Puzzled to Death

Puzzle Lady #3

by Parnell Hall

Bakerhaven, Connecticut, seems like the ideal place to host a charity crossword-puzzle tournament—after all, the town is home to Cora Felton, the beloved puzzle columnist known as the Puzzle Lady. A slew of celebrity contestants are on the way. And the locals have been invited to challenge the veteran puzzlers head-on. But soon the town’s attention is fixated on something far more controversial than crosswords…when the body of the town tart is discovered lying dead on her kitchen floor. Before anyone can stop her, Cora is hot on the trail of the truth, interviewing nosy neighbors, digging up dirt, and drawing out a lonely recluse who just may hold the key to cracking the crime. But will she solve the case before the contest comes to a deadly end? Cora once again proves that sleuthing spells S-U-S-P-E-N-S-E—up, across, and down!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Humor, Detective

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 27, 2001

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2001 novel was dropped off as a donation in my Little Free Library Shed, so I thought...why not read it first. So I did. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.

Premise: Miss Cora Felton, the eccentric amateur detective better known as the Puzzle Lady, likes to solve a good mystery. And now she has a killer in the midst. Her town is hosting a charity crossword puzzle tournament, and many celebrity contestants will be coming. But then...

A murder occurs in town.

Cora is on the trail to find out the truth. Can she solve this murder before the contest begins?

Light. Cute. Cozy. Fun. You don't have to work hard at this one. 3.5 stars

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This time, the characters are more sexist and more often drunk than usual, there are jabs at those who politicize things (and a definite conservative bias), and the first victim is reported as a regular victim of domestic abuse but the other characters dismiss this as part of the victim's relationship with her husband. This is corrected at the end to the characters just having roaring fights, but that's not believeable at all given the previous text as well as being an offensive lesson (see, some people just LIKE to be beaten/verbally abused/violent). It was a hard slog to finish this one, but with my $1 garage sale price in mind I persevered. Solution was again sudden and labored with multiple murderers. I do not feel the need to read any more of The Puzzle Lady,

I have complained before about the quality of series mysteries. Now that publishers have decided our tastes have turned to the supernatural or YA (or insert-your-trend), they're offering all sorts of dreck as series mysteries. I miss the early 90s, when your mystery had to be good because you were competing against great authors. Those greats are still publishing. Parnell Hall isn't one of them.

[Alberto Avanzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

“— Allora, Harvey, hai trovato la soluzione? Puoi dirmelo? — Certamente no. E nemmeno tu. È solo un bluff, un modo per perdere tempo. — Oh, no, non lo è. Io so la risposta”
E’ sempre bello trovare dei gialli a enigma scritti da nostri contemporanei, naturalmente adattati al gusto di oggi ma che conservano per il lettore il piacere della sfida intellettuale con l’autore.
Autore che qui riprende l’idea di base di un classico della golden age, ma è bravo a rivestirla con altri temi, in particolare qui abbiamo un torneo di enigmistica che monopolizza l’attenzione del lettore. L’omicidio sarà legato al torneo? O ci sarà un movente completamente diverso?
Siamo in una cittadina del New England, a cavallo del cambio di millennio. La detective qui è Dora Felton, curatrice di una rubrica di enigmistica e organizzatrice del torneo. Mentre la vittima è una giovane e affascinante casalinga, che quando il marito è al pub con gli amici ne approfitta per incontrare i suoi amanti. Il marito geloso sembra essere il sospettato principale, ma ha un alibi di ferro: si trova al pub proprio la sera del delitto. Ma non è strano che un uomo comune abbia un alibi così prezioso proprio per quella sera? E non è altrettanto strana l’insolita precisione con cui il medico legale riesce a stabilire l’ora del decesso?
Insomma, ce ne sono di spunti, la scrittura è piacevole, i colpi di scena non mancano e non ci si annoia mai. C’è persino la sfida (implicita, come si usa oggi) al lettore che ho riportato all’inizio, purtroppo non riconosco lo schema usato e resto spiazzato dalla soluzione, salvo riconoscerla quando ormai è tardi e viene svelata dalla detective.
Questo libro non ha nulla di geniale o di particolarmente originale né come parte gialla né come approfondimento psicologico dei personaggi, e probabilmente fra qualche settimana mi sarò scordato tutto, ma comunque mi ha fatto passare delle ore in serenità e divertendomi, che è quello che chiedo a un giallo. Quindi, promosso.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this Series! Thank you, Katie Davis, for recommending this one.

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the third in the series about The Puzzle Lady. I thought the first book was clever and engaging. There was even tension with an abusive ex-husband.

The second book was just ok, but decided to try this third. I will likely not read another. This was convoluted and boring. I agree with another reviewer who found the main character being referred to her with her full name constantly. Better editing would have helped.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

So. I borrowed this one from my library. I was browsing through their available ebooks and this one didn't have anything listed next to it as being from a series, so I picked it up. I loathe getting in in the middle of a series. Usually it doesn't matter, but still. This time it did matter. Usually in series, the author recaps a little of the main plotline quickly to anyone who's new and picking one up in the middle. This author did not. So, I've no idea what a Puzzle Lady is and why the younger one isn't the "face" of the Puzzle Lady. I also have no idea why they're living together. So, that's annoying.

The rest of the book was annoying. The boyfriend of the younger girl was hella annoying and the girl keeps getting mad at him for stuff that makes no sense...or that the author didn't explain well enough. The solution to the mystery (don't worry, I won't spoil you) was lame. The older lady that solved it did so based just on what she THOUGHT happened without any kind of evidence to back it up. And everyone just takes her word for it. There's this really long monologue at the end where she goes through the ENTIRE case that we've just read an entire book about that could have been skipped. It also seemed like they were trying to add to the page length because they kept putting in pictures of the crossword puzzles over and over again.

Yeah. This one annoyed the hell outta me. Not fun.

[Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Local crossword puzzle creator Harvey Beerbaum manages to box in Cora Felton, known as the Puzzle Lady, so she's forced to co-host a crossword puzzle tournament in their town of Bakerhaven, Connecticut. Problem is, Cora may be known as the Puzzle Lady but she's really nothing more than the public face of her niece's crossword puzzle newspaper column. Cora can't solve crossword puzzles, knows very little about them, and cares even less. But she does care about maintaining the facade for the sake of her niece (and housemate) Sherry. Unable to wriggle out of it, Cora tries to conceal her ignorance while surrounded by crossword puzzle fans.

Several months prior to the start of the novel Harvey had hosted a party at his house and invited a number of crossword puzzle "celebrities." Among his guests are the three he picks to be his "big name" contestants at the tournament: Paul Thornhill, Craig Carmichael and Zelda Zisk. Also at the party but not chosen by Harvey to be a "big name" is the equally skilled Ned Doowacker, who is resentful and determined to win the tournament.

Then cheating housewife Judy Vale is found strangled in her home. All signs point towards her husband, hard drinking pool player Joey Vale, who he insists he didn't do it. Yes, they had an odd, contentious relationship, and maybe he sometimes slapped her, but he swears he'd never kill her. Besides, he has a pretty solid alibi. It's not watertight, but it's a good one. On the kitchen table near Judy's body is a group of words crossing each other like a crossword puzzle. Is it a clue, or was Judy just doodling while talking on the phone?

Naturally Cora has to put her nose in and start trying to solve the murder. Chief Harper tries to keep Cora out of the investigation, but they end up doing a lot of work together. Cora has to do her detecting amidst the events of the tournament. The tournament is to raise money for charity, so anyone who wants to compete is welcome. Both out-of-towners and locals, like Marty Haskell, register. Marty turns out to be pretty good at crossword puzzles and is a real contender. He knew Judy, so is he a suspect?

Cora visits Mrs. Roth, a largely homebound older woman who gets her kicks by looking out the window watching her neighbors. Mrs. Roth explains how Judy would signal to her lovers by turning off her porch lights. At the registration for the tournament Joey shows up drunk and starts flipping tables over. He is arrested and taken to jail. This means he is locked up when the second murder takes place and therefore could not have committed it. This casts doubt on whether he committed Judy's murder.

Mrs. Roth is the second murder victim.

Complicating the investigation is the man generally assumed to be Judy's most recent lover, married father of two Billy Pickens. If Joey didn't kill his wife, then suspicion naturally falls next on Billy. He wants to keep his affair quiet, and his wife Sara wants to protect him from being arrested for murder. They behave suspiciously.

Then there is a third murder. The corpse shows up in Cora and Sherry's yard. It is crossword puzzle celebrity Paul Thornhill, and the murderer left a rolled up copy of the crossword puzzle Thornhill created for the tournament in his mouth. Thornhill's wife, who is attending the tournament with him, comes from a family with money and offers a big reward for information leading to the murderer. Could the killer be his wife?

In the end Cora figures out the murders, gets through the tournament without revealing she knows nothing about crossword puzzles, and gives the credit for to Chief Harper. It turns out that the night of Harvey's party Judy arranged an assignation with Paul Thornhill. He thought he'd never see her again, but when the tournament is announced she is there. Paul realizes she is going to make problems for him when he brings his rich wife to town for the tournament. So he sneaks back to Bakerhaven from his home in New York and kills Judy. Her "puzzle" is a meaningless doodle. Mrs. Roth saw Paul visit Judy. Mrs. Roth feels important for having seen things. Her hints make Paul nervous, so he kills Mrs. Roth in her living room. The crossword puzzle found under her body is one she was solving herself, not a message.

Sitting in jail with nothing to do but think, Joey Vale ponders Judy's murder, which he knows he did not commit, and concludes it was her lover Billy Pickens. Joey wants revenge. When he gets out of jail and learns Mrs. Roth was killed while he was locked up, he is clearly innocent of killing her, which gives his denial of killing Judy even more weight. Joey calculates that any further murders will be laid at the door of the person who killed Judy and Mrs. Roth, and decides to take advantage of this to kill Billy. But while he's waiting for an opportunity to kill Billy, Billy does things that make Joey reconsider his conclusion. Joey decides that Billy didn't kill Judy; it had to be someone else. The next likely person is Judy's other lover, Paul Thornhill. Joey knows this because presumably Judy told him.

There are several crossword puzzles for the reader to solve (or not - the answers are given) along with the contestants in the tournament. They mystery was entertaining. I found it satisfying. This was an enjoyable read. I liked the intermingling of the tournament and the crimes. There are plenty of amusing absurdities in the ways Cora tries to conceal her lack of expertise.

Sherry meets newspaper man Aaron Grant's parents, and he has an attack of awkwardness and introduces Sherry as the Puzzle Lady's niece, not as his girlfriend. This upsets Sherry. Aaron doesn't know why he did it and is unable to give an adequate explanation and apology. Things get weird between them. At the end of the book Aaron seizes another opportunity to introduce Sherry as his girlfriend to his parents.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible, not fantastic. Sort of a middle-of-the-road book. Entertaining, quick read. I enjoyed the story well enough though I didn't care for any of the characters, especially The Puzzle Lady. I think she was supposed to be a quirky, snarky lady that the reader is supposed to adore but I found her annoying. I won't be reading any more of this series as there are plenty of other better books out there and I only have so many I can read in an average lifetime. If you enjoy cozy mysteries that are quick and don't require any deep thinking on your part, then this is good for that. I did enjoy the crossword puzzles that were included within the story. That sets the book apart in a good way.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy mystery with a delightfully wacky main character. Cora is known as the "puzzle lady" who writes a syndicated crossword puzzle column. But is she really who she says she is? But her crazy brain seems to connect the clues to solve murder mysteries especially when they involve crossword puzzles.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun romp with the Puzzle Lady! This series is continuing to prove entertaining with Cora and Sherry combining their talents to solve the murder/puzzle. I've already started the next in the series.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a mess. The first two in the series were fairly enjoyable, but in this one, almost all the characters were unbearably annoying. I should have just dropped the book instead of picking it up again. I don't think I'll be coming back to this series any time soon.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cora Feldton, known as the Puzzle Lady, helps the cops solve several murders connected with the local crossword puzzle tournament.

[Jon Florey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parnell Hall can always be depended on for a good read that doesn't tie up too many brain cells. I enjoy these books as well as the Stanley Hastings series.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Bakerhaven, Connecticut, seems like the ideal place to host a charity crossword-puzzle tournament -- after all, the town is home to Cora Felton, the beloved puzzle columnist known as the Puzzle Lady. A slew of celebrity contestants are on the way. And the locals have been invited top challenge the veteran puzzlers head-on. But soon the town's attention is fixated on something far more controversial than crosswords ... when the body of the town tart is discovered lying dead on her kitchen floor. Before anyone can stop her, Cora is hot on the trail of the truth, interviewing nosy neighbors, digging up dirt, and drawing out a lonely recluse who just may hold the key to cracking the crime. But will she solve the case before the contest comes to a deadly end? Cora once again proves that sleuthing spell S-U-S-P-E-N-S-E -- up, across, and down!"
~~back cover

As usual, the plot thickened and left me clueless. And Cora pulled all the clues together in the 11th hour, and saved the day. What's the status of Sherry's love life, you ask? You'll just have to read the book to find out.

[Ashleigh Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Puzzle Lady is asked to host a charity crossword competition, she expresses only one concern: she knows nothing about crossword puzzles. But, that's the least of her concerns when a murder threatens to stop the entire event.

Although this was not the first book in the series, it was my first introduction to the Puzzle Lady. I must say that, despite my high rating, I had mixed feelings. Like most cozies, the main character is an amateur sleuth, fumbling her way through the mystery. However, she is also no puzzle expert and spends nearly as much time trying to keep people from learning her niece is the actual puzzle crafter as she does trying to solve the mystery. While this was probably explained in an earlier book, I did find it a little disappointing.

Ultimately, while I wasn't in love with the characters, I did enjoy the story, as well as the embedded puzzles, and would consider reading other books in this series.

[Stephanie Tiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora Felton has found herself in another predicament. When her fellow colleague approaches her about hosting a crossword puzzle competition she cannot think of a way to get out of it. She also can’t imagine it going well since she knows absolutely nothing about crossword puzzles, but no one else can know that. If Harvey were to figure that out it would be the end of her career and her reputation.
When a young housewife is murdered, Cora cannot help but try to figure out who murdered the poor woman, if it helps her get out of having to do the charity competition, all the better. But when more people wind up dying, the case becomes all the more complicated, and Cora must find the killer, before she becomes the next victim.
This was an interesting book for me. It is the third in a series, which I was unaware of when I began reading it. That said, I had no trouble understanding the situation or the characters.
Ironically, the character of Cora, the main character, was the person in the whole book that I liked the least. I had so much trouble coming up with any reason why i liked the woman. She really irked me through the whole book. I did like her niece and even the sheriff. I just did not like her personally. That said the mystery was a whole other story and I was surprised to find that I did not see the ending coming.
I would give this book three out of five stars. I bought my copy of this book form my local library sale. I would recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries and crossword puzzled.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really liked the Puzzle Lady books. They are an easy read. Chapters are short which I love. There was a little too much detail in spots. It doesn't need every detail of someone pulling into a driveway, cutting off the car, getting out of the car, walking up to the house, walking up on the porch, ringing the door bell, someone opened the door, describing what they were wearing. See what I mean. None of it actually tells me anything about the crime so doesn't need to be detailed. It could have been condensed to "When I got to Joe's house I rang the bell and after a few seconds his wife opened the door.". All the important info is covered. Whose house, Joe's. Rang the bell, didn't have a key or break in. Someone answered the door, Joe's wife.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was happy to see that this book is back to having actual crosswords as the puzzles, although given that I read this book out of order (after 4 & 5), it might be more accurate to say that it's too bad this is the last book for a while that uses crosswords.

It's got it's fair share of funny sentences, which is always good -- humorous writing is one of the main reasons I keep picking the next book in this series up.

While reading I couldn't put it done; however, when I had finished (past my bedtime), I found myself unsatisfied and regretted having stayed up. Thus the 3-star review.

[Mark Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featuring a Puzzle Lady - Cora Felton - who knows virtually nothing about crossword puzzles, this book was at times quite entertaining. The premise, though, is hard to buy, as is the idea that the local chief of police would involve Cora in his investigation into murders in this seemingly peaceful Connecticut town. Cora's niece, the real puzzle pro, is a more interesting character than Cora. I liked it enough to finish it, not to recommend it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I am digging the series and the characters (mostly) but this installment didn't really hit the mark. I felt like both the Puzzle Lady and Parnell Hall reached the conclusion without a plan to wrap it up so just loaded up some bird shot ammo and hoped something hit. But I am still heading on to book #4 so it must not be all bad.

[Deb White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cora Felton, The Puzzle Lady, lives in Bakerhaven, CT. The town decides to run a charity event around crossword puzzles. While this is going on, a murder occurs. Who killed Judy Vale?
Then another murder happens, and then another!
Can Cora figure it out? Do they have to cancel the crossword puzzle tournament?
Read on...

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Since this is the second book I have read in this series, it was a little easier to follow some of the characters. Still, I don't know much about any of the main characters after reading 2 of the series.

[Mokshana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm disappointed. Not gonna lie the first half was decent and kept me going. Thought there might be a plot twist or something. The ending was unsatisfactory. Plus hated all the Characters except Cora and Sherry (somewhat). Hated especially Aaron. But this book somehow cured my boredom.

[Elroy Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacking compared to the others in the series so far. The way the author writes about an overweight character betrays their own issues, continually making comments about their size. Lazy writing on this one.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim from the library. Nice cozy, mystery read. 3.5 I'd read another one for a light diversion.

[Sara Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, cosy mystery with an excellent couple of lead characters. The story moves at a steady pace and is thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Bev Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. Ive never done crosswords and thought they might help my mind, but I am wrong. A fun read. Good characters and I'll l read some more.

[Christine Ingles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth it

[Chrystine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying the twists and the turns of the plots in this series. This book was no exception. So many laugh out loud moments with Cora.

[Amy Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great murder Mystery!!!!! This is one of the fun ones!! If you love mysteries read this!!!!