Serial Killer Sudoku

Katie McDonald #3

by Shelley Freydont

In this new installment of the popular, puzzle-based series, Kate has settled into her new life running the Avondale Puzzle Museum in Granville, New Hampshire. The locals have begun to accept her presence—until a serial killer from Boston starts making his way north up I-93. At the same time a former partner of Police Chief Brandon’s shows up with information about the killer who has just struck Granville and put the Police Chief out of commission. The same killer who leaves a puzzle at each crime scene, and is now focused on Kate….

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

aka Gemma Bruce

Shelley Freyont is the author of the Lindy Haggerty Sudoku mysteries. She attended the University of Utah majoring in philosophy and dance. Shelley Freydont has also toured as a professonal dance with Twyla Tharp Dance and Americal Ballroom theater. She has appeared and choreographed in television, film, and Brodway.

Series:
* Lindy Haggerty Mystery
* Kate McDonald Mystery

Reviews

[Sue]

Mathematician Katie McDonald is the owner and curator of the Avondale Puzzle Museum in Granville, New Hampshire. When the new owner of the local newspaper begins to cause a panic by suggesting that a Boston serial killer is headed to Granville, Katie and Police Chief Brandon Mitchell try to quash the rumors. However, when an unpopular resident is found murdered, and Katie begins to receive messages from the killer in the form of Sudoku puzzles, she becomes immersed in the investigation. Her involvement deepens when Brandon is injured and can no longer lead the hunt for the murderer, and the young officers of the police department are at a loss without their boss, a former detective from the Boston Police Department. Assisted by Brandon’s fourteen-year-old ward Harry, Katie solves the crime, with Brandon’s help in the final hour. In this third in a series, Katie begins to acknowledge her growing romantic feelings for Brandon, and the town’s residents begin to accept this outsider as a member of their community. Sudoku fans and readers of Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady mysteries will enjoy this series.

[Annabelle]

Gee, what a title, enough to make one not read this. This is sort of cute. Katie, a theoretical mathematician (reallyl?) went back to her home town to run a puzzle museum, and has an attraction to the Police Chief Brandon, with no action. There is a stupid newspaper man who flames sensationalism and the possibility of a serial killer. The killer send Kathie killer Sudoku clues, at least 2, that seem to have no relationship to the solution. It is a simplistic portrait of a small New England town, with old ladies, a best friend café owner, a goth teenager, you know the rest. Bodies turn up, and the killer is predictable. Do I recommend it, don’t know? Oh, theoretical mathematics and solving puzzles aren’t the same.

[Susan]

As curator of the puzzle museum, Katie McDonald is gradually overcoming her feeling of being an outcast in her little home town. When a new owner takes the local paper in the direction of sensationalism by writing about the danger of a serial killer, Katie is upset on behalf of the local police chief, who acts as foster parent for Katie's assistant Harry, but who has never won over some of the insular town residents, including Katie's Aunt Pru. When a serial killer does strike, and the chief is injured saving Katie's life, Katie and Harry must help the inexperienced local police force find the murderer.

[Jen Watkins]

In a short period of time, I read all three Katie McDonald mysteries. Something must have intrigued me because I read all three, but I would likely not read a fourth. While ostensibly Katie McDonald is supposed to be like the readers, a mystery-loving puzzle nerd, I do have a hard time relating to her somewhat obtuse nature. It is too bad because the premise is great.

[Donna Johnson]

I loved Kate and her puzzling mysteries! I had a hard time putting these three books down. I hope that Shelley will write another Sudoku mystery soon!

[Brett]

The last sudoku mystery I'll read. Not very compelling and felt like much of the book was filler.

[Katherine]

a nice, light mystery