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Aug 12, 2025
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Description
A dedicated group of jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts must put their problem-solving skills to the test when one of their own is murdered, for fans of Kate Young and Richard Osman.
After her mother’s passing, Katie Chambers returns to Cedar Bay, a serene enclave nestled in the southwest corner of Washington State’s Whidbey Island to support her newly widowed father, Jim Chambers. Stepping into her mother’s footsteps, Katie takes on the role of graphic designer at Cedar Bay Puzzles. With the help of her father, she resurrects her mom’s cherished initiative, the South Island Jigsaw crew, a group of puzzle enthusiasts who gather weekly at the library to test and tackle the latest Cedar Bay Puzzles creations. But when a member of their club is murdered and Jim is the last person to see her alive, resulting in his arrest, Katie and the rest of the gang must use all of their resources to obtain justice for both.
To prove her father’s innocence, Katie reaches out to Connor Crozier, a firefighter and her former flame who shattered her heart seven years ago. With problems piling up at work and a competitor outright accusing CBP of stealing his designs, it is up to Katie to puzzle out the mystery before it’s too late.
Perfect for fans of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and The Marlow Murder Club, this charming and fun mystery will have readers puzzling over the mystery until the last page.
After her mother’s passing, Katie Chambers returns to Cedar Bay, a serene enclave nestled in the southwest corner of Washington State’s Whidbey Island to support her newly widowed father, Jim Chambers. Stepping into her mother’s footsteps, Katie takes on the role of graphic designer at Cedar Bay Puzzles. With the help of her father, she resurrects her mom’s cherished initiative, the South Island Jigsaw crew, a group of puzzle enthusiasts who gather weekly at the library to test and tackle the latest Cedar Bay Puzzles creations. But when a member of their club is murdered and Jim is the last person to see her alive, resulting in his arrest, Katie and the rest of the gang must use all of their resources to obtain justice for both.
To prove her father’s innocence, Katie reaches out to Connor Crozier, a firefighter and her former flame who shattered her heart seven years ago. With problems piling up at work and a competitor outright accusing CBP of stealing his designs, it is up to Katie to puzzle out the mystery before it’s too late.
Perfect for fans of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and The Marlow Murder Club, this charming and fun mystery will have readers puzzling over the mystery until the last page.
Product Details
| Publisher | Crooked Lane Books |
| Publish Date | August 12, 2025 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9798892421614 |
| Dimensions | 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.0 inches | 1.3 pounds |
About the Author
Brian Tracey is the past chairman of DFWCon, Texas's premier multi-genre writing conference. He's an active member and long-serving officer of the DFW Writers’ Workshop and a member of International Thriller Writers, serving as a volunteer in several capacities for ITW's annual conference, ThrillerFest. He's published business articles and white papers, and his short stories have appeared in Suspense Magazine (written as Patrick J. McKnight). In addition to his thrillers, he also writes cozy mysteries with Jeff Ayers. He lives in Texas with his wife, two children, three cats, and many rabbits who've claimed his yard as their own.
Jeff Ayers’s first book was a guide to the world of Star Trek novels for Simon and Schuster, Voyages of Imagination. He read over 550 books for that project and interviewed over 350 people, including William Shatner and John DeLancie. He has been a book reviewer for the Associated Press and Booklist and is currently reviewing for Criminal Element, Library Journal, and firstCLUE. Jeff has interviewed hundreds of authors in newspapers, podcasts, and magazines. He is a retired public librarian and a former coexecutive director of Thrillerfest for International Thriller Writers. He co-writes thrillers about national parks under the name A. J. Landau.
Together they write as J. B. Abbott.
Jeff Ayers’s first book was a guide to the world of Star Trek novels for Simon and Schuster, Voyages of Imagination. He read over 550 books for that project and interviewed over 350 people, including William Shatner and John DeLancie. He has been a book reviewer for the Associated Press and Booklist and is currently reviewing for Criminal Element, Library Journal, and firstCLUE. Jeff has interviewed hundreds of authors in newspapers, podcasts, and magazines. He is a retired public librarian and a former coexecutive director of Thrillerfest for International Thriller Writers. He co-writes thrillers about national parks under the name A. J. Landau.
Together they write as J. B. Abbott.
Reviews
Praise for Picking Up the Pieces:
“A great choice for both cozy fans and readers of other mysteries, and of course puzzle lovers.”
—First Clue Reviews
“Solving a jigsaw puzzle was never at once so deadly and so much fun.”
—David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine Art
“Cozy readers will be charmed and invested until the last piece of the puzzle is in place and the ending revealed. A fun new series!”
—Holly Danvers, author of the Lakeside Library Mystery series
“A witty, warm-hearted, fast-paced puzzler—an impressive mystery series debut! Lovers of The Thursday Murder Club will enjoy what author J.B. Abbott has created with The South Island Jigsaw Crew helmed by puzzle expert Katie Chambers. This crew tests the jigsaw puzzles that Katie’s firm designs and produces. The jigsaw testers—of various ages and professions—face a startling challenge when Katie’s librarian father is accused of murder and he refuses to fight for his innocence. Other major characters include a past boyfriend who is a local firefighter providing support and humor without overshadowing Katie and her puzzlers. Foggy, chilly Puget Sound provides a perfect mysterious setting. Whimsy the cat offers warm interactions at the right moments. This is a highly recommended debut novel in a mystery series led by smart characters that show a lot of heart.”
—Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Novella Series
“A great choice for both cozy fans and readers of other mysteries, and of course puzzle lovers.”
—First Clue Reviews
“Solving a jigsaw puzzle was never at once so deadly and so much fun.”
—David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine Art
“Cozy readers will be charmed and invested until the last piece of the puzzle is in place and the ending revealed. A fun new series!”
—Holly Danvers, author of the Lakeside Library Mystery series
“A witty, warm-hearted, fast-paced puzzler—an impressive mystery series debut! Lovers of The Thursday Murder Club will enjoy what author J.B. Abbott has created with The South Island Jigsaw Crew helmed by puzzle expert Katie Chambers. This crew tests the jigsaw puzzles that Katie’s firm designs and produces. The jigsaw testers—of various ages and professions—face a startling challenge when Katie’s librarian father is accused of murder and he refuses to fight for his innocence. Other major characters include a past boyfriend who is a local firefighter providing support and humor without overshadowing Katie and her puzzlers. Foggy, chilly Puget Sound provides a perfect mysterious setting. Whimsy the cat offers warm interactions at the right moments. This is a highly recommended debut novel in a mystery series led by smart characters that show a lot of heart.”
—Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Novella Series
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