tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Unread shelf project 2021: book 87.
I loved the snarky dialogue and the characters in this book. The mystery was a little… befuddling, to be honest, and even at the end it was completely unclear why the murderer killed the first victim. Or maybe I just spaced that part out? I dunno.
This book reads QUICK. There are several chapters that consist almost entirely of dialogue, which didn’t bother me but may bother others. I also didn’t get annoyed by the use of characters’ full names but if those are pet peeves of yours, probably plan to stay away.
But I do enjoy Cora and Shelly, and their interactions with each other as well as with the other side characters. I’ll be continuing with this series (and tbh partially because I own the next 3 books in the series as well). But overall not a bad intro to the Puzzle Lady.
Note/content warning: Cora is a raging & unapologetic alcoholic. Shelly tried to address this several times throughout the book but was unsuccessful. I feel like this may be part of the overarching plot (possibly???), so I’ll be curious to see if she drinks less/improves her ability to cope with life in the next 3 books. I’ll keep ya updated!
I loved the snarky dialogue and the characters in this book. The mystery was a little… befuddling, to be honest, and even at the end it was completely unclear why the murderer killed the first victim. Or maybe I just spaced that part out? I dunno.
This book reads QUICK. There are several chapters that consist almost entirely of dialogue, which didn’t bother me but may bother others. I also didn’t get annoyed by the use of characters’ full names but if those are pet peeves of yours, probably plan to stay away.
But I do enjoy Cora and Shelly, and their interactions with each other as well as with the other side characters. I’ll be continuing with this series (and tbh partially because I own the next 3 books in the series as well). But overall not a bad intro to the Puzzle Lady.
Note/content warning: Cora is a raging & unapologetic alcoholic. Shelly tried to address this several times throughout the book but was unsuccessful. I feel like this may be part of the overarching plot (possibly???), so I’ll be curious to see if she drinks less/improves her ability to cope with life in the next 3 books. I’ll keep ya updated!
lizzybd's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn’t predictable. I liked that. I also appreciated the concept. However, I didn’t care for Cora, and Sherry got on my nerves. I loved Aaron and adored the police chief. So, there was a mix of characters I liked and disliked. It was an easy read.
annegard's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
affiknittyreads's review against another edition
2.0
I like series mysteries and I'm always in search of a new one to enjoy. I like the idea of incorporating puzzles. I've read the first few chapters, and I'm not sure I'm going to love these characters. But it seems like a fun read.
Having finished the book, I'm still pretty lukewarm about it. Again, I'm not entranced by the characters. Cora is an annoying active alcoholic constantly in need of management (not all that fun to read about) and Sherry is her bristly enabler. But the story itself was fairly entertaining, and it was well-written. I might read one more and see if the characters develop.
Having finished the book, I'm still pretty lukewarm about it. Again, I'm not entranced by the characters. Cora is an annoying active alcoholic constantly in need of management (not all that fun to read about) and Sherry is her bristly enabler. But the story itself was fairly entertaining, and it was well-written. I might read one more and see if the characters develop.
lbrick363's review against another edition
2.0
I cannot explain how ridiculous I thought this book was. Sherry is a moron. She stresses thinking her husband is the killer...really? You just moved to a small town and you think he's killing girls just to get to you? Why would that even make sense? I will not be reading the next book in the series. The chief was just as ridiculous and clueless. I honestly do not think I enjoyed any of the characters. Oh, well, to each his own.
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
I ended up enjoying the book - wasn't sure at first. Cora Fenton, the Puzzle Lady, has a puzzle column in several newspapers and lives in a small town with her niece, Sherry Carter. Sherry is a little paranoid because of an abusive ex-husband who keeps finding her and beating her up. Cora's behavior is not what one would expect of a nice, old lady. She drinks too much, gambles and has been married at least 4 times. She is nosey, meddlesome and stubborn. Sherry has her hands full trying to lay low and keep her aunt out of trouble.
A body of an unknown teen-ager turns up at the Bakerhaven cemetery. Police Chief Dale Harper is not happy, not expecting to deal with murders, etc in this quiet town. There is a pice of paper in the girls pocket that reads "4) d - line (5)" that seems to be a puzzle clue. So Chief Harper goes to the Puzzle Lady who lives there in town. Cora loves mysteries and is determined to solve this one, much to the dismay of the Chief who is being bulled by a the prosecutor - who wants SOMEONE to prosecute for this crime and wants the person now! and the local ambitious television reporter who is looking for a story to leverage his way up the ladder to a bigger station. There is also Aaron Grant, a young reporter for the small local paper. He is in on solving the crime much to Sherry's chagrin and keeps coming to see her aunt for ideas, which doesn't help Sherry trying to rein Cora in off the hunt. Then, one of Cora's bridge partners turn up dead in the cemetery - killed the same way. Also with a puzzle clue, but this one is typed - not handwritten. Cora is more determined than ever before the Graveyard Killer can strike again. The most puzzling thing to Cora is the fact that both women's shoes and socks have been removed...
A body of an unknown teen-ager turns up at the Bakerhaven cemetery. Police Chief Dale Harper is not happy, not expecting to deal with murders, etc in this quiet town. There is a pice of paper in the girls pocket that reads "4) d - line (5)" that seems to be a puzzle clue. So Chief Harper goes to the Puzzle Lady who lives there in town. Cora loves mysteries and is determined to solve this one, much to the dismay of the Chief who is being bulled by a the prosecutor - who wants SOMEONE to prosecute for this crime and wants the person now! and the local ambitious television reporter who is looking for a story to leverage his way up the ladder to a bigger station. There is also Aaron Grant, a young reporter for the small local paper. He is in on solving the crime much to Sherry's chagrin and keeps coming to see her aunt for ideas, which doesn't help Sherry trying to rein Cora in off the hunt. Then, one of Cora's bridge partners turn up dead in the cemetery - killed the same way. Also with a puzzle clue, but this one is typed - not handwritten. Cora is more determined than ever before the Graveyard Killer can strike again. The most puzzling thing to Cora is the fact that both women's shoes and socks have been removed...
cmbohn's review against another edition
1.0
I think I read this one before, or at least tried to read it, but I didn't like the characters then and I don't like them now. Not for me.
jcbmathcat's review against another edition
3.0
Our mystery book club chose the Puzzle Lady mysteries for June's selection. As it turned out, I have several books from the series on my shelf, yellowing with age, so it was a perfect time to read the first one.
The series has quirky characters; I can't say more without spoiling things.
I will read the other books that I have on the shelf, but am not certain if I will keep them. I'm trying to purge books that I won't read again. I'm waffling on this series, as they are quick reads and would be good for a time when I need something to take my mind off of real life but don't need to commit too much.
Good summer reads?
The series has quirky characters; I can't say more without spoiling things.
I will read the other books that I have on the shelf, but am not certain if I will keep them. I'm trying to purge books that I won't read again. I'm waffling on this series, as they are quick reads and would be good for a time when I need something to take my mind off of real life but don't need to commit too much.
Good summer reads?
michelleful's review against another edition
4.0
I largely enjoyed this cosy mystery. The plot was pretty good, I liked the way the first clue was re-interpreted over and over again. The writing was...bleh. There was some amount of head-hopping, which I loathe, and there was nothing to write home about with the prose. The puzzle at the beginning is largely a gimmick. I thought at first that at some point you would have to solve it to figure out what happened and then continue, but it's really just a post-hoc thing. But I liked the characters and the plot. I'm not sure how sustainable it is over 20 books though!