The summer 2026 books? The ones to solve under on the beach A list for game book enthusiasts
Summer is just around the corner and we're more than ready to slip into our favorite bikinis and head to the nearest beach umbrella for some well-deserved relaxation. But first, a trip to the bookstore is essential. While we once would have picked up nothing more than a novel to devour page after page, we're now increasingly drawn to the shelves dedicated to puzzle books. Reality alone is no longer enough, and publishers have noticed, offering an ever-growing variety of options every year. From books that let us step into the shoes of a detective to those that require us to tear out pages and rearrange them, the classic puzzle magazine has been overtaken by a new generation of paper-based entertainment. These books to solve challenge us with riddles of varying difficulty, requiring different levels of commitment and time, and they're becoming increasingly popular. They appeal to a curious and diverse audience looking for entertainment away from screens.
The best puzzle books for Summer 2026: interactive mysteries, crime stories and brain teasers
ENIGMA: the new interactive fiction and game book series
The growing popularity of game books has inspired publisher Giunti to launch an entire imprint dedicated to the genre. It's called ENIGMA, a new home for interactive fiction where readers are never mere spectators, but an integral part of the story. As text and images interact, the narrative unfolds through observation, logic and intuition, leading to endings where nothing is quite what it seems. ENIGMA builds on the legacy of classic game books while drawing inspiration from exploratory video games, placing books back at the center of an immersive and participatory experience. One of the first titles released is The Ideal Husband by Doris Webster & Mary Alden, an original game book from the 1930s featuring three characters and 43 possible endings. At the end of each chapter, readers are presented with different paths to follow (and corresponding page changes), with the goal of choosing one of Helen's suitors and ultimately deciding her fate.
Interactive crime novels: when you're the detective
Another release in the series is Murder Impossible at Tootley Row by Maureen Johnson. This illustrated interactive mystery transports readers to London in 1933, where an American writer has been found dead in Mayfair. We must follow Scotland Yard's investigation, read letters, carefully examine the illustrations and determine which of the seven suspects is guilty.
@smetteredidiresixseven Il killer non è Sophie! Adoro #thekillerisntalice #murdermystery #crimetiktok #crimepuzzles #libritiktok Staying on the subject of crime, anyone with a keen eye for observation and deduction should pick up Crime Scene by Modesto García and Javi De Castro. Across four volumes, readers are presented with multiple crime scenes to examine in painstaking detail in order to answer one crucial question: who did it?
Activity books for adults: the return of summer homework
There was something special about those endless summers spent feeling bored after the school year ended. We didn't know it then, but we'd eventually miss them, even summer homework. Back then it seemed exhausting; now we'd gladly choose it over filing taxes. Helping us relive those memories is Blackie Edizioni, which each year releases its Quaderni series, activity books designed for adults who want to learn something new or brush up on old knowledge. This year the collection expands with not only the Summer Homework for Adults Vol. 7, but also the debut of Quaderno Golden, designed for the Golden Generation, for those with a little more life experience (or, as some might say, those who are a bit older) and who deserve to make the most of their free time. Both books feature puzzles, logic exercises, quizzes, sudoku, mazes, fascinating trivia and crossword puzzles created with the help of experts to keep the mind sharp and memory in shape.
Word puzzles and mystery books: finding errors to solve the crime
If you're the kind of person who immediately notices typos while reading and always keeps a pencil nearby to mark them, then Bozze non corrette by Stefano Bartezzaghi is for you. The book contains 100 mistakes to identify, each one helping readers uncover the identity of a murderer. Typos, grammatical and lexical errors, incorrect words, factual mistakes and omissions all become clues. Anyone attempting to solve the mystery will need to pay close attention to every detail. Along similar lines is The Killer Isn't Sophie, a book featuring 46,500 suspects and 18 clues that gradually allow readers to eliminate possibilities until only the correct solution remains.
Mystery books to solve: the best investigative game books of the summer
One of Italy's most renowned puzzle authors, Iacopo Cellini, has released a brand-new mystery for the summer: The Cat Who Solved Impossible Murders. In this book, readers step into the paws of Bruno the cat, searching for clues in order to uncover the mystery of Calaferro. Along the way, choices must be made that can alter the course of the story, and every mistake comes with consequences. The same author is also known for The Andromeda Game and Code Enigma, books that require readers to tear out pages and rearrange them in the correct order.
Murdoku and Murdle: investigative puzzles between Sudoku and Cluedo
For anyone who loves Sudoku and Cluedo, there are plenty of game books perfect for spending hours of fun by the pool. One of the newest releases is Murdoku, an investigative puzzle that combines elements of both games. Each case presents suspects, rooms and clues that must be cross-referenced until the correct solution is found. Murdle follows a similar format: through logic and deduction, readers must figure out who committed the crime, where it happened and which weapon was used. Each book contains countless puzzles and mysteries to solve.
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