Customer Reviews

A Deadly Row (A Mystery by the Numbers)

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A Mystery By The Numbers
Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Release Date September 7, 2010
First in a Brand New Series

Savannah Stone is a math whiz and makes her living creating puzzles that are syndicated daily in many newspapers throughout the United States for others to solve. Her agent constantly pushes her to come up with some of the most difficult puzzles she can.

Zach Stone, her husband, is a retired police chief from Charlotte, North Carolina. When he retired they left the big city behind for a small mini farm in Parson's Valley in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Zach's retirement was not his idea, unfortunately he was shot in the line of duty and had to retire for medical reasons. He keeps his hands in on police work by doing consultant work for various police departments in North Carolina and sometimes across the country.

Zach was feeling very unsettled one day putzing around the house trying to keep busy when a call came in from his old department. Savannah told the new chief that Zach was too busy to help him and basically hung up. Savannah is a terrible liar and when she told Zach the call was a "wrong number" he did not believe her at all. She ended up telling him who it really was and after one short phone call they were packed up and in the car headed back to Charlotte.

There was a killer on the loose in Charlotte and the mayor was receiving threatening messages saying he would be the next victim. The mayor was their friend, how could they not go to help. Savannah was basically along for moral support and thought she could catch up with old friends while Zach helped with the police investigation. Little did she know that she would be enlisted to help solve one of the most difficult puzzles of her life, and if she failed to solve the puzzle in time someone else would die.


I LIKED IT!!!!

This was a fun, quick read. The puzzle element was very intriguing and kept the pages turning. I found myself trying to solve the puzzle just like Savannah, of course she figured it out first. These are definitely two characters I want to read more about. I just think it may be strange if every case Zach is called in to consult on involves a puzzle for Savannah, so I am very interested in how the author will continue to have these characters evolve and unfold. I will be patiently awaiting the next book in this numerically inspired series.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was the first book I have read in some time that I was interested enough in it to read every page to the end. Hard to find good books lately, but I will definitely buy more books by this author. Hope they keep coming!

Casey Mayes (pseudonym for Tim Myers) introduces two new series characters, a syndicated puzzle columnist and her retired police chief husband, in this pleasant if unexceptional cozy mystery. The likable heroine and hero stick in the memory longer than the mystery itself, or the suspects, some of whom could have been better individualized. The book is marred by an action-packed climax that requires us to believe in our savvy heroine making a really stupid mistake in judgment. On the whole, though, this is an enjoyable read with a couple of interesting subplots and the start to what could be a very entertaining series.

Zach was the Police Chief of Charlotte, North Carolina when he was shot in the chest and forced to retire. He and his wife puzzle creator Savannah Stone moved to Parson's Valley far away from the big urban centers, but police work is part of Zach's DNA makeup so he opens up a consulting firm.

The new Police Chief Davis Rowles, who Zach recommended, asks for his services. Charlotte Mayor Grady Winslow is receiving threatening letters from someone who apparently has killed two people already. When they arrive at the Belmont, they are put up in the swanky suite owned by billionaire Baton Lane. One of the victims worked for him and was a friend so he believes hosting the Stones is his minor contribution to capturing the killer. Savannah's puzzle skills come in handy when letters and pictures come to the police station with a puzzle number on the package; she knows if she finds the key she will locate the psychopath. Zach uses mundane police methods by questioning suspects including Davis and Grady. Both of the Stones arrive at the identification of the killer at the same time, but now Savannah's life is in danger.

Casey Mayes has written a fascinating amateur sleuth-police procedural starring a husband and wife couple who work well together. The pair loves one another and talks to each other sharing notes on their respective inquiry. Character driven with several terrific twists, readers who enjoy mysteries like those of Parnell Hall's Puzzle Lady will enjoy observing the two Stones methodically work separately and together on their first joint case.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoyed this debut novel in the new series "A Mystery by the Numbers." In this case, the author tells us that this is the latest case in the lives of former police chief, Zach and his wife, Savannah Stone. Being a police consultant after his early disabled retirement allows Zach to bring his brilliant wife along. Savannah is a celebrity in her own right, she authors puzzles for multiple newspapers. As her husband's unofficial partner, she sees patterns in crimes.

This crime hits too close to home for Zach as it involves his former precinct and the Mayor of Charlotte, NC. Meanwhile, Savannah becomes involved with her Uncle Thomas and mysteries left by her deceased Mother.

I instantly felt at home with the Stones and the crimes were credible and well formed. Lucky, for me, I have the next book in the series just waiting for its rise to the top of my TBR pile.

It took me three days to read the first 40 odd pages. Then I flipped to the back of the book to find out who the bad guy was and called that done. Other people may like the book, but I found it dull and uninteresting.

I would not recommend this book.

The main characters, Savannah and Zach, are far too smug and self-congratulatory for my taste. I actually began to dislike them early on. They spend more time talking about how great they are together than they do talking about the case. Plus, the story is weak - too many things just pulled from thin air.

A Deadly Row
by Casey Mayes
This is the first book in a new series by author Casey Mayes. Our heroine is Savanna Stone, who creates puzzles for syndication in newspapers around the country. Her husband Zach is a recently retired Chief of Police in Charlotte NC. Zach and Savannah are called back to Charlotte to help solve a pair of supposedly random murders.

In between Savannah reconnects with old friends, makes some startling discoveries as she helps her husband and eventually Savannah and Zach will need all their combined skills to root out the wily killer and stay alive at the same time.

I received this book as a gift from a friend and recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys puzzles and good mysteries.

This was a great read. We are introduced to Zach Stone, medically retired from the police and his wife Savannah who creates puzzles for newspapers. Zach, now consultant for the police, is asked to come back to Charlotte to help solve a murder. I liked how the plot was played out as each turn of the page revealed more clues as to the identity of the killer. I had my suspect and enjoyed watching the author put several red herrings to throw me off. A good plot and likable characters made this a fun read.

Another Tim Myers book. All of his books, regardless of his pen name are good books. Retired Charlotte NC police chief Zach is called back as a consultant on a murder case - the mayor has been receiving death threats and so far, there are 2 murders. Zach's wife, Savannah, creates number puzzles for the newspapers. She has come along on his trip as Zach's assistant. Fast Read.