Picking Up The Pieces : A Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery by J.B. Abbott

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Picking Up the Pieces
A Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery
J.B. Abbott

This appropriately titled series starter had me hooked after the first chapter. Katie Chambers, our easy to like amateur sleuth, is working with literal and figurative puzzle pieces and not all of them have to do with the mystery. Fortunately, she has a great group of friends who are willing and ready to help her. I am a fan of this kind of cozy which incorporates a cast of variously aged characters who are the support system to assist the sleuth. Katie returns home after six years from Denver, Colorado to cozy Cedar Bay, Washington where not only does everyone know your name, but they also know your business too. I instantly took a liking to Katie, after all, she left a career to move back home after her mom died, so she can be close to her dad. This backstory instantly humanizes her, plus I would do the same thing in a heartbeat for my Dad. Speaking of dads, I found it refreshing that Katie’s dad is the head librarian, that is a new one for me as most librarians in books are women. As with most cozies, the librarians are fonts of knowledge. Katie’s dad could be quite helpful in the future stories. In this first story though, Jim is not helpful…at…all. With the police thinking they got their guy and Jim’s refusal to tell Katie anything helpful, it is up to Katie and the puzzle crew to solve their toughest puzzle yet.

A puzzle critiquing group originally started by Katie’s mom, the South Island Jigsaw Crew is back in business thanks to Katie. Not only are they passionate about puzzles but they are also extremely helpful when it comes to evaluating the next potential puzzle for the Cedar Bay Puzzle Company, where Katie works as the vp of product design and development. Actually, it was the same company and position that her mom worked for prior to her health problems and death. The ages of the members are from “almost 80” to 17, and each personality is just as different as the ages. A great group of people to help Katie solve the crime that claimed one of their own and to get her dad out of the hoosegow. Hannah, Todd, Kevin, and Mildred are such good friends to Katie that I didn’t even realize that she doesn’t have a bff like most cozy protagonists.

The plot is well planned with a variety of motives and misdirects. The story does a great job of eliciting emotional responses and I actually felt insulted on Katie’s behalf from the treatment she and her dad received from Lieutenant Crozier. Then there is the frustration when Katie’s dad refused to cooperate or share anything with Katie, or the bomb he dropped about her ex-boyfriend Connor. Lastly, I am hopeful for the continuation of this series and the development of the overall story arc as Katie continues to fill in the puzzle pieces of her life.