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Puzzle Lady #7
Stalking the Puzzle Lady
Cora Felton may look like everyone’s favorite grandmother. But the white-haired, bespectacled Puzzle Lady swears, smokes, gambles, and is even dodgy on the subject of how many husbands she’s had. So it strikes her long-suffering niece Sherry Carter as amusing when Cora announces, “I’m tired of living a lie!”
The inspiration for this sudden burst of honesty is a promotion by Granville Grains featuring the Puzzle Lady on a bus tour of televised personal appearances. Cora can’t think of anything she’d like to do less–except maybe quit smoking–than travel the supermarkets of I-95 hawking the new and improved Corn Toasties to her legions of fans. And someone else mustn’t want her to go either, because they’ve left a knife planted in her front door with a crossword puzzle attached. But when Sherry solves the puzzle she can’t decide whether the enigmatic message is a threat, a love note, or– creepier still–both.
Like it or not, Cora and Sherry must take their show on the road, along with a makeshift TV crew that includes a smarmy producer with a bad hairpiece, an abrasive director, an overambitious publicist, and two overgrown child-actors with some very adult problems. Throw in a few uninvited guests, including a roly-poly munchkin who’s had an unrequited crush on Cora since high school and Sherry’s abusive ex-husband, and you don’t need to be a puzzle expert to know this trip is going to be murder!
The inspiration for this sudden burst of honesty is a promotion by Granville Grains featuring the Puzzle Lady on a bus tour of televised personal appearances. Cora can’t think of anything she’d like to do less–except maybe quit smoking–than travel the supermarkets of I-95 hawking the new and improved Corn Toasties to her legions of fans. And someone else mustn’t want her to go either, because they’ve left a knife planted in her front door with a crossword puzzle attached. But when Sherry solves the puzzle she can’t decide whether the enigmatic message is a threat, a love note, or– creepier still–both.
Like it or not, Cora and Sherry must take their show on the road, along with a makeshift TV crew that includes a smarmy producer with a bad hairpiece, an abrasive director, an overambitious publicist, and two overgrown child-actors with some very adult problems. Throw in a few uninvited guests, including a roly-poly munchkin who’s had an unrequited crush on Cora since high school and Sherry’s abusive ex-husband, and you don’t need to be a puzzle expert to know this trip is going to be murder!
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 29, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 3, 2019
"Has the Puzzle Lady finally met her match? That's the life-and-death question when eccentric Cora Felton and her cruciverbalist niece Sherry match wits against a deranged crossword puzzle fan turned 'cereal' killer ...
"Cora Felton may look like everyone's favorite grandmother. But when Bakerhaven's beloved Puzzle Lady grudgingly hits the road as part of a television promotion for new and improved Corn Toasties, everyone's got a surprise in store -- including a deranged crossword puzzle fan. Someone's left a knife planted in Cora's front door with a crossword attached. But when Sherry solves the puzzle she can't decide whether the enigmatic message is a threat, a love note -- or both.
"Now they're traveling the supermarkets of I-95 by bus with an abrasive director, an overambitious publicist, and two overgrown child-actors with very adult problems. Throw in a few uninvited guest, some surprise corpses, and Sherry's abusive ex-husband, and you don't need to be a puzzle expert to know this trip is going to be murder!
~~back flap
Cora is her usual hilarious, cantankerous self and is sure she knows she's being stalked and by whom. Eventually she gets Sherry, Aaron and Buddy (the dog), and even Bakerhaven's only solicitor Becky Baldwin. While making for unimaginable sleeping arrangements, the gang isn't enough to prevent more murders and a plot that thickens and confuses. What's not to like?
"Cora Felton may look like everyone's favorite grandmother. But when Bakerhaven's beloved Puzzle Lady grudgingly hits the road as part of a television promotion for new and improved Corn Toasties, everyone's got a surprise in store -- including a deranged crossword puzzle fan. Someone's left a knife planted in Cora's front door with a crossword attached. But when Sherry solves the puzzle she can't decide whether the enigmatic message is a threat, a love note -- or both.
"Now they're traveling the supermarkets of I-95 by bus with an abrasive director, an overambitious publicist, and two overgrown child-actors with very adult problems. Throw in a few uninvited guest, some surprise corpses, and Sherry's abusive ex-husband, and you don't need to be a puzzle expert to know this trip is going to be murder!
~~back flap
Cora is her usual hilarious, cantankerous self and is sure she knows she's being stalked and by whom. Eventually she gets Sherry, Aaron and Buddy (the dog), and even Bakerhaven's only solicitor Becky Baldwin. While making for unimaginable sleeping arrangements, the gang isn't enough to prevent more murders and a plot that thickens and confuses. What's not to like?
February 3, 2021
This is the fourth of Parnell Hall's mysteries that I have read and in my opinion by far the best. It makes no pretense to being Great Literature but instead is a lighthearted romp starring a grandmotherly crossword puzzle constructer celebrity who reminds me a lot of Grandma Mazur in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum comic mysteries. In other words, the sweet old lady surface conceals a character with unexpected traits. To say more might ruin the fun.
This contasts with a later book in the series that I read first, in which one of the main supporting characters is off on a safari and thus not available for comic foil duty. It also contrasts greatly with Hall's Stanley Hastings hardboiled private eye novels which I think are supposed to be similarly comic but just annoyed me as the main character is dumb, dumb, dumb--and obsessed with women's breasts to an unpleasant degree.
Puzzle Lady Cora Felton is anything but dumb, although here she finds herself in consistently weird situations as she embarks on a publicity tour--for a new, improved brand of cereal--in which real children are filmed eating the cereal for a series of television commercials. A couple of hired child impersonators also are on hand just in case the real kids prove unexpectedly dull on camera.
The idea that a murderer would post crossword puzzles as clues--apparently three per book--is farfetched but entertaining. I only wished that the puzzles were a little more difficult, but no matter as their solutions are included for even the dullest reader within a few pages.
These are cosy mysteries with a little more edge than is usual in the form, and they include a cast of supporting characters that repeats from book to book. After only two novels I am still working to keep them straight. I also suspect that few readers would be able to sort out the somewhat convoluted mystery, but that is hardly a problem, as the mystery is not the point.
Over all, quite enjoyable.
This contasts with a later book in the series that I read first, in which one of the main supporting characters is off on a safari and thus not available for comic foil duty. It also contrasts greatly with Hall's Stanley Hastings hardboiled private eye novels which I think are supposed to be similarly comic but just annoyed me as the main character is dumb, dumb, dumb--and obsessed with women's breasts to an unpleasant degree.
Puzzle Lady Cora Felton is anything but dumb, although here she finds herself in consistently weird situations as she embarks on a publicity tour--for a new, improved brand of cereal--in which real children are filmed eating the cereal for a series of television commercials. A couple of hired child impersonators also are on hand just in case the real kids prove unexpectedly dull on camera.
The idea that a murderer would post crossword puzzles as clues--apparently three per book--is farfetched but entertaining. I only wished that the puzzles were a little more difficult, but no matter as their solutions are included for even the dullest reader within a few pages.
These are cosy mysteries with a little more edge than is usual in the form, and they include a cast of supporting characters that repeats from book to book. After only two novels I am still working to keep them straight. I also suspect that few readers would be able to sort out the somewhat convoluted mystery, but that is hardly a problem, as the mystery is not the point.
Over all, quite enjoyable.
May 23, 2018
Crossword puzzles with hidden clues mysteriously appear and disappear and seem to threaten Cora,
the Puzzle Lady, off on a publicity tour for a cereal aimed at children. There is an amusing send-up
of the shooting of an ad campaign. Cora manages to solve the murders of ad production personnel and track down her stalker.
the Puzzle Lady, off on a publicity tour for a cereal aimed at children. There is an amusing send-up
of the shooting of an ad campaign. Cora manages to solve the murders of ad production personnel and track down her stalker.
August 4, 2009
This series is just fun "brain candy." It's clean, although the main character and two others who are in all of the books do engage in unmarried sex. There are no graphic details. Everything stops at the bedroom door. Crime scenes are not described in gory details.
June 2, 2011
I've been thinking about getting into the mystery/crime genre, and what better way to segue from chick lit to this than with a lady sleuth? The main character is a spitfire grandma who swears, smokes, and can't remember how many husbands she's had, so definitley entertaining so far.
November 1, 2010
I think this was my least favorite Puzzle Lady book. I didnt like the story line, the characters were not funny as usual and seemed to just be arguing all the time. Would not recommend it.
December 28, 2024
To be honest I randomly grabbed this off the shelf at my library because I’m usually a fan of kitchy murder mysteries and I am a crossword fan. I also know this is not the first book in the series but I just could not get into this story and I found the main character totally unlikable. The interactions between characters were just weird and nothing seemed to flow. There are many other better series’ in this genre.
April 9, 2020
This one gets 4 stars just because I love the comical interaction and drama between the characters I know and love/hate. BUT this story in particular wasn't so fun....I don't know. A little meandering and not necessarily a put-together conclusion.
November 26, 2022
Still enjoying the crazy shenanigans of the whole “puzzle lady” crew. Liked how they all managed to travel in this book. There was no rhyme or reason behind the killer/ stalker which I found odd. The fun and entertainment continues.
May 4, 2017
Interesting murder mystery about stalking. Love the characters as always and excited to read the next book!
September 11, 2017
Usually, I have have an inkling of who did it. Not this time.
May 9, 2019
The series is getting better
July 13, 2019
Just like the first one. A quick read fun characters but disappointing finish.
January 20, 2020
Number two of my Puzzle Lady reads and the cast of characters is growing on me.
March 14, 2021
Clever, fun, light. Good read. This time the ending was a surprise because the murderer was introduced until the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2021
Nothing remarkable about this book. I picked it up because I like puzzles. I will not read another in this series.
August 17, 2021
Note to self, Cora Felton is a good shot with her pistol, not to mention she's a pistol in general.
This sassy little old lady is what keeps me coming back to this series!
This sassy little old lady is what keeps me coming back to this series!
June 5, 2012
Another great Puzzle Lady Book. I am enjoying reading this complete series in order. In this one, Cora goes on tour to promote the cereal that sponsors her. She doesn't want to do it, but need the money due to some losses in the stock market. Before leaving, a puzzle is delivered to her door...compliments of a knife. It is the second puzzle with a message to her in it.
While on tour, one of the people connected with it is killed...ruled an accident, but Cora knows better. When another murder occurs, she knows she is right. Puzzles are left with both of the bodies.
Sherry's ex is once again involved in this story and the ending is a little more action packed than the earlier books. Cora is also still on the wagon, although she would rather not be. She still smokes like a locomotive though.
While on tour, one of the people connected with it is killed...ruled an accident, but Cora knows better. When another murder occurs, she knows she is right. Puzzles are left with both of the bodies.
Sherry's ex is once again involved in this story and the ending is a little more action packed than the earlier books. Cora is also still on the wagon, although she would rather not be. She still smokes like a locomotive though.
August 16, 2015
Cora's at it again. She needs money so she's agreed to do a cereal ad campaign, moving from city to city, trying to find some children to star in the commercial with her. Still struggling with her fame, still wanting to NOT be the Puzzle Lady but getting pulled in anyway. This time, she's got an uber-fan, someone's who's willing to kill to get her to notice him.
Some movement with her niece, Shelly, and her boyfriend, Aaron, which was nice to see. All of the rest of the cast was there as well (Becky, Shelly's ex-husband, and his new wife) as well as some new people (a guy who's been in love with her since they were kids and he's bugged her then AND now).
Some movement with her niece, Shelly, and her boyfriend, Aaron, which was nice to see. All of the rest of the cast was there as well (Becky, Shelly's ex-husband, and his new wife) as well as some new people (a guy who's been in love with her since they were kids and he's bugged her then AND now).
September 11, 2009
All you fans of Grandma Mauzer should like this book. It is easy to read and has crossword puzzles in it for you to solve. Cora isn't exactly like Grandma Mauzer, she has more on the ball. Yet somehow they could be related. The story takes place on the Eastern Seaboard area- Mystic Sea Port is one of the stops. It is not pee in you pants funny but there are a few chuckles along the way. No graphic sex or violence. It is all implied. (Is that good or bad? lol)A good rainy day or beach book.
abandoned
June 25, 2013I read this as far as the first crossword puzzle and stopped. It seemed like sort of a cross between the goofy characters of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and the mystery as a backdrop for something else gimmick of Joanne Fluke's recipe mysteries. In this case the gimmick is crossword puzzles which contain clues. I didn't find either the characters or the puzzles interesting enough to continue.
March 20, 2014
Cora has a problem. One of her many fans is stalking her, but she doesn't know who it is. And when he turns to murder, things really get out of hand. As always, I found parts of the book laugh out loud funny while other parts were highly suspenseful. If only the endings were stronger.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 4, 2011
This was ok - kind of a like the Janet Evanovitch mysteries, but not as funny. This book contained either the best Freudian slip ever or my all time favorite editing error: "Cora let out an ejaculation indicating Flo was a person of low IQ involved in romantic coupling illegal in several states." That was worth reading this book for.
Read
August 3, 2014Does anyone else find Sherry annoying? I mean, she gives Cora so much grief about the fact that she (Sherry) is the real puzzle lady and that Cora can't do puzzles. However, Cora isn't pretending to be the puzzle lady for the fame, she is doing it to help Sherry. So why does Sherry always act like she's helping Cora? And could Sherry be any more of a jealous nag?
September 20, 2012
I love witty characters, and the puzzle lady is one of them. I just imagine her with teh zingers and the quick wit annoying the hell of those who think they are incharge... I just love that character!! Great job, again Mr. Hall!
July 4, 2016
Good series . I think the concept of pairing puzzles and crime is brilliant . I like how the book keeps you guessing about whodunit until the very end . I like Cora's spunk in this book , it was refreshing .
I would have to say this is my favorite in the series so far.
I would have to say this is my favorite in the series so far.
January 13, 2009
Another entertaining read from Parnell Hall!
July 7, 2010
I like this series, but it seems that this author is getting tired of it. Like a lot of mystery series, they seem to be more of a formula, instead of being so much fun like the first ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews