A Crossworder's Delight

The day after Thanksgiving begins the annual Holiday Decoration Competition for the Paul Revere Inn located in the costal town of Newcastle, Massachusetts. Belle Graham, the crossword puzzle editor for The Evening Crier, walks through each room viewing it's magical holiday transformation, feeling the ambience of the history the Inn is known for. The Sisters-in-Stitches, a church sewing group, which is headed by 80 year old plus Sara Briephs, has been assigned to adorn the parlor where the signed original printing of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Paul Revere's Ride, hangs so proudly. As Belle wanders from room to room finally ending in the Inn's library, a black book catches her attention. Carefully she opens it up only to discover, it was a book written by a mother for her daughter filled with uncompleted crossword puzzles, with the clues belonging to recipes. Wanting to find the ownership of this book, Belle sets out on a journey leading her on a puzzling trail. In the meantime, the Inn's most prized possession the "Paul Revere" poem has vanished. Belle's husband, Roscoe Polycrates, a PI, becomes involved to locate this priceless antiquity. Suddenly, the poem returns to it's rightful place on the wall but ET Whitman, a twelve year old boy hired by the Inn to shovel snow, discovers yet another mystery surrounding this honored piece. "A Crossword's Delight" is a book filled with fascinating characters in a warm colorful setting telling of a delightful story. Anyone who loves mysteries, crossword puzzles and recipes will find this book a must have. As my first Nero Blanc book, it was a journey well enjoyed and I can assure you, it will not be my last.

This trim and fun entry in the crossword-mystery series written by husband and wife Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler under the pseudonym Nero Blanc is a delight, not only for crossword lovers but fans of light mysteries set during the holidays as well. Opening the day after Thanksgiving, as the annual contest of decorating the Paul Revere Inn for Christmas in 18th century fashion begins, the authors give their story the welcoming warmth of a fireplace when it's snowing outside. Belle is the crossword puzzle editor for The Newcastle Evening Crier and is joining her friends Sara and Martha from the church sewing group to try winning a contest they've lost 4 years in a row. Morgan and Mitchell, twins and owners of the Inn, are constantly at odds over the expensive trappings Mitchell believes lends authenticity to the Inn's name. The original Longfellow poem hangs as a reminder of Newcastle's past. When that framed historic poem is stolen, Belle's husband Rosco, an ex-cop turned P.I., looks into the matter. More intrigue surfaces when Belle discovers a book of puzzles written by an unknown woman to her daughter. The book is filled with delicious recipes, but the ingredients are contained within the puzzles, so that the crosswords must be completed in order to enjoy them. As added nostalgia, the clues involves the 1940's! A young teenager named E.T. Whitman has a sorry home-life but a love of words and helps Belle and Rosco do some sleuthing on both mysteries, which may be connected. When the historic document is suddenly returned, it is E.T. who notices something different about it which leads to new discoveries about old crimes long hidden and forgotten. The solving of the mystery has an added bonus for E.T. I can't reveal. There is a light touch and atmosphere which makes this a perfect read for Christmas. Rosco and Belle are a warm and fun couple, and their love for their dogs Kit and Gabby is endearing. Anyone who enjoys a light mystery with tons of seasonal ambience and warm likable characters will love this book. The recipes and crosswords are included, but Belle and Rosco, a.k.a.Cordelia and Steve, have included the answers at the back if you get stuck. A fun series and a great read!

It is the day after Thanksgiving and most everyone in New Castle, Massachusetts is at the Paul Revere Inn decorating the various rooms and completing for prizes. Belle Graham, the crossword puzzle editor for The Evening Crier, is looking at books in the inn's library when she finds a handmade book of crossword puzzles that a mother made for her daughter. Belle decides to see if she can find out who the mother and daughter were. Belle's husband, private investigator Roscoe Polycrates is involved in locating a stolen copy of Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride that was attached to the wall of the inn. Twelve year old E.T. Whitman, who was hired to clear the snow from the inn, watches the guests to make sure nobody sneaks out with the poem. One morning the poem is back on the wall but, E.T. believes it is a forgery and when they take the poem off the wall, they find a hidden compartment in the frame. While Roscoe tracks down the thieves, E.T. helps Belle with the puzzles and gives her the clue she needs to figure out who the mother was who made the book and its puzzles. Readers who like to do crossword puzzles will find this book A CROSSWORD DELIGHT. The puzzles are hard to solve because the clues center around the 1940's when the puzzle maker constructed them. It is fun to read a regional cozy that has no violence, gore or murders in the storyline yet still grips the reader. Although E.T. is a secondary character he plays a major role in helping Roscoe and Belle. Once again Nero Blanc constructs a clever and witty mystery. Harriet Klausner