For anyone interested in the science of secrecy and clandestine codes, renowned puzzle whiz Pierre Berloquin has created a collection of colorful exercises that gives amateurs an opportunity to test their deciphering skills. Berloquin formulates his clever cryptograms around the stories of 20 characters from fiction and history, including Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Hildegard of Bingen, and H. P. Lovecraft.
 
Each short chapter features a brief historical background of the character and code, as well as five cryptograms--using authentic alphabets--to give your brain a fun workout. Unravel the messages faster as you go along, and watch your rank increase from "shrewd detective" to "master cryptographer!"