The Crossword Murders

A crossword that’s tricky to crack, a hot cup of coffee… and hidden clues? Can Jane Treen work this mystery out?

England, 1942. Jane Treen is hot-footing it to Devon, having received an urgent message from her colleague and fellow sleuth, Arthur Cilento. He had been deeply worried for his mentor, crossword writer Professor Watkins. And the invitation he’s sent Jane is to the Professor’s funeral… he’s dead.

Arthur suspects foul play, but before they have time to fill in the blanks, their clues lead them into a secret vault nearby. Jane, fluffy ginger cat by her side, begins to connect the dots. But then another man is murdered, and she realises that Professor Watkins’ death is one piece in a much larger and deadlier game.

But who could be behind the untimely deaths? Could the professor’s beloved sister be responsible? Or a wealthy and influential benefactor and her assistant? And someone else close to the professor – also no stranger to compiling a crossword – seems to be increasingly cryptic too.

It’s clear that the killer isn’t playing by the book. And when the clue the professor left in the last crossword he wrote doesn’t help them to solve the crime, Jane and Arthur are back to square one and must think outside the box to crack the code. But just as they start to figure out what’s happening, they find themselves trapped, their lives at stake…

Can the duo solve the puzzle and escape before it’s too late?

If you love twisty crime novels and top-secret intrigue, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s utterly gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

What readers are saying about The Secret Detective Agency series:

‘I ATE this up. what more could I ask for???… Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Hooked from start to finish… This book is an absolute delight!’ reading_barefoot_on_the_beach

‘DANCE WITH BOOK GLEE AND READ HAPPILY!!… I love the characters! One moment I thought I knew who it was! The next minute a dead body shows up! I devoured it!… Must Read!… Bravo!!! 🍭’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely hooked from the start. Full of action but cosy!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The reveal. WHOOSH! THAT was unexpected. I was so sure of who it was… I was V E R Y wrong 🙂 . A really great read!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I just loved this book! I read this book within a couple of hours in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked from the very beginning. I LOVED the cat. I need more Marmaduke!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my goodness what a journey. So ridiculously good.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Terrific! Wonderfully paced and beautifully written, kept me enthralled for the entire book.’ Novel Kicks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Reels you in, I didn’t want to put it down… Kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐