Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady (who actually couldn’t solve a crossword puzzle to save her life), is surprisingly good at sudoku, so it’s no problem when a Japanese publisher asks her to write a sudoku book. But when two Japanese publishers show up in Bakerhaven to vie for her services, Cora is a little confused. Which one did she actually sign with? Which one has the stunning geisha wife? And which one is about to be arrested for murder? The two men are archenemies and will go to great lengths to ace out each other. But would they stoop to murder? Someone is littering the town with sudoku, crossword puzzles, and dead private eyes. It’s up to Cora, with the help of her niece, Sherry, to solve the puzzle, the sudoku, and the murder, before the killer strikes again.
Parnell Hall delivers another entertaining, puzzle-packed adventure with his delightfully untraditional sleuth, featuring for the first time sudoku puzzles by New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz.
Edgar, Shamus, and Lefty nominee Parnell Hall is the author of the Puzzle Lady crossword puzzle mysteries, the Stanley Hastings private eye novels, and the Steve Winslow courtroom dramas. An actor, screenwriter, and former private investigator, Parnell lives in New York City.
Parnell Hall's music video, KING OF KINDLE, is on his Amazon author page! Cameos by Lawrence Block, Mary Higgins Clark, and dozens of other mystery writers. See how many you can spot. (Scroll down for video)
Parnell is the author of the Puzzle Lady crossword puzzle mysteries, set in the fictitious town of Bakerhaven, Connecticut. Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady, has a nationally syndicated crossword puzzle column, but couldn't construct a puzzle if her life depended on it. Her niece Sherry Carter writes the column for her. The much married Miss Felton is much happier solving crime. She made her debut in 1999 in A CLUE FOR THE PUZZLE LADY, and has since romped through LAST PUZZLE & TESTAMENT, PUZZLED TO DEATH, and A PUZZLE IN A PEAR TREE, WITH THIS PUZZLE, I THEE KILL, AND A PUZZLE TO DIE ON, and STALKING THE PUZZLE LADY. Cora is herself a suspect in YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN PUZZLED.
Though poor at words, Cora proves most adept at numbers in THE SUDOKU PUZZLE MURDERS. New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz constructed the sudoku puzzles that help solve the mystery. Sudoku puzzles also play a part in DEAD MAN'S PUZZLE, and THE PUZZLE LADY VS. THE SUDOKU LADY. Cora tackles a new number puzzle in THE KENKEN KILLINGS.
As research for the Puzzle Lady books, Parnell competed in the National Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Connecticut, where out of a field of 254 contestants he finished 250th, just ahead of the four people who failed to turn in a paper. Parnell composed the puzzles for his earlier books. He now has them created by New York Times constructor Manny Nosowsky, and edited by National Tournament winner Ellen Ripstein.
Parnell also writes the Stanley Hastings mystery novels, and the Steve Winslow courtroom dramas. His first novel, DETECTIVE, was nominated for an Edgar award by the Mystery Writers of America, and a Shamus award by the Private Eye Writers of America. His tenth Stanley Hastings novel, MOVIE, was nominated for a Shamus award for Best Private Eye Novel of 1995, and for a Lefty for the funniest mystery novel of 1995. Recently, Stanley and his wife Alice vacationed at a New England bed-and-breakfast in COZY, a takeoff on that subset of the genre; the book is full of recipes and the cat solves the crime. Stanley returned to the mean streets of Manhattan in MANSLAUGHTER, HITMAN, and CAPER. He has his first paranormal encounter in the short story DEATH OF A VAMPIRE, in the Charlaine Harris anthology, CRMIES BY MOONLIGHT.
Parnell worked for two years as a private detective in New York City. His experiences form the basis for his Stanley Hastings series. He has no courtroom experience, however, and owes his Steve Winslow series to a childhood spent reading Erle Stanley Gardner.
Parnell is an actor, who has done summer stock and regional theater, and appeared in a number of movies, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's first movie, Hercules in New York (in which he appeared clad in a leopard skin) and A New Leaf with Elaine May and Walter Matthau.
Parnell is a member of the Writers Guild of America East with several screenplays to his credit, including the underground horror movie C.H.U.D., which has been satirized on Saturday Night Live, the Simpsons, Pushing Daisies, The Dailey Show, and The Colbert Report.
Parnell's career as a professional songwriter began at the age of sixteen, when Pete Seeger sang The Literacy Test Song on the Folkways album, Gazette, Volume 2. Parnell has performed his songs at several mystery conventions, including the Edgar Awards, Magna Cum Murder, Malice Domestic, and the Bouchercon. This year he is performing The Ballad of Alferd Packard, a song celebrating Denver's most famous cannibal, at the Left Coast Crime banquet.
Parnell Hall is a former President of the Private Eye Writers of America, and a member of Sisters in Crime. He lives in New York City.
This review is from: The Sudoku Puzzle Murders: A Puzzle Lady Mystery (Hardcover)
While everyone knows Cora Felton as the famed puzzle lady, she hides the secret that she can't solve cross word puzzles. It's really her niece Sherry Carter that creates the daily newspaper columns. However, Cora has discovered a talent for solving Sudoku puzzles. And when she is asked to create a Sudoku book for a Japanese publisher, she gladly agrees.
Sending Sherry to sign the contracts turns out to create some problems when Sherry signs with the wrong businessman. Turns out there are rival Japanese publishers in town trying to get Cora under contract. But things turn deadly when a stranger turns up dead with a crossword puzzle and a Sudoku in his pocket. Do those puzzles mean anything or are they just red herrings?
As much as I like this series, I am beginning to wonder if it is running out of steam. The characters have often been two dimensional, but they seem stuck in a rut. I mean, Sherry's ex-husband is still hanging around town, his new wife still hasn't divorced the creep, he's still being accused of murder, and it is still causing friction between Sherry and fiancee Aaron. And, actually, I've just described the last three books in the series.
Fortunately, the humor and witty word play are still present here. I was laughing at loud at a few of the passages, including one that discusses how no one can be murdered in the small town without there being a cross word puzzle near by. When I wasn't laughing, I was often grinning. The mystery was puzzling as always, although the climax was a bit too showy. Frankly, I don't even get why it was set where it was set.
All told, I did enjoy this entry, but the flaws are getting more pronounced. I hope the author is able to come up with some new storylines for the characters before things get older than they already are.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: The Sudoku Puzzle Murders: A Puzzle Lady Mystery (Hardcover)
In Bakerhaven, Connecticut, Cora Felton, the nationally recognized Puzzle lady, is standing in the parking lot when Japanese publisher Hideki Takiyama comes up to her and introduces himself. He says she is famous in Japan and he wants to write a Puzzle Lady Sudoko puzzle book. She refers him to her niece Sherry Carter who negotiates all her contracts. Later Sherry goes to sign a contact only to learn she signed with Hideki's rival Aoki Yoshiaki who is married to the lovely Reiko.
Cora is at the sheriff's office when a call comes in that there has been a murder. At the crime scene, Cora sees a man with his face sliced in half and it becomes obvious he was dumped here. They find out he was a private investigator from New York. A few days later, Cora sees Sherry's ex following Aoki and Reiko who are followed by another investigator form New York. The second New York private investigator is found dead very near where his predecessor was dumped with a samurai sward in him. The sheriff asks Cora to help him figure out what is going on; since she loves a puzzle, she agrees to assist him.
The fun of the Puzzle Lady mysteries starts and finish with the aptly nicknamed heroine who never takes herself seriously. She is a smart-mouthed sassy broad who does her own thing regardless of what others think. Her antics and asides bring humor into a serious complex whodunit that leaves readers spinning in admiration.
Harriet Klausner
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
First Sentence:
Cora Felton gripped the black marker firmly in her right hand and stepped up to the easel in the front of the Bakerhaven, Connecticut, town hall. Read the first pageKey Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
sudoku book, samurai sword, drawstring purse
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chief Harper, Parnell Hall, The Sudoku Puzzle Murders, Dennis Pride, Country Kitchen, Cora Felton, Puzzle Lady, New York, Judge Hobbs, Becky Baldwin, Tastee Freez, Aaron Grant, Rick Reed, Dan Finley, Henry Firth, Hideki Takiyama, Sherry Carter, Lester Mathews, Social Security, Will Shortz, Cushman's Bakeshop, Miss Felton, Barney Nathan, Aoki Yoshiaki, Geisha Girl
Browse Sample Pages: Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
