Spies, Lies and Serious Bad Guys is a limited subscription containing five lettermail envelopes and a final package. Kids receive gadgets and objects, such as photographs, scrabble tiles, postcards, spy handbooks, magnifying cards and more. Along the way young agents-in-training receive top secret missions and clues to find three digit codes, which they can enter into a web page or call in by phone to receive more clues. In the final installment they get a very cool safe disguised as a book that they can only open once they crack a secret code.

For a detailed look at what you'll get in each mailing of Spies, Lies and Serious Bad Guys click here.

Warning: The surprise could be compromised.

We recommend the espionage-themed Spies, Lies and Serious Bad Guys for ages 9 and up. The mystery contains complex ciphers and clues within clues; it is challenging enough that we get messages from adults who are stumped, and younger kids may need help along the way. Although there are plenty of ciphers to crack, puzzles to solve and clues within clues, Spies Lies and Serious Bad Guys is not an “activity box” or an “escape activity”. It is a mystery story that unfolds over several mailings, and it is designed to engage and intrigue. All of the letters are written directly to kids from the spies in the mystery, so kids are the main characters in a story that is all about them and their mission to stop a villain and find a missing agent.

Read our guide to choosing the right mystery.

If you are playing through Spies, Lies and Serious Bad Guys and you need help with a puzzle or clue, we have a parent guide.

This guide contains hints for every puzzle and activity, and a separate section for answers so you don’t see spoilers unless you want to. There are ongoing summaries to help you catch up on the story.

You can also use this guide to put the mystery back in order if it gets mixed up and check to see if anything is missing. Good luck, Secret Agent!