ZDFE has a go at Puzzle Lady drama

German distributor ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) has partnered with Canadian prodco December Films and Factual Fiction in the UK to develop a mystery drama based on US author Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady book series.

Robert Franke

The companies have acquired the TV rights to all 20 books in the series, which centres on a crossword puzzle columnist who can’t resist poking into unsettling events and solving crimes.

Development of the six-episode TV adaptation will start immediately, with execs Todd Berger, Julie Di Cresce and Patrick Irwin, Factual Fiction co-founder Emily Dalton and screenwriter Dominique Moloney.

Robert Franke, VP of ZDFE.drama at ZDFE, said: “Parnell Hall has created, in Puzzle Lady, a delightful character that has been described as ‘Miss Marple on steroids,’ a strong hint that this will not be your typical mystery series.”