Earth and Space News: Becky Appears Thinner, Younger Than All But Two in Puzzled Indemnity

Summary: Becky appears thinner, younger than all but two, thin Stephanie and young Brittany, in Puzzled Indemnity, 16th Puzzle Lady mystery by Parnell Hall.

It amazes Cora that Ed James Wine and Spirits, what with a remote location near wooded areas, attracts no alcohol- or cash-seeking criminals. Then an armed robber, ironically with an Iron Man mask, ambles in for $500 to $600 from the liquor store on Tyson's Road. The unanticipated holdup appears unsolvable even as it assures criminal activities to come; poster for 2008 Iron Man film; April 25, 2014, photo of Iron Man suit Mark VI from Iron Man 2 (premiered in 2010), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Chicago IL: Chris Favero from USA (chris favero), CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Becky appears thinner, younger than all but two, thin middle-aged Stephanie and voluptuously young Brittany, in Puzzled Indemnity, 16th mystery of 20 novels in the Puzzle Lady series authored by Parnell Hall.

Jennifer Carter Grant, Aaron Grant’s and Sherry Carter Grant’s daughter and Cora Felton’s grand-niece, and the latter’s toy poodle Buddy beautify winter whiteness with snow circles. Sherry calls attorney Becky Baldwin and Police Chief Dale Harper whenever Cora, who carries no cell phone, commandeers the Carter/Felton red Toyota and cannot be contacted. Clara, Dale and Ellen Harper’s only child, distances herself from Bakerhavenite deeds, as she devotes herself to a boyfriend and a teacher’s assistantship at Boston University.

Cora, Dale and Bakerhaven policeman Dan Finley examine Ed James Wine and Spirits after a blue LL Bean-overcoated, Halloween-hooded, Iron Man-masked robber extracts $500 to $600.

Cora, as Baldwin law office’s paid private investigator and Bakerhaven police station’s unpaid private consultant, and Harvey Beerbaum respectively furnish crime-related crossword and numbered puzzle solutions.

Hank Wells gets into his Chevy Impala at 7:55 a.m. at his Bakerhaven rental and gets back at 8:15 p.m. from selling New Yorkers insurance policies. Bakerhaven has no private detectives so his wife Brittany hires Becky and Cora to hinder Hank harming her for life insurance heralding $1 to $2 million. Hank introduces Brittany to the 1944-released film classic Double Indemnity about life insurance on a husband’s natural death increased for his wife by his accidental death.

Cora judges Brittany clueless and useless as a tree stump and more voluptuous, youthful-acting and youthful-appearing than thinner Becky, the latter two years younger than Sherry.

Cora perhaps knows oak (Quercus) from pine (Pinus) trees, but she knows nothing about tree stumps, whose root systems kindle soil food webs with energizing exudates.

Madeline Greer lets Cora’s ex-husband, Melvin Crabtree, as Martin Kendrick of Kendrick and Blake probating will beneficiaries three months after Gerald Waldman died, into Apt. 3F. Insurance salesman Randy Klein, then Madeline mention no mistress, then Wendy Ross as Hank’s oral hygienist to Madeline masquerading as bar-hopper, then as Village Voice writer. His mother and firefighter Kevin Greaves respectively name Billy the Bug Wilson arson-free 10 years and town arsonist imprisoned three, four times for burning Bakerhaven houses.

A thinner, younger Bakerhavenite observes someone occupying Brittany’s Chevy Impala, not Hank’s Impala license-plated JRV 715, not Judy Douglas Knauer realty or Fred Burns hardware-store cars.

Premeditated murder charges prevail against Brittany unless County Prosecutor Henry Firth persuades Judge Hobbs not to pursue court proceedings publicized by Channel 8 newsman Rick Reed.

Medical examiner Dr. Barney Nathan quibbles with Cora after the former’s successful reconciliation quests with wife Judy and the latter’s successful romantic quests with Sergeant Crowley. Becky as attorney and Cora as private investigator receive respective checks from Brittany, as Hank’s life insurance beneficiary, for one-third of $2 million and for $10,000. Crowley separated from wife Susan for Stephanie, college acquaintance, three-year spouse of a public school kindergarten teacher, Bleecker Street tapestry shop owner-operator and Greenwich Village resident.

Crowley told Susan about thinner, younger Stephanie, Stephanie about older, plumper Cora and Cora, who thereby treats herself to Cushman Bake Shop’s California buns, about nobody.

The film classic Double Indemnity and the insurance policy for her husband accepting a doubled payout for her accidental death add up to Brittany Wells accessing Becky Baldwin's and Cora Felton's respective legal and investigative skills; theatrical poster for the 1944 film Double Indemnity: 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:

Cain, James M. (Mallahan). Double Indemnity. New York NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1943; New York NY: Vintage Books, division of Random House, Inc.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Random House of Canada Limited, 1992. Copyright 1936 by James M. Cain. Copyright renewed 1964 by James M. Cain. First Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Edition, Aug. 1992.

Double Indemnity. Hollywood CA: Paramount Pictures, 1944; Universal City CA: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, 2006.

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. 2 November 2021. "California Buns Appease Cora More Than Cigarettes in Puzzled Indemnity." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/california-buns-appease-cora-more-than.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 26 October 2021. "Bakerhaven Maps Perhaps Add Parking Alerts Since Puzzled Indemnity." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/10/bakerhaven-maps-perhaps-add-parking.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 October 2021. "Bakerhaven Acquaintances in NYPD Puzzle Are One Less for 2020 Censuses." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/10/bakerhaven-acquaintances-in-nypd-puzzle.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 October 2021. "A Killer Perhaps Abhors or Adores New York Coffee in NYPD Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-killer-perhaps-abhors-or-adores-new.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 5 October 2021. "New York and Bakerhaven Maps Are Not Accessed in NYPD Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/10/new-york-and-bakerhaven-maps-are-not.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 28 September 2021. "Alcohol, Anonymity, Assets Attract Aggression, Arsenic and Old Puzzles." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/09/alcohol-anonymity-assets-attract.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 21 September 2021. "Elderberry Wine Activates Appalling Actions in Arsenic and Old Puzzles." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/09/elderberry-wine-activates-appalling.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 September 2021. "Bakerhaven Maps and Floor Plans Actualize Arsenic and Old Puzzles." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/09/bakerhaven-maps-and-floor-plans.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 September 2021. "Three Bodies Alarm Bakerhaven in $10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles."Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/09/three-bodies-alarm-bakerhaven-in-10000.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 31 August 2021. "Cora Aspires to Smaller Sizes in $10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/cora-aspires-to-smaller-sizes-in-10000.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 24 August 2021. "Maps Allow a Las Vegan Access to $10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/maps-allow-las-vegan-access-to-10000-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 August 2021. "Arranging Alimony and Avoiding Alimony Activate The KenKen Killings." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/arranging-alimony-and-avoiding-alimony.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 August 2021. "Perhaps Sherry Alone Avoids Bakerhaven Eateries in The KenKen Killings." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/perhaps-sherry-alone-avoids-bakerhaven.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 August 2021. "New Yorkers Access Bakerhaven and Account for The KenKen Killings." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/new-yorkers-access-bakerhaven-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 July 2021. "One Accident Augurs Three Deaths in The Puzzle Lady vs The Sudoku Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/07/one-accident-augurs-three-deaths-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 July 2021. "Perhaps The Puzzle Lady vs The Sudoku Lady Argues About Latte vs Tea." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/07/perhaps-puzzle-lady-vs-sudoku-lady.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 July 2021. "Bakerhaven Arrivals Are by Car in The Puzzle Lady vs The Sudoku Lady." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/07/bakerhaven-arrivals-are-by-car-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 July 2021. "Intestate Acts Are, Are Not Intestate Actualities in Dead Man’s Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/07/intestate-acts-are-are-not-intestate.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 June 2021. "Fast Food and Safari Food Are For Puzzle Ladies in Dead Man’s Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/06/fast-food-and-safari-food-are-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 June 2021. "Alabama and New York Add to Bakerhaven Traffic in Dead Man’s Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/06/alabama-and-new-york-add-to-bakerhaven.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 June 2021. "All Are Aware of Private Investigators in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/06/all-are-aware-of-private-investigators.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 8 June 2021. "Martini, Muffins, Pancakes and Scotch Allay The Sudoku Puzzle Murders." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/06/martini-muffins-pancakes-and-scotch.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 1 June 2021. "Bakerhaven, New York and Tokyo Are Close in The Sudoku Puzzle Murders." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/06/bakerhaven-new-york-and-tokyo-are-close.html

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.htmlFour Cryptograms Assure Two Deaths in With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill

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

Earth and Space News

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Becky Appears Thinner, Younger Than All But Two in Puzzled Indemnity

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