The Sudoku Puzzle Murders – A Puzzle Lady Mystery

by: Parnell Hall

Published by: Thomas Dunn Books /St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Kathy Johnson

Known internationally, the smiling mature face of Cora Felton peers out from her daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles. What isn’t known is that Cora couldn’t solve a crossword puzzle if her life depended on it, although she is a whiz at solving Sudoku puzzles and real-life murder mysteries. Hard driven, a recovering alcoholic, addicted cigarette smoker, and with a string of husbands in her past, Cora managers her life just fine, thank you.

Aunt Cora may be the Puzzle Lady, but Sherry is the one who creates the crossword puzzles and runs the business for the Puzzle Lady. Sherry’s abusive ex-husband, now remarried, is still not out of the picture. The restraining order doesn’t prevent him from trying to ruin her future with Aaron, the local newspaper reporter.

The mystery revolves around two rival Japanese publishers who desire to sign Cora for a book of Sudoku puzzles overseas. There is a mix up between the publishers, a stolen samurai sword, and two dead private investigators.

Track the trail of the unconventional sleuth, Cora Felton, solve a number of crossword and Sudoku puzzles along the way, and the solution will gradually work its way out–hopefully before the next murder.

A bonus in the book is four original Sudoku puzzles by New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz. Follow them closely as they help solve the mystery.

However, I felt the story lacked zest and it slows the reader down. The support characters need more depth, especially the niece since she is the one who writes the crossword puzzles, runs the business–and her ex-husband is one of the prime suspects.

Armchair Interview says: Especially if you are a puzzle person, check this out.

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