Gorgeous vintage wedding ring, pre-1920, the Beale Papers and a book cypher code...it is time for our crossword puzzle guru Tess Harper to team up with her detective pal Logan to solve the murder of her college friend, a professor who is murdered on the day he was to propose to his chef girlfriend using Tess' Sunday puzzle.
"Did you know that wearing wedding bands on the left hand dates back to Roman Times? Yeah, they believed that the vein in your left finger connected directly to your heart."
We get to meet Logan's sister, Angela, who is also in the process of getting married...and seems to be not so subtlety hinting that Tess and Logan should come to her wedding together.
Spies have used book cyphers since the Revolutionary War, same book-3 sets of numbers, first number is page, then line, then word. Logan finds the numbers and once Tess figures out there is a book cypher, the hunt is on to find the right book...and figure out how a scholarship kid could afford such a pricey engagement ring. Is this the key to solving the murder?
Lots of Logan saying, "What are you doing here?" as he encounters Tess working on the mystery that she is supposed to be staying out of while Logan and his new Rookie detective partner solve the crime. In a true twist, Logan's Dad the chief is a lot more permissive with Tess' participation than Logan is, could this be Logan's protective nature showing? There are some fun locales an antique bookstore, university campus and a Connecticut farm.
Tess has a very New York wardrobe of high heels, leather, and tight fitting sweaters...mainly in blacks and greys.
"I could sign up for a cooking class. What's the worst that could happen, I burn a soufflé?"
Logan and Tess seem like an odd couple, but they both have amazing smiles, good laughs and they are growing on me. Tess as usual is filled with tons of interesting factoids and Logan as usual just listens patiently. I don't think there is anything that she could say at this point that would shock Logan. I know these two actors, Lacy Chambert and Brennan Elliot, have amazing Chemistry, because I loved them in their All of My Heart series on Hallmark... goat and all!
"World's first crossword puzzle...published 1913, published in The New York World...diamond shape."
Still not my favorite of the Hallmark Mystery Series, but another solid entry by the Crossword Mystery Team. Oh! And I loved the title of this one "proposing murder"!
"So, am I on the team now, or?"-Tess
"Not yet."-Logan
