Earth and Space News: A Bad Book and a Good Dress Size Await Cora in The Purloined Puzzle

Summary: A bad book by ex-husband Melvin and a good dress size after no alcohol, binges or cigarettes await Cora in The Purloined Puzzle, 19th Puzzle Lady mystery.

Cora, as one always 10 to 20 pounds overweight, acknowledges in many Puzzle Lady mysteries most appreciating what she archives as her comfortable, loose-fitting Wicked Witch of the West dress; publicity photo of American actress Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 MGM feature film The Wizard of Oz: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A bad book by ex-husband Melvin and a good dress size await alcohol-, binge-, cigarette-free Cora in The Purloined Puzzle, 19th Puzzle Lady mystery by Parnell Hall (Oct. 31, 1934-Dec. 15, 2020).

Perhaps Cora boasting Melvin-bashing Confessions of a Killer’s Wife balances Melvin broadcasting Cora-bashing Confessions of a Trophy Husband, alternatively booked as Confessions of a Murder Suspect. Can Melvin Crabtree characterize correctly Johnny Dawson, soldier concluding three Afghanistan tours to care for 10-, 10-plus-years younger 16-year-old sister Peggy after their parents’ car crash? Does he describe Judy Douglas Knauer of Knauer Realty delegating house-showing duties since last year to Johnny, who drives an undescribed car with license plates 64392?

What encourages Peggy to experience free-based cocaine with construction crewmen Jason Tripp and Fred Winkler, who respectively expire on a mall parking space and Main Street?

Bakerhaven Police Chief Dale Harper and an unidentified clerk at Bakerhaven mall’s Stop & Shop respectively find Fred at 5:30 a.m. and Jason at 3:00 a.m.

Who gored and grounded hunting knives into Fred and Jason, one knife gotten by Melvin from Bakerhaven mall, the other by Johnny from under his pillow? Who heads Dale, whose daughter Clara, between Johnny’s and Peggy’s ages, already has graduated from a Massachusetts college, toward a two-time knife-wielding perpetrator younger than Melvin? Who impels him to initiate Police Officers Sam Brogan investigating the pickup truck that Johnny intends for Peggy’s Bakerhaven itineraries and Dan Finley interrogating the latter?

An arrest warrant for conspiring to conceal crime, fabricating evidence and obstructing justice and police investigations jeopardizes a bad book more than a good dress size.

What kindles medical examiner Dr. Barney Nathan and the crime lab, but for Manny, not keeping Dale knowledgeable about death times and murder weapon-conserved blood types?

Judge Hobbs lists bail bond at $50,000 for murder suspect Melvin, always late paying Cora alimony, and at $10,000 for crime-concealing, evidence-fabricating, investigation- and justice-impeding Cora. Puzzle-column and puzzle-book monies and a major publishing company’s $800,000 advance for 75,000-word-long nonfiction respectively make Cora’s bail bond and Melvin’s bond and bail bond manageable. Melvin nestles into Bakerhaven niches as a newcomer netting new sales for Knauer Realty and noticing Cora at Mary Cushman’s Bake Shop and with Harvey Beerbaum.

Perhaps Melvin organizes into his bad book observing attorney Becky Baldwin outfitted in a good dress size over which Cora obsesses, and the county prosecutor’s wife.

First Selectman Iris Cooper perceives Melvin, whom perhaps nobody patrols pursuing Mrs. Firth while Henry peregrinates to a legal convention in Cleveland, perturbing Cora into jaywalking.

Melvin successfully quests exclusive interviews with Aaron Grant as Bakerhaven Gazette reporter and as Cora’s nephew-in-law and with Rick Reed as Bakerhaven Television Channel 8 newsman. Rick realizes an exclusive interview with Melvin’s literary agent, Jacob Wasserman, outside Bakerhaven Police Station and perhaps renders Confessions of a Trophy Husband a Bakerhaven bestseller. Felton confessions, apart regarding niece Sherry Carter Grant signing the bail bond and grand-niece Jennifer sharing ice cream with toy poodle Buddy, perhaps similarize Crabtree confessions.

Cora talking about fitting non-fattily into a good dress size and Jennifer play-dating Ricky Stebbins perhaps thwarts the bad book about which The Purloined Puzzle talks.

Cora perhaps aspires to admitting into her wardrobe of daytime and evening wear, all in a good dress size acknowledging her achieving a total weight loss of 20, 20-plus pounds, an evening mini-dress by Paco Rabanne (born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, Feb. 18, 1934): Nadia Priestly (Nadia308), CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, 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:

Baum, L. (Lyman) Frank. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. Chicago IL: The Reilly & Britton Co., 1908.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/dorothywizardino00baum2/mode/2up

Baum, L. (Lyman) Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Chicago IL; New York NY: Geo. M. Hill Co., 1900, c1889.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/wonderfulwizardo00baumiala

Baum, Roger S. (Stanton). Dorothy of Oz. Books of Wonder. New York NY: William Morrow and Co., Inc., 1989.

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. 4 January 2022. "A Thinner Cora Adores Scones More Than Alcohol in The Purloined Puzzle." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-thinner-cora-adores-scones-more-than.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 28 December 2021. "The Purloined Puzzle Affects Bakerhaven Motel and Colson Road." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-purloined-puzzle-affects-bakerhaven.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 21 December 2021. "All But One Admire Yankee Baseball in A Puzzle To Be Named Later." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/12/all-but-one-admire-yankee-baseball-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 December 2021. "Diet Coke Accounts for Cora in Swimwear in A Puzzle To Be Named Later." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/12/diet-coke-accounts-for-cora-in-swimwear.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 December 2021. "Knauer Realty Arranges Property Rentals in A Puzzle To Be Named Later." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/12/knauer-realty-arranges-property-rentals.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 30 November 2021. "A Renter Less Affects An Only Bakerhaven Realtor in Presumed Puzzled." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-renter-less-affects-only-bakerhaven.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 November 2021. "Alcohol and Ativan Accessorize a Carving Knife in Presumed Puzzled." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/alcohol-and-ativan-accessorize-carving.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 November 2021. "Bakerhaven Maps Advance or Avoid Glenwood Street With Presumed Puzzled." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/bakerhaven-maps-advance-or-avoid.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 November 2021. "Becky Appears Thinner, Younger Than All But Two in Puzzled Indemnity." Earth and Space News. Tuesday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/becky-appears-thinner-younger-than-all.html

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/2021/05/one-knife-two-deaths-four-puzzles-aid.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

Poe, Edgar A. “The Purloined Letter.” The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present MDCCCXLV: 41-61. Philadelphia PA: Carey and Hart, 1845.
Available from The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/giftchristmasnew00carerich/page/n56/mode/1up

"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, January 11, 2022

A Bad Book and a Good Dress Size Await Cora in The Purloined Puzzle

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