Puzzling Ink

Crossword Puzzle Mystery #1

by Becky Clark

1 DOWN: DEATH BY HOMICIDE

Quinn Carr wishes her life could be more like a crossword puzzle: neat, orderly, and perfectly arranged. At least her passion for puzzles, flair for words—and mild case of OCD—have landed her a gig creating crosswords for the local paper. But if she ever hopes to move out of her parents’ house, she can’t give up her day job as a waitress. She needs the tips. But when a customer ends up dead at her table—face down in biscuits and gravy—Quinn needs to get a clue to find whodunit . . .

6 LETTERS, STARTS WITH “M”

It turns out that solving a murder is a lot harder than a creating a crossword. Quinn has plenty of suspects—up, down, and across. One of them is her boss, the owner of the diner who shares a culinary past with the victim. Two of them are ex-wives, her boss’s and the victim’s. A third complication is the Chief of Police who refuses to allow much investigation, preferring the pretense their town has no crime. To solve this mystery, Quinn has to think outside the boxes—before the killer gets the last word . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mental Health, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller

207 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2020

About the author

Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them too. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Her stout-hearted dog keeps her safe from menacing squirrels, leaves, and deer, but not plastic bags. Those things are terrifying.

Readers say her books are “fast and thoroughly entertaining” with “witty humor and tight writing” and “humor laced with engaging characters” so you should “grab a cocktail and enjoy the ride.” They also say “Warning: You will laugh out loud. I’m not kidding,” and “If you like Janet Evanovich, you will like Becky Clark.”

She writes the Dunne Diehl novels (with Ted Hardwick), the Mystery Writer's Mysteries, and the upcoming Crossword Puzzle Mysteries, as well as some low-calorie cookbooks, and a how-to book about writing a novel, "Eight Weeks to a Complete Novel: Write Faster, Write Better, Be More Organized."

Visit https://beckyclarkbooks.com/ for all kinds of fun. While you're there, be sure to subscribe to her "So Seldom It's Shameful" newsletter. http://beckyclarkbooks.com/subscribe

You'll hear about new releases, maybe win some prizes, find out about book promotions from her and others, read interviews from new-to-you authors, and more. (As you might have gleaned from the title, she won't inundate your inbox, either.)

Join Becky's private group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Becky... for even more shenanigans and at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/author/beckyclark).

If you enjoy her books, she’d swoon if you left a review. Yes, swoon.

Here's a 2014 Q&A interview of her from Pikes Peak Writers in case you haven't overdosed on All Things Becky ... http://pikespeakwriters.blogspot.com/...

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark is the first book in the new cozy Crossword Puzzle Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries this first book of the series does contain it’s own mystery that is solved within so it can be enjoyed as a standalone. The character development that happens in each book however will carry over for those that continue to read the series.

The Crossword Puzzle Mystery series introduces readers to Quinn Carr who suffers from a mild case of OCD. Quinn’s original plans for her life didn’t quite work out so now she’s trying to get her life on the right track. Quinn has a day job working at the local diner for an eccentric boss and a side job of creating crosswords for the local paper.

Quinn knows that if she’s ever going to move out of her parents house she needs the job at the diner as a waitress to work out but quickly notices all of her boss’s faults. When he decides to leave Quinn on her own for the night Quinn wants things to go well and they do for the most part, that is until closing when she discovers a man had died in his booth.

As some of you may know I am a huge fan of quirky and humorous cozies and it seems the author of the Crossword Puzzle Mystery series is a fan of the same. This new series was full of fun and had me chuckling quite a few times. The protagonist is incredibly likable, she’s doing her best to cope with her OCD and while a little naive she still came across as a strong lead jumping in and doing what she needed to solve the murder. Definitely a series I will continue in the future after such a nice opener.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn Carr has had to return home and take a job at the local diner. If only her passion, creating the crossword puzzles for her local paper, paid her more. One night as Quinn is closing down the diner, she finds the last patron slumped over dead in the corner booth. When the police determine he was murdered, they arrest Jake, the diner’s owner. Now Quinn has to keep the restaurant running while also figuring out a way to clear her boss. Can she do it?

This book sets the stage for a fun new mystery series. Quinn is a bit unusual in that she has recently been diagnosed with OCD, something we don’t usually see in the books I read. It was handled well. I also loved Quinn’s relationship with her parents. The mystery got sidelined at times with Quinn trying to run the diner. I was interested in both stories, but I do prefer strong mysteries in the books I read. There is a good mystery here, with plenty of suspects and motives. A few key pieces of information were introduced a bit abruptly, and one key element of the plot was never quite resolved, but the majority of our questions are answered, including the who and the why. Fans of crossword puzzles will enjoy the one that Quinn creates over the course of the book. Additionally, there are two fun sounding recipes at the end of the book.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I have to say that I did enjoy this book, to an extent. Puzzling Ink has tremendous potential for a new series. Most of the characters are charming and easy to like, even if they are a little rough around the edges. I loved Quinn’s mom and dad; they added humor and quirkiness to the story. I like having the crossword puzzles be the main character’s focus, and it gives the story a unique twist. However, there are some glaring issues with this story.

Quinn really isn’t all that liable. Describing her as having “a mild case” of OCD is like describing Buckingham Palace as quaint. In reality, Quinn’s OCD would be a significant problem, and not just when she was feeling stressed. Unfortunately, having her OCD be the storyline’s main focus made it challenging to get into the puzzle (mystery) aspects. The constant dialogue about counting, color coding, and general habits, with the rubber band snapping and so forth was distracting at best and added very little understanding to the character, to those with OCD, or the story.

The murder investigation was not as prominent as it should have been, and there was little interaction with any real suspects. Evidence is also lacking distinction. The killer is barely in the story, and what twists and turns there are don’t add any action or drama to the plot. I think the puzzles should have been more of a factor, as I felt it would have made a solid foundation for future installments. However, I can live with all of the issues I listed above, but the fact that not all of the questions were answered, even those that seemed to be important to the investigation, is where I have to draw the line. It is imperative in a cozy book, no matter that it is part of a series, that in the end, all questions brought up as evidence or possible motives have to be resolved. In this book, some questions were left open, with no relevance to future books.

Overall, I felt Puzzling Ink was a puzzle of its own and could have been much better, but I also see the potential for future books that hopefully will address the issues of this first one. I know that Ms. Clark is a talented writer with a sense of humor, so I know she can make the next book far better than this one.

[Sue Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I would give this three and a half stars, I am rounding down as my cons outweigh the pros.

• Quinn, the protagonist has a diagnosed mild case of OCD. Although we learn some about it and how it affects her, but it seems to be an opportunity missed for her character. She just comes off as frenetic. It's not necessary to like every character, but I need to understand them better.
• Crossword puzzles are what originally interested me in this book. Hoped they would be more central to the story or its solution, but the how-to- create a puzzle had to suffice.
•Quinn's problems in running the diner were just exhausting.
•Enjoyed Quinn's relationship with Rico and that they could just be good friends

This series has potential and I hope the next book will live up to it.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[linda hole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reallywanted to like this book. And the concept was good. And the Main characters were good. But for me it became too confusing. It felt like it did not fit the category cozy mystery. It felt like the mystery got forgotten . Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A young woman is at a low point in her life, losing her job, her dream, moving back in with her parents, and struggling with OCD.

She's working at a diner as a waitress, when a customer dies. Turns out he was poisoned, and the owner of the diner, her boss, is arrested for the crime.

She tries to run the diner and solve the mystery while coping with her OCD.

Not bad.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark is the first in the new cozy series, Crossword Puzzle Mysteries, and the series is off to a great start. Clark does a fantastic job giving us a look into the life of someone with OCD, since the protagonist, Quinn has it. It was fascinating to me to see how some people try to cope with it, and I think it’s necessary to talk about mental health.

Clark also did a wonderful job with the character development. One of the main reasons I keep returning to read a cozy mystery series is because of the characters. If I can connect with them or if I enjoy spending time in their company, I will be back.
Quinn’s parents are such a loving and supportive couple, and her mom’s recipes were very interesting to read about, even if some of them were cringe worthy.
Loma, Quinn’s boss’s ex-wife, is someone I would want to hang out with, and I hope we see her a lot more in future books. And the old timers that come to the cafe daily are a fun bunch, you just know their antics will be entertaining in future books.

[Barbara Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzling Ink, the first book in Becky Clark’s Crossword Puzzle Mystery series, is a fresh and intriguing take on the cozy mystery genre. The concept of using crossword puzzle clues to nudge the reluctant police in the right investigative direction grabbed my attention from the start.

Following her ouster from the Denver police academy, Quinn Carr has returned to her parents’ home in Chestnut Station, Colorado, taking a job as a waitress at the local diner to make ends meet. Unbeknownst to anyone except the paper’s editor, she is also responsible for the crossword puzzles in the local paper. She is barely settling into her waitressing position when one of the diner’s customers is poisoned and her boss, Jake Szabo, is arrested for murder, leaving Quinn solely in charge of the restaurant. Unequipped to act as waitress, cook and general business manager on her own, Quinn sets out to clear Jake’s name with the help of her best friend (and police officer) Rico.

Here’s the thing. Quinn is quirky, but in a good way. Her recently-diagnosed OCD turns out to be an asset, as does her police academy training. And, despite the somewhat heavy-handed mention of her OCD, I found myself liking her a great deal. The story was filled with interesting and largely memorable characters, but it was difficult to learn about them in any depth. No doubt this is the result of this being the first in series, but there are several characters whom I would like to know better. Quinn’s parents, for example, were prevailed upon to help out in the diner and did so in a way that was unique and utterly charming. Another character whom I hope to see more of was Quinn’s OCD counselor, Mary-Louise Lovely.

While I definitely enjoyed Puzzling Ink, I do feel that the series could be strengthened in subsequent books by placing a greater emphasis on using crossword puzzles to solve the crime and by downplaying the dramatization of Quinn’s OCD. That said, I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Note: I received an ARC of Puzzling Ink from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark is the debut of A Crossword Puzzle Mystery series. Quinn Carr is a woman in her late 20s who has returned to her hometown of Chestnut, Colorado where she has moved back in with her parents. She has been diagnosed with a mild case of OCD (I think the doctor got this one wrong) plus depression. Quinn loves crossword puzzles and creates them for the local paper which is something she does not want her best friend, Nico Lopez to know about. I could not warm up to Quinn. Her OCD is anything but mild. I became agitated after reading a couple of chapters. I did like the way the author addressed OCD. Quinn’s OCD issues dominated Puzzling Ink. Quinn’s parents are great characters. They are happy, upbeat people (it is hard to believe that Quinn is there child). I would never eat her mother’s cooking (a cumin frosted cupcake sounds disgusting), but she is a cheerful woman with a husband who loves her dearly. Officer Rico Lopez is Quinn’s best friend, and he cannot tell a lie. He is a very patient and kind man (must be if he is Quinn’s friend). There are a variety of other quirky characters including Jake and his ex-wife. The author did not devote enough time to character development. We learn the bare bones minimum about Quinn. I did enjoy the descriptions of the various chestnut statutes around town. I thought that it was a cute touch. The mystery was a disappointment. It was not at the forefront of the story and it is not one reader can solve (which is my favorite part). I wish the author had devoted more time to the mystery. The ending came out of left field. Crossword puzzles did not really play into the story. I thought the puzzles would have more of a tie in especially to the mystery. Puzzling Ink is not a good fit for me, and I will not be reading the next book in the series. I read to relax and for enjoyment and I got neither one in Puzzling Ink.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark was a little different from other cozy mysteries that I have read. The heroine and amateur sleuth, Quinn Carr, has been diagnosed with OCD and depression. I confess that I had a hard time connecting with Quinn throughout the story because of her internal dialogue.

The plot is smoothly paced with a few twists and turns for Quinn, several quirky secondary characters that added to the plot and the community of Chestnut Station and a limited suspect pool made the murder mystery entertaining.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions expressed are my own.

[Mary Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:

1 DOWN: DEATH BY HOMICIDE

Quinn Carr wishes her life could be more like a crossword puzzle: neat, orderly, and perfectly arranged. At least her passion for puzzles, flair for words—and mild case of OCD—have landed her a gig creating crosswords for the local paper. But if she ever hopes to move out of her parents’ house, she can’t give up her day job as a waitress. She needs the tips. But when a customer ends up dead at her table—face down in bisquits and gravy—Quinn needs to get a clue to find whodunit . . .

6 LETTERS, STARTS WITH “M”

It turns out that solving a murder is a lot harder than a creating a crossword. Quinn has plenty of suspects—up, down, and across. One of them is her boss, the owner of the diner who shares a culinary past with the victim. Two of them are ex-wives, her boss’s and the victim’s. A third complication is the Chief of Police who refuses to allow much investigation, preferring the pretense their town has no crime. To solve this mystery, Quinn has to think outside the boxes—before the killer gets the last word . . .

“FRESH, FAST, AND FURIOUSLY FUN . . . Becky Clark writes with wry wit, a keen eye, and no shortage of authority.”
—Brad Parks , Shamus Award-winning author (on Fiction Can Be Murder)

Includes original crossword puzzles! (Goodreads)

Review:

The premise of the book is different and I enjoyed that. Quinn is suffering from OCD, which she had been recently diagnosed with, and she is trying to figure things out. She has moved back in with her parent’s and she has a job working at a diner. When her boss is accused of killing someone, she feels like she needs to find the killer. She is good at solving crossword puzzles and she is hoping finding a killer will be just as easy.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and it kept me engaged from the start.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

[Cookie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3 1/2. It is a pretty cute cozy mystery, and has some helpful information about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, from which I either suffer or enjoy, depending on the day.
I think my family suffers more than I do. I am one of the lucky people who are helped by serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and a wacky sense of humor.

This is the first book in a series about a waitress who also writes crossword puzzles. I have done both of those things, but I have never solved a murder, and I hope never to do so. I did not like being a waitress, and my crosswords were not very good. I will stick to being nice to waitresses, reading murder mysteries and I now let my mother solve crosswords.

This story has recipes and a crossword for you to solve. Have fun.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery to read. The protagonist, Quinn, is quirky, complex, and entertaining. The mystery is well-written with loads of twists and turns. There were several suspects and well place red herrings to keep the reader engaged in guessing who the murder was. I am looking forward to seeing how the characters develop in the next installment of the series

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

[Brian Frauenknecht · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very hard for me to get through. I did not like the Main Character at all. She was too whiny and always seemed to get into the most ridiculous mishaps. Plus when reading it was very difficult for me to follow along with some of her compulsive behavior. I understand why she did it, but it bogged down the story a lot. I will try to read the second in this series and hope it gets better. But the first was just not very good.

[Tam Sesto · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting protagonist and lighthearted writing all within a typical cozy mystery plot.

Puzzling Ink by Becky Clark is book one in a new series (Crossword Puzzle Mystery). It is written as a typical cozy mystery but has a few little nuggets inside it. The main character, Quinn, has OCD and battles depression. She works as a waitress and develops crossword puzzles for the local paper. Quinn’s parents are a delight to read, a loving couple who enjoy life and would do anything for their daughter. Her boss and his ex-wife are a handful, but by the end of the book your thinking that you can’t wait to see where these characters go as the series continues.

I don’t really know a lot about OCD, so I found Quinn to be an interesting character as the author took us through her struggles. I love crossword puzzles, so I enjoyed reading about the process of creating one, and I loved how the author used that skill to help with solving the mystery; quite clever. The author includes the crossword puzzle and answers at the end of the book for the reader to complete which was an unexpected but fun detail about the book. In addition, she posted some recipes used in the book....not to sure on that, as Quinn’s mother made some weird concoctions lol. All in all, a good cozy mystery.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a new series by Becky Clark. I'm not sure how I feel about Quinn Carr. She claims to have a mild case of OCD, but I beg to differ. I was getting twitchy 15 pages in. A saving grace is her love for crossword puzzles. When she is left to run the diner where she works singlehandedly when her boss is arrested for the murder of a customer, things spin way out of control. Her delightful parents try to assist her, but to me their cooking skills are way over the top. I'd be hard pressed to eat a cumin frosted cupcake no matter what the occasion, Unsure about this series. I'd have to read another one in the series.

[Ms. Sethi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book combines two things i love: crossword puzzles and mysteries! There was also a lot of reference to the narrator's OCD and her frustration in how people close to her responded to her. I especially liked the narrator's parents as characters as they were sweet and quirky. It was an enjoyable read, but the mystery part of it felt a little all over the place and random, and the conclusion (I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers) to the mystery was disappointing and felt like it just happened to be convenient.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First up - the included crossword puzzle is quite good and is what gave this 2 stars instead of 1. If like me you want to solve it, do so before reading this book. You can find it both on p. 122 (ebook) and at end (with solution). If you don't, half the pleasure of solving it is ruined by the way it is incorporated into the mystery. That is a major sin by this author.

Quinn is back in her small hometown east of Denver, living with her parents, and working as a waitress in the local diner. It is a very hot summer night, the 4th of July, and Quinn is working alone when 2 men enter shortly before closing. Quinn serves them and continues closing up. When she eventually goes to the booth to ask them to leave, she finds only one of the two men, and he is dead. Turns out the dead man is her boss' former partner, and her boss is promptly arrested. The rest of this cozy is how Quinn ultimately identifies the correct murderer, freeing her boss from jail.

It's not very well written or plotted at all. Which is rather shocking given the author seems to have written quite a few books in another series, and book(s) on writing! Must be a case of do what I say, not what I do.

What was so bad, besides ruining solving the crossword puzzle when it is finally introduced? Quinn you learn very quickly suffers from severe OCD and depression, and seems newly on medication for it, and has her parents and BFF worried about her. Something happened when she was living in Denver that resulted in her abrupt return home. The reasons for all this are kept deliberately murky through most of the book, needlessly so IMHO, and in fact, this murkiness contributes to a lot of confusion and distraction from the mystery plot. When finally fully revealed - almost at the end - I saw no reason why her personal mystery had not been fully revealed far sooner. Another problem is that Quinn's age is a mystery for a good 2/3 of the book - seeming to be in her early 20s, you finally learn she's in her 30s. There are also awkwardly addressed racism and homophobia, overly clever miss-stated vocabulary, and really terrible sounding food and recipes!

There are some great moments -- her BFF Rico giving her a gold fish that Quinn names Fang, Quinn's relating to Fang as if he were a cat, Rico and Quinn's date, and Quinn's parents are a hoot. But it is not enough to save what is a very poor example of a cozy.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the Crossword Puzzle mystery by Becky Clark.

This was a fun and witty mystery that really kept my attention and pushed my pulse higher with each chapter. Great characterization and whodunit.

I have to admit I felt this was more a culinary/diner mystery than a crossword mystery. Yes, the crossword did play a part in forwarding the storyline but I didn’t see it as a significant factor. I thought it was a hoot to have Quinn’s mom and dad take over the diner when she needed to investigate some of the clues.

I thought it was weird that the man seen with the victim wasn’t looked into until near the end of the story. And even though the failed date between Quinn and Rico went sideways, I think the romance between the detective and the amateur sleuth is always a good choice. I am hoping maybe she and the chief might find some common ground in future books.

This was a fun mystery to follow.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun first-in-series by an author I've read and enjoyed before, Becky Clark. Protagonist Quinn has moved back to her hometown after some unexpected and unwelcome changes in her life, doing her best to hang on to her diner waitressing job. When a customer is found dead in the diner, and Quinn's boss - and only other weekday employee - is nowhere to be found, she struggles to single-handedly keep the diner open and uncover who was responsible for the mysterious diner death. I found myself rooting for Quinn as she juggled being the sole waitress, cook, and cashier at the diner. Not without her faults, she was determined to make the best of a tough situation and keep her sense of humor through it all. I liked how realistic she was, and her close relationships with her parents and her best friend Rico. This was an easy, hard-to-put-down read, and I loved trying to come up with the who and why of this whodunit. Looking forward to future books in this series!

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Noreen Trotsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different sort of mystery with the heroine being the creator of crossword puzzles, starting a new job as a waitress, and has OCD. The mystery in this book seemed to be all over the place, with much of the focus being on her having OCD. It took me awhile to get into the pace of the book, but I'd probably recommend this book to readers of cozies and those looking for something a little different.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an egalley of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and funny

This is such a smart, funny cozy! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from page 1. Lots of clever word play puns, humor, and red herrings. I enjoyed learning how crossword puzzles are written. Quinn the main character is interesting and real and the secondary characters are quirky and fun. Well written, well plotted....bring me more!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I officially choose Quinn Carr for my new bestie! Absolutely loved this protagonist, whose struggles with OCD didn't stop her from hunting down a devious killer. Despite every obstacle--and just they kept piling on--Quinn never gave up on her quest to prove her boss innocent of a murder charge. She has heart, spunk, and wit to spare. I love cozies in which the main character's folks are loving and supportive, and Quinn's mom and dad top the list, in my opinion. I am dying to see what Quinn does in her next cozy adventure, so bring on book two, Becky Clark!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Quinn and learning more about OCD. I found it unreasonable that her boss would expect her to keep the diner running on her own and also manage to get him out of jail. Otherwise, I liked the story and the secondary characters - loved her mom's creations!

[Cori Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. The perfect book for my troubling week of paperwork.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here we find a murder mystery solved by an amateur sleuth and crossword puzzle creator/waitress. The book makes a strong effort to show how protagonist Quinn's recent OCD diagnosis is affecting her. There is discussion around why people shouldn't use the term colloquially and depiction of her everyday experiences that were valuable.

Sadly, here ends my praises for the book. I will now be directing my attention towards criticisms from most to least important. That way, you can drift off as soon as you are convinced to avoid the whole thing. Be advised that there are triggers for racism and xenophobia described in this review.

1. There are racist comments throughout, although Quinn describes herself as "woke" (feel free to gag). A side character, Loma, reads as a stereotypical black woman. It is suggested her marriage fell apart because she and her white husband were born "on opposite sides of the tracks." For people who cannot read between the lines here (I implore you to read up on redlining, if so), the characters explicitly pinpoint "different races, different upbringings" as evidence of incompatibility. Other people are described as "ethnic," "exotic," and "foreign." Edward Said is rolling over in his grave. It is suggested that the small town central to this story does not welcome people perceived as falling into any of these categories.
2. Still with me? I had hoped number one would be sufficient, but let's move on to the police apologist messaging towards the end of the book. If I had seen a Blue Lives Matter sign in this book's front yard, I would not have read it. It is argued that the police make split-second mistakes that deserve our sympathy, even as they pull the trigger or otherwise end someone else's life. There is no acknowledgement of how these individuals uphold institutional racism and willfully commit murders under its auspices. The priorities here are woefully misguided and completely unacceptable.
3. Hello, stragglers, and welcome to number three. Yeah, so the murder isn't very engaging, and the story is more Diner Dash than Agatha Christie. Zero suspense and rapid, unfulfilling resolution.

*mic drop*

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Kensington Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This is a new cozy series which features a waitress who lives at home who has OCD symptoms and loves crossword puzzles. She wishes her life was simple as a crossword puzzle as she gains a side job to create crossword puzzles for the local newspaper.

When a customer dies at her table, she finds herself investigating the murder despite the sheriff not thinking it worth his time. There are plenty of suspects including her boss. Will she be able to s\solve the murder?

Crossword fans will enjoy this new cozy read which includes puzzles to solve. A new fun different cozy read.

[MaryBeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free digital advance review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was intrigued by the unique premise of Puzzling Ink, which centers on a mystery solving crossword puzzle creator. The main character Quinn has obsessive compulsive disorder and depression and is navigating life after experiencing some sort of breakdown which is alluded to but never described in detail. She has returned to her small hometown to live with her supportive parents and is working as a waitress in a diner where a customer ends up dead. Along with her childhood best friend who is a member of the police force, Quinn investigates the crime and includes clues to her list of likely suspects in a crossword puzzle that she writes for the local newspaper. The book includes the actual puzzle, which was difficult to access in e-book format, but which would have been fun to solve if I had a paper copy. The murder mystery part of this book was not the most compelling aspect for me, and I would be interested to see how the characters' relationships with each other continue to develop if the author writes a sequel. The author's acknowledgements include two people who shared their experiences of living with OCD with her, and I am interested in reading #ownvoices reviews of this book to see whether Quinn's portrayal rings true.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn Carr has been diagnosed with OCD, and has come back to her home town after having a hard time in Denver. She's waitressing at a diner, composing crossword puzzles for the local paper, and hanging out with an old friend and her lovable, kooky parents.

She can focus on coping with her OCD and figuring out what to do with her life, since it doesn't look as though she'll be able to succeed as a police officer -- her first career choice.

Then all of a sudden she finds a murder victim in the diner. The diner's owner is arrested and Quinn has to manage the diner completely on her own... while she tries to figure out who the killer really is. Fortunately, the whole town steps up to help her.

I don't know enough about OCD to vouch for the accuracy of the portrayal in this book, but I found it very interesting. The author is certainly ,making an effort to educate ignorant people like myself. I liked the characters, though the plot of the book seemed implausible most of the time. The book is well written and often witty.

If the puzzle is the most important part of a mystery for you, you'll probably find this one disappointing. However, I enjoyed it and look forward to learning more about Quinn and her community.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becky Clark kicks off her new Crossword Puzzle Mystery series with Puzzling Ink. I really enjoyed this 1st instalment and I am interested enough to pick up book 2 when it becomes available.

After bombing out of the police academy in Denver Quinn Carr has arrived back home in Chestnut, Colorado and is currently living with her folks. As well as devising crossword puzzles for her local rag, she is employed as a waitress in a diner. When a customer is found dead in the diner and her employer and another co-worker go AWOL, Quinn juggles her regular waitressing as well as the cooking, herself. Although not faultless, Quinn keeps a sense of realism and humour as she assists her police officer friend with the subsequent murder case. Quinn is a OCD sufferer and I liked the sensitive way she was portrayed by the author. All in all, a great cozy mystery with some witty interludes and a fun bunch of characters. 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my own unbiased opinion.