Darryl Daigue is serving a life sentence for murdering a high school senior after his shift at a diner. Now, someone is claiming he might have been framed and Cora’s just the person to unravel twenty years of history, or to retell it in her own way.  

With the unwitting help of niece Sherry, Cora delves into Diague’s present and past and uncovers a smarmy jail warden, a blackmailing PI, a blond housewife, a missing girlfriend and sister, and an author who wrote about Lifers, but who can no longer be found. When the PI falls into Cora’s birthday cake, throat slashed, Cora kicks her investigation into overdrive, something that lands her in jail where she develops a complex theory of the crime, but one that has a lot of basis in reality.  

Cora is a feisty, older sleuth, who has given up drinking, but still smokes like a chimney. She is plain spoken and tells it like it is. She often thinks about the consequences of her actions a bit too late and sometimes engages in behavior a bit unbelievable (such as scaling down the side of a building to enter an office) but she is very likable. Sherry, the real puzzle lady, spends a lot of time keeping her aunt out of trouble, and doesn’t always get to spend as much time with reporter Aaron as her loyal fans might like.  

The mystery is very complex. Even when Cora explains it all, first to the judge and then to one of the women on the parole board, it is still very complicated, but all makes sense and all fits together. Cameos by famous cruciverbalists sending Cora birthday wishes in the form of puzzles are an added bonus for crossword puzzle fans. A fast-paced mystery with a likeable, tough as nails sleuth will keep readers entertained and eager for the next adventure.  

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry