And a Puzzle to Die On (Puzzle Lady Mysteries)
Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady, doesn't really create crosswords; her niece, Sherry, does. That deception has been one of the signature charms of the previous books-- along with the included crosswords waiting to be solved by readers. Alas, this sixth offering in the series doesn't take much advantage of either. The puzzles themselves are perfunctory and only tangentially related to the plot. As for Sherry, she is pushed way into the background as Cora takes on a murder mystery whose solution is so convoluted it's hard to grasp, even as Cora spells it out point by point. Always a pushy broad, hard drinking and chain-smoking, Cora has now given up the booze (though not the smokes); perhaps that's why pushy is now bordering on obnoxious. There's still some fun to be had here, but less Cora, more puzzles might be a better recipe for the next installment.Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.