The Case of the Locked Library Archive

Looking for a thoughtful, immersive puzzle experience that feels literary, grounded, and quietly absorbing. Something more reflective than a typical party game.

The Case of the Locked Library Archive from Party Prints Press is a printable mystery case set in the fictional town of Hollenwil Ridge, designed for adults who enjoy books, records, archives, and slow-burning investigation.

This is not an escape room in the traditional sense.

It is a procedural puzzle experience built around documents, cataloging systems, written records, and inference. Meaning emerges gradually through close reading and careful attention.

What This Case Is:
During a routine power outage that affected several parts of Hollenwil Ridge, the town library closed early, as it had many times before.

Short outages are not unusual here. Records note them as inconvenient but unremarkable.

What was unusual was what followed.

When power was restored, the library’s archive access log no longer aligned with the catalog. 

A restricted collection had been sealed, but no corresponding authorization could be found. 

Inventory records were intact. The system functioned. Yet something had been deliberately locked away during the outage.

Your task is to examine documents, solve puzzles, and determine how the archive was secured and what record was withheld.

You will work entirely on paper, solving puzzles in the order they appear, recording answers as you go.

When the case is complete, you will enter a final code online to unlock a recovered record from the town archive.

The tone is quiet, methodical, and deliberate. More research than spectacle.

This Printable Puzzle Case Works Well For:
-Book clubs looking for a themed activity or discussion companion
-Readers who enjoy literary mysteries and document-based storytelling
-Solo players who like thoughtful, immersive puzzles
-Small groups seeking something calm and intellectually engaging
-Library lovers, writers, and archivists-at-heart
-Game nights that avoid noise, competition, or time pressure

This experience is best suited for adults who enjoy reading closely, noticing inconsistencies, and piecing together information over time.

How to Play:
-Print the pages and play at your own pace
-Solve puzzles in order
-Record answers on the provided answer sheet
-Reduce each answer to a single digit
-Combine the digits to form the final code
-Optional hint cards and a full answer key are included, making the case approachable without -removing its sense of challenge.

What’s Included:
-You will receive a complete printable PDF case, including:
-Puzzle pages inspired by library records and archival materials
-Answer sheet
-Optional hint cards
-Full answer key
-QR code access to the unlocked archive record
-A short “How to Play” reference
-Everything is designed to be printer-friendly and easy to run.
-No props, locks, or setup required beyond printing.

Game Details:
-Format: Printable PDF
-Playtime: Approximately 30–60 minutes
-Players: Solo or small group play
-Difficulty: Thoughtful, moderate
-Style: Procedural, atmospheric, document-based
-Category: Clean mystery

Why Players Enjoy This Case:
1- It feels literary.
The puzzles are built around written materials, records, and systems that reward close reading rather than speed.

2- It’s calm and absorbing.
There is no timer, no race, and no pressure. Just steady, focused investigation.

3- It respects the player.
The case does not over-explain or direct. Understanding comes through observation.

4- It works beautifully for book clubs.
The format encourages discussion, shared deduction, and reflection.

5-It hints at a larger world.
While complete on its own, the case exists within a broader archive of records from Hollenwil Ridge.

You Will Receive:
-One digital PDF file (8.5 x 11)
-Instant download after purchase

This is a digital product only. No physical items will be shipped.