Review: Puzzled Indemnity by Parnell Hall

A Mysterious Review of Puzzled Indemnity by Parnell Hall. A Cora Felton, Puzzle Lady Mystery.

Review summary: This murder mystery is cleverly devised, with plenty of unexpected twists introduced. The puzzles included in the book relate to the plot in a creative way, but seem more a nod to the series theme than an integral part of the investigation. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Puzzled Indemnity
Parnell Hall
A Cora Felton, Puzzle Lady Mystery
Minotaur Books (January 2015)

Publisher synopsis: It's been a cold, lonely winter for Cora Felton. Long distance has cooled the Puzzle Lady's on-again-off-again affair with Sergeant Crowley, and the only case Chief Harper has for her to investigate is a routine liquor store robbery. So when attorney friend Becky Baldwin asks her to check out whether Brittney Wells' philandering husband is planning to kill her to collect on a million dollar, double indemnity insurance policy, Cora jumps at the chance.

Cora has no problem tracking hubby to his love nest, but when Brittany refuses to believe he's cheating on her, Cora has to blackmail him to prove the affair. Before she can, a car bomb rocks the quiet streets of Bakerhaven, and the stakes escalate to murder.

To save Becky's clueless client from the clutches of the law, Cora will manipulate a TV reporter, cast suspicion on an innocent man, crack crossword and Sudoku clues, solve the liquor store robbery, and enlist the aid of both Sergeant Crowley and his girlfriend.