Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo Are Close in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders

Summary: Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo are close, by air and auto arrangements, in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders, 9th mystery in Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady series.

Reiko acquires a 4th-degree black belt in jujitsu (from Japanese 柔術, "gentle technique") from a martial arts school on the Manhattan Upper East Side. She never applies it during her Bakerhaven sojourn and perhaps never attacked anyone, apart during academy sessions, in her respective adopted and home towns of New York City and Tokyo; "The Suffragette That Knew Jiu-Jitsu. The Arrest," 1910 illustration of British martial artist and suffragist Edith Margaret Garrud (1872–1971) by British artist A. (Arthur) Wallis Mills ((1878–1940): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo are close, by air and auto arrangements, in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders, 9th mystery in the Puzzle Lady series by Parnell Hall (Oct. 31, 1934-Dec. 15, 2020).

Book contracts with number puzzle lady Cora Felton bring Hideki Takiyama and, with wife Reiko, Aoki Yoshiaki from Tokyo, Japan, through New York, to Bakerhaven, Connecticut. Tokyo, publishing company center, connects Aoki (from Japanese 青木, “blue/green tree”) and Hideki (from Japanese 秀樹, “excellence, timber trees”) personally and professionally. Aoki and Reiko (from Japanese 麗子, “beautiful child”) mutually devoted themselves in Tokyo, with parental blessings, and in New York, as Columbia University students.

Hideki experienced Columbia University, where he encountered Reiko and where emergency surgery entailed a left-cheek, lip-to-chin scar, during the same epoch 10 to 14 years ago.

Reiko, as Manhattan Upper West Sider, flitted 10 years ago to the Manhattan Upper East Side, where she flaunts a Kyoto Martial Arts-finessed 4th-degree black belt.

Her jujitsu class there, above a flower shop on Lexington Avenue, gets her near the East 86th Street beauty salon where Mitzi gives Reiko garish hairstyles. It has her near private investigator Lester Mathews’ fifth-floor office off Third Avenue, not near private investigator Walter Krebbs’ second-floor office opposite a Broadway sushi bar. Perhaps Reiko never interacted with Clemson, Manhattan textile firm office manager until fatal respiratory arrest, since she inhabits the Murdock bed and breakfast when in Bakerhaven.

Meachem’s Antiques, opposite the Clemson house, on Oak Lane past the old mill, most judiciously juxtaposes Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders.

Aoki, Hideki and Reiko know about the handcrafted, $650,000-valued samurai sword in Meachem’s Antiques, black-shuttered and white-framed like Crowley bed and breakfast nearby and Wilber’s Antiques.

Hideki never lodges with Mrs. Grayson, Mrs. Murphy or Mrs. Wickem, the latter of whom lets Country Kitchen restaurant waitress Mary Dobbs in as one-room boarder. He moves into Jacobson bed and breakfast, 1.5 blocks from Bakerhaven Police Station near Bakerhaven Town Hall and Mary Cushman’s Bake Shop and opposite Bakerhaven Library. Aoki and Reiko nourish themselves at Wicker Basket restaurant, near Bakerhaven Post Office and near the pizza parlor above which nestles attorney Becky Baldwin’s law office.

Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo overlap whenever Hideki, as American and Japanese dual citizen, occupies town lodgings and orders town meals in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders.

Two private investigators perish at Tastee Freez, 0.5 mile (0.81 kilometers) south of Bakerhaven paper mill and 0.5 mile farther than Dairy Queen from town limits.

Bakerhaven Police Officer Dan Finley quests a black trash bag for the second murder weapon rather than another evidence bag from Bakerhaven Police Department’s Danbury-based supplier. Police regarding husband Dennis Pride, Cora’s ex-nephew-in-law and Sherry Carter Grant’s first husband, among suspects rouses Brenda Wallenstein Pride from their Soho residence in New York. It stresses Cora, whose 10-pound (4.54-kilogram), two-month weight gain stimulates more cigarette-smoking, less seeking, on Exxon gas-sated tanks, Country Kitchen, Cushman, mall, Starbucks, Wicker Basket selections.

An Acme Auto Glass receipt from Bakerhaven or New York, New Yorkers in Bakerhaven and a samurai sword perhaps from Tokyo tie The Sudoku Puzzle Murders.

The namesake of Meachem's Antiques adds a samurai sword to his store's display windows. The ancient sword, acknowledged as a katana (from Japanese 刀, "sword") unofficially and uchigatana (from Japanese 打刀, "to strike [with a] sword") officially, subsequently appears inside a rental car, against a car door, against a fence in the Country Kitchen parking lot and in the second victim's chest; 1843-1847 woodblock print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-Oct. 12, 1858) depicts medieval Japanese master swordsmith Goro Masamune (1264–1343) forging a katana with an assistant; Victoria and Albert Museum, London UK: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Reiko acquires a 4th-degree black belt in jujitsu (from Japanese 柔術, "gentle technique") from a martial arts school on the Manhattan Upper East Side. She never applies it during her Bakerhaven sojourn and perhaps never attacked anyone, apart during academy sessions, in her respective adopted and home towns of New York City and Tokyo; "The Suffragette That Knew Jiu-Jitsu. The Arrest," 1910 illustration of British martial artist and suffragist Edith Margaret Garrud (1872–1971) by British artist A. (Arthur) Wallis Mills ((1878–1940): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suffragette-that-knew-jiujitsu.jpg

The namesake of Meachem's Antiques adds a samurai sword to his store's display windows. The ancient sword, acknowledged as a katana (from Japanese 刀, "sword") unofficially and uchigatana (from Japanese 打刀, "to strike [with a] sword") officially, subsequently appears inside a rental car, against a car door, against a fence in the Country Kitchen parking lot and in the second victim's chest; 1843-1847 woodblock print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-Oct. 12, 1858) depicts medieval Japanese master swordsmith Goro Masamune (1264–1343) forging a katana with an assistant; Victoria and Albert Museum, London UK: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Master-Swordsmith-Goro-Masamune-Ukiyo-e.png

For further information:

Hall, Parnell. 2019. Lights! Camera! Puzzles! New York NY; London UK: Pegasus Crime.

Hall, Parnell. 2018. The Purloined Puzzle. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2017. A Puzzle To Be Named Later. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2016. Presumed Puzzled. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2015. Puzzled Indemnity. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2014. NYPD Puzzle. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2013. Arsenic and Old Puzzles. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2012. $10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2011. The Kenken Killings. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2010. The Puzzle Lady vs. The Sudoku Lady. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2009. Dead Man's Puzzle. New York NY: Minotaur Books, A Thomas Dunne Book for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2008. The Sudoku Puzzle Murders. New York NY: Thomas Dunne Books St. Martin's Minotaur, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

Hall, Parnell. 2006. You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2005. Stalking the Puzzle Lady. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2004. And a Puzzle to Die On. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2003. With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2002. A Puzzle in a Pear Tree. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2001. Puzzled to Death. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 2000. Last Puzzle & Testament. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Hall, Parnell. 1999. A Clue for the Puzzle Lady. New York NY: Bantam Books, division of Random House, Inc.

Marriner, Derdriu. 25 May 2021. "Betting, Puzzling, Suing Are Why You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/betting-puzzling-suing-are-why-you-have.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 May 2021. "Starbucks Caramel Adds Acuity in You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/starbucks-caramel-adds-acuity-in-you.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 May 2021. "You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled Alerts Us About Bakerhaven Trains." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/you-have-right-to-remain-puzzled-alerts.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 4 May 2021. "One Knife, Two Deaths, Four Puzzles Aid in Stalking the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/04/granville-grains-corn-toasties-appall.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 April 2021. "Granville Grains Corn Toasties Appall Cora in Stalking the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/04/granville-grains-corn-toasties-appall.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 April 2021. "Coastal Connecticut Attracts Reality Ads in Stalking the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/04/coastal-connecticut-attracts-reality.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 April 2021. "And a Puzzle to Die On Augments Bakerhaven Acquaintances by One." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/04/and-puzzle-to-die-on-augments.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 April 2021. "A Birthday Bash And a Puzzle to Die On Await Cora and an Outsider." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-birthday-bash-and-puzzle-to-die-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 30 March 2021. "Bakerhaven Maps Aim a Victim at a Birthday Bash And a Puzzle to Die On." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/bakerhaven-maps-aim-victim-at-birthday.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 March 2021. "Four Cryptograms Assure Two Deaths in With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/four-cryptograms-assure-two-deaths-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 March 2021. "Honeyed Lemoned Teas Are For Fiancees in With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/honeyed-lemoned-teas-are-for-fiancees.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 March 2021. "Manhattan and San Diego Account For Why With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/manhattan-and-san-diego-account-for-why.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 2 March 2021. "Christmas Carolers Are Three Voices Short in A Puzzle in a Pear Tree." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/christmas-carolers-are-three-voices.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 February 2021. "A Puzzle in a Pear Tree Alters a Christmas Pageant and a Live Nativity." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-puzzle-in-pear-tree-alters-christmas.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 February 2021. "Tristate Access Adds a Broadway Director to A Puzzle in a Pear Tree." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/02/tristate-access-adds-broadway-director.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 February 2021. "Attorney Becky Baldwin Maybe Aces New York Lawyers in Puzzled to Death." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/02/attorney-becky-baldwin-maybe-aces-new.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 2 February 2021. "Perhaps Fun Night Attendees Ate All Free Desserts in Puzzled to Death." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/02/perhaps-fun-night-attendees-ate-all.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 26 January 2021. "New Yorkers Adapt to Less Light and More Parking in Puzzled to Death." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-yorkers-adapt-to-less-light-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 January 2021. "Fifteen Million Dollars Avenge Old Wrongs in Last Puzzle and Testament." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/01/fifteen-million-dollars-avenge-old.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 January 2021. "Chicken Soup Awes All But Appears Nowhere in Last Puzzle and Testament." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/01/chicken-soup-awes-all-but-appears.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 5 January 2021. "Interstate Highways Add More Hurley Heirs to Last Puzzle and Testament." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/01/interstate-highways-add-more-hurley.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 December 2020. "Bakerhaven Acquaintances Afford A Clue for the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/12/bakerhaven-acquaintances-afford-clue.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 December 2020. "Bakerhaven Alcohol Acts as A Clue for the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/12/bakerhaven-alcohol-acts-as-clue-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 December 2020. "An Actual Bakerhaven Map Never Appears as A Clue for the Puzzle Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/12/an-actual-bakerhaven-map-never-appears.html

"Puzzle Lady." Parnell Hall.com > Books. Website by Kate Anchev/Outbox Online Design Studio.
Available @ http://parnellhall.com/puzzle-lady/