The Sudoku Murder: A Katie McDonald Mystery

The only thing I will add to the other reviewers is that this is the most grammatically correct mystery I have read in years! Even Kate Atkinson has fallen into the trap of writing that a character "try and ..." instead of "try to." Pet peeve, yes, but this author even knows how to use "whom." I have to admit, as an English major of a certain age, I find errors in every newspaper, journal and book I read. But what a delight, whether it is the author or her editor, to find someone who knows the English language and who is truly "literate." You don't have to be highbrow to be literate! Bravo!

I WAS SAD TO SEE THE LINDA HAGGERTY MYSTERY SERIES END, AND AM NOT A PUZZLE FAN, BUT FOUND THIS BOOK DELIGHTFUL. IT STARTED A LITTLE SLOW, BUT ONCE IT PICKED UP STEAM IT NEVER SLOWED DOWN AGAIN.

Shelley Fredont is the author of five Linda Haggerty Mysteries and also pens romance novels under the name Gemma Bruce. She is involved in many writers groups, including the Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, and the Kiss of Death RWA chapter. She is also past president of the New York/Tri State chapter of Sisters in Crime. She is a Sudoku aficionado, and loves puzzles of all sorts. She hails from Ridgewood, New Jersey. In this first Katie McDonald mystery we find the heroine, on break from her think-tank, classified, mathematics position in a think tank, arriving in her home town at the behest of her old friend Professor P.T. Avondale. Katie was a "geek" in school, which made for a lonely existence until the Professor took her under his wing. He runs a puzzle museum, and Katie arrives on the scene to find the museum in extreme disrepair and under the threat of repossession by the bank. Katie knows something is amiss, and when she finds the Professor stabbed she enters into a tension-filled relationship with the new Chief of Police: "'Cut it out, you little termagant. I'm trying to help.' That voice. She shook her head. She recognized that voice. She stopped struggling. Made herself look up. Chief of Police Brandon Mitchell stood over her. The light from the flashlight turned his features into Boris Karloff. She took a step back. 'Oh.' 'Oh,' he mimicked. He stepped away from her, leaving chill air in the space between them. 'Would you like to tell me what happened and why you felt compelled to clobber me?'" THE SUDOKU MURDER is an expertly crafted whodunit with heart. Katie is an inspiring heroine, as she grows into her predestined role in life. The sexual tension between her and the Chief has the reader silently screaming, "Oh, for Pete's sake, get a room, will ya?" Shelley Freydont writes with a sense of humor and a brisk plot. Her characterization of Katie's hometown is smack dab on, and the sweetness of the murdered professor permeates the entire novel. We'll look forward to more Katie! Shelley Glodowski Senior Reviewer

When I saw sudoku turned into a mystery novel, I had to read about it. And I must say, this book was very good. I really liked the characters and plot. I definitely look forward to reading her next novel which I see in coming soon. Can't wait!

This well-written mystery grabbed my attention from page one. Katie is reluctantly drawn into a small New England town murder mystery full of intrigue that rings true, believable quirky characters and all. What with the popularity of sudoku, as well as all puzzles, The Puzzle Museum, almost istelf a character in this plot, will make you yearn to visit. The surprising plot twists will keep mystery lovers, as well as sudoku fans reading way into the night. I look forward to the next Katie McDonald mystery.