I am having an awful time finding my last puzzle piece for the last puzzle before this event started.  I have been through the entire mess of levels and every HO in them, with zero success.  Is there any way to skip a puzzle and move on?  It seems to me like 11 days of playing to find this one piece is a bit overkill.  If it doesn't turn up soon, I'll have no choice but to abandon the puzzle section altogether.

Unfortunately not, no way to skip a puzzle.  When I finally got the last piece of the last puzzle, I had 217 pieces for the next puzzles when I finished up disenchanting the spares.  What's the betting that 217 pieces will NOT complete the next puzzle that comes up.

THAT has become a real sticking point.  If you have had that much trouble, I'm going to pass on the puzzles.  I only do them, to get to the next new one, and have never used them to get needed items...it's easier with pet rewards.  Maybe the lightbulb at Big Fish will go on if interest stops and they find no one is playing the puzzles.

Bingo (manybears) said:

I'm going to pass on the puzzles. 

Hmmmmm....just a different viewpoint.... IF you have a puzzle unlocked, you will randomly get puzzle pieces when visiting the HOSs. There's nothing that changes in the rest of your game, you just get a "free" puzzle piece randomly. So, why not just let them fall when they fall?

Also, when you get these duplicates, I found (in my game) that if I disenchanted them before getting that last piece, it took way longer to get it. For some reason, I tend to get the last one faster when I just let it sit until I get all the pieces, and then disenchant all the extras.

On the other hand, if you plan to unlock another puzzle, those duplicates will automatically disenchant into sparkles without you doing anything. When you reach the last one, the duplicates remain until you convert them to sparkles or until you unlock the next puzzle issued.

(And, I've had 180-200+ duplicates on many puzzles)

Bingo, what AEG said is correct.  I've proved it myself.

Continue to do the puzzles and play them as much as you feel able.  I have built up my diamonds beautifully from the puzzles.  I usually put the diamond first, a stamp an item worth more than 50 coins and an egg.  You will be amazed how lucky you can be.

I also play the puzzles if I have  a DQ that sends me to the same HOS twice for either the diamonds to open it or for the item needed if it is for a ZZ.   For a 10 part DQ I will use an amulet to help me.  

In my opinion, puzzles are well worth playing.  I know others will not agree with me, but each to their own.

I play the puzzles right now just for the diamonds. Since trying to work on Key Master I use the diamonds to send for the airship since I only take an airship that is 300+ wheels (thanks for that tip AEGram) to satisfy Trina’s requests. 

Hi AEGram, I took your advise and disenchanted all the extras.  It took me a day but I FINALLY got the last piece after many days of trying to find one lousy piece..  Thank you for the help.  I was going bonkers.  Onward with the rest of the puzzles.

Bingo (manybears) said:

I took your advise and disenchanted all the extras.

I did not advise you to disenchant all the extras. I find that when I do so before getting that last piece, it only takes more duplicates before I'm successful.

However, I'm glad you finally got the final piece to your puzzle.