Dead Man's Puzzle: The Puzzle Lady series

by: Parnell Hall

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Caryn St. Clair

Back for her tenth puzzling case, Cora Felton, better known as The Puzzle Lady, is on her own for two weeks. Her niece Sherry, the real puzzle lady, is on her honeymoon. Sherry has submitted the puzzle columns for the time she will be gone, so all Cora has to do is lay low and stay out of trouble. Like that is ever going to happen! Sherry’s flight had barely departed when Cora speeds away to practice her tailing skills. When Chief Harper stops her, she assumes she’s in trouble for her driving, but no, it’s quite a bit worse. The Chief wants Cora to solve a puzzle found on a dead man.

Cora is in rare form as she sets out to investigate a murder that isn’t even considered a murder–yet. When Cora starts nosing around in Overmeyer’s life, all sorts of people turn up, including her niece’s former husband Dennis, who is doing some investigating of his own.

Hall’s Puzzle Lady books are fun. Along with a murder case there are actual puzzles to be solved. Well-done puzzles at that, created for the books by some of the best known puzzle makers in the business. This book has three Manny Nosowsky crosswords and a Sudoku puzzle by Will Shortz. For puzzle fiends it doesn’t get much better than that.

But the books have more going for them than the puzzle gimmick. Cora is an endearing protagonist that I’m sure has many readers wishing they too could live such an adventurous life. She’s a tough old bird who has displayed at times behaviors not in keeping with the image of a sweet old lady who writes a puzzle column. Her niece Sherry, adds some stability to Cora’s life, helping her by not only writing the puzzles, but also keeping Cora’s vices (alcohol being the big one here) under control.

Each book stands on its own, so for readers who have not read any of the previous books in the series, it’s fine to pick up Dead Man’s Puzzle. I’m pretty sure after they have finished it they will look for the earlier books.

Armchair Interviews says: Fun, well-done cozy mystery.

Author’s Web site: http://www.ParnellHall.com