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Crossword Mysteries #4
A Crossworder's Holiday
From the author of A Crossword To Die For and The Crossword Connection-a wonderful new addition to the hit series.
"If crosswords are your puzzle of choice, you'll be delighted to meet [Nero Blanc]," says The Mystery Reader-and indeed, these unique crossword mysteries (with puzzles included) have already earned a large and enthusiastic following. Now, crossword editor Belle Graham and P.I. Rosco Polycrates star in five fantastic stories.
"If crosswords are your puzzle of choice, you'll be delighted to meet [Nero Blanc]," says The Mystery Reader-and indeed, these unique crossword mysteries (with puzzles included) have already earned a large and enthusiastic following. Now, crossword editor Belle Graham and P.I. Rosco Polycrates star in five fantastic stories.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2002
About the author
Nero Blanc
22 books26 followersJoint pseudonym of Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 24, 2015
A Crossworder's Holiday by Nero Blanc (pseudonym for co-authors--and husband & wife--Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler) is as light and frothy as a cup of peppermint hot chocolate. It is a perfect book for the end of the year and a quick read between holiday preparations and parties--nothing indepth, no intense crime puzzles and no assembly [of clues] required. If you can do the crosswords--or if that's not your gift, then taking a quick peek at the solutions thoughtfully provided at the back of the book will do--then you've got your answers.
What the book really consists of are quick snapshots in the life of the protagonists, crossword editor Belle Graham and her husband P.I. Rosco Polycrates. The stories and the characters are charming in this collection of five Christmas-themed tales, each with its own crossword puzzle. Unfortunately, like that cup of hot chocolate, the stories are so light and frothy that they are easily forgotten--enjoyable while they last, but without a lasting impression. ★★★ for a decent cozy read. Read in one sitting--but not one that I would go back to again.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
What the book really consists of are quick snapshots in the life of the protagonists, crossword editor Belle Graham and her husband P.I. Rosco Polycrates. The stories and the characters are charming in this collection of five Christmas-themed tales, each with its own crossword puzzle. Unfortunately, like that cup of hot chocolate, the stories are so light and frothy that they are easily forgotten--enjoyable while they last, but without a lasting impression. ★★★ for a decent cozy read. Read in one sitting--but not one that I would go back to again.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Read
January 19, 2023"A Crossworder's Holiday . . . An antique dealer finds a crossword hidden in a recent purchase and needs a solution quick -- or his reputation and his life are at stake . . .
"Proof of the Pudding . . . The puzzlers are enjoying some R&R at a Vermont B&B -- until one of the guests turns up dead. The ingredients for this murder may be found in a recipe . . .
"A Partridge in a Pear Tree . . . Rosco is in Amish Country helping a friend sift through his aunt's crossword collection. One puzzle remains -- and solving it reveals the intent of her dubious will . . .
Mum's the Word In the City of Brotherly Love, Belle and Rosco solve a puzzle found in a mobster's home -- and discover that trouble is brewing at the annual Mummers parade. But unmasking the culprit won't be easy . . .
"Ghost of Christmas Past . . . On a winter visit to a friend's new home in Upper Slaughter, Belle and Rosco discover the truth behind the houses' haunted history . . ."
~~front flap
Five charming little stories, all with a holiday theme. Cozy little reads, not very taxing but very enjoyable.
"Proof of the Pudding . . . The puzzlers are enjoying some R&R at a Vermont B&B -- until one of the guests turns up dead. The ingredients for this murder may be found in a recipe . . .
"A Partridge in a Pear Tree . . . Rosco is in Amish Country helping a friend sift through his aunt's crossword collection. One puzzle remains -- and solving it reveals the intent of her dubious will . . .
Mum's the Word In the City of Brotherly Love, Belle and Rosco solve a puzzle found in a mobster's home -- and discover that trouble is brewing at the annual Mummers parade. But unmasking the culprit won't be easy . . .
"Ghost of Christmas Past . . . On a winter visit to a friend's new home in Upper Slaughter, Belle and Rosco discover the truth behind the houses' haunted history . . ."
~~front flap
Five charming little stories, all with a holiday theme. Cozy little reads, not very taxing but very enjoyable.
August 7, 2024
you must do the crossword to figure out the mystery.
And even then it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The husband thought, in the first story, the man was doing something sneaky that made no sense to me…it seemed highly unlikely. And I couldn’t make any sense of the whole short story. No more of these for me.
And even then it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The husband thought, in the first story, the man was doing something sneaky that made no sense to me…it seemed highly unlikely. And I couldn’t make any sense of the whole short story. No more of these for me.
January 17, 2021
PI Roscoe Polycrates and his wife crossword editor Belle Graham - a likable couple. This book has different short stories with the crossword puzzles providing the clues. Enjoyable and a plus is the puzzles with every story - answers provided in the back.
December 16, 2023
I enjoyed these short stories centered at Christmas time that had Belle and Rosco traveling. It’s interesting seeing how the resolutions were hidden in crossword puzzles.
September 6, 2024
I thought the 4 stories were "cute".
November 9, 2019
This was quite a comfortable little collection of stories centering around crossword puzzles and tide who love them. There is little tension or mystery here, but the stores are pleasant diversifying and the crosswords are fun enough.
There's very little messy y on these bones, though, so I wouldn't expect more than a bit of time passing.
There's very little messy y on these bones, though, so I wouldn't expect more than a bit of time passing.
February 14, 2021
Fun short stories with crossword puzzles. You have to complete the puzzle to understand the mystery. Really a delightful vacation reading and puzzling activity!
December 29, 2008
Finished this in a day, pretty much, and mostly because I skipped doing the crosswords, looking at the answers instead to solve the mysteries. I'm sure it would have been a better read if I hadn't been feeling so lazy. I'd definitely recommend it for people who want to be challenged somewhat when reading their mystery novels. It's well-written and engaging, but I didn't come to it in the right frame of mind.
April 21, 2015
While I have liked other books in this series, this collection of short stories is terrible. The stories are so short that there is no character development and no complexity to the story (i.e. mystery). My advice is don't waste your time.
December 31, 2019
I am guessing on the read date, but I was reading these when I was commuting to work in Boston somewhere between 2001 and 2009. They stories and crosswords were enjoyable and helped pass the time on the train.
April 9, 2008
A good book for traveling.
October 20, 2009
Not worth reading. I may give up this series.
January 5, 2009
Whew! Bad crosswords and worse mysteries. This one won't have a permanent place on my bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews