Malice in Puzzle Land

Summary

If her life were a puzzle, librarian Alice Pepper would be constantly adding pieces to it. Starting over after a divorce has opened up her world. Everyone in the small Oregon town that Alice calls home has something to add to the big picture. But the murder of one of their own leaves a gaping hole . . .

The Crime

Alice is excited that the library is going to host its first-ever speed-puzzling competition until time runs out on a prominent local woman. Glamorous realtor to the rich, Babe Kinkaid, is found floating in her own infinity pool. What police first suspect is an accident or medical crisis turns out to be a homicide when the autopsy reveals that Babe has been shot.

The Suspects

Babe's complicated love life leaves no shortage of suspects—including two ex-husbands and a fiancé. Then there's her family, complete with a spoiled daughter, a ne'er-do-well son, and an always overlooked sister. All of them have the same motive: Babe's massive inheritance.

The Investigation

Alice faces a ticking clock in this investigation. There are a lot of moving pieces, and before she can shake loose a killer, an explosion and disappearance throw the town into even more of a tumult. It's up to Alice to click all the clues into place before those nearest and dearest to her become the next victims . . .