Anyone Doing Gchq Puzzle 2016

[Wilbo]

I have got to he meta puzzle but a bit stuck there.

[zebo]

Where can we get hold of it? I loved last year's puzzle.

[Mamyalynne]

Published by Penguin if I'm understanding right, all good booksellers should have it.

https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news-article/could-you-be-one-world%E2%80%99s-smartest-puzzlers-0

[Mamyalynne]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[zebo]

Thanks, I've just found it on Amazon, didn't realise that it was part of a book.

[dannyk13]

Cheap at half the price.

[Wilbo]

When you get started happy to give any initial clue, as could do with some myself and let's face it we are not going to solve the whole thing, judged on last years.

[ChillDoubt]

I'm still puzzled at how a GCHQ analyst managed the conundrum of padlocking himself into a holdall in a bath, resulting in death by suffocation.....

[Mamyalynne]

If you solve that you might win this years puzzle.

[Peter Pedant]

ref ?
google doesnt help

[ChillDoubt]

PP

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Gareth_Williams&ved=0ahUKEwjyjubq0LLQAhWDQBoKHctvCtQQFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNGd-v8Jk01TiBPrxE8IQ8J5-vONrQ&sig2=t_dwPi6NPZ8Jr0n-CTjcJg

[Wilbo]

Have now got through meta puzzle to final puzzle on separate web site. Now the real hard work begins

[Wilbo]

Oops ....spelt separate wrongly in my excitement and no doubt would be corrected

[catstail]

Have done the easy bits - Sudoku and penguin code. I have had a go at the code inside the covers but I think I'll need to id the photos first before I can tackle that successfully.

[verypuzzled]

Can I just ask if the meta puzzle needed for the competition is the one at the end of the puzzle hunt in the book?

Thanks

[Wilbo]

Yes it is .....this gives you an eight letter password which you put with the two other eight letter passwords you have got from previous puzzles The twenty four letter password then takes you to the final puzzle......which is still defeating me?

Does anyone have any clues as to final puzzle?

[catstail]

Not sure I follow you.
I'd assumed the sudoku led to the penguins. The penguins has given me a keyword (9 letters). I chose the obvious word from the meaning of the sentence e********. (There is an 8 letter word in the sentence.) I have done the id of the photos. I'm assuming this is involved in the code in the front and back covers of the book.
I have been working along the lines of two encryptions from the penguin keyword and the alphabet from the photos to decipher the book cover codes. Haven't worked out why the letters point in 8 directions. I have a few thoughts but none has come right yet.

From what you wrote it seems I am on the wrong track. Am I?
Thanks.

[Wilbo]

You are on the right track. The inside covers are about rotation from the vertical and there are 8 variations.......you have to decide if the code is for forwards or backwards rotations e.g. Two rotations forward or backwards is two letters away from the letter shown. Also have to decide whether the message is left to right or top to bottom. Hope above helps.

[catstail]

Thanks. That was one of my options to work through. Good to know I am on the right track.

[Wilbo]

For info, the inside covers tell you where to find two eight letter words which you code using the celebrity pictures e.g. A is J as per Andrew Jackson. There is then a third eight letter password which you get from the eight part meta puzzle which is included in the puzzle book. The resulting coded 24 letter password is put into a designated website and this leads you to the final puzzle which is a number based code..I am stuck on this, so please catch up so you can help!

[catstail]

Many thanks. I didn't realize the meta puzzle (and the associated q) were part of the competition. Will press on!