How to solve the Indiana Jones bookshelf puzzle in Snake in the Garden

indiana jones bookshelf snake in the grass
(Image credit: Bethesda)

The Indiana Jones bookshelf puzzle for the Snake in the Garden mystery is easy to solve once you know where to look. It's confusing though if you don't. For example, there are two notes mentioned in the journal summary that might make you think there's more to find. But once you have the first note explaining what's going on, you already have everything you need in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, even if it isn't clear. Here's how you can work out what to do.

Indiana Jones bookshelf puzzle solution

indiana jones bookshelf location map

(Image credit: Bethesda)

The Indiana Jones bookshelf puzzle is found in the Apostolic Palace, in Father Ventura's office, shown here on the map. You'll find a note on the desk that says the bookshelf has been redesigned, and certain books must be pulled from the shelf alphabetically. For reasons...

indiana jones bookshelf note 1

(Image credit: Bethesda)

If you then check the bookshelf just in front and to the left of the desk you found the note on, you'll see there are four books you can interact with and pull out. However, they only have symbols on them so there's no way to work out what order they would be alphabetically. Pull them out at random and you'll here a wrong sounding donk and they're reset.

At this point, the information the the Snake in the Garden mystery will say you'll have one of two notes in your journal. I made the mistake of thinking that the second note must have the alphabetical information on it and went off looking for that. However, the information you need is actually on the back of the first note. So flip that around to see these symbols and names:

indiana jones bookshelf alphabetical order

(Image credit: Bethesda)
  • Francorum (crown symbol)
  • Logicae (triangle)
  • QDD (star)
  • Philosopiae (wheel)

This list gives you the book names, letting you alphabetize them. As a result to solve the Snake in the Garden puzzle in Indiana Jones you pull the books from the shelf in this order:

indiana jones bookshelf book order

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Inside you'll find ₤120 and the second note, a letter to Father Ventura from Benito Mussolini indicating the pair have more scheming lined up. You'll also get 100 adventure points for completing the mystery.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5
will be coming in spring 2025.

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Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.