Murder by Numbers-Kaye Morgan

Murder by Numbers
Kaye Morgan
Berkley, Jan 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780425219034

Tired of being a publicist to the stars, Liza Kelly quit the Hollywood scene and settled down in her hometown of Maiden’s Bay, Oregon. The mayor is attracting movie makers to the town so ironically Liza remains a publicist although she also has a new career as a newspaper columnist on the Oregon Daily providing sudoku puzzles. They are filming Counterfeit in town but when as they near completion, the director Terrence Hamblyn is in a car accident.

Mirage Productions’ owner Oliver Chissel places Lloyd Olbrich as the new director. He insists on revisions, which means more locality filming of scenes already done. The mayor and the shop owners are livid; the former because he wants to expand Main Street and the latter because they will not be paid until the movie is completed. None of the proprietors have deep pockets that they can afford the delay. While walking alone on the beach, Liza spots the head of Chissel with his body buried in the sand. Liza investigates the homicide and quickly discovers many people in the movie business and locally had motives to kill the studio owner. Her continual digging upsets someone who tries to kill her.

Kaye Morgan has written a cleverly constructed mystery that reflects the finely crafted sudoku puzzles that are included for fans to enjoy. The protagonist is an independent person who is estranged from her husband although they love one another; he is in town rewriting aspects of the script. Liza is obstinate as her spouse knows so he is not shocked when she makes inquires even after threats to her life. Her investigation especially looking at those involved with the movie provides the audience with an insider’s glimpse at filming on location.

Harriet Klausner