Roz Noonan’s Puzzle Me a Murder is a delightful addition to the cozy mystery genre, offering readers an engaging tale of small-town intrigue, familial bonds, and the power of community. Set against the backdrop of a quaint town where secrets rarely stay buried, the story revolves around the murder of a philandering husband and the collective efforts of the town’s residents to solve the crime.

At the heart of the mystery is Ruby, a relatable and resilient protagonist grappling with the painful revelation of her husband’s infidelity. Noonan deftly portrays Ruby’s emotional journey, making her a sympathetic and compelling character. Her vulnerability and determination resonate deeply, allowing readers to connect with her on a personal level.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ensemble cast. The relationships between the characters—whether it’s the heartwarming bond between Ruby and her grandmother or the unshakable loyalty of lifelong friends—add layers of emotional depth to the narrative. Noonan captures the nuances of these connections with warmth and authenticity, making the reader feel like a part of this close-knit community.

The plot is well-paced, balancing the suspense of the murder investigation with moments of humor and tenderness. As the town’s amateur sleuths piece together clues, Noonan keeps readers guessing, sprinkling in enough red herrings and twists to maintain intrigue without straying into overly complex territory.

In addition to its engaging mystery, Puzzle Me a Murder celebrates themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the enduring strength of relationships. Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate Noonan’s skillful blend of suspense and heart, making this a must-read for anyone seeking a light yet emotionally satisfying whodunit.

With its relatable characters, strong sense of community, and an absorbing mystery at its core, Puzzle Me a Murder is a standout in the cozy mystery genre. Roz Noonan crafts a tale that is as heartwarming as it is suspenseful, leaving readers eager for more from this charming town and its inhabitants.

2.5/5 Stars

Roz Noonan’s attempt to launch a cozy mystery series for women of a certain age features Alice Pepper, a divorced woman juggling financial struggles, family dynamics, and—unexpectedly—a murder investigation. The premise promises an intriguing blend of mystery and relatable life challenges, but the execution left much to be desired.

The story begins with Alice’s best friend, Ruby, venting about her unfaithful husband, only for his untimely death to bring suspicion to Ruby herself. Alice takes it upon herself to untangle the web of secrets surrounding Ruby’s husband, setting off a classic cozy mystery trajectory. However, the book’s handling of key elements falters.

For a protagonist new to investigating, Alice’s untrained access to confidential information and her casual disregard for crime scene protocols stretched believability too far. The storyline leaned heavily on conveniences and coincidences, which undermined the intrigue. Additionally, while the characters had potential, they were not particularly likeable or relatable. Even Alice, the empathetic lead, felt distant, making it hard to root for her journey.

Structurally, the book felt like it was partway through a series rather than a fresh start. References to past events hinted at deeper backstories, but these were neither elaborated on nor satisfying to piece together. A prequel novella could have added much-needed context, especially for readers who struggled to invest in Alice’s world from the outset.

Despite its flaws, the book does have its strengths. Cozy mystery fans may find comfort in its familiar tropes, and the hints of humor and camaraderie among the cast could appeal to some readers. The setup leaves room for improvement, and future installments might refine the series’ tone and depth.

For now, though, Puzzle Me A Murder is a mixed bag—enjoyable enough for die-hard cozy mystery enthusiasts but too flawed to recommend broadly. If Noonan tightens the narrative and makes Alice’s character more engaging, the series may yet live up to its potential.

In *Puzzle Me a Murder*, Alice Pepper, a library director in Oregon, finds herself investigating the murder of her friend Ruby Milliner's unfaithful husband, George, who is found dead under suspicious circumstances. As Alice and her quirky team—including her sister, granddaughter, and reluctant police officer—dig into George's shady dealings, they uncover a web of blackmail, corruption, and hidden enemies, making Ruby far from the only suspect. Along the way, Alice navigates her own emotional hurdles, including a budding romance, all while solving a complex case that may be putting her own life in danger.

Perfect for fans of complex cozy mysteries, this book will delight readers with the lovable cast of characters and twists that you'll never see coming.

Alice had hoped to retire before sixty five not have to struggle to keep her home and dependable job. She can always depend on her friends a fun loving crew who thrive on jigsaws, coffee, cocktails and gossip. When the time comes that she has to defend her close confidant Ruby Milliner by helping to prove she didn’t murder her cheating husband. A quick investigation reveals the man was blackmailing whoever he could for a quick paycheck from his mistress to the most prominent residents in town. As Alice dives into a secret search to exonerate Ruby committed to cracking the crime and patching up torn relationships along the way. This was a very enjoyable mystery to find the real killer. I would recommend to everyone.

Alice Pepper is a librarian who had hoped to retire soon. Faithful to a fault to her friends, when Ruby’s husband George is found dead, Alice is determined to find out why. Alice, Ruby and their friends solve jigsaw puzzles together. So, Alice is pretty sure she can use her refined skills of deduction to solve the puzzle of George’s murder.

George was not a paragon of virtue, and it would soon come to no surprise that more than one person might have wanted him dead. However, one of those people certainly wasn’t Ruby, and Alice will go to any lengths to prove Ruby innocent of George’s murder. The more they look for answers, the more George’s faults become apparent, cheating incessantly on Ruby, as well as his penchant for blackmailing anyone he could for any reason. Certainly, more than one person might have wanted George dead.

As an avid jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, I was delighted to discover the theme of this cozy mystery woven throughout the pages with that of solving puzzles. The shared hobby of a charming group of characters introduces a fresh perspective to the plot, making this series a must-read for puzzle lovers. I eagerly anticipate delving into the next installment in this captivating series.

Many thanks to Kensington Cozies and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review a copy of this novel. I would like to say that I would thoroughly recommend this novel to those who like mysteries and series books.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Alice, a librarian, and her friends as they come together for a puzzle "club." Alice's best friend is suspected of murdering her husband and Alice quickly tries to solve the case and clear her best friend's name.

Unfortunately, this book was juts boring for me. I had a hard time getting into the story or connecting with the characters. This book wasn't for me but I hope others love it.

Those who enjoy reading traditional mysteries will, I think, enjoy this first title in what I hope will be a series. It has a good setting, good characters, an interesting mystery and jigsaw puzzles.

When the husband of Alice’s best friend Ruby is murdered, the stage is set. George was cheating on Ruby but would this be enough for her to murder him? Who was the mysterious wigged woman with George right before he died? Still, all of the motives may not be personal; is it possible that his role in the government with budget power led someone to go too far? Could there be other reasons based on George’s behavior? Find out and enjoy spending time with Alice, her granddaughters and the many others in these pages.

Puzzle Me a Murder offers a good puzzle and a fun read. Recommended for its audience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

A thoroughly fun, intriguing mystery- featuring an aging librarian, her best friend, and a whole cast of interesting characters. Noonan did an excellent job of creating a mystery that kept you guessing at every turn without being gory or anxiety-inducing. Alice is a main character after my own heart and the rest of the characters all bring something to the table when it comes to the story, and solving the mystery. Noonan deftly navigates the world of librarianship and accurately portrays the infighting of municipal governments.

Librarians, recommend this to readers looking for older MC's, cozy mysteries, and lovers of general fiction. There is also a hint of romance to keep everyone happy.

Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan is the first in a new cozy mystery series following our main character is Alice. She's an ex chef, current librarian with a knack for puzzles, who is starting her life over after divorce. Alice is stressed with the city's current budget cuts to her precious library and the lack of funds in her savings account after her ex-husband drained her 401K. THings get even more dicy when the husband of her old friend Ruby is caught cheating and then dies! Ruby is under suspicion, but George had secrets and he was the one behind the new budget which has a lot of people upset. This get's Alice digging around and trying to solve the puzzle of his death. Things are a lot more sinister than she could imagine.
I think this series has a lot of potential. I enjoyed the characters and I look forward to reading the next one.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Oregon library director Alice Pepper's peaceful life is interrupted when her best friend Ruby shows up at her house late one night. Ruby came home unexpectedly from a business trip and found her husband with another woman in their house. She stormed off and has taken refuge with Alice. Good thing Alice has a big house, because her sister Violet and granddaughter Taylor also live with her. Together, this group forms what Taylor calls the "Alice Pepper's Lonely Hearts Puzzle Club." The ladies (now including Ruby) are all unmarried and always have a puzzle on the go. The morning after Ruby's arrival, Alice's other granddaughter, Madison arrives with bad news. Madison is a police officer, and they've discovered Ruby's husband George has been murdered during the night. Since Ruby is not only the spouse, but also one with a motive to murder, she is immediately on the suspect list. Alice decides to throw herself into solving this real-life puzzle and uncover the murderer.

I enjoyed the gentle story of Alice and her puzzle-mad friends (although everyone's devotion to jigsaws above all else did seem a bit obsessive!). The town politics of budgets and gossip also plays a part, as does the lengths people will go to attempt to cover up their misdeeds. I also enjoyed learning some puzzle lingo as well, such as ladders, keys and locks, and split corners. Who knew puzzles had such depth? This is a fast-paced, clean read with good friends and strong women overcoming hardships. I hope we'll get more of Alice and her puzzling friends!

This is a series starter that starts off pretty well. Alice Pepper, former chef/restaurant owner turned librarian is someone who likes a good puzzle, literally. Alice and friends put together several puzzles during the story as they “puzzle” out not only a murder but also a few cold case mysteries. Alice is a mature sleuth, not a Miss Marple, more of a Jessica Fletcher, and she is surrounded by friends and family who are more than happy to help with the investigation. I was quickly drawn into the story. The pace was perfect and the clues made sense, but there were still a little misdirection to keep you guessing.

This mystery is like an onion, it starts out with Alice consoling lifelong friend Ruby, who just learned that her husband George is a philandering jerk. Threats of “I’m going to kill him,” lands Ruby at the top of the suspect list. After all, George was an upstanding citizen, the city comptroller, and the man who helped with the apprehension of the Cola Bandits. George looked good on paper, which is more than can be said about the town budget. The other supporting characters of the story are all unique and entertaining. Ruby is a sophisticated no nonsense business lady who has a way with words. Virginia, Alice’s sister is a middle school vice principal by day and a bit of a free spirit in her off time. Then there are the twin granddaughters who couldn’t be more different. Now that I think of it, they are somewhat like Grandma Alice and her sister. Madison is a local police officer assigned to assist Detective Bedrosian while the Chief is out of town on vacation. Taylor, Madison’s twin, lives in Alice’s basement so she doesn’t have to pay rent because it isn’t a room with a bed. Yes, Taylor is a bit of a free spirit who hasn’t quite figured out what she wants to be when she grows up.

The list of suspect starts to grow, as does Alice’s attraction to Stone Donahue, the manager of the West Hazel Senior Center where Alice and Virginia take their Aunt Gildy for dinner night on Wednesdays. Although Alice feels an attraction to the cowboy-handsome Stone, she also has some hurts from her “amicable” divorce that left her life in need of repair for her finances, her heart, and her soul.

The stage was well set and the overall series arc has a great foundation. Alice does a good job of describing her past but I am left with some questions about Alice’s daughter “who shall not be named” and what recipe she use to make that delish sounding Chicken Francais. Overall this is a very enjoyable cozy and I look forward to the next one in the series.

This is a fun cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the older characters, and it did have a "Golden Girls" feel. As a fan of puzzles and mysteries, it was fun to sleuth along with the characters. The pacing is spot on for the genre. The setting is charming, as is the overall cast. I look forward to future books in the series.

Alice had a way of figuring out people and puzzles in a small town in Oregon. When her friend Ruby is accused of murdering her husband, Alice needs to figure it out. Fun mystery!

What I loved about this was the main character Alice, although older, is very much reminiscent of all the armchair sleuths on TikTok and Instagram. Loves mystery books, jigsaws and so thinks they can solve a crime better than the police!

This truly was a cosy mystery and I loved that Alice was an older character. I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read,.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Coffee, cocktails, gossip, murder, and JIGSAW PUZZLES!

Librarian Alice Pepper's life has had a few bumps along the way making it impossible to retire and enjoy her golden years. With help from her friends, she is enjoying life as it is until her best friend's husband is murdered. Alice does have a way of reading people and solving puzzles in addition to jigsaw, so when her friend Ruby becomes a suspect in her husband George's murder she jumps right in to clear her name. She finds George was a man of many secrets which deepens the pool of suspects including some very prominent West Hazel residents. This puts Alice in a dangerous situation because as she pares down the list of suspects she puts herself in the killer's sights.

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Ms. Noonan has introduced a smart, relatable, mature protagonist in Alice Pepper. The twists and turns of her life are similar to so many women these days. She is getting through every day the best that she can. For her, that means working longer than originally planned at a job she excels at and allowing friends and family to rent rooms in her spacious house. Right now, that includes her sister Violet who works as a vice principal and is spiritually into tarot cards, vibrations, and rituals. Alice's granddaughter, Taylor, "a twenty-two-year-old hipster" still trying to find her place in the world lives in a basement room and only pays rent occasionally. Taylor has a twin sister, Madison and she is a rookie cop. With her husband being murdered in their home, Alice's BFF Ruby is staying with her as well. All the core characters develop well throughout the story and are likable. I love that the main characters are my age.

The author does a great job at world-building especially Alice's home/Alice's Castle. It's an old craftsman-style home renovated in the 1990s by a "tech prince" to "include a handful of en suite bedrooms" so the house be used for employee functions. Those plans didn't work out so Alice and her husband at the time got a great deal. Alice was able to hold on to the house after the divorce.  Ruby's house is only a few blocks away and it as well as the town of West Hazel is vividly described.

Recently my husband and I were bitten by the jigsaw puzzle bug so I love the jigsaw puzzle theme. Alice, Ruby, and Violet always have a puzzle on the table to work on, sometimes as they work their way to puzzling out much heavier topics like murder. They also trade puzzles with the local senior center where Alice and Violet's Aunt Gildy resides. They visit her often for special meals and to do puzzles. You never know, Gildy may have information they can use to catch the killer. The center manager Stone Donahue may be eager to help too.

A lot happens within these pages. The mystery was very well plotted and blends easily with several subplots. The victim was doing some shady dealing that gave many people motive to want him dead. I enjoyed following the clues with Alice and her crew. It helped that West Hazel has a small police department and a granddaughter on the force. I know she overshared with the group but that is what happens in a small town. Plus gossip rolls quickly through the community. The puzzle pieces clicked into place for me before Alice but the sting, the fight, and the takedown were priceless.

Puzzle Me a Murder was an entertaining read with a puzzling mystery and engaging characters set in a charming little Oregon town. It shines a light on how fulfilling life could be starting over with good friends and family by your side. I am keen to see what mystery Alice, her family, and friends puzzle out next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Uneven debut featuring librarian (but she also used to run a restaurant and cater) Alice and her friends and family. This is an interesting cast of characters and cozy fans who aren't too hung up on details might enjoy the quirky personalities.

Alice's best friend Ruby comes home early from a conference to find her husband dallying with a young blonde. She storms out only to find out later that her husband has been murdered. She and Alice have been friends since childhood and she is relying on her for housing and support. Alice is extraordinarily nosy, even for a cozy heroine, and evidently feels due to her jigsaw puzzle solving and her love of mystery novel that she is an investigator. Her granddaughter is a police officer and Alice inserts herself into the case to an unbelievable degree.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut mystery by Roz Noonan. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Alice Pepper is a librarian in a small Oregon town, still trying to recover financially from her divorce. She's thankful for good friends and family, who enjoy putting together puzzles with her at the kitchen table. But when her good friend Ruby is a suspect in her husband's murder, Alice knows that she has to figure out who actually killed Ruby's husband.

I'm not usually a cozy mystery fan, but this one was fun and intriguing. The mystery was complex and had plenty of suspects that kept me guessing. I liked the fact that Alice was older, relatable, and did not back down. Plus she was always there for her friends. This is the start of a series, and I'll be anxious to read more from this group of amateur sleuths!

Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan is the debut of An Alice Pepper Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club Mysteries (that’s a mouthful). I was drawn to this series because, like Alice, I have a penchant for puzzles. Alice Pepper is a woman in her mid-sixties, a librarian, and has a knack for solving puzzles. I did not find Alice and the rest of the cast to be likeable (I found most of them to be irritating). The story is heavy on the dialogue which leads to repetitive details. One person learns something, they then must tell another, and so on. The pacing was languid. I wish it had been peppier. The whodunit had me rolling my eyes often (I gave myself a headache). Alice’s friend, Ruby, is a prime suspect (of course), so Alice and her friends set out to prove her innocence. They trample all over the crime scene (I can see the guilty party getting off scot-free thanks to them) and have access to information that they should not (Alice’s granddaughter, Madison is a police officer). It was unrealistic. Alice’s other granddaughter lives in her basement and acts like a teenager instead of an adult. I did feel that mystical elements were not needed (there was enough going on). Puzzle Me a Murder is a story that I struggled to finish. Puzzle Me a Murder is an upbeat tale with mystification, murder, mayhem, family, and accommodating mates.