Small towns make great settings for amateur sleuths.  Everyone living in them knows everyone else’s business and some are even willing to share.  The Devil’s Puzzle is set along the Hudson River in a cozy town called Archers Rest.  Lots of unique and somewhat quirky characters decorate the pages of this story.  This book is the fourth Someday Quilts Mystery.  Readers are strongly advised to read the preceding books in order to better understand the characters and their relationships.

As often happens in themed novels, the book discusses various aspects of quilting including different patterns and techniques.  Fortunately, the author does not bog down the story with lengthy descriptions.  Rather, she integrates the hobby into the characters’ lives.  The story moves forward at a steady pace and the conclusion comes almost before the mystery is solved. This is an easy read with lots of intrigue and secrets from the past.
Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  2 religious exclamations.

Violence/Gore:  Description of desiccated skeleton; reports of character being hit multiple times with object; character threatens to blow up building; character jokes about killing another; report of character attempting to kill another; report of object being thrown through window; character found injured and description mentions blood on wound.

Sex/Nudity:  Non-married characters kiss and embrace; non-married characters sleep in the same bed, in two instances, sex is implied; characters ask if other characters were having an affair; characters asks if another character slept with someone.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, embezzlement, murder, marital fidelity, witches.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adult characters sip beer, wine and champagne.