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Looking for puzzle (and puzzle-adjacent) gift ideas? Look no further. And let's open it up with what was my favorite book of the year: "The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle." There's no puzzles per se, unless you consider mysteries "puzzles," and plenty of you do. Regardless, it was a mind-bender. The concept? The narrator is stuck reliving the exact same day a murder is going to happen, and must solve said murder before it happens. Problem #1: after eight iterations, his memory is wiped and he starts over again. Problem #2: Two other people are stuck in the same loop. Problem #3: Only one of them can escape. So basically, it's like a "Downton Abbey"-themed escape room set in the "Black Mirror" universe. Total blast, weird as heck, and also surprising even though it sounds like it could very well be repetitive. Highly recommended.
Sticking on the topic of books you read, may I recommend some YA fiction by two of my fellow constructing friends? It's my list, so I say, "yes!" First up is Aimee Lucido's "Emmy in the Key of Code." You might know Aimee's work in the New Yorker. This here's her first novel, about, what else? writing code (Aimee once worked for not only Uber but also Facebook ... she's smart). Get one for that tween in your life to encourage her to go STEM. Also, I'm guessing, in the "write what you know" department is Jeff Chen's sci-fi sports hybrid "Ultraball: Lunar Blitz." Jeff's the head everything over at XwordInfo, wherein he does the Lord's work. Anyway, grab a copy of his "Bridge Crosswords" book as well.
Crosswords? Yes. Let's do it. First up, Eric Berlin's tour de force of variety puzzles, "Puzzlesnacks." From the site with the same name, Eric has made not only fun and inventive, but also solveable puzzles for everybody. Normally, when you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody, but this is absolutely not the case. Plus, it's just attractive to thumb through. Recommended for all ages and abilities. Sticking with regular crosswords, Cathy Allis's "New York Crosswords" is a great reminder just how inventive Cathy is. She hardly ever gets props it seems, so let's rectify that problem, all right? That collection of New York Magazine puzzles should start the conversation. And lastly, it wouldn't be a BEQ-curated list if we didn't include some cryptics, so let me mention volume 4 of one of my go-to weekly puzzles. "Out of Left Field" collects another batch of The Nation cryptics from maestros Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto. Plus, it's from the indie publishing house Cryptic Allstars, ... good to support the little guys.
One of the more attractive books of the year comes from Serhiy Grabarchuk titled "Age of Puzzles: Puzzle Galleries." Slightly mathy, but nevertheless approachable visual puzzles. As hypnotic it is to look at, it is to solve. Looking for that stocking stuffer? How about Lone Shark's latest game "Sausage Party?" Combine the game-building genius Mike Selinker and the screwball comedy of Paul & Storm and you've got a fun diversion for the whole family.
Subscriptions always make a fine gift, too. Here's five I recommend. Get one for yourself while you're at it: Outside the Box, American Values, Fireball, Aries, and The Inkubator.
Finally, the end of the year drive is still chugging along. Short form is, the site remains free, enjoy it. If you like what you've seen this year, consider a $15 tip to keep the site running smoothly (PayPal or Venmo preferred, otherwise Email me). Two bonus Sunday puzzles go to every donor. Long form appeal here. Drive ends on December 30th.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
Brendan Emmett Quigley creates custom-made puzzles for all occasions: birthdays and bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and retirements. You name it. Need a puzzle for your website or your publication? He can do that, too.
Brendan's custom work clients have included The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, BeerAdvocate, Boston Magazine, De Beers, The Decemberists, ESPN, The Improper Bostonian, Lollapuzzoola, McSweeney's, Phish, Reflexive, The Smithsonian Magazine, St. Martin's Press, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, and Andrew Weil.
Call (617) 2-999-BEQ or click 
