Sinister Sudoku

Sudoku Mystery #3

by Kaye Morgan

Sudoku diva Liza Kelly, after teaching a class in the minimum security wing of the Oregon Coastal Penitentiary, is delighted when one of her best students is released from prison, but when he is murdered, she is faced with a puzzling mystery. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Aka Bill McCay

Series:
* Sudoku Mystery

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good entry in the series. I was as surprised by the culprit as Liza was.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liza Kelly is a amateur sleuth who was asked to teach a sudoku class at the prison. One of her students was murdered after he was released and was found in the room she was staying in at her boyfriend's Inn. The book is clean and at times quite well written but since the plot starts with sudoku and is one of the main themes throughout the book it lost me. I don't know anything about Sudoku nor do I care to learn, so It was just "meh" for me. If you are into it, there are lots of puzzles to play with at the end. It is a short novel of 197 pages plus all the puzzle pages.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was definitely better than the first one. And now she has three boys who will be fighting for her attention. Hard to say, but she may be better off with the cop. Lots of deaths, but the most important one was Chris. I liked him even though he was a short lived participant. Sudoku made for less of a part in this mystery, and at least this time it made a lot more sense.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite light reading. A pleasant break from some heavier books. A rather odd beginning, teaching a suduko class in a prison. The prison has misdemeanor female prisoners along with murderers who are male. Seems a bit odd. The story gets a little convoluted, but is straightened out by the end.

[Jennifer Oberth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty fun. I'm so glad I read it--after the second one, I wasn't too keen on the series. No reason I could put my finger on, I just had a tough time getting through it. But this entry is great. A little harsh in some areas but some authors do that when writing about murder.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this looked like a a fun, light reading book for the 50 states challenge. I also like to do Sudoku puzzles. I am enjoying the book. This book takes place in Oregon.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, with sudoku solving clearly explained.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the series but my first.
A fun cozy mystery with nice twists, fun characters, great descriptions and of course some methods for solving sudoku!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, Morgan is better at plot and character development than writing skills. She seems to feel it necessary to explain (granted, usually through dialogue) such terms as "QED." One character uses the term, someone else says "Quod erat demonstratum," and then the first says, "Yes! What we want to show is..." Maybe the general calibre of her readers is such that this is necessary, but it gets old fast.

Sudoku columnist Liza K. gives a sudoku course, as a pilot project, to some high-profile local celebrity-felons. One of them, art thief Chris Dalen, is on the verge of release from prison, although the valuable Mondrian he stole is still missing. Then Chris turns up dead and Liza finds that he's linked to someone important to her. Her ex-husband and her high school boyfriend help her, in their competitive way, as does the local sheriff and the visiting State policeman, although he doesn't want help from an amateur detective. This includes sudoku puzzles and tips for solving them.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay- I'm not interested in reading any other books in the series though.The story was kind of unique with a sudoku puzzle being a clue to solving the mystery. The characters were likeable but none of them really stood out. I read other series where I almost consider each book a revisit with old friends. I don't see that happening with this series. But it did come with 3 puzzles and solutions:-)
Not a bad book but just nothing outstanding.

[TheYogaCat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a very poorly written book that is entirely driven by a very boring plot. The only interesting thing about the book and the aspect that compelled me to even consider picking it up is the fact that it incorporates sudoku puzzles and strategies throughout the book. I spotted multiple typos throughout the book, so overall, it made a bad impression on me and I won't be reading any others in this series.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an okay read. This is a mystery series that I can live with or without. The mysteries are okay, the outcome is okay. The characters are okay. I find the rivalry between the two guys who like Liza to be juvenile. Some of the clues are very obvious. This was okay for a quick read but nothing spectacular.

[Mary Newcomb]

Liza writes a sudoku column. In her spare time she solves mysteries and teaches sudoku at her local correctional facility. These activities all come together as she helps her neighbor figure out who killed the neighbor's brother (recently released student).

[Brackman1066 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining for a time when you've got a cold and don't want a book that asks much of you.

[Mendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are finally getting better....

[John Hanscom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very c

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick read easy mystery in this series.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent plot, but I read these for the Sudoku. The writing is bad enough that I wouldn't read them if the weren't quick reads.

[Suzan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get into this book. I really liked book 1 was ok with book 2 and now book 3 just didn't make it for me. I hi book 4 but I'm not urge I want to even give it. Try.