Anatomy Of A Crossword

Crossword Mysteries #8

by Nero Blanc

Called to Hollywood to act as a technical consultant for a new TV series called Anatomy of a Crossword, crossword editor Belle Graham finds her experiences in the glamorous world of L.A. turning deadly when the puzzle she created specifically for the show arrives from the typesetter completely altered and one of the actors dies mysteriously on the set. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Joint pseudonym of Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"DOWN AND UP IN BEVERLY HILLS
"Crossword editor Belle Graham is headed for Hollywood. It seems that a crossword crime story is the perfect hook for a new TV series called 'Anatomy of a Crossword.' A little cajoling from starstruck friends and the promise of warm, California sunshine, and she's fast on her way to Tinseltown.

"But when the puzzle Belle created for the show arrives from the typesetter, the clues have been completely changed. Then, one of the actors suddenly dies on the set. And what is going on with that fractious screenwriter? Belle is certainly out of her element, and with only long-distance detective help from her P.I. husband Rosco, she is virtually on her own solving this one . . ."
~~back cover

Very clever plotting as usual, creating a whole plethora of suspects and several different motifs that culminate into the main event: the murder of Chick Darlessen. Did the girl friend do it? If she didn't do it, who did? Lance? Wanda? Harriet? Rolly? Don? Stan? Max? Belle and Rosco are spoiled for choice and as usual, the answers dribble in slowly, one by one until the landslide at the end. And as usual, the red herrings threw me completely off so I was surprised when the murderer was identified. See if you h ave any better luck!

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle Graham is mired in New England’s snowy, late-January gloom when Hollywood comes calling. Seduced by visions of relaxing poolside in sunny Los Angeles, she heads to Hollywood to create a puzzle for a TV movie based on a crime she and her husband, Rosco Polycrates, recently cracked. The hook is that the show is interactive—viewers get to solve the crime on air with Belle. [Amazon synopsis]

The trouble starts when Belle discovers that someone has replaced her crossword with a brand-new set of clues. Then a series of suspicious "accidents" end up as murder. The plot was iffy as were the suspects. Good puzzles, tho.

[Sally Hinksman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this mystery a little difficult to follow. The interactions of characters within their acting roles and in real life seemed to blur together at times so I did a lot of rereading to keep things straight.

[Teresa mcgaha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a favorite of mine in this series, Belle travels to Los Angeles, where a story of hers is being turned into the movie of the week. I didn't like going on location with this story, I missed the hometown feel and local characters that have so well supported this story. Even the crossword puzzles felt forced into the plot, instead of supporting the plot. And the little secret the authors used with the names in the book, really didn't impress me.

[Joann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not by far my most favorite book. I just could not get into the characters that much, they just did not seem real to me. I will probably read the series but will not be top of my list.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book.

[Doris Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

really a good set of escapist books with the included crossword puzzles included.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and lively book. See if you can figure out what famous names were scrambled to come up with the dozens of characters.

[Jean]

This one was confusing.