Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies

The fast and easy way to crack codes and cryptograms

Did you love Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol? Are you fascinated by secret codes and deciphering lost history? Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies shows you how to think like a symbologist to uncover mysteries and history by solving cryptograms and cracking codes that relate to Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and other secret societies and conspiracy theories.

You'll get easy-to-follow instructions for solving everything from the simplest puzzles to fiendishly difficult ciphers using secret codes and lost symbols.

• Over 350 handcrafted cryptograms and ciphers of varying types
• Tips and tricks for cracking even the toughest code
• Sutherland is a syndicated puzzle author; Koltko-Rivera is an expert on the major symbols and ceremonies of Freemasonry

With the helpful information in this friendly guide, you'll be unveiling mysteries and shedding light on history in no time!

Foreword ix

Introduction 1

Part I: Code and Cryptogram Strategies 7

Chapter 1: Clueing You In about Codes and Cryptograms 9

Chapter 2: Cracking the Codes 21

Part II: Secret Stories, Codes, and Cryptogram Puzzles 47

Chapter 3: Solving Three Conspiracies 49

Chapter 4: Letter Substitution Cryptograms 95

Chapter 5: Number Substitution Cryptograms 123

Chapter 6: Symbol Substitution Cryptograms 155

Chapter 7: Caesar / Shift Ciphers 177

Chapter 8: Masonic Ciphers 197

Chapter 9: Rail Fence Ciphers 219

Chapter 10: Keyboard Codes 235

Chapter 11: Assorted Ciphers 251

Chapter 12: Anagrams and Cryptic Clues 261

Chapter 13: Double Level Puzzles 269

Part III: Hints and Answers to the Cryptos and Codes 277

Chapter 14: Hints to Help Crack the Cryptograms and Puzzles 279

Chapter 15: Answers to All Cryptograms and Puzzles 295

Appendix: Historical Background to the Conspiracy Stories 323

Denise Sutherland is a syndicated puzzle author. Her puzzles appear in a range of publications, including the Reader's Digest Mind Stretchers series, and she is the author of Word Searches For Dummies.

Mark E. Koltko-Rivera, PhD, is a 32degree Freemason and expert on the major symbols and ceremonies of Freemasonry. Using this expertise, he analyzed prepublication clues to uncover and blog about key elements of The Lost Symbol. He co-hosts the weekly podcast Masonic Central.

Solve compelling and challengingpuzzles to uncover secrets andconspiracy plots

Fascinated with the culture of conspiracy? Uncover the mysteries and test your knowledge of secret societies by solving cryptograms and deciphering codes that not only unveil historical fact and fiction but entertain you as well. Walk in the footsteps of a symbologist by solving everything from the simplest puzzles to fiendishly difficult ciphers, using secret codes and lost symbols.

• Think like a symbologist — discover a variety of codes and wordplay and the strategies for solving each one
• Build your code-cracking skills — work your way from solving simple cryptograms to difficult Masonic and double level ciphers
• Uncover a bigger mystery — use the answers you discover to solve three conspiracy stories contained in the book
• Appreciate the history of code and encryption — reveal the secret world of Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and the Knights Templar
• Check your work — find hints and answers for all the book's puzzles

Open the book and find:

• Over 350 handcrafted cryptograms and ciphers of varying types
• Tips and tricks for cracking even the toughest code
• An introduction to the history and relevance of using code
• Puzzle strategies and hints to help nudge you in the right direction
• Fun and intriguing anagrams and story wordplay puzzles
• Fascinating number ciphers that reference the keypad letters on your cellphone
• Puzzles of all levels: Easy, Tricky, and Treacherous

Learn to:

• Expose conspiracies like the characters do in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
• Decipher cryptic puzzles
• Understand the role coded messages play in secret societies
• Use encrypted alphabets to unveil secrets of the past