Comment from dbmccarter

Exceptional

This is great. I don't even understand all the things about the elements but it kept me reading. You made great use of the genre and the objects. Great luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 19-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Dec-2019

Thanks for the very kind words and the wonderful rating. I also appreciate the good wishes, very much. Most grateful, Craig

Comment from w.j.debi

Excellent

An interesting premise and a creative approach to the assignment you were given for this challenge. It is rare for a policeman to be the villain and it adds an interesting element to the story.

 Comment Written 18-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Dec-2019

Thank you. Much appreciated.

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Exceptional

Great story Craig, very cleverly thought out with the puzzle pieces.
This one held my interest from the first word. Great write, and good luck in the contest.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 18-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Dec-2019

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments, the good wishes and the delightful rating, Valda. All very much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed. Cheers, Craig

Comment from Debbie Pope

Exceptional

Oh, this is just awesome, Craig. It is so clever of you. I actually tried to make some sense of the puzzle pieces as I was reading, but I didn't get anywhere. This piece reminds me of a Sherlock Holmes game that we play with neighbors each Christmas. The game provides the scenario, which is full of clues to solve the murder. Your scenario is actually much better than the ones in the game.
Well done.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Dec-2019

I think we might have played the same game many years ago with our friends and neighbors, Debbie. In the version we used to play, each person was a character. We all used to dress up to match the part, too. I guess you'll need to be practicing for your game now! Many thanks for the wonderful comments and the lovely, shiny stars. Craig

Comment from Dawn Munro

Exceptional

What a clever story! Too clever for me to figure out the puzzle, mind you (ahem - don't tell anyone I said so...) but it seems all the "t's"were crossed and the "i's" dotted 9at least I hope they were). (HAHAHAHAHA!)

Good one! (I'm sure glad I didn't enter this contest. That's two brilliant entries I have read already!)

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 17-Dec-2019

Fierce competition for sure, Dawn, though I don't appear to be a part of it.

Thanks for the lovely comments and the beautiful shiny stars :)

reply by Dawn Munro on 17-Dec-2019

I am quite sure you ARE! (If not, you should be!) You're very welcome.

Comment from Bill Pinder

Exceptional

Great job with the creative thriller that you wrote using the prompts. I like that you started out by choosing the message that would be the clue and then creating the symbols from the periodic table to match that. That was a very clever idea that formed the basis for your story. Great job with the good pace for the story that is believable.
Merry Christmas!
Bill

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 17-Dec-2019

Thanks so much for the very kind words and the lovely, shiny stars, Bill. Merry Christmas to you as well :) Cheers, Craig

Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

Hi Craig. An interesting whodunit. I like the line "catch you or shoot you." The table listing is a clever way to present the puzzle for finding Paula. Best of luck in the contest. Marilyn

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2019

Thanks very much, Marilyn. I appreciate the kind comments and the good wishes. Cheers, Craig

Comment from Mystic Angel 7777

Excellent

This is very well penned and a thoroughly intriguing read. You did great with BOTH the genre and the object making this areal contender. Even though I knew it would end with the puzzle being solved, you teased us along not having a clue exactly what it might say. Good luck in the voting and thank you very much for sharing it.

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2019

Thanks for the very kind comments and good luck wishes. Much appreciated. Craig

Comment from lyenochka

Exceptional

Now that is clever! And I loved that you used chemistry as part of the clue. Great job with this detective story and hope you do well in the contest, Craig!

My only difficulty in reading was keeping track of everyone's names. I liked the Jack Daniel's reference and Douglas Adams' quote in the beginning. But I had trouble tracking David Price. Was he ever found?

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2019

Thanks for the wonderful comments and delightful rating, Helen. And for the good wishes as well :) I imagine he probably turned up for work the next day blissfully unaware of how he had been at the centre of such a hullabaloo. I really think this story could be redone with more detail and tying up of loose ends (particularly that one), but I'm aware that many readers don't like the stories to get too long. Thanks again, Craig.

Comment from Thesis

Good

I really didn't follow the line of this story. I was confused from the beginning about how the plot developed and didn't understand the dialogue. I'm sorry but the last clue also left me clueless as to what was going on.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2019

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2019

Never mind.