“Puzzles are like songs – A good puzzle can give you all the pleasure of being duped that a mystery story can. It has surface innocence, surprise, the revelation of a concealed meaning, and the catharsis of solution.” –Stephen Sondheim

This first in a new series by author Casey Mayes, introduces math-teacher-turned-syndicated-puzzle-writer Savannah Stone. Savannah and her husband, former Charlotte Police Chief Zach Stone, have traded their busy city lives for some peace and quiet at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Savannah loves the new life they’ve created and is relieved to have her husband out of the line of fire, but Zach, forced into early retirement by a gunshot wound to the chest, misses the thrill and excitement of his old job.

Then Zach receives a phone call: his old department has a killer on their hands, and they need Zach’s help to catch him. The killer’s already claimed two victims in grizzly fashion, and now appears to have his sights set on an old friend of the Stones’ – Charlotte Mayor Grady Winslow. The killer’s been leaving behind puzzle-type clues that have the police stumped, and if he’s not nabbed soon, Grady may wind up dead. While Savannah wants nothing less than to see her husband tangle with another criminal, she can’t ignore the fact that Grady needs their help. So Savannah and Zach find themselves back in Charlotte, racing to catch a killer. Can Savannah solve her most important puzzle yet in time to save Grady?

I confess I wasn’t terribly fond of the first three chapters of this book. The dialogue starts out clunky (particularly the exchanges between Savannah and Zach), the initial setup is awkward, and Mayes' early attempts to work Savannah’s puzzle prowess into the story seem forced. That being said, I’m glad I kept reading, because once Savannah and Zach settle into their hotel in Charlotte and dive into their investigation, the story hums right along. The mystery is engaging and well-constructed, and while I was fairly certain I’d figured out whodunit before the midpoint of the book, I still felt compelled to keep reading. I’m also forced to admit that Mayes really does make the whole puzzle thing work – the puzzle the killer creates is a clever one, and it makes sense the police would need someone with Savannah’s unique set of skills to help solve this particular case.

I also enjoyed the development of A Deadly Row’s subplot. Halfway through the book, Savannah’s Uncle Thomas pops up and drops a family-related bombshell that sets Savannah reeling. Mayes skillfully ties the revelation back to the main story, and makes it clear there will be repercussions for books to come.

Dialogue isn’t Mayes’ strongest suit, but her prose has an effortless charm, and while some of her minor characters (the murder suspects, for example) come off as two-dimensional, her major characters are likable and well-developed. From wealthy recluse Barton Lane, to mannered hotel manager Garrett, to lovable Uncle Thomas, Mayes has created a supporting cast that could easily help Savannah carry a series. What’s more, Mayes writes the City of Charlotte with obvious affection (and in fact name-drops several of her favorite haunts), and that goes a long way toward creating a world to which readers would be happy to pay a return visit.

A Deadly Row reads a bit like a younger, hipper Carolyn Hart or Nancy Fairbanks novel. It makes a welcome addition to the cozy scene, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the sequel. ~ Kat