboard, Hy sees either the hills of Vermont or the palm trees of Key West, depending on the time of year. He also sees Jeff Johnson, his partner of 43 years, now his husband, plus Nelson and Stella, the latest in a dynasty of mini-schnauzers.
www.hyconrad.com
Facebook: hyconrad
Instagram: hyconrad1
As a novelist, Hy authored the final four books in the Monk series, the Amy Travel Mysteries (“Toured to Death,” “Dearly Departed” and “Death on the Patagonian Express”) and the Callie McFee Mysteries (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” a Barnes & Noble bestseller and “Sins of the Family”).
In the world of theatre, his produced works consist of “Home Exchange” (a mystery), “Ta-Dah!” (a musical), and “Quarantine for Two” (a socially distanced dark comedy about the pandemic).
When he looks up from his keyboard, Hy sees either the hills of Vermont or the palm trees of Key West, depending on the time of year. He also sees Jeff Johnson, his partner of 43 years, now his husband, plus Nelson and Stella, the latest in a dynasty of mini-schnauzers.
www.hyconrad.com
Facebook: hyconrad
Instagram: hyconrad1
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 16, 2021
VALORACIÓN: 3 estrellas
Después de más de un año con este libro por fin lo he terminado. Lo he dejado en tres estrellas porque había unos casos muy buenos y otros francamente malísimos. Y no malos porque no los haya podido resolver (hay un par de los que no di palo al agua que me volaron la cabeza) sino porque con las pistas que daban difícilmente se podía resolver nada. Uno en particular de los últimos creo que ha sido un problema más de la traducción que de otra cosa.
En líneas generales me ha gustado y, para quien le gusto resolver crímenes, es un buen reto. Que sea dinámico e implique al lector es lo que más me ha gustado de este libro. ¿Conocéis alguno así que os haya gustado?
Después de más de un año con este libro por fin lo he terminado. Lo he dejado en tres estrellas porque había unos casos muy buenos y otros francamente malísimos. Y no malos porque no los haya podido resolver (hay un par de los que no di palo al agua que me volaron la cabeza) sino porque con las pistas que daban difícilmente se podía resolver nada. Uno en particular de los últimos creo que ha sido un problema más de la traducción que de otra cosa.
En líneas generales me ha gustado y, para quien le gusto resolver crímenes, es un buen reto. Que sea dinámico e implique al lector es lo que más me ha gustado de este libro. ¿Conocéis alguno así que os haya gustado?
April 26, 2024
Entertaining and challenging mini-mysteries by Hy Conrad (5 stars)
Almost Perfect Crimes is the first of two books by Hy Conrad that contain mini-mysteries in the style of lateral puzzles. it was followed by Whodunit - You Decide!, which is a similar title. Hy Conrad has also produced many shorter mini-mystery stories, such as the single-page narratives found in compilations like Little Giant Book of Whodunits and Little Giant Book of Mini-Mysteries. The mysteries in Almost Perfect Crimes and Whodunit - You Decide! are much more developed, challenging, and interesting, and have more elements to them.
The book is divided into several sections:
1. Introduction: a brief explanation of how to use the book.
2. The mysteries: 15 mysteries, each outlined in about two pages. In most cases your challenge is to figure out who the murderer is, and how or why.
3. Evidence: clues for each mystery are provided, arranged under relevant headings like Affidavits, Autopsy Reports, Crime Scene Reports, Lab & Hospital Reports, Examinations, Searches, Research, Wills & Insurance.
4. Analysis of Evidence: this section gives some preliminary conclusions to help you towards the final answer.
5. Solutions: the solutions to each mystery, including an explanation for each.
Some cases are easier than others, but most of them will require you to read all the evidence and the preliminary analysis, and even then some of them are very hard to figure out. But even if you don't solve the mysteries, they are highly entertaining to read, because in most cases the solution is very satisfying. If you like whodunits and a good murder mystery, you'll enjoy this book as a good read, but it will especially appeal to people who enjoy trying to figure out whodunits and puzzles for themselves.
While the sequel Whodunit has 12 mysteries, Almost Perfect Crimes has 15 mysteries, and on the whole I found the ones in this earlier book to be more plausible and solid all round. The only disadvantage of this book is the set-up. The evidence is sprinkled around through various sections, so you need to keep flipping pages backwards and forwards to read back over the clues for each case. And you’ll be doing that in your quest for the solution, since often it's small details that are important to notice to solve the case. Whodunit improved on this set-up by putting all the evidence for each case in one spot, making that book slightly easier to use than this one.
The puzzles remind me somewhat of the cases in the board game 221B Baker Street, and will appeal to a similar audience (although the ones in this book are definitely harder and more rewarding than the board game). I've also used these mysteries in a party setting, where we tried to solve a mystery as a group, which is a great way to use these as well. This book should appeal to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and lateral puzzles, and is a thoughtful collection of 15 mysteries. For maximum enjoyment, follow the advice in the book - just enjoy one a day, rather than attempting them all in one sitting!
Almost Perfect Crimes is the first of two books by Hy Conrad that contain mini-mysteries in the style of lateral puzzles. it was followed by Whodunit - You Decide!, which is a similar title. Hy Conrad has also produced many shorter mini-mystery stories, such as the single-page narratives found in compilations like Little Giant Book of Whodunits and Little Giant Book of Mini-Mysteries. The mysteries in Almost Perfect Crimes and Whodunit - You Decide! are much more developed, challenging, and interesting, and have more elements to them.
The book is divided into several sections:
1. Introduction: a brief explanation of how to use the book.
2. The mysteries: 15 mysteries, each outlined in about two pages. In most cases your challenge is to figure out who the murderer is, and how or why.
3. Evidence: clues for each mystery are provided, arranged under relevant headings like Affidavits, Autopsy Reports, Crime Scene Reports, Lab & Hospital Reports, Examinations, Searches, Research, Wills & Insurance.
4. Analysis of Evidence: this section gives some preliminary conclusions to help you towards the final answer.
5. Solutions: the solutions to each mystery, including an explanation for each.
Some cases are easier than others, but most of them will require you to read all the evidence and the preliminary analysis, and even then some of them are very hard to figure out. But even if you don't solve the mysteries, they are highly entertaining to read, because in most cases the solution is very satisfying. If you like whodunits and a good murder mystery, you'll enjoy this book as a good read, but it will especially appeal to people who enjoy trying to figure out whodunits and puzzles for themselves.
While the sequel Whodunit has 12 mysteries, Almost Perfect Crimes has 15 mysteries, and on the whole I found the ones in this earlier book to be more plausible and solid all round. The only disadvantage of this book is the set-up. The evidence is sprinkled around through various sections, so you need to keep flipping pages backwards and forwards to read back over the clues for each case. And you’ll be doing that in your quest for the solution, since often it's small details that are important to notice to solve the case. Whodunit improved on this set-up by putting all the evidence for each case in one spot, making that book slightly easier to use than this one.
The puzzles remind me somewhat of the cases in the board game 221B Baker Street, and will appeal to a similar audience (although the ones in this book are definitely harder and more rewarding than the board game). I've also used these mysteries in a party setting, where we tried to solve a mystery as a group, which is a great way to use these as well. This book should appeal to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and lateral puzzles, and is a thoughtful collection of 15 mysteries. For maximum enjoyment, follow the advice in the book - just enjoy one a day, rather than attempting them all in one sitting!
October 20, 2018
For one, I think its stupid that they broke the book into so many sections for "Alibi", "Evidence", etc, and it makes it an unnecessary pain in the ass to read even a single case since you keep flipping through the pages to find the relevant evidence. It'd've been more efficient to just have it on the next page or in the same section right after the mystery story.
Also, the mystery and evidence themselves are stupid. For example, in the bellboy case where the hotel worker Scotty killed the rich man to steal his belongings, a fake evidence was the missing pipe from the rich man's wife's case which had blood and skin pieces. Umm, what the fuck? How/why would Scotty even get access to that to frame her? Its hard to believe he'd have access to it and to so readily be able to plant that evidence. In addition, they gave us no evidence for who picked up the order that was called in - the description implied Scotty picked up the man's order but we learn later that Scotty was the one who called it in. In that case, the evidence should've mentioned *who* picked up the phone order, as that's likely the last person who spoke to the killed rich man.
Also, the mystery and evidence themselves are stupid. For example, in the bellboy case where the hotel worker Scotty killed the rich man to steal his belongings, a fake evidence was the missing pipe from the rich man's wife's case which had blood and skin pieces. Umm, what the fuck? How/why would Scotty even get access to that to frame her? Its hard to believe he'd have access to it and to so readily be able to plant that evidence. In addition, they gave us no evidence for who picked up the order that was called in - the description implied Scotty picked up the man's order but we learn later that Scotty was the one who called it in. In that case, the evidence should've mentioned *who* picked up the phone order, as that's likely the last person who spoke to the killed rich man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
Não é um romance, não é de fantasia, não é sobre uma aventura... São pequenos quebra-cabeças sobre crimes que o leitor tem que resolver.
Tenho este livro já faz alguns anos e nunca consegui decifrar todos os casos que eram apresentados. Recentemente, decidi voltar a tentar decifrar cada um dos casos e fiquei surpreendida comigo mesma. Durante duas a três semanas (só decifrei um ou dois a cada semana) estive entretida a resolver crimes que pareciam perfeitos mas que, no fundo, tinham as suas falhas. Senti-me uma verdadeira Sherlock Holmes de todas as vezes que lia duas ou três pistas e a solução surgia-me na mente! É claro que nem todos os casos são simples e algumas soluções estão mesmo "escarrapachados" à nossa frente mas não as conseguimos ver. Houve momentos em que me vi atrapalhada para conseguir achar a solução e outros errei. No entanto, é um mini livro que nos faz passar um bom bocado e nos exercita o pensamento.
Tenho este livro já faz alguns anos e nunca consegui decifrar todos os casos que eram apresentados. Recentemente, decidi voltar a tentar decifrar cada um dos casos e fiquei surpreendida comigo mesma. Durante duas a três semanas (só decifrei um ou dois a cada semana) estive entretida a resolver crimes que pareciam perfeitos mas que, no fundo, tinham as suas falhas. Senti-me uma verdadeira Sherlock Holmes de todas as vezes que lia duas ou três pistas e a solução surgia-me na mente! É claro que nem todos os casos são simples e algumas soluções estão mesmo "escarrapachados" à nossa frente mas não as conseguimos ver. Houve momentos em que me vi atrapalhada para conseguir achar a solução e outros errei. No entanto, é um mini livro que nos faz passar um bom bocado e nos exercita o pensamento.
March 10, 2018
I have always LOVED to read the "solve-it-yourself" type crime stories. This collection (and this author in general) is fantastic, they do a great job with providing hints and clues in the stories themselves, and then providing evidence and analyses that you can read, to help you along as well. This particular collection was one I read as a child, and I loved revisiting it- I still remembered a couple of the mysteries, so I guess it was a little bit like cheating!
Honestly, this would be a great and easy read for an adult or kid of any age. Definitely check out other books by this author if you enjoyed this one!
Honestly, this would be a great and easy read for an adult or kid of any age. Definitely check out other books by this author if you enjoyed this one!
August 16, 2019
An interesting idea that didn't quite work, this book is made up of stories with various types of clues, a section to put the clues together and then a section with the answers. If the clues had immediately followed the stories it would have been better. Or if the stories had been in alphabetical order like everything. Trying to find each thing was just a lesson in patience.
October 23, 2019
Este libro ayuda mucho a despejarte, aún así es muy tedioso de terminar y continuar leyendo, sin mencionar que por lo menos en la edición que yo compre la letra es muy chica.
Dato: el libro es interactivo
Dato: el libro es interactivo
May 25, 2019
It was quite a fun read. And I think it helps to to train yourself to look at something from a different perspective.
April 9, 2013
Truth be told, I never solved any of the mysteries... I cheated and went to see the answer. Maybe I was too lazy :)
May 14, 2015
Este livrinho é muito engraçado, especialmente para quem tem uma avó com faro policial: é uma óptima prenda!
:-)
:-)
January 4, 2017
Very nice difficulty level.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews