Now that Halloween is a thing of 2012’s past, I thought I would share this letter I received about a Christmas mystery book that looks like it might be a lot of fun. I haven’t read the book, but from what Kerryn told me, it’s sort of a fun book that you can read chapter by chapter, solving the mystery along with its author, Simon Brett. (Kerryn, thank you for telling us about this pretty novel Christmas mystery novel!)
Kerryn:
“A number of years ago I bought a second hand copy of Simon Brett’s Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor. I noticed it listed on your website but unsure if you’ve read it. Basically each chapter ends with a puzzle to solve of various types (crossword, anagram, music etc). Solutions are given in the following chapter, if you don’t wish to do it yourself. However, I was very determined when I read the book not to continue with the story until I had solved each puzzle (some which took me several days before it clicked into place and worked out the solution). I loved the puzzles, and the fact that they were not basic, simple ones. I have never come across a book like this before or since and wondered if you possibly knew of any other books similar to this? Would be great to hear from you if you could point me in the right direction.”
This sounds like a lot of seasonal, holiday fun to me, and I think Kerryn has a great question. Do any of you know of any other mystery books that have the same ‘solve-the-puzzle’ as this Simon Brett The Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor? If so, please post us a comment. Thank you!
Judy says
I have not heard of this book or others like it.
I have a similar question…A year or two ago I was in a “Game by James” store at the mall and saw a jig saw puzzle that came with a mystery book. If I remember right it can involve one or several people; but the idea is to read the book first and the mystery is not solved until the puzzle is put together. This sounded like great fun to me. Has anyone out there done one of these puzzle book things?
Kerryn says
Actually I have bought a couple of those many years ago. One was a Sherlock Holmes jigsaw, The Speckled Band (which I had already read, so knew the solution in advance, but am a sucker for anything Sherlock). And the other was one by Nelson DeMille called The Mystery at Thorn Mansion. I can remember the solution to the puzzle and what it looked like, but not sure if I was able to work out the solution myself.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kerryn, thanks for telling us about the mystery jigsaw puzzle books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judy, those puzzle games look like fun!
Judy says
Oops. Sorry I wasn’t any help with your question for the post! But the book you mention sounds interesting and something I would be interested in finding out more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judy, I think so, too. In fact, I have recently only been getting Kindle books, but I made an exception and ordered this Simon Brett Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor. (I hope the font is big enough!)
linda c says
Danna, I know you don’t like it when we tell about some author that we don’t like . So concerning this author I won’t say anything except to say that I am far from being in the majority of readers. I say this because this author has many, many books on the book shelves!! Isn’t it a good thing that there are such a variety of books for people to read?? It would be a very dull world if we were to all read the same type of book. Web sites like yours would be very dull if we all liked to read the same type of book! What would we have to discuss if we were to all read the same things!!
Joan says
I have come across two series of books, and I am sure there are some I haven’t seen yet.
Crosswords Mysteries by Nero Blanc – over 12 books
Crossword Puzzles by Parnell Hall – Cora Felton is the puzzle maker -in theory, her niece Sherry actually does it – but for reasons I don’t understand Cora gets the credit
Kerryn says
I am currently reading the first of the Parnell Hall Puzzle Lady books (up to page 70). I am enjoying it, but the crossword involved is at the beginning of the book with a warning telling you not to solve it until you finish reading the book as it will reveal the killer. Not sure if that means the killer isn’t revealed in the book, and you need to solve the crossword in order to work it out, but I am finding it a little difficult to stop myself from starting the crossword now.
I had looked for the Nero Blanc books when I bought the Parnell Hall one, but they were all out of stock at The Book Depository where I buy my books. I’ll try my local library in case they have it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kerryn, it’s sort of like eating two potato chips, and then being told you can’t have any more from the bowl, isn’t it?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joan, I have a Crossword Puzzle and Bunco theme, as well as a Sudoku theme, but it’s been so long since I read any of them that I don’t remember how the puzzles are worked into the actual mysteries.
(I sort of remember the reason for Sherry taking the credit is that Cora drank and smoked too much, and was “older”, which might have made her less popular. It’s been a while, though, since I read one of Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady mysteries…)
"Auntie" says
Thank you! My husband loves puzzles. I just ordered one of these, for him, for Christmas.
THANK YOU!
“Auntie”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You’re welcome, “Auntie”, I also enjoy puzzles. (And, I also ordered one.)
Regina V says
Danna As I recall, the reason Aunt Cora was credited with the puzzles was because she looked older and wiser in her picture rather than her niece. Also she was rather wild in her habits. I would like more infor about the books plus puzzles. Where can they be purchased?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, you put the Aunt Cora reason better than I could. She was “rather wild in her habits.”
Since you asked, I found some of the Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery Book puzzles that Kerryn told us about:
Sherlock Holmes and the Speckled Band Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle
Sue Grafton Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle: Poison that Leaves No Trace
Nelson DeMille Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle: The Mystery at Thorn Mansion
(Regina, I know you prefer Barnes and Noble, so here is the link for the puzzle I could find. I couldn’t find the other two on their site.
Sherlock Holmes and the Speckled Band Msytery Jigsaw Puzzle
linda c says
Danna, I sure do wish I would have paid more attention to this topic !! My sister has just started to read this series by Sue Grafton and has loved it!! I could have gotten this puzzle for her for Christmas!! Good thing I did see it now though. Her birthday is at the end of March. Maybe I can get it for her then!! Not only does she love reading, she also loves to put jigsaw puzzles together!!
Learned my lesson to pay more attention to your topics in the future!!
Linda L says
OK, I guess I just don’t have the brain power for puzzles. I read “The Christmas Crimes In Puzzle Manor” a year ago, and still can’t figure out the solution at the end of the book for the crossword puzzle, and the book! I throw in the towel! Will someone direct me to the answers?
Thanks!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda L, I had a copy of the book but gave it to a friend when I got Kindle-ized. I remember it looked very, very difficult to me. At around the same time, I bought a mystery puzzle that you made without having a picture to follow. I thought it would be a fun family thing to do during the holiday vacations when both my children were home. None of them even wanted me to open the puzzle, so I gave it to Goodwill, hoping someone else’s family would take on the mystery project.
Mich says
Sorry, I’ve only just noticed your comment as well. It’s been a long time, but if you still want help, see my comments on this thread, and feel free to ask me. Just comment, and I will be notified.
Marge says
Please someone tell me who is the murderer in The Christmas crimes at Puzzel Manor. I can’t figure it out?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marge, if someone posts that they know, I’ll either post the comment, or I’ll send it to you. I don’t publicize people’s email addresses. But, rest assured, I’ll send it to you if someone knows.
Kathy says
We know who the murderer is, but who is the brother? I think I know because of the wording at the end – he was never any good at puzzles. Want to be sure though.
If anyone can help, I’d sure appreciate it.
Thanks,
Mich says
I think you have the wrong person. See my comment on how to solve it.
Mich says
I don’t mind just telling people who the brother is – but I don’t want the answer posted openly on a website, where people enjoying the book might stumble across it.
If the blog owner wants to e-mail me privately, maybe we can arrange for the information to be passed on. 🙂
Mary says
I, too, can not figure out who the brother of the murderer is in The Christmas crimes at Puzzel Manor. Please, someone put me out of my misery!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I haven’t read The Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor yet, so I don’t know. Let’s hope someone has figured it out!
Mich says
This was the best mystery book I ever read. Loved it. Wish I could find another like it (I’m not into crosswords much, or jigsaws, I like more general puzzles.)
I’m reluctant to just post the answer, but the name of the brother is revealed by the final puzzle at the back, on the very last page. There is a grid, and beneath it some text. Look at the number of lines in the grid, and the number of words in the text. Now think how to combine them.
Hope that helps. If not, then comment here and I’ll be notified by e-mail.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mich, thank you so much for posting this clue. We’ll see if anyone needs more help. Thanks, again!
Mich says
You’re very welcome. Hope it helps. Anyone who hasn’t read this – it’s a perfect book to curl up with on a winter’s evening! 🙂
Shirley says
I did as you suggested, but still can’t figure it out
Mich says
Place the words in the spaces they fit into. Then look at the central grid. Read down it. Do you see a name?
Megan M. says
Please help me. I have had this book for years and am not able to figure out the answer. It really bothers me. Actually, I’m at the point where I am about to scream! I was not able to figure out the answers to the other puzzles. Who is the brother?
Mich says
Hi Megan. I just got notified of your comment by e-mail, happy to help! SPOILER CLUES from here on. Do not read further if you don’t want to know!
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
The brother is the character who insists on contacting the police early in Chapter Twelve and says “No, murders have to be investigated.”
They then leave the property with someone else, fake an attack, and send that person, (who is innocent), back to the Manor for help. This is their way of escaping.
Right now you might be worrying about that other character. They will be OK. Towards the end of Chapter Fourteen look at this exchange.
“And you get on with her?”
“Oh, she’s lovely.”
That’s put in to let us know what will happen to them. That lovely lady will be there to love and care for them.
OK, let me know if you need more help.
Megan M. says
Okay, that makes sense and fits too. I don’t know how to solve the rest of the blank crossword without clues… unless I don’t need clues???
Megan M. says
Another question… why are there pages with asterisk marks at the bottom?
Mich says
You don’t need clues for the last puzzle, it is a word fit puzzle, also known as a cris cross or kris kross puzzle. In a word fit puzzle, you are given a list of words and a blank grid, and you place the words in the grid. So for this one, the words you need are the message underneath them. Once you have inserted them correctly, then the solution can be read by reading downwards from top to bottom. Each word is only used once.
The way to approach them is to start by looking for words with a unique length. So the fourth grid from the bottom has nine spaces, and there is only one nine letter word – so that word must go in that space. Likewise the sixth grid from the top has eight spaces, and there is one eight letter word.
After that it gets trickier – the first grid for example has six letters, and you have two six letter words – CRIMES and PUZZEL. You have to work out which of the two goes here. The other word will go in the third grid. So reading from top to bottom, your solution must start either C – L or P – S. Play around with words until the solution makes sense. Remember that you are looking for the name of the brother.
I’d never really noticed the asterisks – you have good eyes. I found two, one in Chapter Five, and one in Chapter Fourteen. I think they are simply scene breaks at the bottom of a page – normally a blank space would be left, but when a scene break occurs at the end of a page, an asterisk or other mark is sometimes used instead, to indicate to the reader that the scene has changed or time has passed. I don’t think they have anything to do with the puzzle.
I hope that helps, and I haven’t been too confusing. Please let me know if you need more help. It’s been fun to go back to this book.
Megan M. says
Did you mean to say C – S or P – L? If not, then not only am I lost… but I must have the wrong answer.
Heather says
This is the first time I started to read the book pages 2&3 are blank as well as 10&11 18&19. Is this an error or part of the puzzle?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I’m not sure – it’s been years since I read this book and I haven’t got a copy of it right here. If someone else doesn’t know, I’ll try to find a copy.
Mich says
Following this up many years later sorry – those pages are not blank in my edition of the book, the only blank pages are single ones that occasionally occur at the ends of chapters, and a single page after the dedication. There’s also mostly blank pages at the very end of the book, marked as being for notes.
So it sounds like you have a misprinted book. It is not part of the puzzle. In fact pages 11 and 19 both hold picture clues.
Megan M. says
My book doesn’t have blank pages at the very end of the book, marked as being for notes.
Jennifer says
Thank you Mich! That was very helpful. I just finished this book and thought I might never know the solution. Now I do. ?
Mich says
Jennifer, you’re very welcome, so glad I could help, thank you! ? I loved this book, still looking for another like it.