This book sucked. Not only was it unnecessarily convoluted without payout, it didn't even lean into it's far fetched concept enough to be believed.

When I started reading The Puzzle Master, I was certain I was going to love it. It was reading like the Robert Langdon-Silent Patient mash-up with gothic haunted house vibes I didn't know I always needed. But as the book progressed, the more of a slog it became and the less I was able to engage with it.

It starts off well: We meet Mike Brink, a puzzle constructor who was diagnosed with sudden acquired savant syndrome after a traumatic brain injury. This rare medical condition allows him to see patterns in everything, giving him a unique ability to both construct and solve puzzles. He has been called to a New York State women's prison at the behest of a psychiatrist whose patient, Jess Price, hasn't spoken a word since she was arrested for the murder of her boyfriend. But now Jess has a message for Mike, one that will draw him into a complex ancient puzzle and a deadly game with the highest possible stakes.

At first, this was such an exhilarating read. Incorporating excerpts from Jess's journal and letters written by a mysterious doll-maker more than a hundred years ago, I was on the edge of my seat and eager to see where Danielle Trussoni was taking me. But she just kept throwing more and more into the plot, until it became incredibly muddled and esoteric. What began as a puzzle adventure with intriguing historical elements became a jumbled plot involving quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and several religious aspects. All interesting topics -- but they did not all belong in the plot of this book. It seemed like Trussoni just kept introducing new ideas and then promptly discarding the previous ideas.

I also found the characters to be very flat, and I didn't at all buy the instalove plotline (or feel entirely comfortable with it, it's kind of problematic) -- both of which would've been easier to forgive if I had remained as engaged with the book as I was at the start. Those issues, in addition to several plot holes and the chaotic nature of the plot, made this a disappointing read for me. Thank you for NetGalley and Random House for the complimentary reading opportunity.

The author definitely did her homework on the many, MANY, subjects discussed in this novel. Her research was thorough enough and deep enough to have written this as a non-fiction textbook of Hebrew myths, writings and legends, and coding using binary numbers. In fact, that is exactly how this novel did read.

In the first quarter of the book, we are introduced to Mike Brink, who, through quirk of fate and an accident to his brain, has acquired savant syndrome. He can solve puzzles, any puzzle. He is the Puzzle Master. Fascinating premise, and the story starts out great; he is on his way to a prison to try and solve a puzzle presented by a prisoner being held for the murder of her boyfriend. It goes downhill from there sadly.

He doesn't really solve a lot, or really any, puzzles. He's better at visualizing them and then being able to recreate them without notes. After an interesting start, the story devolves into repetitive retellings of Hebrew mysticism and the creation of a golem. The whole middle half of the book was a hard slog to get through because, as I mentioned before, it read a lot like a textbook. We get a lot of history, background, more history. Dry, dry, dry.

Things finally pick up a bit in the last quarter, but not enough to save this story. At one point, our hero's escape the bad guys; they throw a coveted suitcase in the back of a Jeep and take off. Suddenly a bad guy pops up out of the back seat and makes off with the suitcase. Really? You didn't notice a 6' tall guy crouched in the backseat of a Jeep?!

Then there is the 'romance'. Brink spends time with the prisoner Jess twice, for about an hour, and by the end of the story they are deeply in love. Insert eye-roll here.

My last problem is with the title. It shouldn't be called The Puzzle Master as he doesn't really spend the whole novel solving puzzles. It should be called The GOD Puzzle, as that is the focus of this novel.

"Puzzles are composed of patterns. They are meant to be solved."

Mike Brink, a football player, suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused a rare medical condition called acquired savant syndrome. He can now solve puzzles in ways that others cannot. This gift will come in handy when he meets Jess Price, a woman imprisoned for a murder.

"After the injury, the guy I thought I was totally disappeared. The old Mike Brink was dead, and I had to figure out who this new person was."

Jess Price has not spoken a word since her arrest for murder. After she draws a puzzle, her psychiatrist calls in Mike Brink as he believes the puzzle may explain her crime. After meeting her and becoming intrigued by her and her puzzle, Mike goes on a search for answers.

What follows is a quest to solve a puzzle like no other. This book is a mash up of several genres: science fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, supernatural, etc. The book also has various puzzles throughout which the author credits to the creators in her "Note to the Reader" section at the end of the book.

At first, I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into. This book was a little puzzling to me, but I soon found my footing. I was intrigued with the characters (especially Mike Brink), the action, and the God puzzle. The story was original and interesting.

Original, thought provoking, and well written.

The best way to read The Puzzle Master was jumping in without any expectations or really any sense of what is going to happen. I was pleasantly surprised and captivated to find what I assumed to be a resurgence of Dan Brown styled puzzle solvers on some epic quest was really more of a hybrid Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller novel that incorporated elements of brain trauma, haunted porcelain dolls, and Jewish mysticism. The fast-paced action kept me reading more so than the actual puzzle at the core of the novel and the character of Mike Brink was a bit of an enigma in and of itself.

I loved the gothic elements and the esoteric religious plotline, however the twist ending I felt was unnecessary and for me, negated Brink’s entire role in the story past a certain point. The love story thrown in did not make sense to me either after some of the later reveals.

Despite those few minor caveats, The Puzzle Master is a fun read for fans of the esoteric and haunted houses. Lots of surprises to keep the reader guessing and beautiful writing make this definitely one to put on your summer reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Danielle Trussoni for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t so much read this book, I totally absorbed it. The writing is excellent, the plot unique, and the characters range from uniquely interesting to bit players. A young man, destined to be a star football player, is in an accident that takes away his football future but leaves him with a unique talent to solve puzzles and difficulty connecting with other people. A woman is in a mental facility and hasn’t spoken a word in the five years she’s been there. She’s accused of murdering her boyfriend but there’s no proof, just an irrefutable set of circumstances. In a last-ditch effort to reach the woman, the facility’s psychiatrist invites the puzzle master to visit the woman at her request. As he starts to get through to her she gives him a challenging puzzle to solve and suddenly everything changes.

This novel grabbed me and pulled me in to the story to the point I felt I was living it myself. I couldn’t just read the words quickly and rush to the end, I absorbed every word. As a result it took me much longer to read than other books of the same length. The story is so far above the average whodunnit that it isn’t even in the same class. If you love a book that draws you into the story, this is it.

I received an advance copy of The Puzzle Master from NetGalley and Random House. This is my honest review.

One word: wow! This book mesmerized me: I didn't want to put it down, but I kind of did, to have time absorb what I was reading.
Mike Brink suffered a traumatic brain injury as a teenager, which left him with a rare medical condition called acquired savant syndrome. After the injury, he could see patterns in everything and was able to create and solve the most complex puzzles. He is intrigued when a prison psychiatrist sends him a puzzle that one of her patients has drawn, writing his name on the back of it. Brink travels to the prison to meet the inmate, Jess Price, who was found guilty of murdering her boyfriend 5 years ago and has barely spoken a word to anyone since. Jess decides she can trust Mike, and he is drawn into a complex and dangerous case, centered on the puzzle Jess drew, the so-called God puzzle. The supernatural aspects of the book are believable, the characters draw you in, and the plot has action, intelligence and mystique.

This mix of The DaVinci Code and Cloud Atlas is thrilling, intriguing and exciting. While there was a bit too much of the divine and esoteric towards the end of the story it lends itself to completing the puzzle the author constructed, pun intended. It is obvious that the different aspects of the novel were thoroughly researched and meticulously represented. The characters had clearly defined motivations and agendas but never felt one-dimensional or simple. An interesting foray into everything you never knew you always wanted to know!

I read the description and thought that this was for me. I love puzzles. The opening has part of a letter and a puzzle called The God Puzzle. Unfortunately we cannot solve this puzzle because it is incomplete. I hoped for more of the puzzle. Eventually we get more.

To solve the puzzle come Mike Brinks. He has a TBI and can see patterns better than most people now. He makes his living creating puzzles for fun. Jess Price is a novelist who was making money housesitting and gets convicted of killing her friend. She doesn’t speak to anyone but wants to speak to Mike.

When I started, this seemed like the kind of book that I would want to read and tell people about. It didn’t end that way. There is everything that should have made that true. Puzzles. Conspiracies. Supernatural. Creepy dolls. C’mon! Somehow, it turns into a big old mess by the end.

Let’s start with the puzzles. There are a few puzzles put into the book that Mike has made himself. They are all pretty basic, though the people in the book thought they were impossible. Jess leaves a few puzzles that are equally straightforward. Here is where my puzzle solving may have ruined it for me. I solve a lot of puzzles. I’ve even created some on a site I use to go to that would publish one puzzle a day. Weirdly, the most interesting puzzles aren’t really puzzles as much as codes and we don’t really get all of the information we need to solve them. But neither does Mike.

Conspiracies? There are rich people trying to find something for no reason that really makes sense. Even in the end, was this what you were really going for? And the people involved are not all really necessary.

Supernatural…this was everywhere. I love some of the stories that they brought up from different religions. But they just threw it all together, talked about how complex the stories really were, but then ended up simplifying the characters into their lowest possible form.

The creepy dolls were creepy but, outside of the letter from the dollmaker, were never fully realized. They could have upped the creep factory so much!

The flashbacks to the night of the murder and the days just before were gothic and creepy and full of those bad decisions made in gothic novels. A lof was missed there. Why not have more with the housekeeper?

All in all, it just missed the mark with it’s mess of contradictions and it’s forced romance.

Happy Publication Day to The Puzzle Master. This is something unlike I’ve ever read before. The author, Danielle Trussoni, introduces us to Mike Brink who had a brain injury playing football and it made him solve puzzles that others are not able to solve. He meets Jess who’s in prison for murder and he thinks she’s got something or does she? This book has action, different point of views from others and even some creepy dolls thrown into the mix. This had me guessing till the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Such a fun read! Twisting and turning, unpredictable and as wonderfully wrought as the inadvertent puzzle master Mike Brink, transformed from average good guy to puzzle savant by an injury. Lost in his pattern-solving world, he is also the only person who can solve a world-critical puzzle before it's too late. As the stakes rise and unbearable, inexplicable events occur, Mike relies upon newfound skills and develops new ones to connect with others no one else can reach, see shifts and changes before they occur to the rest of us, and solve essential, baffling complications. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This is not my typical genre, but I do love a good puzzle. This story takes you on a fast paced, heart racing journey with elements that stimulate the mind and the nerves: eerie dolls, the practice and traditions of Kabbalah, brain injury and other realms. It didn't keep me awake at night give me bad dreams, but it did make me jump - I did lose some sleep just trying to see what would happen next..

If you're looking for a book that features mystery, murder, cryptic codes, and more, check out The Puzzle Master. This definitely reminds me of Dan Brown's books, especially with the various elements surrounding older manuscripts, missing objects, signs and symbols, and even some various religious aspects.

I thought the characters were really interesting and well-developed. The story is fast-paced and I was really sucked into it and couldn't wait to see what happened next. Things got a little futuristic at times, but it still made for a really good book. And, with that ending, I hope this will be turning into a series! I'd like to read more adventures with Mike Brink!

Overall, a fun adventurous read.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was an intense book. There’s lots going on. Parts are even a little spooky feeling. It’s a strange book all around. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Mike Brink suffered a brain injury in a high school football game leaving him a brilliant puzzle master. Fast forward a few years and he is sent a puzzle that sends him to a most unlikely source, a prison. We encounter creepy dolls, ancient puzzles from the past, and a power hungry rich man who will stop at nothing to obtain the power to change the world.

Things I liked about the book. The plot summary drew me in right away. I do love a story with a creepy doll. I also really enjoyed the history provided with the history of the doll, it's maker, and the puzzle that holds all the secrets. My favorite character was the dog, a dachshund named Conundrum, also known as Connie. She was my favorite and should have had a bigger role in the story.

What I didn't like about the book. The pace in the first half was very uneven. Started out great and I got pulled into the story. But after about 50 pages the pace slowed and I considered stopping. I forced myself to continue and about halfway through I found myself sucked back in to the story. I love the portion that gave us the history of the porcelain doll and who had commissioned her. Then after we returned to the present I got lost. The story got really technical and quite hosnestly, over my head. I stil don't understand why they wanted the doll. Overall, I would give it 2.5 stars. I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion, pass it up.

THE PUZZLE MASTER is a brilliantly written and irresistible tale. Trussoni created a book that brings together complex characters, intricate puzzles, and murder in a way that is impossible to put down.

Throughout the pages of this book, there is so much going on. Yet, it all works seamlessly together to send the reader on a thrill ride not to be missed. It has layers of suspense which are enhanced by the interactions of the various players in this dangerous game of cat and mouse. Then, you have the pieces of the mystery of what happened to Jess Price woven together with a puzzle that has unfathomable ramifications. And finally, you have Brink, a man pulled into this web of murder, duplicity, and mystical ideology. What more can you want?

Ever since I picked up ANGELOLOGY, Danielle Trussoni has been one of my favorite authors. Since then, I have read each of her books in awe of the unique talent she has for developing compelling and well-crafted tales. Trust me when I say this. Read THE PUZZLE MASTER. It is the best book I have read this year and in the top five from the last several years.

So much fun! Very interesting mash up of genres that I think could go wrong for people who may have liked sone of the comps, but I really enjoyed how unique this was! The touch of horror was perfect.

“The Puzzle Master,” by Danielle Trussoni, Random House, 384 pages, June 13, 2023.

Mike Brink was once a promising football star. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in a game that caused a rare medical condition: acquired savant syndrome. The injury left him able to solve puzzles in ways other people can’t. But it also left him isolated.

Dr. Thessaly Moses, head psychologist at New York State Correctional Facility, an all-women’s prison, asks him to come to the prison. An inmate has drawn a perplexing puzzle.

Jess Price, a well-known writer, is serving 30 years in prison for murdering Noah Cooke, her boyfriend, while they were house-sitting a Gothic mansion. Jess hasn’t spoken a word since her arrest five years before. When she draws a puzzle, Moses believes it will explain her crime and asks Brink to solve it.

What begins as a desire to crack a cipher quickly morphs into an obsession with Price herself. Brink begins to dream about Jess. She soon reveals that there is something more urgent, and more dangerous, behind her silence, thrusting Brink into a hunt for the truth.

The quest takes Brink through a series of interlocking enigmas, but the heart of the mystery is the God Puzzle, a cryptic ancient prayer circle created by the thirteenth-century Jewish mystic Abraham Abulafia. The Gothic mansion and a creepy doll collection factor in. As Brink navigates a maze of clues, and his emotional entanglement with Price becomes more intense, he realizes that there are powerful forces at work that he cannot escape. 

This is a mystery and a thriller with a supernatural element. The characters and dialogue are good, but the novel is an odd mix. The horror and supernatural elements take it off on a strange tangent. It is fast-moving and there were sections that kept me engrossed, but also sections that I had to push myself to get through.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Just like the title, this book is an actual puzzle. It has so many elements, intrigue, and interesting characters that makes it so satisfyng to read. Once again, Danielle Trussoni has written a magnificient book, one that could only came from her magnificient mind!

Puzzle master Mike Brink used to lead an ordinary life. When a chance accident derailed his hopes of an athletic scholarship, he soon also learned that he had been left with extraordinary--and nearly unfathomable--abilities: a photographic memory, the ability to perceive patterns in milliseconds, an affinity for some of the world's most complex and difficult ciphers. By all accounts, Mike Brink was content to continue his work writing puzzles for the New York Times.

Until, that is, he's summoned to a New York women's prison and has a startling encounter with disgraced writer Jess Price, whose story of unprompted violence and murder shocked the nation. What ensues after Brink's meeting with Jess and Dr. Thessaly Moses, the prison's psychiatrist, is a heart-pounding, multi-layered race against time with a mysterious "God Puzzle" at the center of it all. In an instant, Brink is thrust out of his comfortable world of puzzle creation and into a battle for humanity's future--it's a responsibility he didn't ask for, but one that his unforeseen gifts have bestowed upon him.

Without a doubt, "The Puzzle Master" is a fast-paced, action-packed story that unravels layer by layer with a complexity I initially doubted would be present. For lovers of the "National Treasure" saga as well as Dan Brown devotees, I have a feeling this story will be right up your alley. Despite Trussoni's undoubtedly well-researched plot (not just puzzles, but ancient theology and linguistics too?) and solid writing, I interestingly-enough found myself thinking at several points throughout the story that I would rather see this on the big screen as a movie.

For me, "The Puzzle Master" reads like a fully-formed movie; for all of the different POVs, the dramatic flashbacks, the explosive action, the sudden appearance of new, crucial characters, I at points had difficulty keeping track of everything that was happening simultaneously in the plot.

An interesting departure from my usual genres, this was one that I think I had to be in a very specific mood to read. I found myself wishing I had more of an emotional connection to Mike Brink and his journey in decoding "The God Puzzle" (thwarted most likely by the sheer amount of characters that come out of the woodwork by the end) but can still appreciate Trussoni's ability to pen such a gripping story.