Two Down: A New Crossword Mystery with Puzzles Included

Since I enjoyed Nero Blanc's "The Crossword Murder" so much, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this second book in the series. The plot flows along swiftly, and I particularly enjoyed the inside look into the lives of the wealthy, and some larger than life show business types (one wonders if the writer is speaking from some personal experiences). Once again the puzzles are very cleverly worked into the story, but I have to admit I skipped a few because I was too wrapped up in the plot to slow down for them (I did go back and do them later). And on that note, I felt the puzzles were more fun in this book than the first. All in all, as with Mr. Blanc's first book, it's a good quick read for a lazy weekend.

Nero Blanc's sequel to 'The Crossword Murder', 'Two Down' thoroughly surprised me. I had greatly enjoyed the first book and was pleasantly surprised to find the second even more entertaining than it's predecessor. I'm used to second books not living up the promise of the first, but Nero Blanc fully rose to the challenge. The pages turned themselves, and my only complaint is with me - I finished it too quickly, and who knows when a 3rd book might be on the shelves. I highly recommend both books to mystery fans and crossword people alike. Read them in order though - its more fun to have the characters established!

Tired of the paparazzi that follow her every movement seeking a scandal and the acrimonious actors she toils with, renowned soap opera star Jamaica Nevisson leaves her TV show. Known for her role as Cassandra Lovett on Crescent Heights, Jamacia travels to Newcastle, Massachusetts to stay at the home of her best friend Genie Pepper.Genie and Jamaica goes sailing, but their boat catches fire. The two women are missing and presumed dead. Genie's husband Tom hires former police officer Roscoe Polycrates to find out what happened to his wife. The private detective immediately locates the beached dinghy, but has evidence that anyone survived the ordeal. Roscoe's girlfriend, brainy puzzle editor Belle Graham surprisingly believes someone is holding the women for ransom because she receives anonymous strange crossword puzzles that hint at a kidnapping. As they have successfully done before Roscoe and Belle team up in search of the two missing women.Nero Blanc's second crossword puzzle mystery, TWO DOWN, is as entertaining as the series debut tale, THE CROSSWORD MURDER. The novels are originals that provide genre fans with a different type of puzzle that brings the reader more intimately involved in the case than normally occurs. The story line is smooth with crossword puzzles for the audience to solve that add to the overall fun. Readers who enjoy a different type of who-done-it starring two likable characters and six puzzles will fully relish Mr. Blanc's latest across and down novel.Harriet Klausner