Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #29

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "The Case of the Missing Ribbons."  It's a 250 piece puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is NOT on the box.

The solution is revealed in the puzzle and confirmed in the letter.  It was a good story and a guessable solution.

Puzzle box, letter, and final puzzle. 

A letter that contains the solution to the mystery. 

Final puzzle image. 

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #28

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "The Case of the Stolen Jewels"  It's a 250 piece puzzle and story by Patricia Lakin.  The solution to the puzzle is NOT on the box. 

The story contains some bonus puzzles/codes, but then the solutions are quickly spelled out for you.

The solution was a lot of a stretch and didn't tie in well as other mystery stories that we've done.

The completed puzzle, box, booklet, and final letter with the answer.

The completed puzzle.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #27

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "Final Run"  It's a 500 piece puzzle and story by Alan Robbins, 1992.  The solution to the puzzle is NOT on the box.  Copy of the story here. 

I had a new and unopened copy that I scored from Goodwill. In an attempt to clear out my house this puzzle had to go as is. 

Sadly, I didn't actually do the puzzle.  The number of white pieces would have driven me crazy!

I found the solution to the puzzle on Reddit.com:

The solution to the puzzle. 

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #26

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "Maurice Sendak's Christmas Mystery"  It's a 48 piece puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is NOT on the box.  The solution is actually each page of the book, where the two children start walking up a hill and then walk back down.

Once all together, the larger true form of the puzzle appears - Santa!

Box, puzzle, and booklet.

Completed puzzle.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #25

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "Hidden Treasures - Conductor."  It's a 100 piece puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is mostly on the box - cut off because of a prior sticker.

The added challenge is finding the hidden objects listed in the enclosed booklet. 

The objects are of different colors and make the hunt super hard and much less fun. 

Further, one of the photos looks like a Geoduck, but it's likely a misprint of a spoon. We found the spoon - green head/leaf and blue suspender of the lower-left dog.

Puzzle, box, and booklet 

 Completed puzzle. 

Booklet with "geoduck."

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #24

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "Pirate Treasure Hunt" by Roosevelt's Amazing Puzzles.  It's a 77 piece puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is mostly on the box.

The added challenge is finding the path that takes the two boys in the upper-right corner down to the treasure in the lower-left corner.

There is also a shortlist of "Pirate Facts & Fun" included with the solution.  Other fun things the book encourages you to find are:
3 crabs
1 compass
3 lanterns
1 spider
2 pirates
1 painting of a ship
3 spider webs
5 wooden doors (swinging and broken)

The solution is to take the upper swinging doors and follow the rightmost edge of ladders and staircases to reach the treasure.

I'll plan on filling out the comment card and seeing if I get a return.

Puzzle and box. 

Full size puzzle.

UPDATE: 12.09.2019, a letter that I sent to Moran Co. at 48th Elm St. Meriden, CT  06450 was sent back with a vacant note.  I guess they are not longer in business at this addres. :-( 

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #23

Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.

This week's puzzle is "Princess Ballerina." It's a 250 piece puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is not on the box.

Sadly, there was no novelet story included with the puzzle. :-( It was a shrinked wrapped puzzle and all the pieces were included.  Just missed out on the quality control. 

UPDATE Dec 2019: I wrote an e-mail to the author Nancy Butcher, who sent me pictures of the booklet and included them in my edition for the next solver! 

The back of the box reads "Samanta Spengler is starring in the ballet Cinderella.  But someone is out to ruin the production ... and hurt Samanta.  Wile she be able to catch the culprit in time for opening night?"

On the plus side, I did find the bonus spider.

Completed puzzle and box. 

Completed puzzle.

Bonus spider foud! 

I am guessing that the small handprint is the clue to the solution to the mystery.  

The world may never know. 

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex