Bob Chappell is a familiar name to avid readers of games reviews. He writes for several magazines and has been playing games for a long time. This book shows it and could prove invaluable to devoted followers of the four popular games for the BBC Micro featured here: Philosopher's Quest, Castle Of Riddles, Voodoo Castle and The Count.

The idea is that the book comes to your aid at vital moments when you are absolutely stuck in a South Corridor, a Torture Chamber or a Coffin. As a last resort it will get you out and provide a solution to that particular dilemma but without going any further, leaving you to carry on enjoying the game without everything having been given away.

At the beginning of each game there is a contents list of problems. So if, for example, you are stuck at the Pool of Ink in "Philosopher's Quest", you find out that it is problem 40, look it up and battle on. Actually, I think the solutions would have been easier to find if page numbers had been given instead of just a running number.

Some of the descriptions make such fascinating reading that even if you don't have all four games featured, I'll bet you'll end up wanting them.

At the end of the book are four maps, one for each game, to help you further in your quests. It's a bit boring to look at: the problems themselves are so varied and amusing that surely a few accompanying illustrations could have been added.

The book strikes a fine balance between helping you out a bit and giving it all away. It's great fun to read and I'd love to give away some of the best secrets - but I won't. At £3.95 it's not too expensive for four games, so start saving up your pocket money.