The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit

Book Description

The long-running gross-out bestseller!

Since its first publication in 1993, this book has charmed readers young and old with its unconditionally candid tale that raises bathroom humor to new heights. Splendidly straightforward and comic, it is at first unbelievable and then irresistible.

When Little Mole looks out of his hole one morning—PLOP!—something lands on his head. Whodunit? Now a new generation of readers will enjoy this one-of-a-kind, stinky, and delightful story for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

funniest book I have ever read.......2007-04-10

My 4 yr old daugter found this wierd book in the library 1 day and I could not stop the laughter. I now have my own copy and several family members who have read have ordered as well. Great book. but not for the faint of heart.

Clue Mysteries: 15 Whodunits to Solve in Minutes

Average customer rating:

Kids who enjoy mysteries will probably like this.
It could have been much better...
Good. But not as good as the old series.

Clue Mysteries: 15 Whodunits to Solve in Minutes
Vicki Cameron
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0762412089

Book Description

Introducing a collection of 15 light and lively tales to solve in 10 minutes or less-featuring familiar characters from the classic Clue board game, introduced in 1949. Set in fictional Tudor Hall in 1926, these stories give readers an opportunity to sleuth out the culprit among Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Letitia Peacock, and the others in all manner of intrigues that are fun to solve.

Customer Reviews:

Kids who enjoy mysteries will probably like this........2007-04-04

Because it's written at a level appropriate for younger readers, this book is not the kind of thing many adults could enjoy, but "kids under 13" should have fun with it. The only time I would buy it for an adult is when the intended recipient can definitely still appreciate reading material of that level. It's a bit on the silly, simplistic side for many adults.

It could have been much better..........2004-02-19

I tried to like this book - the old series was very good. But in the end it just wasn't very good. Strike one is the lack of evidence before giving the solution. A good mystery should have an solution that is obvious when you reread it. Many of the solutions here rely on information which is never given and only make sense when extra evidence is given in the solution. Strike two is the lack of believability. I realize that Clue mysteries have always been light, but it loses something with the "I killed him because he made a mess of the house" or "Look he's dead - anyone want to go for coffee" style. And strike three is that the stories seem to drone on without really developing the story.

It could have been made so much better with a little effort.

Good. But not as good as the old series........2003-07-02

Clue Mysteries is a great book. I love how the character names and motives are the same ones given in their character descriptions on the insert in the game box. But, the comedy falls short to the comedy in the now out-of-print book series created by A.E.Parker. The mysteries are well written, and much longer than those of the original series. I really love the way Cameron describes the discovery of Mr.Boddy's body in each chapter. It's like,"Oh look. Here's John with a big, bloddy dagger sticking out of his back. Let's have some tea." So casual. Plus, at the end of each mystery, one suspect will point to another and accuse them just like in the board game. To make a long story short, too late, I'm looking forward to the sequal due out in September, and will definitely be buying it!

Average customer rating:

terrible
Great reading material as well as mysteries
Wonderful -- Just Wonderful
the master of the mini-mystery

Historical Whodunits
Hy Conrad
Manufacturer: Sterling
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402721722

Book Description

One of the writers for the highly acclaimed television show Monk presents a series of 14 unique solve-it-yourself mini-mysteries, all with a historical setting. At the end of each intriguing tale, armchair sleuths begin their own detective work with the aid of key questions and some crucial clues--including an interview with a witness, lab analysis of the evidence, or an examination of the crime scene. The historical settings range from ancient Rome to 1940s Hollywood, and the subjects include Jamaican pirates; death in Venice amid a masked ball; Jack the Ripper copycats.

Customer Reviews:

terrible.......2007-06-02

The answers to the mysteries referred to events that weren't even in the text. It didn't make any sense.

Great reading material as well as mysteries.......2006-08-01

I had just as much fun reading the stories as solving the puzzles. The book has a nice way of breaking down clues, reasonings, and solutions. The misteries are challenging, but reasonable at the same time. BTW, the author is a writer of the TV series Monk. I'm a big fan of the show. Brilliant writer. I'm looking for more of his books.

Wonderful -- Just Wonderful.......2006-03-07

I LOVE whodunits. I have solved thousands of whodunit puzzles over the years in multiple languages. I consider myself to be a tough critic.
However, this new book by Hy Conrad way exceeded my expectation. All the stories were unique, original, and written beautifully. The book first provides the mystery, followed by additional clues, followed by one or two definitive clues, and then the correct answer. I enjoyed the process of going through all of them in sequence while thinking long and hard. Even for a seasoned veteran like me, some puzzles were quite tough -- tough enough that I had to look at the definitive clues.
I recommend this book not only to older children (who enjoy mystery puzzles) but also to non-English speakers, who wish to improve their English skills while having some fun.

the master of the mini-mystery.......2005-10-21

I am so glad Hy has written a new collection of murder mystery puzzles. I'm always sad when I've worked through his puzzles, because then I have to wait a few more years for what I know will be a new splendid collection.:.)

more comments later, as I try a few puzzles - yooohoo!

The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunits

Average customer rating:

Same book - new title!
Another Marvelous Collection of Historical Whodunits!
Historical Whodunits

The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunits

Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786715715

Book Description

Selected by best-selling editor Mike Ashley, these stories include brand new contributions as well as rare reprints, from writers such as Ian Rankin, Lynda Robinson, Sharan Newman, Gail Frazer, Gillian Linscott, and Peter Tremayne. Featuring such towering historical figures as the Queen of Sheba, Attila the Hun, Hildegarde of Bingen, Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry the Navigator, and Benjamin Franklin, The Mammoth Book of New Historical Whodunits is a brilliant collection of thirty stories of mystery and intrigue spread over three thousand years, from ancient Egypt to the Titanic, that is sure to please fans of this unique genre.

Customer Reviews:

Same book - new title! .......2007-01-21

I just love these anthologies, and it's so easy to get confused as to which ones are already in the library. Here's a great book - but it's the SAME BOOK as "The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunits". Silly thing to let happen at the publishing house ~~~~ Great stuff, but either one will do!

Another Marvelous Collection of Historical Whodunits! .......2005-11-21

This is Ashley's third "historical whodunit" offering. I love 'em all! I much prefer this smorgasbord approach to mysteries versus volumes with just Roman, Egyptian, et al mysteries, which are too much of the same thing for my tastes. Like the others in the series, this book can be read straight through or the reader can jump around instead, sampling different time-periods. The historical whodunits are great for leisurely lunchtime reading or curling up with at bedtime. In short, great authors, interesting stories. Highly recommended!

Historical Whodunits.......2005-10-26

To me historical mysteries are so much more pleasant than contemporary ones. Perhaps it is because the historical ones are not in the least threatening. This book of short mysteries is not only very pleasant to read, but it gave me a list of new authors to look up in the library.

Quicksolve Whodunit Puzzles: Challenging Mini-Mysteries

Average customer rating:

Good Fun For Younger Readers
Perfect for the junior detective

Quicksolve Whodunit Puzzles: Challenging Mini-Mysteries
Jim Sukach
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 080690884X

Product Description

GENERAL FEATURES: Quick Solve Whodunit Puzzles by Sterling Publishing Co. is designed for hours of thinking fun! Liars, cheats, thieves, and murderers: it's time to call Dr. Quicksolve, his son Junior, and his former partner, Elliot Savant. No one else can crack a case so swiftly. Come along, join the mini-mystery fun, and try to solve the crimes, too. This book contains 96 pages. Approximately 5 3/8 by 8 1/4 inches.

Customer Reviews:

Good Fun For Younger Readers.......2007-01-10

"Quicksolve Whodunit Puzzles: Challenging Mini-Mysteries" contains a series of mini-mysteries for readers to solve. The puzzles are very short, just one or two pages long and the answers are at the back of the book. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book, mostly through the use of punny names starting with Professor Quicksolve and continuing with Officer Kautchya, Sergeant Shurshot, and Officer Longshot. While the names are fun, author Jim Sukach gets a bit carried away and names like Carl Crook, Lulu Lyuer, and Miss Pettithief are dead giveaways to adult readers. Although the book does not specify what age group it is written for, the book is clearly meant for younger readers, as most of the puzzles are too easy for adult readers. However, the mysteries should be just challenging enough for younger readers. Most of the mysteries have logical solutions, but a few ("Tracking Terrorists", "Dog Meet" and "Dit Dah Dilemma") are a bit of a stretch and probably shouldn't have been included.

"Quicksolve Whodunit Puzzles: Challenging Mini-Mysteries" is a good book to introduce young readers to the fun of solving mini mysteries.

Perfect for the junior detective.......1999-08-07

My 6 year old son loves mysteries, but many books are to long to keep his attention. The mysteries in this book are perfect for him, he understands them and figures most of them out.

Whodunit - You Decide!: Mini-Mysteries For You To Solve

Average customer rating:

Hours of Fun
Not as good as "almost perfect crimes"...
Better than watching TV
Another great mini-mystery puzzle book by Hy Conrad!

Whodunit - You Decide!: Mini-Mysteries For You To Solve
Hy Conrad
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806961503

Book Description

Would you like to serve on jury and decide whether someone accused of a crime is guilty or not? Who doesn't love a twisty mystery--a locked room, a seemingly impossible crime, a pivotal piece of evidence that seems to make no sense. Here are 15 diabolically clever crimes that made the author smile and say, "You'll never untangle this one"; but you'll want to keep looking till you find the simple twist that lets you sneer and reply, "I fooled you!" These little murders and other crimes hark back to old-fashioned whodunits--you don't need special police knowledge or have to engage in chases and fights. There's not even a complicated logic involved, just good use of your imagination. 96 pages, 12 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Customer Reviews:

Hours of Fun.......2007-03-22

"Whodunit - You Decide!" is a book of twelve mini-mysteries in a court room setting. The book is divided into four sections: An opening statement which explains how the book works; the court cases themselves which are short stories; jury deliberations (arranged alphabetically by story); and the verdicts (again arranged alphabetically by story). At the end of each story is a section called "Trial Witnesses and Evidence" which consists of five different pieces of evidence for each puzzle. Listed at the top of this section is a notation saying how many clues are needed to solve the puzzle. After reading each puzzle, the evidence section, and jury deliberation section readers are to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Although there are only twelve mini-mysteries in "Whodunit - You Decide!" each puzzle is complex and challenging enough to keep you busy for hours. The courtroom setting is a unique idea and a great way of giving readers just enough clues to help solve the mysteries. The puzzles range from easy to difficult and extremely clever. The easiest puzzles are "Our Man in the Field", "The Haunted House Murder", "The Lady in the Dumbwaiter" and "Will-O'-The-Wisp". "Death and the Single Girl" is easy but extremely clever while "Trial of the Black Widow" is a puzzle that has been done in various forms in mini-mysteries which makes it very easy to solve for long-time fans of mini-mysteries. "A Witless Eyewitness" and "No Brake for the Wearys" are tough and very clever puzzles. "The Vanishing Verrocchio" is also very clever with some nicely placed clues. "One Strike You're Out" is also very clever but relies too much on coincidence. Only two of the puzzles didn't work for me: "The Hot Designer" was not very believable and "A Family Feud" was an odd puzzle. I really liked the fact that the jury deliberation and verdict sections are arranged alphabetically by story which makes it impossible to accidentally see the clues or solutions to the puzzles following the one you are working on.

"Whodunit - You Decide!" is an excellent book of mini-mysteries.

Not as good as "almost perfect crimes"..........2003-08-20

The problem with the trial format is that it makes the book predictable plotwise: person A is always innocent, and a person B always has some crazy plan to frame person A. However, the crimes are just as challenging as the last edition. This work is still a far cry from a half-baked whodunit, where a case is "solved" when a suspect blurts out a lie. It's got me hooked and I'm 21, which is quite an achievement.
"The Haunted House murder" is the best case in this book.

Better than watching TV.......2000-06-27

Instead of mindlessly watching TV tonight, why not try a Whodunit mystery? These mysteries are fun and challenging -- think Encyclopedia Brown for an older crowd. Each one has clever twists and it's great fun to exercise your power of deduction.

Each mystery is set up like a court case where the reader puts herself in the shoes of a juror. The general information about the case is given, followed by a set of clues (you don't need all of the clues to figure them out), and the answers are given in the back of the book.

This book would be great on a long road trip, or as an alternative to the mundanity of watching television. I'd recommend it to parents of teenagers, or anyone who wants to sink his teeth into a mystery.

Another great mini-mystery puzzle book by Hy Conrad!.......1996-11-28

This book is a sequel to "Almost Perfect Crimes : Mini-Mysteries for You to Solve". Once again you'll need to fire up all of your little gray cells to solve this new set of 12 clever whodunits! Note that some of the puzzles in this book have also appeared in a slightly altered form at "The Case" website. Buyer beware!

Elements of Mystery Fiction, The: Writing the Modern Whodunit

Average customer rating:

The best book on writing mysteries I've read yet

Elements of Mystery Fiction, The: Writing the Modern Whodunit
William Tapply
Manufacturer: Poisoned Pen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1590581156

Book Description

The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing the Modern Whonunit has guided and inspied mystery writers-veterans as well as beginners-- for nearly a decade. Here William G. Tapply, with more than 20 popular mystery and suspense novels under his belt, isolates the crucial "elements" of the mystery novels that publishers want to publish and readers want to read--original plots, clever clues, sympathetic sleuths, memorable villains, multi-dimensional supporting characters, true-to-life settings, sharp narrative hooks, and, of course, smooth writing. In clear readable prose using examples from many of our best contemporary mystery novelists, Tapply shows how the writer can create the pieces and fit them together to make a story you can't put down.

This new expanded edition of Elements contains original chapters by some of our best contemporary writers and most prominent personalities in the publishing world discussing writing and business issues that are vital to mystery writers in the 21st century.

Customer Reviews:

The best book on writing mysteries I've read yet.......2005-12-05

Of all the books on writing mysteries - and there are many - this is one of the only written by a real master of the craft (with the exception, perhaps, of Patricia Highsmith's book). Tapply neither talks down to the reader nor does he go over the reader's head. This nuts-and-bolts book looks at the main issues involved in writing mysteries clearly and concisely.

Covering the usual areas - character, plot, point of view, setting, etc. - Tapply gives an honest, frank appraisal of what works for him and others. While it is possible that having read other books on writing in general and mysteries in particular made me more receptive to this book, Tapply's tone is friendly and reassuring. This may be the best book on the subject.

30 Second Mysteries: Case Files: Filled with wacky whodunits and merciless mind-benders, 30-Second Mysteries is the perfect quickie for the armchair gumshoe

Average customer rating:

decent:

30 Second Mysteries: Case Files: Filled with wacky whodunits and merciless mind-benders, 30-Second Mysteries is the perfect quickie for the armchair gumshoe

Manufacturer: University Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 157528880X

Book Description

Filled with wacky whodunits and mini-thrillers, 30 Second Mysteries are the perfect quickies for the armchair gumshoe. Sample puzzle: Michael is fleeing a stampeding herd of buffalo when he comes to a wide, deep river. To escape, he must cross it, but there is no bridge, and he has no boat or materials to make a boat. He cannot even swim. Nonetheless, he easily gets away. The “mystery” is how Michael can cross the river without being followed by the buffalo. This book contains a total of 400 fun head-scratchers.

Customer Reviews:

decent:.......2007-03-08

I ordered the book based on a recommendation from my amazon. It proved to be well worth the money, but I think they should advertise that is contains many of the same cases that are in the other "30 second Mysteries" books. My order was shipped in good time and I received it promptly.

Average customer rating:

Excellent mystery puzzles!
Greatly Disappointed
Worth reading ..

Five-Minute Whodunits
Stan Smith
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806994029

Book Description

Accompany Thomas Stanwick as he hears about a crime, arrives on the scene, interviews the authorities and witnesses, examines the body, surveys the surroundings, and announces which suspect to arrest. All under 5 minutes. You'll be right there with him for dozens of different crime scenes, and if it takes you less than five minutes to bust the case open, consider yourself a match for the brilliant Stanwick. 96 pages, 40 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent mystery puzzles!.......2002-06-21

Smith's clever mini mysteries kept me entertained for hours. I recommend this book to all amateur logicians. I'm anxious to start his Five Minute Crimebusters.

Greatly Disappointed.......2000-12-15

The book was greatly disappointing. Rather than interesting mysteries to read, they were simple and futile exercises in solving the same logic exercise over and over. For example, 5 suspects: One is lying, the other is telling the truth, the third is maybe telling the truth, the fourth is maybe lieing, etc. This was repeated throughout most of the stories. They were simply too tiring to read. The other few stories that did not have that approach had only one person in the story, so there was no mystery as to the identity of the culprit. You can better spend your money with mysteries by Hy Conrad. Hy Conrad's books are more enjoyable to read.

Worth reading .........2000-11-26

I liked this book quite a bit, although I was disappointed to find that at least 1/3 of the 'mysteries' were actually logic puzzles. All in all, though, I'd have to recommend it.

Average customer rating:

I was so disappointed!
Doubt I'd try them again.........
Worst Writing Whodunit...
SOOOOOOO disapointed
Whodun this lackluster effort?

Wicked Women Whodunit
MaryJanice Davidson , Amy Garvey , Jennifer Apodaca , and Nancy Cohen
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758210264

Customer Reviews:

I was so disappointed!.......2005-07-24

Mary Janice Davidson is a hit or miss author with me and this story most definitely MISSED. I couldn't deal with the character motivations. They just made no sense.

Amy Garvey's story was okay...it wasn't predictable per se, but it also didn't pull me in.

Jennifer Apodaca's story was by far the best. She engaged me and interested me in the plot. it was a BIT predictable but by FAR the best.

Nancy Cohen is a mystery writer so I expected her story to be the best. It was the worst. There were continuity errors all over the place. The romance wasn't developed at all.

This was one of the weakest and worst edited Bravas I've read.

Doubt I'd try them again................2005-05-30

I couldn't even get through the first story in this book. The writing was so horrible and I could not follow the plot at all. I moved on to the next but it was just as bad as the first. Unfortunately this was the first book I had read by any of these authors so I'm not sure if I'll try one of their novels again.

Worst Writing Whodunit..........2005-04-08

This anthology is a complete and utter disgrace. The so-called whodunit novellas are a total joke. I cannot believe I spent fourteen dollars on this. Talk about money down the drain! The only mystery in this book is what made Brava decide to release this fiasco. All of the novellas (or at least the first three I read. I didn't bother to finish up the book by reading the last story) are underdeveloped and too abrupt to make the mystery remotely plausible. There is supposed to be some building of tension and slow gathering of clues in a whodunit. The reader gets none of that here. I love MaryJanice Davidson and am partial to her work, but even her novella was a major stinker. The plot is nonexistent, characterization is absent (especially with Turner -- the so-called hero in the story), the sharp wit and memorable quips are missing, and the murder mystery in reverse thing would have been clever had it been developed and executed in a better way. I also noticed that the character Dana had been described as a "pleasant-looking blonde with curly Orphan Annie hair and big blue eyes," and then her hair was later described as red. Which brings me to another problem I had with this book: poor editing. There is a plethora of mistakes in this book. Was this book rushed into printing or something? Well, one thing is certain is that the authors are encouraged to churn out crap at hyper speed! Ms. Davidson is such a wonderful author, but her work as of late is below par to her earlier stories and to the stuff she writes for Berkley. In fact, all of the stuff she has written for Brava -- with the exception of Under Cover, The Royal Treatment, and the novella in the How to be a Wicked Woman anthology was surprisingly good as well -- is nowhere near as good as Undead and Unwed, Thief of Hearts, Adventures of the Teen Furies (which I read just a few days ago), and the Wyndham Werewolf novellas in the Secrets anthologies. Hello Gorgeous! is pretty good, but also not up to Davidson's standards. I do not mention the other authors in this anthology because I am unfamiliar with their work. And I don't think I'll be giving their stuff a whirl again after reading this. I didn't expect War and Peace when I picked up this book, but I still expected something great -- or at the very least good -- for the amount of money I spent on this book. Alas, I won't be wasting my time or money on either the Bad Boys or Wicked Women anthologies anymore. I won't be ripped off this way again.

SOOOOOOO disapointed.......2005-03-28

I really like the wicked women series, and until this book I could have recommended all of them as being a good read. This one greatly departs from the others in both subject matter and quality of writing.

I was especially horrified by MaryJanice Davidson's (dare I say it?) pathetic attempt at a murder mystery. As I am a big fan of hers, it pains me to have to say that, but I am hoping to warn others that usually enjoy her stories to not read this one. Also, I am hoping that those who have never read any of her stories will not start with this one. My favorite book by this author is Royal Treatment. Contained in Royal Treatment and the author's other books, but missing in this story, is her usual wit and interesting characters. I am still unsure as to why I should care what happenned to the characters in "Ten Little Idiots," not that much did. I'm not mentioning the sex scenes because they aren't worth mentioning.

Single White Dead Guy was a passable story, if very predictable. It doesn't carry the book though. The title could have been used more effectively to set something up for a better written story.

Like another reviewer, I stopped reading before finishing the book (at the begining of story #3 to be exact). Then, I decided I should give the last story a try just to be fair since I was writing a review. Although, it does not make the book worth buying for it alone, it is the best story in the book. It takes place on a reality show that goes awry. I also upped my rating from 1 to 2 stars after reading it.

It is unfortunate that this collection is what we got when romance writers tried to do a mystery. I hope that this does not spell the end, but I also hope that next time it is attempted, it is executed with more style and wit, and less compromise. Fusing these two generes seems natural- what is romance without a little mystery?- but three of the four authors couldn't quite generate a good match between the two. At least Nancy Cohen created a decent potion of mystery and romance. The other authors sacrificed plot to focus on romance, but the romance wasn't good enough to overcome the plot problems. So, you get robbed of satisfaction from either. Just like I feel I got robbed of my money by buying this book.

I suggest checking out one of the other books in the Wicked Women series.

Whodun this lackluster effort?.......2005-03-23

I felt cheated when I bought this book, and in fact, I ended up returning it. The efforts put forth by the authors for this anthology were lackluster for the most part. MJD's story was not even up to her usual hilarious standards, and I really had a hard time understanding why the two characters got together since there was little developement about their backgrounds, which matched the skimpy plot. Do yourself a favor, borrow a friend's copy or go to the library, but this is not worth the cover price.

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