Savannah Stone is a big fan of numbers. As a math whiz, she uses her love of arithmetic to make her living creating puzzles that are syndicated daily in many newspapers throughout the United States. When her husband Zach, a former police chief from Charlotte, North Carolina, was forced to retire after being shot in the line of duty, the Stones retired to a small mini-farm in Parson's Valley in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But retirement is not to be a peaceful project for Zach. He dabbles in his beloved police work by consulting for several police departments both in North Carolina and across the country.

When a call comes in from the new chief in Charlotte asking for his help in capturing a killer, Zach jumps at the chance to return to his old stomping ground. Savannah, however, is not so keen, but goes along with her husband for moral support and to keep an eye on his health. Little does Savannah know that she will be enlisted to help solve one of the most difficult puzzles of her life. If she doesn't solve the puzzle in time, the life she fails to save might be someone close to her heart.

A DEADLY ROW is the first novel in the Mystery By The Numbers series by Casey Mayes, and it is a dazzling debut indeed. Combining the police procedural knowledge of Zach Stone with the deductible reasoning of his wife Savannah, the equation adds up to a delightfully intelligent couple who are a pleasure to get to know. Fans of mysteries that make you stop and think will find A DEADLY ROW the start of a brilliant series.