The Puzzle Master is a very interesting mystery that’s a mix of The Silent Patient, a bit of Pinocchio, and a religious mystery all into one. The story follows Mike Brink, a man who has acquired savant syndrome and is brilliant with puzzles. He is called to a prison to try and help a young woman in jail for killing her boyfriend who drew a unique puzzle. From there, we go down a rabbit hole about this puzzle and what happened to the boyfriend. We go all the way back to early 1900 Prague and we learn about this puzzle and this doll and Jewish folklore.

I enjoyed this story a lot. It had a lot of complex ideas and religious history that I was not expecting. The writing was very good and it kept my attention for a topic that I’m not very familiar with. It also threw in some doll horror and a lot of action as well. It reminded me of the Silent Patient a bit with the relationship of the patient and outsider. There were a lot of interesting twists and a lot of action as well. It was a fast paced book that kept me guessing. This story was very ambitious and covered many topics.

I did get a bit lost in the middle and it did seem very long. I would have preferred maybe a little less ambition with the story and everything it covered. The ending was very open which i don’t tend to enjoy.

This was a very unique mystery that wove together a lot of different things. I recommend to other mystery readers who enjoy unique mysteries.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Random House for the arc!

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni #thirtyeighthbookof2023 #arc

CW: death, murder, creepy dolls, dognapping, golems

After an accident, Mike developed sudden acquired savant syndrome, and now he is a genius puzzle solver and constructor. So when he’s summoned by a prison doctor to solve a puzzle drawn by a convicted murderer, he is intrigued. Almost immediately he is drawn into a dangerous situation where the supernatural comes into play.

I enjoyed this book, but I had a hard time suspending my disbelief at certain aspects of the story. The puzzling was also over my head, but that didn’t take away from them. The mystery behind a missing doll was actually pretty interesting, and I was caught up in the pace of the novel. The plot moved fast and was a quick easy read. The ending was a little weird and I can’t tell if it’s leading to a sequel. I didn’t love the romance subplot. I thought it unnecessary and unrealistic and it didn’t add anything to the story. Overall though, this was a pleasant read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the advance copy. (Pub date 6/13/23)

There wasn’t much I disliked about this Da Vinci Code-esque read. What I did find perplexing was the ending. I thought there would be some unexpected twist. There wasn’t. To me that would have made this story even better.

If you enjoy action packed stories with a ancient supernatural mystery twist and an adorable canine friend of the protaganist as well as complicated puzzles then this is for you!

“…his concept of God was identical to the concept of scientific reality I had described. God was, he said, light. Not metaphorically. Not abstractly. But literally all of the attributes we associate with photons of light—a ubiquitous presence that moves freely through space and time, an energy with the creative capacities to generate life on a molecular level—these are the qualities of the creative power we know as God.”

This was a complex but engaging read. It kept me 9n the edge of my seat the entire time. The characters relatable. I found myself thinking that I could be friendswith some and even understand their decision making. Even after reading, I found myself thinking about the characters and the different situations. Having a easy read that doesn't ask much of you is okay. Sometimes you need a book that challenges you and leave an indelible mark on you. I was lucky enough to read the previous book by the author and enjoyed it very much. So this was on my anticipated list.

#THEPUZZLEMASTER
#NETGALLEY
#DanielleTrussoni

Thank you Random House for the ebook review copy of the The Puzzle Master, and PRH audio influencer program for the audiobook copy (which is a great way to really get into the pacing of this book). I loved this book! It's been a while since I read anything quite like this, indeed reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code but also some long ago favorites like The Westing Game. It is cognitive science with puzzles and mystery, a surprisingly fast paced for me read despite being filled with twists and turns and intricate connections. This is a great read for fans of the noted books and also for anyone who wants something a little different this summer, a welcome change up from traditional beach reads.

I recently had the pleasure of reading "The Puzzle Master" by Danielle Trussoni, and let me tell you, it's a book that fans of the "Da Vinci Code" and Stephen King will absolutely adore. This captivating novel seamlessly blends religious information with a thrilling mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

One of the aspects that immediately caught my attention was the structure of the book. The chapters are short yet packed with unexpected twists and turns, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Trussoni's skillful storytelling kept me engrossed, eagerly turning pages to unravel the secrets hidden within.

What truly stood out for me were the actual depictions of the puzzles in the book. It added an immersive layer to the reading experience, making me feel like a part of the adventure.

Now, I have to be honest here. While I thoroughly enjoyed "The Puzzle Master," I could have done without the romantic aspect. Personally, I felt it wasn't necessary for the plot and could have been omitted. However, I do understand why it was included and its potential appeal to other readers.

What intrigued me even more was the ending, which alluded to the possibility of a series. It left me eager and excited for what's to come, as I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Trussoni has laid a strong foundation with "The Puzzle Master," and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds in future installments.

Overall, "The Puzzle Master" was a highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to any fan of gripping mysteries and religious intrigue. I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was SUPER excited to read this book & even more excited to get an ARC! 😱 Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!!

This book started off sooo strong and I couldn’t put it down until about 60% into it and then unfortunately it just fell off the shelf a little for me.

This book is about Mike who after a trauma has the unique gift of acquired savant syndrome, and the ability to solve and create puzzles instantly, which has deemed him the “Puzzle Master.”

Everything changes when Mike is summoned to a New York state prison where an inmate accused of murder is asking for help to solve a puzzle. This inmate doesn’t speak or interact with anyone (insert all The Silent Patient feels here) except Mike.
Here he finds himself in over his head when he learns that everyone who has interacted with this puzzle has died a terrible death.
When Mike finds a diary of the incarcerated patient, he starts to learn the truth of what happened that heinous night that landed Jess, the inmate, in prison, even though there were many more individuals involved than anyone initially thought. (insert How to Sell A Haunted House vibes).

I feel like the story line and plot was definitely there but it was a slllloooowww burn that didn’t really follow through. (for me)

The history and past story lines were a little too slow and dragged on a little too much for me. There was a LOT of Hebrew religion & reference that were WAY over my head, especially when I was just expecting puzzle solving.

It took a huge supernatural turn, which I wasn’t expecting at all. That may be fine for a lot of readers but that was where it kind of fell flat for me. It all seemed very plausible and likely until then.

The last 30-40% of the book just seemed way too out there and not at all what I was expecting & then I found I was forcing myself to “just finish it already.”

The plot was definitely intriguing and I think the writing was great, it just didn’t hold my attention at all toward the end.

This wasn't my favorite -- it felt a bit like it was trying to be the next The Da Vinci Code with elaborate puzzles and religion and one (extra)ordinary person to solve a puzzle and a crime . . . but it was too elaborate, it had too many moving parts and it just wasn't very fun. I found myself skimming toward the end to just finish it. Hope you have better luck!

The Puzzle Master comes out next week on June 13, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

Puzzles are composed of patterns. They are meant to be solved. There is always a predetermined order, and there is always a definite answer. With skill and perseverance, you will always complete a puzzle. Games are won, often by luck or random circumstances. There's an element of chance. You can have all the talent and determination in the world and never win a game. There's a big difference.

This book is a powerhouse of genres and it is very intricately written, pay attention to EVERYTHING! Mike Brink suffers a traumatic brain injury and somewhere in his recovery he acquires the ‘savant syndrome’ making it possible for him to create and solve complicated puzzles. This is a true syndrome but extremely rare. Jess Price has been sentenced to prison for 30 years for a murder she may or may not have committed. She has not spoken since being incarcerated. Until now. Jess creates a complex puzzle and writes Mike Brink’s name on it. Brink is brought in to solve this puzzle and the rest of the story is a race against time to find the answer. I’m not sure I was the right audience for this book but if you love a thoroughly researched story with lots of clues and red herrings to keep track of then you will enjoy this one. Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 13, 2023.

I found this novel to be slow reading (lots of thinking and rehashing) and one of the most fascinating I’ve ever read. The protagonist, Mike Brink, was a “normal” teen age athlete when he received a very serious injury in a football game. When he awoke, he had acquired savant syndrome, a rare medical condition in which he acquired extraordinary cognitive abilities. His gift was puzzle solving. In this story, the puzzles he works with are ancient and stem from religious beliefs. I was absolutely amazed at the intelligence and learnedness of many of the characters and the exceptional was the author melded them together. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an ARC for an honest review.

A gifted puzzle maker is drawn into the case of a young woman convicted of a brutal murder.

Mike Brent was a talented high school quarterback when an on-field collision left him with a severe brain injury. His life changed course as he realized that he was able, in fact driven, to identify patterns and solve complicated puzzles in ways that others cannot. It is a unique talent, but the injury has also made it difficult for him to make human connections. Mike has created a career creating and publishing puzzles that are intricate and challenging, and lives a quiet, regimented and solitary life. When he is contacted by a psychiatrist working at a nearby state prison who asks him to meet with Jess Price, a young inmate who was convicted of a brutal murder five years earlier and who has not spoken a word since she was found at the scene of the crime, Mike’s first instinct is to say no. He’s never met Jess, and doesn’t see how he could help her situation. Then he finds out that Jess has drawn a complex puzzle and is known to be a follower of his own work, and he is intrigued enough to meet with her. When he does, he finds that puzzle to be an irresistible challenge and also feels a connection to Jess that is as intense as it is unexpected. Mike is soon drawn into a race to pursue the solution to a centuries-old quest; there are powerful forces who want the solution for their own reasons, and Mike isn’t sure whether he is working with or against them. Add in a creepy old house, a highly sought after porcelain doll, Jewish mystics and a golem….can Mike use his unique brain to find the correct answers for the right reasons, and in doing so clear Jess’s name and save his own life?

As I read The Puzzle Master, elements of the story brought to mind other books I have read by different authors. The medical condition which Mike Brent developed as a result of the football injury, known as acquired savant syndrome, has some commonalities with the synesthesia that the protagonist in David Baldacci’s Memory Man books experiences. A doll that may or may not be possessed by a malevolent spirit pops up in numerous books and movies in recent years. Shadowy groups of powerful and/or wealthy people looking to clues left behind centuries ago to find wealth or power….perhaps you’ve heard of The DaVInci Code, or the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry. That said, I found the book to be an interesting and enjoyable read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Readers who are fans of the series I’ve mentioned would likely find this tale to their liking, as would those who like a little gothic twist to their thrillers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group for the advanced reader’s copy of The Puzzle Master. .

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted e-arc.

I really wanted to like this book but it just didn’t work for me. It might work for someone that likes thrillers with a bit of romance. Not for me.

It takes a real talent to write a book that can fall under many genres and have it work but The Puzzle Master is definitely one of those books. There a secret agencies that have eyes everywhere there is a Secret conspiracy, Supernatural events and this is all just in the first two chapters Mike Brink after a football accident in high school have the kind of good luck head injury that caused him to be able to solve puzzles most of us don’t even know the name of but what he realizes his great talent he eventually goes to MIT and he also writes puzzles for the New York Times but when he gets a call from the prison psychiatrist Dr. Thessaly telling him she counts as a prisoner who she’s never had a conversation with because she doesn’t talk but she gave the doctor a puzzle and the psychiatrist thinks he can solve it when he arrives at the prison to view the puzzle he is perplexed there is too much missing and so when the doctor asked him to meet with Jess in person, he is reluctant at first but eventually gives in. This will begin an instant attraction to the in prison woman who he doesn’t have a conversation with the communicates through puzzles in some kind of way she visit him in his dreams. She knows she can’t say anything in the prison because there are those who are watching her and on his second day there when his visitation is revoked by the governor of Michigan and someone in a Tesla Chases him through the mountains he knows there was more to this streams happening then just the murdered Doctor Who Jess alluded to on his first visit there is so much more to the plot of this book that I couldn’t do justice even if I wanted to I love to his relationship with conundrum his weenie dog and I do believe it ended to set up a second book and if they did then definitely signed me up I thought this was a brilliant well put together story in a few love intricately told horror stories with paranormal aspects in ancient religious references including the mystic the you’ll definitely love this book. I have never read a book by this author and I am blown away by this one. What a great book I received it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Let’s talk about how fun this book was. I felt like I was immediately sucked into the job of being a code breaker, puzzle master and spy all at once. I don’t know why but I got a bit of silent patient vibes mixed with Da Vinci Code and I was here for it all! I could not put this book down! I know I’ve said it before but I am in love with books that have games or riddles to solve and this one certainly takes the cake!

Mike Brink had a sports accident that completely changed his life when he was younger. He was a normal person and the suddenly after the incident he realized quickly that his brain was not functioning the way it should. He sees the world in puzzles to be solved and enjoyed making cryptic ones for an online following of anonymous users. His puzzles caught the eye of someone and has sucked him into this odd situation. He was called in to speak to Jess Price, a woman serving time for a murder she says she didn’t commit. The interesting thing…she will not talk to anyone but Mike Brink. He certainly doesn’t know who she is. Is it chance their paths are crossing now?

I loved how the formatting of this book! It had pictures of the puzzles, it had diary entries, letters, mysterious dreams, live action, escape routes, biblical references and a wee bit of romance. It was very enthralling and I loved every minute of it! I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!

The Puzzle Master is Dan Brown meets Annabelle in this literary thriller. I will admit that this one was over my head at times. It was very intelligently written and so thoroughly researched. I loved the differing timelines and perspectives from the dollmaker, to the imprisoned Jess to Michael Brink, the letters and what actually happened at Sedge House. The story was a puzzle in and of itself.

A tiny letdown at the end of an unputdownable read! It truly is reminiscent of Dan Brown! Between the sci-fi, the horror, and the suspense, this one kept me up on more than one night. The ending was a bit underwhelming, but it was still a great read!

I really, really enjoyed this book! The Puzzle Master tells the story of Mike Brink, who is requested by Jess Price, who is in prison after being accused of murdering her boyfriend in a bizarre and unexplainable incident in Sedge House. She shows him a partially completed puzzle, which leads to an investigation, exploring history and religion,

It felt reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, which I also loved. I found the characters likeable (except Jameson Sedge, but every sorry needs a bad guy).

There were parts that were a bit too outlandish for me, but overall this was a solidly enjoyable read.

I began reading this book as a break from horror. I am glad I did. I am always fascinated with any book that breaks the whole Christian ideology. I was involved in a cult as a young child and I disagreed with many of the teachings presented. We were told to worship “God” by watching terrible movies of what would happen if we did not give ourselves to the Lord. I have always questioned if the higher power was really a man. This book made me think about so many other possibilities. Through many puzzles, the author provides an alternative to the reigning religion of Christianity. If the premise was true in this book then the world would go into a tailspin. It is only fiction but what if the outcome was true?

The premise of the book sounded interesting. The blurb talks about an ancient mystery, puzzles and the supernatural. It all sounded great. But the actual execution of the story was not good. The first half was ok but the second half devolved into a mess of ideas. The story read like a text book about mathematics, religion and philosophy that made me lose what little interest I had left in the book.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Outstanding. This book was an equal blend of The Da Vinci Code, Annabelle, a world religions class I took in college, and more but I don't want to spoil anything. Kudos to Trussoni for writing something so complicated but in a way that this dumb-dumb could follow. A modern, smart take on the metaphysical, existential, philosophical and scientific realms and how they all relate to one another. Beautifully done, and un-put-downable!