Solve puzzles, solve murder. When a murder takes place in the sleepy market town of Bakerbury, the local police are baffled by a crossword puzzle left on the body. With their case going nowhere, they reluctantly turn to Cora Felton, a recent arrival in Bakerbury, whose fame as the eponymous Puzzle Lady suggests she can help DCI Hooper and the police unravel the crossword clue and solve the murder. As Cora throws herself into the investigation, she starts to gather allies and enemies in equal measure.