A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (Puzzle Lady Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Parnell Hall (Author)
Key Phrases: strangling young girls, crossword puzzle clue, fourth grave, Chief Harper, Cora Felton, Aaron Grant (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Penzler Pick, February 2000: The versatile Hall is already responsible for two series: under his own name he has written the Stanley Hastings mysteries, a lighthearted series set in Manhattan and featuring a smalltime private eye, while as J.P. Hailey, he's penned the Steve Winslow courtroom mysteries.

Now he's switching course again, this time presenting what can only be termed a disreputable Jessica Fletcher: Miss Cora Felton, famed from coast to coast for her popular crossword puzzle column syndicated in many newspapers. Closer to home, however, Cora's as well known for her hard-drinking, chain-smoking ways. When one starts to look more closely, there's a real possibility that she doesn't even write her own puzzles and that she may be something entirely different from the public's perception of her.

But one will have to read A Clue for the Puzzle Lady to learn the whole truth. In the meantime, readers will also enjoy the small-town Connecticut ambiance and the challenge of trying to figure out what the two female murder victims have in common, aside from the fact that both have been found in the town's cemetery (where the bodies usually come in coffins) and that on their person are what appear to be crossword clues.

What are known in the trade as "cozies" generally are not my cup of tea, as it were, but I'm on record as being a longtime admirer of the author--as well as not being averse to a little-old-lady sleuth with a highball, instead of knitting, in her hand. --Otto Penzler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Hall, best known for his Edgar-nominated Stanley Hastings series, begins a new series with a heroine who provides an interesting variation on the older woman sleuth. Imagine Miss Marple as a promiscuous lush, and you have Cora Felton, known to crossword puzzle buffs around the country as "The Puzzle Lady." Cora and her niece, Sherry Carter, have moved to the small town of Bakerhaven, Conn., hoping to protect Sherry from an abusive ex-husband. The body of a young girl is discovered in the Bakerhaven Cemetery, and Police Chief Dale Harper investigates, though he wishes the body had been found in someone else's jurisdiction. An enigmatic clue in the victim's pockets takes Chief Harper in search of assistance, and he gets more than he needs from Cora, who's determined to help solve the puzzle. A second murder complicates the case, and overly zealous cub reporter Aaron Grant spills the news to the public about the cryptic clues. In addition to his trademark zippy, witty dialogue, Hall provides a dandy puzzle, congenial secondary characters, plenty of laughs and a true original in Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (July 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553581406
• ISBN-13: 978-0553581409
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #528,212 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parnell Hall comes through once more., November 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (Puzzle Lady Mysteries) (Hardcover)

As the author of "The Crossword Murder" I had to snap up this book the moment I heard of it. I've always been a big Parnell Hall fan, and he doesn't let the reader down for one second with "A Clue for the Puzzle Lady". A super mystery and fabulous characters; and as a crossword puzzle creator, this book was right up my alley. Bravo, Parnell!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a truly fresh twist on the genre, January 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (Puzzle Lady Mysteries) (Hardcover)

A CLUE FOR THE PUZZLE LADY is a terrific book--wonderful plot complete with crossword puzzle clues, red herrings, and all sorts of twists and turns; fun and eccentric characters who are a hoot without going over the edge into unbelievability; snappy dialogue; great writing style. I couldn't put it down.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lightning Quick Read, December 19, 1999

By	E. Davis (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (Puzzle Lady Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This book was a very fast read. You can't help but feel a part of Bakerhaven, the small Connecticut town while trying to figure out 'who done it.' It would be an unfair tease to give you tidbits of why the plot twists, general prose and sequencing work so well, so I won't. It's too bad that the second book in the series won't be available for almost another year. I can't wait to see what happens to Cora and Sherry in Parnell Hall's next book. If his follow up novel is as enthralling as "A Clue for the Puzzle Lady", there should be many more books in the series to look forward to.