In the cutthroat world of crossword solvers, Jenna Hart will have to decipher some puzzling clues to catch a killer . . . The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there's bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who's acting as master of ceremonies. And ...
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In the cutthroat world of crossword solvers, Jenna Hart will have to decipher some puzzling clues to catch a killer . . . The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there's bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who's acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he's out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit. Jenna can't stand by and watch her aunt take the fall. It's been clear since the victim arrived that he had contentious relationships with a number of the contestants-even going so far as to steal puzzles from some of them and claim them as his own-and Jenna's certain one of them is the killer. Trading puzzle solving for crime solving, she sorts through the convoluted clues and cryptic suspects, hoping to nab the guilty party before they decide she's a problem they'll solve with another murder . . . Includes mouthwatering recipes! Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries: "There's a feisty new amateur sleuth in town and her name is Jenna Hart. With a bodacious cast of characters, a wrenching murder, and a collection of cookbooks to die for, Daryl Wood Gerber's Final Sentence is a page-turning puzzler of a mystery that I could not put down." -Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Cupcake Mysteries and Library Lovers Mysteries "In Final Sentence , the author smartly blends crime, recipes, and an array of cookbooks that all should covet in a witty, well-plotted whodunit." -Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author of the Bibliophile Mysteries "Readers will relish the extensive cookbook suggestions, the cooking primer, and the whole foodie phenomenon. Gerber's perky tone with a multigenerational cast makes this series a good match for Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mystery series . . ." -Library Journal
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Add this copy of Poaching is Puzzling: a Cookbook Nook Mystery #12 to cart. $5.52, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by Beyond the Page Publishing.
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Add this copy of Poaching Is Puzzling to cart. $17.34, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by Beyond the Page Publishing.
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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 264 p. Cookbook Nook Mystery, 12. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Poaching is Puzzling by Daryl Wood Gerber is a diverting cozy mystery. We return to the scenic Crystal Cove, California where Jenna Hart and her Aunt Vera own the Cookbook Nook. The story is well-written with developed characters. This is a character driven series. Jenna is back as well as her Aunt Vera, her husband Rhett, Bailey, Kate, Cary as well as Tigger and Rook. I enjoyed the crossword puzzle theme for this story. There are daily crossword puzzles for the townspeople to solve, a crossword puzzle tournament, crossword themed merchandise (cookie jars for example), and the murder of a cruciverbalist (crossword puzzle designer). The death of Wesley Preston, a renowned crossword puzzle designer, puts Aunt Vera in the crosshairs of Chief of Police Cinnamon Pritchett. Aunt Vera asks Jenna to investigate. She knows that the crossword puzzle visitors and contestants will talk to Jenna because she speaks their language. There are multiple suspects in Wesleyâ��s death. Wesley managed to antagonize several people in the days leading up to his death. Jenna asks questions, searches for helpful clues, and gets useful gossip. The whodunit can be solved before the reveal (the devil is in the details). The case is neatly wrapped up at the end (thanks to Jenna). I learned a couple of novel words while reading Poaching is Puzzling (like cruciverbalist and turophile) and I enjoyed the addition of the fifty cent words (my favorite type). There are details on how crossword puzzles are crafted along with the crossword puzzle trivia. I also learned about the different types of knives and their names (there is one for each type of cheeseâ�"soft, hard, smooth, and semi-hard). There is some repetition of minutiae (a pet peeve of mine). We get to spend time with the cutie Tigger and the clever Rook. I like that the author includes adorable furbabies in her books. I look forward to my next visit to Crystal Cove. Poaching is Puzzling is the twelfth A Cookbook Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but you will miss out on the background of the characters and how the couples came together. Poaching is Puzzling is a crossword centric cozy with clever conundrums, a slain cruciverbalist, enticing appetizers, luscious cheeses, a sparkly spirit staff, shrewd wordsmiths, and a triumphant tournament victor.
Lori
May 6, 2023
A Puzzling Mystery
Dollycas's Thoughts�
Jenna Hart has stocked her Cookbook Nook with a variety of puzzle-themed books, aprons, cookie jars, and other culinary items, for the large group of crossword puzzle fans who have come to Crystal Cove for an annual crossword puzzle tournament. Her Aunt Vera has a history with the event's guest speaker "crossword designer extraordinaire" Wesley Preston but is keeping mum about the details. "A memory best forgotten." That is until the man is killed and Vera is at the top of the suspect list.
Now Jenna has her own puzzle to solve. She has seen that the man doesn't get along well with others with her own eyes including people in his own entourage. She has learned that the Cruciverbalist has no issue with stealing puzzles created by others and touting them as his own. She just needs to pull all the clues together to reveal the real killer, who is definitely not her Aunt Vera, but she has to be careful so that she is not permanently erased before she has a chance to do that.
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What a fun theme for a cozy mystery! Readers get a behind-the-scenes look at designing crossword puzzles complete with some perfect words to use in each chapter heading. I may even try my hand a crafting a crossword or two.
All my favorite characters from the previous books are back. Jenna and Rhett are living in "wedded bliss". Vera is very involved in the crossword event. She even donated a nice cash prize. Kate is cooking away and doing food demonstrations. Bailey keeps the Cookbook Nook running with a smile while Jenna and Vera are doing other things. Cinnamon is always busy trying to catch a killer but knows people just tell Jenna things they would never tell police. Tigger who sometimes acts more like a dog than a cat loves hanging out at the Nook on his kitty condo. Rook is always happy to welcome Jenna and Rhett at the end of their days and is thrilled to take walks on the beach. Ms. Gerber has created such genuine characters. As soon as you open the book it feels like you are visiting dear friends.
The mystery she wraps her characters in is quite puzzling, LOL. There are plenty of suspects, twists, turns, and moments of distraction, along with great clues for readers to follow. This all leads up to a very exciting ending as all the clues fall into place for Jenna at a most inopportune time. As the drama played out I found myself scooting closer and closer to the end of my seat. The guilty party was high on my personal suspect list but was still surprised and a little saddened when they were revealed.
I love that Ms. Gerber shares an abundance of recipes at the end of each book including Gluten Free Versions. It is always best not to read her books on an empty stomach. Her food descriptions will cause cravings, so be prepared.
Poaching is Puzzling is so well-written and well-plotted. It was fun and entertaining and I am so excited to see what the author comes up with next for her wonderful characters.
