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WRAPPED UP IN CROSSWORDS
by Nero Blanc
Berkley, November 2004
129 pages
$9.95
ISBN: 0425199746


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Christmas has once again come to the small town of Newcastle, Massachusetts. Though the residents doubt that the holiday will be a white one, they are still bustling with their holiday chores.

Belle Graham, crossword writer for the local newspaper, has just finished the puzzle that will be printed for the town's special holiday contest. The winner will be announced right after the New Year and will win a dinner for two at a nice restaurant.

Rosco Polycrates, Belle's husband who is a former policeman for the Newcastle Police Department and now a private investigator, plans to collect gifts for needy children. Rosco and the Newcastle police have been doing this for a few years and he's looking forward to gathering the toys with his old partner Al Lever, now a lieutenant, and Abe Jones, Newcastle's forensics expert.

Meanwhile, Sara Briephs, Newcastle's grand dame is planning a gift-wrapping party where she is going to do her best to get some romance going between Stan, the hardware store owner and Martha, Newcastle's favorite waitress.

We even get to spend time with Belle and Rosco's dogs. Kit and Gabby are also excited and thinking about Christmas.

All the plans will soon be disrupted when three escaped convicts find their way to Newcastle and cause some problems. They break into the diner where Martha works, and in a strange turn of events they get Rosco, Al, and Abe arrested by the state police.

WRAPPED UP IN CROSSWORDS is husband and wife team, Nero Blanc's newest mystery in this series. Don't expect much of a mystery here, though, because like most of the books in this series, a good mystery is hard to find. What isn't hard to find is an enjoyable story. Although there isn't much of a plot, this tale is a very charming read. I've enjoyed all the books in this series and I think that's because the characters are very comforting and the small-town life it depicts makes me want to move there.

In this book we even get to talk to the dogs in Newcastle. We're with them as they play with each other and talk about their owners and their main concern this Christmas: is Rosco really going to buy a pair of Lovebirds for Belle? Horrors!

Not much goes on in this very short book, but I highly recommend it. Like all of the Nero Blanc books it has a happy ending and includes four crossword puzzles to solve. No need to worry if you're not a crossword person, as the answers are in the back of the book.

WRAPPED UP IN CROSSWORDS is a wonderful gift for crossword puzzle lovers and even for readers who don't enjoy working that type of puzzle. All you need do is sit back and read. Just relax and enjoy this comforting cozy.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, October 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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