This is my first introduction into the Crossworld Puzzle Mystery Series; I adored it and can be read as a stand-alone. It combines my love of cozies and crossworld puzzles. The main character, Quinn Carr, works at the town’s paper creating crossworld puzzles. She’s young, lives at home with her parents, and has another job working at the diner; Quinn is likable and relatable. There’s a murder to be solved and Quinn finds a way to get to the truth of the real suspect. The regulars at the diner are a hoot. Thank you to author, Becky Clark, for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

A good cozy mystery of Quinn, who has OCD (a big part of the story that I tended to skim after awhile), who is working her crossword writing skills to show the police chief some clues. First I've read in the series but wasn't lost. Enjoyed this one and would recommend it. Fun read.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books happy reading and enjoy

Punning with Scissors by Becky Clark is the secon book in the cozy Crossword Puzzle Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book of the series will contain it’s own mystery that is solved within so it can be enjoyed as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. The character development that happens in each book however will carry over for those that continue to read the series.

The Crossword Puzzle Mystery series introduces readers to Quinn Carr who suffers from a mild case of OCD. Quinn’s original plans for her life didn’t quite work out so now she’s trying to get her life on the right track. Quinn has a day job working at the local diner for an eccentric boss and a side job of creating crosswords for the local paper.

Quinn has kept her job at the diner despite her having to search for a murderer to clear her boss’s name. Now she’s getting a little more comfortable in the day to day including getting to know her customers including a group of elderly men Quinn refers to as the retireds. When one of the retireds, Hugh Pugh, is arrested for murder Quinn is sure he can’t be the real killer so she again uses her time to search for more suspects and her crosswords to point the police in the right direction.

Being a huge fan of quirky and humorous cozies I was hooked when I read the first book of the Crossword Puzzle Mystery series and still felt the same after reading the second. Quinn definitely fits the mold of a quirky character with a naive charm about her and now this second book added my favorite of involving a cute critter with Quinn dog sitting. I also enjoy Quinn’s connection to a police officer in the stories to help her along the way. Definitely will continue on with the cute series in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I loved this book! I hadn't read book one, but couldn't wait to catch up when I finished this one. Being a crossword puzzle lover, the inclusion of clues was a bonus for me. Meeting the characters, the twists and turns, and the engaging dialogue kept me turning pages. Looking forward to more from this author.

I was so excited to find this series because it has a sleuth with OCD! The representation as far as that goes feels really authentic, and the mystery was a lot of fun to try and solve from an armchair perspective.

While it may not be the life she dreamed of, Quinn Carr stays busy working at the local diner, creating crosswords for the local paper, and occasionally helping the police solve crimes (sometimes through her crossword puzzles). When the husband of one of her customers is murdered, the chief of police doesn't hesitate to arrest her customer and considers the case closed but Quinn and her police friend Rico are not as convinced that Hugh is guilty and Quinn sets out to clear Hugh’s name but will doing so put her and those close to her in danger?

“Punning with Scissors” is a very nicely done mystery by Becky Clark. I have read a lot of mysteries and Quinn is one of the most interesting, if not THE most interesting main character, that I have ever read. She has OCD which is well done by Clark. At first Quinn’s need for everything to be in order was a bit annoying to read but you quickly realize that she can't help it - this is realistically done, especially the times Quinn falls victim to the “monster” as is her visit to the therapist. You cannot help but pull for Quinn as you read the book. Also well done is the mystery - it is a sad one for both the victim (his background story is quite interesting), his husband, and surprisingly enough the killer - again well done by Clark. Mixed in with the sadness is just the right amount of humor, especially towards the end - the combination makes this book an enjoyable read.

“Punning with Scissors” is a very nicely done mystery.

this was such a cute little book! i really enjoyed this one a lot. i'm so thankful to netgalley for letting me read all of these books early. it's so wonderful!!

This is a clever cozy series, and the crossword puzzle angle is a really fun element that is something different in this genre. The mystery solved in this one is decent.
A lot of this does focus on Quinn's OCD, and in the e-galleys I've read from this series, there is no indication of whether or not the author has experience with this, or if she had sensitivity readers vouch for the portrayal of the character, and I wish that there was information on this included.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a different concept in that the protagonist uses her Obsessive/Compulsive disorder to help her solve a murder. The book features quirky characters amid a small town atmosphere. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

The main protagonist, Quinn, is a unique character. Quinn has OCD, which she doesn't let hold her back in her job at the diner or with solving mysteries. She is resourceful with how she relays information to the unwilling Chief of Police. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and active in guess whodunit. I look forward to seeing how the series develops over time.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

“Punning with Scissors” is a funny murder mystery – on purpose.
Quinn Carr pays intense attention to organization and detail. This is how she maintains her sanity and composure. She works at the Chestnut Station Diner in a small city on the Colorado plains where everyone knows everything, and no one knows anything. The book is written as Quinn sees the world; her conversations drive the plot. She is a perfectionist to the extreme and has her own strategies for handling stress and the irregularities of life. Her deep dark secret, and the key to her continuing sanity, is that she secretly constructs the daily crossword puzzles for the Chestnut Station Chronicle; she makes five dollars for every puzzle she publishes. Best of all, the clues in her puzzles are not typical clues; they are riddles, puns jokes, and hilarious, knee-slapping plays-on-words. Even Chief of Police solves her crossword puzzles every day -- in ink.
The action unfolds in humorous home-town exchanges, fun banter, and the casual conversations of the people Quinn knows including the jovial regulars at the diner known as the “Retired.” Everyone and everything exist happily day by day until the day Creighton McLellan is discovered quite dead with a pair of good scissors sticking out of his chest. Of course, Quinn is compelled to investigate the event as well as the past and present of all involved. The recipe to Kentucky Fried Chicken is not the only secret in town. She plants clues in her puzzles to help the chief solve the shocking murder.
“Punning with Scissors” is quick to read with a nice balance of light-hearted action and mystery as the complicated murder unfolds, and even the bananas might have clues. As a bonus, the crossword puzzles are included in the book, of course with the answers at the end for those who like to sneak a peek before they fill-in the answers -- in ink. I received a review copy of “Punning with Scissors” from Becky Clark, Lyrical Press Books, and Kensington Publishing Corp

Becky Clark continues her new Crossword Puzzle Mystery series with Punning with Scissors. I really enjoyed this 2nd instalment and I am interested enough to pick up book 3 when it becomes available.

After bombing out of the police academy in Denver Quinn Carr has arrived back home in Chestnut, Colorado and is currently living with her folks. As well as devising crossword puzzles for her local rag, she is employed as a waitress in a diner.

When a customer, Hugh Pugh, a retired tailor is accused of killing his husband with a pair of eight-inch gold-handled fabric shears, Quinn, although not faultless, keeps a sense of realism and humour as she is assisted by her police officer friend with the murder case and to try to prove that Hugh is innocent. Quinn is an OCD sufferer and I liked the sensitive way she was portrayed by the author. All in all, a great cozy mystery with some witty interludes and a fun bunch of characters. 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my own unbiased opinion.

Punning with Scissors, the second book in Becky Clark’s Crossword Puzzle Mystery series is a delight to read. Populated with quirky but lovable characters, this book combines the best of hometown charm and intriguing mystery.

Quinn Carr doesn’t let either her job at the Chestnut Station Diner or her OCD get her down. And secretly, she designs the crossword puzzles for her local paper. As if she doesn’t have enough on her plate, when her family friend, Hugh, is named the prime suspect in his spouse’s murder, Quinn decides to do a little investigation on her own. With the help of her friend, Rico, and some well-placed crossword puzzle clues to enlighten the Chief of Police, Quinn puts her life on the line to clear her friend’s name.

There’s so much to like about this book – and the series. Quinn is resourceful, smart, and dedicated. Her OCD makes her even more focused when solving a mystery. Her family is a hoot, and I particularly enjoyed the antics of Virginia Woof (or “Gin” for short) whom Quinn was dog-sitting while Hugh was in jail. The dog is utterly delightful and I hope Gin will make an appearance in future novels. The mystery here is wonderfully complex, with so many interesting and unique twists and turns. Even the clues are unconventional, with a bumper sticker figuring into the investigation. While the ending (for me) is a bit over-the-top and unbelievable, the resolution is ultimately satisfying. And the included (even in the Kindle book) crossword puzzles are an added – and much appreciated – bonus.

Punning with Scissors is an engaging cozy mystery filled with fun clues, red herrings, and a protagonist whose unique perspective really adds to the story. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.

Note: I received an ARC of Punning with Scissors from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

I really struggled with this book. I felt that the author had too many characters and it was difficult to keep them straight. Also, sometimes it was unclear whether she was referring to a person or a dog? Considering the main character has OCD I would think that would be more reflected in the writing. Unfortunately this book was just not for me.

Punning with Scissors: A Crossword Puzzle Mystery
By Becky Clark
Lyrical
May 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

After her dreams of becoming a police officer were shattered by a debilitating panic attack 18 months ago, Quinn Carr settled down in her Colorado hometown waitressing in the Chesnut Station Diner. Quinn continues to create crossword puzzles for the Chesnut Station Chronicle as well, something she has enjoyed since high school on the condition of remaining anonymous. After meeting one half of the adorably named couple Hugh Pugh and Creighton McLellan (think “hue and cry”), Quinn’s best friend Officer Rico Lopez delivers the horrifying news that Hugh was found holding tailoring shears while standing over Creighton’s body. Police Chief Chesnut wants a quick and easy closure to the case, and having seen his previous rush-to-judgement Quinn is determined to prevent another injustice. When Hugh begs Quinn to take care of his Pomeranian-husky mix Virginia Woof, Quinn brings out a new binder to organize her growing to-do list that includes getting vet information, researching the correct amount of dog food to feed each day, and verifying alibis of those interested in wanting Creighton dead.

While Quinn’s parents and friends are alarmed to see Quinn falling back on the OCD behaviors that allow her to get through the day, she sees her extraordinarily detailed lists as skills that can help her in the investigation. Her coping mechanism of chanting “baba ganoush” does give her an outlet for her obsessive thoughts when she realizes that she is beginning to spiral, but any unexpected emergency can trigger her to spin out of control. That’s why Quinn so adores the orderliness and preciseness of crossword puzzles, which she uses to hopefully incept clues and sway the subconscious of the avid cruciverbalist Police Chief. A suspicious hitchhiker, surprise heirs, mysterious late-night visitor, and an abundance of hidden money all become motives and clues for the murder and for Quinn’s clever crossword puzzles.

This second in the series lives up to the originality and charm of the first, which introduced a vulnerable and unique heroine struggling with mental illness. The depiction of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is handled with great empathy, and it’s fascinating to follow Quinn’ thoughts as she becomes focused on a topic that soon leads to an aggressive obsession. The most fascinating aspect about this series has been Quinn’s relationship with these OCD tendencies, which burden her as much with guilt as they do with anxiety. Quinn is all too aware of how much worry and stress her pain has caused her parents, and she wants to be “cured” for them as much as for herself. Only reluctantly submitting to therapy, Quinn expects an instant solution that doesn’t make her uncomfortable or force her to change her behavior. When those expectations are quickly dashed, Quinn spirals between thinking that a spoken mantra is the cure, that her OCD behavior is beneficial, then then that she is incurable and will never be well. It’s as heartbreaking for the reader as it is for Quinn to see how her parents and Rico are so supportive while also fearing a relapse. Despite this weighty topic, the novel never becomes too dark and instead shines through with Quinn’s acerbic humor, intelligence, and goodwill. Her mother’s cooking experiments that focus more on health than taste are a delight, as are Quinn’s attempts to be a good foster dog-mom. Puzzle clues, quirky characters, and a compelling lead character make this a standout cozy mystery read.

This is the 2nd mystery in the Crossword Puzzle series. Quinn Carr is still working at the local diner while she is working to control her OCD and she does crossword puzzles for her local Chestnut Station newspaer. The “retireds” are a group of men who come in most days and keep Quinn on her toes and today there is a new addition in Hugh who is married to Creighton and are friends with her parents. Hugh is recently retired as a tailor but Creighton is still working. Quinn is friends with Rico who is a police officer and friend who believes she should try again at the police academy (she had an OCD melt down at the academy). Rico left his phone at the diner and she is returning it to Rico when she sees the Chief of Police (who does not like Quinn) bring in Hugh for the murder of his husband Creighton. Hugh is in total shock and asks Quinn to pick up his dog (Virginia the Woof aka Gin) from the groomers and take care of her. Quinn struggles with her fish so a dog is a big challenge for her. She is convinced that Hugh could not possibly have killed his husband and decides to do some investigation as well as planting clues for the Chief to uncover in her crossword puzzles. This was a good mystery and interesting to see how OCD impacts Quinn and how she handled Gin who was such a character and good dog. Quinn’s Mom is also a great character especially at the very end of the book (no spoilers her). Good Read.

Punning with Scissors by Becky Clark is the first book in Crossword Puzzle Mystery series.

I really enjoyed the main character, as flawed as she is and the way she battles her issues. It really adds to the credibility of the book.
I also love that she does crossword puzzles and how the whole mystery settles around it. I find it fresh and highly entertaining.
I found the beginning a bit slow and I also thought the way she jumped into the investigation was a bit stretched but overall it is a solid story with relatable characters.
All in all it is a good start of a new series.

Punning with Scissors by Becky Clark is the 2nd book in the Crossword Puzzle Mystery, and another fun book. Quinn Carr puts together crossword puzzles for the local newspaper, is OCD, a waitress, and lives with her parents in a small Colorado town. I found this book to be clever, I especially liked how Quinn put clues into the Crossword Puzzle, to direct the Chief of Police. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy fun cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The second in this series turns out to be another fun read. Quinn is a very likable character and is perfectly suited to solving crimes due to her OCD. It means that she is laser focused on details and, in this case, the police are certain they have their man in custody - case closed. Quinn is equally certain that the retired tailor, Hugh Pugh who frequents the local diner where she works is innocent.
The crossword puzzle theme was the draw for me. Quinn hopes one day to be able to make a living creating puzzles for the local newspaper but, until then she lives at home and waits tables. All the while dealing with her OCD and creating crossword puzzles for the local paper. The challenge is to unmask the killer before the killer comes for her.
Becky Clark has crafted an excellent mystery with memorable characters and does it in a fresh way. I won't say any more for fear of committing spoilers.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Press and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.