A Crossworder's Delight

A Crossword Mystery

by Nero Blanc

Prime Crime

Mystery

October 3, 2006

ISBN-13: 0425212289

Available in: Paperback

A Crossworder's Delight
by Nero Blanc

This holiday season, crossword editor Belle Graham and her PI partner Rosco Polycrates must restore a historic treasure to the local inn—and trace the origins of a very special cookbook...

Everyone in Newcastle, Massachusetts, gathers 'round to deck the halls of the Paul Revere Inn, noted for its signed copy of Longfellow's poem about the patriot. In the midst of the holiday revelry, Belle finds a handmade book of dessert recipes, written in the form of crosswords dedicated from mother to daughter. The clues date the book to the midst of the Second World War. How did such a treasure come to be abandoned?

While Belle follows the book's trail, foul play is added to the mix as the inn's "revered" icon goes missing and the owners call Rosco to help. Twelve-year-old wordaholic E.T. Whitman is eager to assist—although his constant punning can make him more of a hindrance than a help. At first, Belle and Rosco think the case is a piece of cake, and gently roll their eyes at the fantastic scenarios that E.T. is cooking up to explain the theft. But in this case, they might just measure up to the truth...



Nero Blanc's Bio

The Crossword Mystery series is a collaboration created by the husband and wife writing team of Steve Zettler and Cordelia Frances Biddle. Cordelia's previous work has been primarily historical fiction (Beneath the Wind and Murder at San Simeon), while Steve's has been more international thrillers (The Second Man, Double Identity and Ronin). However, the concept of writing in partnership has always fascinated them.

Crossword editor Belle Graham and P.I. Rosco Polycrates are sharpening their pencils and their minds to solve the puzzles that end in murder. Crossword puzzles throughout the novels can be filled in to help solve the crimes.