Puzzle Mystery

1907: The dawn of Egyptology is a time of imperialism and plunder, opulence and unrest, and Dr. Warren Ford, esteemed archaeologist, is the man of the hour. His daughters—intellectual Lila, on the eve of her debut as a Manhattan socialite, and nonconformist Tess, who dreams of following in his footsteps—have always lived in his shadow, and their lives couldn’t feel more different. But when a secretive organization seeks to find a lost relic legendary for its dangerous power, it isn’t Dr. Ford they turn to—it’s his two remarkable daughters.

The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face is a short story from Dorothy Sayers' book, Lord Peter Views the Body. Several passengers on a train are excitedly discussing a recent murder, in which a man was found on a beach, strangled, with his face cut off. Lord Peter Wimsey is among them, and cleverly deduces several facts about the case based on details mentioned by the passengers. A policeman, Inspector Winterbottom among them overhears the conversation and takes Lord Peter's calling card.

A featured selection at the 2024 Tucson Festival of Books Distracted by guilt over the serious injuries his best friend sustained while assisting with a case, Vasily Korsokovach doesn’t think much of the envelope that appears in his mailbox at the Rancho Linda Police Department. Containing a bunch of retro Polaroid snapshots showing a series of ordinary objects in everyday situations, the Deputy Chief finds himself at a loss as to why anyone would send him such random photos; whatever hidden message the sender was hoping to pass along is a mystery that Vasily is unwilling to delve into. ...

Known for enchanting architectural features like sliding bookshelves and secret passageways, Secret Staircase Construction is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and is now taking on a dream project: transforming a home into a public library that celebrates history's greatest fictional detectives. Though the work is far from done, Gray House Library’s new owner is eager to host a murder mystery dinner and literary themed escape room. But when a rehearsal ends with an actor murdered and the body vanishes, Tempest Raj is witness to a seemingly impossible crime.

Disappearing wasn’t going to be enough…they needed a plan…some answers…and a safe place so they could figure out what to do next and stop running in circles trying to stay one step ahead of the guys who seemed to want her dead. Simon Sullivan might not be who Ava always believed him to be, but along with his brother, he’d spent his life trying to protect her. That wasn’t going to change especially now when everything they’d planned for, hoping against hope it would never be needed, was playing out exactly as they’d feared. But he’s not alone. Harper Riley isn’t about to ...

When family recipes come with a side of danger... Isabella Rossi has spent her life perfecting her craft as an Italian fusion chef, pouring her passion and heritage into her newly opened restaurant, Semolina. But when her lifelong rival, Giuseppe Bellano, collapses at her restaurant’s wine dinner—poisoned, no less—Isabella’s culinary dreams quickly spiral into a nightmare. Accused of murder and faced with a family feud dating back generations, Isabella teams up with her quick-witted best friend, Vee, to uncover the truth. The key lies in an ancient recipe—guarded for centuries—...

Dive into the heart of the Sahara with "The Puzzle Chamber Mysteries: The Saharan Secret," an exhilarating novel that blends the intrigue of ancient civilizations with the thrill of modern adventure. Follow a team of intrepid explorers as they uncover a labyrinth hidden beneath the desert sands, filled with puzzles, traps, and secrets that have been buried for millennia. In this gripping tale, you'll journey alongside a diverse group of characters, each with their own expertise and personal quests for discovery.

One Sip Too Fatal As Murder Brews at The Book Nook! At a charming book club gathering in the storybook town of Willow Creek, murder isn't on the menu—until sharp-tongued Madeline Prescott keels over, poisoned mid-sip. Enter Harper Lane: sarcastic, sharp-eyed, and owner of the quaint bookshop, The Book Nook. With a trusty cup of tea and her gossip-loving parrot, Edgar, Harper prefers plots on the page—until real murder lands in her lap. When the police chalk it up to a tragic accident, Harper isn’t convinced. After all, Edgar won’t stop muttering, “Not mine! Not mine!” Between ...

Mildred Kilgore and Earlynne Biddle are planning to open a bakery on the square - if they can come up with the right recipes. Charlie Dickens faces two of the biggest puzzles of his career as an investigative reporter, and one of them involves his wife. Cute little Cupcake's talent as a singer and dancer makes her a tempting target for an unscrupulous exploiter. Lizzy must enlist the Dahlias to protect her while she herself is confronted by a romantic puzzle. And Sheriff Norris is forced to reopen a puzzling mystery that the town thought was solved.

Hollywood comes to Michigan when a film producer decides to turn a local author's romance novel into a blockbuster. Although the movie mogul's chocolate labrador is charming, Lee McKinney thinks the producer's talk is a bunch of sweet nothings-and she grows even more suspicious when she stumbles upon a dead body.

In *Cipher, Mobsters & a Sphinx,* retired cipher decoder Candeedo Brewdinkle seeks the peaceful life of Killian Cove after years of globe-trotting adventures. Alongside his witty, mysterious feline companion, Bartholomew, Candeedo settles into a quiet routine of crossword puzzles and decoding cryptic messages sent by Norman, the local bookstore owner. He anticipates a tranquil life in this charming seaside town, but things take a sudden dark turn. A mysterious coded message leads Candeedo to Norman’s bookstore, where he stumbles upon a chilling discovery: a dead body, a missing bookmark ...

Andy Crowl barely knew his recently deceased cousin, Craig Moore, so he’s especially surprised to be named as the sole beneficiary in Craig’s will. Not that there’s much to inherit: just an empty bank account and a run-down house. Once Andy arrives in the town of Mortom, however, he’s drawn into his puzzle-obsessed cousin’s true legacy: a twisted and ominous treasure hunt. Beckoned by macabre clues of dead rats and cemetery keys, Andy jumps into the game, hoping to discover untold wealth. But unsavory secrets - and unanswered questions about Craig’s untimely demise - arise at every turn....

The dark shadows of a 20-year-old unsolved murder turns Madelyn’s quiet life upside down. In 1979, Madelyn Harper had the ideal life—a loving husband, a young son, and the return of a treasured family heirloom from a museum exhibit, or so she thought. But when the necklace arrives back into her hands, something feels wrong. Could it be a fake? Little did she know, her investigation into the Sweet Sapphire Necklace would be tied to her husband’s sinister and sudden death. As Madelyn delves deeper into the investigation, determined to uncover the truth, she must solve this deadly puzzle...

In the deceptively charming town of Sweetville, dark secrets lurk beneath a sugary veneer. When a shocking murder rocks the town, Emily Hartman, owner of the enchanted candy shop Sugared Secrets, Must harness her arcane powers and razor-sharp intellect to unravel a sinister mystery. Joined by her enigmatic feline companion, Whiskers, and the alluring Detective Max Wilder, Emily plunges into a treacherous world of ancient magic and hidden agendas. As a shadowy cabal threatens to resurrect a malevolent force from Sweetville's past, Emily and Max must confront their deepest fears and uncover ...

Dive into the depths of mystery with B.E. Lockwood's captivating novel, "The Puzzle Chamber Mysteries: The Submerged Sanctuary". Join Professor Lillian March and her intrepid team as they embark on a thrilling expedition to uncover the secrets of an ancient, hidden sanctuary submerged beneath the waves.

Successful attorney Larry Scott checks his watch and realizes that he is still working in his law office at four minutes past midnight which means that Larry has just turned sixty years of age while chained to his desk. He is disgusted with his workaholic ways and decides right then and there to retire from the Indianapolis law firm where he has toiled for his entire thirty-five year legal career. Larry has no idea that a bizarre set of circumstances will soon have him sorting through cryptic clues to solve three very old murders back in his home town of Vevay, Indiana. Can Larry make the ...

Cora couldn't have been happier: Matt Greystone was coming to town! The rookie sensation had just signed a huge contract with the Yankees, coming to the team from Arizona, where he won 17 games as a starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks. But an arm injury requiring rehab had sidelined his meteoric rise, and this was her chance to meet him! A diehard Yankee fan, Cora was delighted when Matt invited her to a weekend pool party. On the plus side, she got to meet Derek Jeter. On the minus side, she had a puzzle of her own to solve when a couple of guests got killed.

It’s been an enjoyable and murder-free time for Judith, Suzie and Becks – AKA the Marlow Murder Club – since the events of last year. The most exciting thing on the horizon is the upcoming wedding of Marlow grandee, Sir Peter Bailey, to his nurse, Jenny Page. Sir Peter is having a party at his grand mansion on the river Thames the day before the wedding, and Judith and Co. are looking forward to a bit of free champagne.

🍲 "Murder is on the menu." 🍲 When a politician drops dead after choking on a mysterious USB drive hidden in his soup, chef Cee-Cee’s career goes up in flames—literally. Accused of murder and entangled in a web of small-town secrets and organized crime, she’s got more on her plate than just the dinner rush. Armed with nothing but her wit, her whisk, and a few loyal friends, Cee-Cee must uncover the truth hidden in that deadly bowl of soup before she becomes the next course. Murder, mayhem, and a dash of dark humor simmer in this page-turning cozy culinary mystery. Perfect for ...

Gus somehow won the church raffle. It was a miraculous feat given that he’d never entered it-the church or the raffle. He suddenly finds himself with two tickets to paradise and one of them premade out for Father Xavier. Paradise in this case being the Caribbean Island of Saint Hubbins. They’re joined at the hotel by two couples that appear to be engaged in a tangled web of extra-marital affairs with each other. Gus isn’t too interested in the affairs of others until one of them ends up dead. Another person is arrested by the local police for the crime. It’s not that Gus feels he ...