Finding the right gift for a loved one can sometimes be tricky. Even if you know their interests and hobbies, you don’t want to gift them a thriller novel they’ve already read, or a mystery game they may have played before.
So, if this case seems particularly daunting and you’re at your wit’s end, why don’t you look to the stars for a clue?
Zodiac signs are a fun way to dig deeper into your mystery-loving friend’s niche interests or your thriller-obsessed family member’s need for excitement and passion.
Armed with just their birthdates, you can narrow down your options with a few helpful hints from the cosmos, and gift them thoughtful presents to be cherished for years to come.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Caper Europe—A Strategic Board Game for Pulling Off Heists Across Europe
Aries love chasing that sense of thrill and enjoy a fair bit of competition. If they set their minds on something, you bet that they’ll put it off.
And while robbing a bank or pulling off an art heist might provide that thrill-seeking adventure they so desperately crave, it’s sadly not possible in real life (unless they’re also up for serving some jail time).
So, you can help your beloved Aries scratch that itch with Caper Europe, a strategic and fast-paced two-player board game where one must outwit their opponent and pull off heists all across Europe.
With evocative art and plenty of replay value, Caper Europe comes in a travel-friendly box one can even take on their next vacation!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Golden Age Detective Stories edited by Otto Penzler
Golden Age Detective Stories
Taurus folks tend to be extremely loyal, prioritizing quality over quantity. Patient and always dependable, your Taurus friend will certainly appreciate a collector’s edition of their favorite detective fiction.
Edited by Otto Penzler, Golden Age Detective Stories collects 14 suspense-driven tales from a bygone era, including works by celebrated authors such as Ellery Queen, Cornell Woolrich, and more.
When the police are unable to solve a crime, it falls upon ordinary professionals to utilize their unique skillsets and puzzle out the cases, as we see in most of the stories in this anthology.
A nostalgic comfort read, it’s a perfect gift for the Taurean bookworm who’s always on your side.
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night edited by James Patterson
Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night
Gemini people are easily adaptable, making the best of any situation. Endlessly curious and versatile, they’ll probably be the first to solve the clues and break out of an escape room.
To satiate boundless reserves of thrill and excitement, you can gift them a copy of Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night, featuring contributions from Lee Child, Brad Thor, James Rollins, and other award-winning names.
Not only will these heart-pumping tales keep one up till the wee hours of dawn (as advertised), the anthology is a literary buffet, introducing the reader to all the genre superstars—whose books they can later check out for added adventure and suspense.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Alice is Missing—A Silent Mystery Role Playing Game
Your Cancer family member probably loves personalized gifts and unique experiences, but might feel too shy or insecure to say it aloud.
Indeed, these powerfully passionate souls might struggle with occasional communication issues, which makes Spenser Starke’s Alice is Missing—a silent, cooperative role-playing game—the perfect gift for them.
Unlike other table-top role-playing games that require preparation, a lot of player interaction, or an experienced Game Master to facilitate, Alice is Missing is rather light on rules and is played entirely via the text messages sent by players to each other.
The game centers on the disappearance of one Alice Briarwood. Players have to work together to figure out what happened without saying anything aloud, making for an intimate and memorable playing experience.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Murder Most Puzzling: Twenty Mysterious Cases to Solve by Stephanie von Reiswitz
Murder Most Puzzling: Twenty Mysterious Cases to Solve
Leos are naturally confident and love the spotlight. So why not make the Leo in your life feel like a supersleuth?
With Stephanie von Reiswitz’s Murder Most Puzzling: Twenty Mysterious Cases to Solve, you can do just that! It’s an interactive book filled with challenging detective puzzles that will make a Leo exercise their grey cells and uncover solutions, while feeling like the next Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot.
The book is also accompanied by clever Gothic illustrations and colorful characters dropping clues and hints, making the Leo feel as though they’ve stepped inside the pages of their favorite mystery novel.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
The Murdle Series by G.T. Karber
Murdle: Vol 1
For the organized, logical, and diligent Virgo, G.T. Karber’s Murdle series is the perfect gift to tickle their brain cells.
These books are packed with enticing logic puzzles presented in the form of murder mysteries that will keep one engaged for hours at a time, as the difficulty levels increase and stakes grow ever higher.
With their love for structure, the Virgo will probably make it a habit to solve one puzzle a day as part of their mental exercises, feeling grateful for such a useful and practical gift.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
A Murder Mystery Coloring Book
Murder Mystery Coloring Book
Librans are often an intuitive, empathetic, and creative bunch with an eye for beauty and elegance, sometimes giving more than they get back. So, if there’s a precious Libran in your life, why don’t you help them relax and unwind with a murder mystery themed coloring book?
This one pairs soothing mandala-like designs with hilarious true crime quotes, making for a fun down-time activity.
After coloring, one can tear off the page with their favorite saying and have it framed—a testament to one’s artistic endeavors or a clue to their criminal mastermind?
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Da Vinci Code Mini Cryptex
A cryptex is kind of a box or compartment with a powerful combination lock that keeps the contents inside it safe and secure. You may have seen such an item in the film The Da Vinci Code (based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel of the same name) and decided it’s the ideal gift for your intensely secretive Scorpio lover.
Scorpios always come with an air of mystery—they make for great company without ever letting their guard down. With this cryptex, you can set your own password and sneak in a declaration of love while letting them gently know that you respect their need for privacy.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Mysterium—An Enigmatic and Ghostly Board Game
For the spontaneous, happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic Sagittarius, nothing quite excites them as much as an invitation for a new adventure. And what could be more adventurous than a trip to the other side and the chance to speak with ghosts?
Mysterium is a cooperative mystery board game filled with supernatural intrigue, where one player takes on the role of a ghost while others play as paranormal investigators trying to solve the crime.
With endless replay value, varying difficulty levels, and eerie artwork, this spooky party game promises hours and hours of fun—without the need for an Ouija board or a ticket to the underworld.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
The Ultimate True Crime Puzzle Book by Jack Rosewood
The Ultimate True Crime Puzzle Book
Capricorn folks are, by nature, rather focused and goal-oriented. And if they also happen to love true crime and thrillers, you can gift them a copy of The Ultimate True Crime Puzzle Book.
Packed with crosswords, cryptograms, quizzes, unsolved cases, and true crime trivia, this book has got every kind of puzzle under the sun to scratch that mystery itch.
This book will not only keep the dedicated Capricorn busy for hours, but will also lead them down a true crime rabbit hole.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Board Game
Aquarians are deep thinkers full of original and innovative ideas, and are passionate about the causes they believe in. They love getting into the nitty-gritty of things, and the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective board game allows them to do just that.
With this, they can dive deep into the case files of the legendary sleuth, follow the trail of clues, and deduce the suspects on their own, just like Holmes.
Unlike other mystery games, this board game encourages the players to engage with the text of Sherlock Holmes’ stories, reading aloud excerpts and evaluating evidence to form a coherent theory.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Eddie Muller's Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir
Eddie Muller's Noir Bar
Finally, for the imaginative and nurturing Pisces friend who has a soft spot for film noir and crime thrillers—and also loves a well-made cocktail—you can buy them a copy of Eddie Muller's Noir Bar.
This book features carefully-crafted cocktail recipes inspired by film noir gems of yesteryear, along with some behind-the-scenes trivia and imagery.
This guide is a must-have for cinephiles and cocktail connoisseurs alike, and to make the birthday of your Pisces friend even more special, you can plan a movie night with customized drinks, based on the recipes in this book!
Featured image: Irina Chishkova/Unsplash
