The Way of Kakuro: Volume 1    by Nikoli Order:  USA  Can Kodansha International, 2006 (2006) Paperback      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson I've been addicted to Sudoku lately, so had to try the new Japanese number puzzle craze, Kakuro. The layouts of this logic game look rather like crossword puzzles (with a number at the head of each row and column), and they vary in shapes in a similar way. In this case, all the cells in the row (or column) must add up to the number at its head. Cells can include any digit from 1 to 9, but digits cannot repeat in any row or column. The trick is to get familiar with how sums can be broken down into numerical combinations where the digits don't repeat (a chart is provided for easy reference). I tried to jump into the deep end with an easy puzzle but found it much simpler after reading the book's tutorial, which gives basic strategies to get you going, for example by examining choices at crossroads. The book includes 95 (increasingly difficult) puzzles, with solutions at the back. Each also comes with target completion times (for beginner, intermediate, and expert) so you can see how you did (not telling you my times!) If Sudoku hasn't given you enough of a headache - or even if it has - move on to the mind-boggling, possibly even more addictive Way of Kakuro. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews