Navon letter tasks have been shown to affect subsequent face recognition performance. As such tasks are not likely to by carried out prior to a witness attending an identity parade this is unlikely to have much applied relevance. Here, however, it is explored how a range of puzzles that witnesses might engage in affect face recognition. Cryptic crosswords were found to have a detrimental effect on subsequent face recognition, unlike reading, literal crosswords, or sudoku. As well as this finding's practical importance, it also provides a further insight into the Navon effect on face processing.