The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Other Books by This Author I Read/Enjoyed: The Ancestor
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9780593743867
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
BISAC Categories: Historical - General, Literary, Thrillers - Suspense

Subgenre/Themes: Historical Fiction, Mind Bender, Mystery, Romance, Religion, Puzzles, Creepy Dolls, Haunted House, Astral Projection, Obsession, Secret Societies
Writing Style: Very, very intricately plotted, sophisticated yet accessible prose, richly detailed descriptive language, cinematic, fast pace, suspenseful

What You Need to Know: This book cannot be forced into any one genre, or even two. It’s a mystery-thriller, while also being a historical fiction novel leaning into elements of horror, with an air of romance; genre-defying, just like The Ancestor. I love it. The Puzzle Master checks off a lot of boxes for me and I suspect it will for a wide variety of readers.

My Reading Experience: I read something somewhere that said, and this is loosely translated, but it said good writers tell stories in such a way that makes their readers feel smart, not them.
I thought about that while I was reading this book because at first, I was intimidated by the synopsis, I’m not good at puzzles. I was the kid in math class that would see one of those word problems about a train traveling at x miles per hour passing a town every x hours and stopping x amount of times and picking up 10 passengers and what is the maximum occupancy if the train blah blah blah whatever, I can literally feel my brain turning its back on me. My brain rejects those “solve for x” problems or any other kind of puzzle. I don’t like puzzles because I feel like I’m not good at them.

But Danielle Trussoni wrote a book about solving puzzles and she made it fun and exciting and easy to follow while at the same time, giving the story all the intricacy, and sophistication it demands in order for it to feel special. This book is so special. The main character, Mike Brink had a professional football career ahead of him but suffered a head injury that changed his life. He has a mind for puzzles; solving them and creating them.
Trussoni’s superpower here is unfolding this story like a magic trick. The art of deception and distraction. I’m just along for this ride. I love that this puzzle master is brought in to solve a cipher created by a mysterious woman in prison. They have this electric chemistry and he becomes obsessed with her life. Then, there’s her ‘haunted house & creepy dolls’ story nestled within the larger narrative–at one point in the story, I find myself immersed in some story about a doll maker, the history of porcelain, and secret societies, ancient religious texts, oh, and even a golem! Just like I experienced with The Ancestor, Trussoni has this way of drawing me into her world with richly detailed descriptions of the setting; as I type this, I can see everything. I know the way the characters look, the prison, the big house with the creepy doll collection, all of it.
The only complaint I have is that there is a large cast of characters that I lost track of a few times and toward the end when the mystery is unraveling, I got a bit overwhelmed by it, but again–I’m not good at puzzles. Once I got there though, in the end, it was very emotional. A powerful, gripping ending with a profound message that I loved so much.

Final Recommendation: At the end of the day, The Puzzle Master is entertaining, exciting, and capable of capturing its audience for an epic magic trick with a big reveal; intricately detailed, and impressive craftsmanship. It is such a joy to place oneself in the hands of a very capable writer. Highly recommend.
Comps: Stephen King’s The Dead Zone + elements of Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart + Agatha Christie + Shirley Jackson. That’s this book.

This was an enjoyable and engaging thriller, which is what I've come to expect from Danielle Trussoni. The main character's puzzle skills and his acquired savant syndrome are interesting quirks that fuel the story and dovetail nicely with both the golem legend and the mysterious woman accused of murder who needs his help. Trussoni writes so well that it's hard for me to find many flaws with this one except for an unnecessary character or two, and also the fact that Mike's dog was in several dangerous situations but always got away and never got hurt. Thanks to Netgalley and to Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so maybe I'm in the minority here, but this book came off as a hot mess.

The cover is so pretty and well designed. Kudos for that! And while the blurb didn't necessarily lie, there was just so much that came after that it feels dishonest?

I totally get the comparison this book has received to The DaVinci Code. But where that came off as a master class, this came off as a lesson in "throw everything at it and see what sticks"

What I was expecting:
• Man with amazing abilities to solve puzzles
• Using those abilities to solve a cold case

What I was not expecting:
• Religion and religious references, something I tend to stay away from as a personal preference
• Haunted Dolls, like that doll was totally causing destruction in that house and it was promptly forgotten and never brought up again
• Jewish Mysticism aka Kabbalah aka that weird culty group Madonna was (is?) a part of
• Not just haunted dolls, but Golems
• Anarchy groups
• Quantum computers uploading digital likenesses of people
• Demonic possession
• Multiple angelic/demonic planes/dimensions
I"m probably missing a few, but I stopped paying close attention because it was getting out of control!

I found the writing to be mediocre with some SAT words thrown in for good measure. And can we talk about the dog? What was the point of the dog? It served no purpose, didn't move the plot. Never helped with anything. You could take out all mention of the dog and no one would notice.

If the setup at the end was for a sequel, count me out.

Thank you NetGalley for a digital copy in return for an honest review.

4 stars

I loved this! This book was totally not what I was expecting. It had a very Di Vinci Code feel, and the puzzles were fun! I read it over the course of a day and I can’t wait to check out more by Trussoni!

Special thanks to Random Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I really liked this book. It was different. The puzzles in it were doable and didn't leave me feeling less than.

Mike Brink sustains a football injury and be ones a savant solving and seeing puzzles. He is asked to help Jess, an inmate who writes a puzzle just for him to solve.

Then the story veers off into Judaism and horror, but doesn't read like a horror. I wish it did. It will really remind you of DaVinci Code and Silent Patient as promised. It has different POVs which I like always in a book.

I would recommend this book so 4 stars! I wish it had more horror in it though.

The Puzzle Master is utterly brilliant! Angie Kim describes this book as “The DaVinci Code + The Silent Patient + sprinkle of Stephen King,” and honestly nothing I can think of describes it better. There’s the mystery, the puzzles, the mathematics, the divine, and the history, plus an incarcerated woman who refuses to speak in her own defense. I loved this book!! It’s got exactly the right amount of mystery mixed with a bit of horror. Like any of Dan Brown’s books, you’re asked to suspend your own beliefs and go along for the ride. This was extremely clever and the addition of Mike Brink’s savant syndrome made it easier to understand the ways in which he was able to come to his conclusions. I liked how the author seamlessly included her rationale for the puzzle’s solutions without making them daunting or condescending. Plus, her writing is so beautiful and immersive. The Puzzle Master will keep you up at night as you furiously race to the thrilling end. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Book : The Puzzle Master
Author : Danielle Trussoni

Thanks so much Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review!

This book was surely not a typical read for me but I am glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone. I had never read anything from this author and I was very pleased! I read it in a 24hr period. This book gave me big The Da Vinci Code and Silent Patient vibes which I loved.

This storyline is gripping and fast paced, keeps you on your toes. Multiple POV is present in this book which I do truly love. I love when an author mixes elements and there were some supernatural and religion mixing going on and I was there for it.

The characters were well built and the world building/character dialogue was spot on.

I love a good fast paced page turner and this had be wanting more of it. This book is a must read should be on everybody’s TBR.

The premise of this book sounded really good so I jumped at the chance for an early read.

The puzzle parts of the story were very fascinating and at the heart of all of it was Kabbalah, only posed as being possible to do Divine works.

I enjoyed the characters and the unfolding of the story. Unfortunately, when I hit 97% read on my Kindle, the story, to me as a Christian, fell into total blasphemy and I was done. So, no idea how it all turned out in the end and it is sad because I think this ending was the main goal of the book. I should have known when the adverts mentioned it was part Da Vinci Code, one of the most inaccurate and anti-Catholic books ever written. (not to mention written at a third grade level.)

I wish I could end this on a good note, but the ending of the book made that impossible. What could have been a 5 star review is squeaking through as a 3, only because the majority of the story was good.

I do thank Random House and NetGalley for this early read in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mike's life is changed forever when he suffers a brain injury as a senior in high school. the result is that he now is a mathematical savant who can see codes and solve puzzles too hard for others to tackle. When he is called into a murder investigation and asked to interview the supposed perpetrator, Jess in a State prison, he is set upon a trail of murder and intrigue revolving around an antique doll and a missing letter. The letter gives clues to a mysterious and ancient code which may or may not hold the power of life and death. As a powerful man goes after the code and the doll, Mike's life is in danger. Can he solve the puzzle of the code, save an innocent woman from death and prevent the wealthy and delusional Jameson from attaining immortality?
The puzzles included were beyond my comprehension but one doesn't need to be a puzzle master to enjoy the tension and fast-paced action in this book. Check out Mike's dog's name too!

Mike Brink had a traumatic brain injury in high school that transformed how he sees the world. He can now solve puzzles few other people on Earth can. So, when a woman sentenced to prison who stopped talking for five years creates an inexplicable puzzle, her doctor reaches out to him to see if he can finally reach Jess Price.

This is gripping and fast-paced. After seeing the puzzle, Mike’s life is suddenly in peril, but he still wants to help Jess. Parts of this reminded me of The Da Vinci Code, specifically the intersection of science with the divine and unknowable.

I really enjoyed this. The Puzzle Master is definitely worth a read.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 13, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Puzzle Master.

I've read previous books by the author so my expectations were a bit higher than usual when I requested this.

I'm sad to say that although the premise was intriguing, the overall plot was a letdown, mostly due to many scenes of disbelief I was unable to believe in.

For example, a regular dude, Mike Brink, is granted access to see a famous murderer in prison. He gets clearance. Just like that. Easy peasy.

Or, Mike is able to steal papers and/or hide valuable documents from the villain, an Elon Musk wannabe.

The wannabe's girlfriend allows Mike to go home and change his clothes and take care of his dog.

Then, the henchman allows Mike to go to the bathroom.

Readers are treated to the POV of Cam Putney, the henchman whose skills include ruminating/obsessing over how all the bad things he's doing is to give his daughter a better life, and popping up in the back of his victims' cars like a demented jack-in-the-box.

I laughed when he popped up in the car when Mike and Rachel are trying to get away. I'm sure that wasn't the author's intention when she wrote that scene.

I enjoyed the supernatural and religious elements but I have to say I wasn't thrilled to learn Violaine wasn't like Annabelle from The Conjuring. She''s just a golem. Meh.

Also, I wished the author had leaned harder on the horror. There was a ton of potential when Lilith came into the mix.

Lilith is a ferocious demon not to be reckoned with, yet despite her possession of Jess, Lilith seems to keep a low profile throughout the novel.

Readers see none of the horror and destruction she's capable of. All the drama and fear happen off site.

There's a ton of info dumping and exposition about the puzzles and Judas mysticism, which is overwhelming.

The premise led me to believe Mike would be solving puzzles to solve the mystery, but it wasn't about that.

Mike spends most of his time getting into hard to believe scenarios and being manhandled.

I'm still not sure why he and Jess have this emotional connection; because of Lilith.

I liked Mike, he's likable and I love Connie.

I wouldn't mind seeing them in another book, but with a stronger focus on how Mike's puzzle solving abilities solves a mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni. This is my first read by this author, although I had heard of her book, Angelology, when I requested this one. This has me intrigued from the synopsis, as I love all types of puzzles and am amazed by those who do them almost effortlessly. This story opens with puzzle master, Mike Brink, being summoned to a women's prison by the prison psychologist She has uncovered some puzzle-like drawings from a prisoner, & has reached out to Brink in hopes of some type interpretation. Up till now the psychologist has not made any headway with this prisoner, Jess Price, who was an author before she was convicted of manslaughter. This story flows well throughout. Definitely an interesting premise and I do recommend this if you have an interest in puzzles and mysteries.

Angie Kim, author of the bestselling novel Miracle Creek, describes The Puzzle Master as “The Da Vinci Code + The Silent Patient + sprinkle of Stephen King.” I can’t speak for The Silent Patient, but I’ve read The Da Vinci Code and my share of Stephen King. After finishing The Puzzle Master I had to think about why Kim references Stephen King and came up with King’s novel The Institute (a fantastic read, by the way) in which a character follows a maniacal obsession. And I can definitely attest to The Da Vinci Code analogy. I would say that The Da Vinci Code is to ancient Christian mysticism as The Puzzle Master is to Jewish metaphysics (with some supernatural elements thrown in).

Jess Price has been convicted of murdering her boyfriend in a mansion she was housesitting. Now, Jess is confined to prison and has elective mutism (aha! I just figured out the connection to The Silent Patient). The Puzzle Master opens as the prison psychologist summons Mike Brink, a neurodivergent creator of elaborate puzzles, to decipher a tantalizing puzzle fragment that Jess has drawn. The prison psychologist, sympathetic to Jess’s plight, is eager to facilitate a meeting between Jess and Mike in hopes of discovering what happened the night Jess’s boyfriend was murdered.

As soon as they meet, Jess and Mike experience an instant mind-connection. Mike wants not only to decipher the mystery of Jess’s puzzle, but also to reveal the mystery of Jess herself. What follows their encounter is lucid, interactive dreaming; power intrigues; historical research; and madcap adventures (because, of course, there’s an evil fanatic on the loose of the harness-the-universe variety).

My favorite aspect of the novel is the developing relationship between Jess and Mike. Theirs is initially a meeting of the minds—necessary due to her incarceration—but soon they connect in dreams where they work on untangling the puzzle’s global significance and engage in romantic interludes. I really enjoyed their interactions and the way the author depicts their growing respect and love.

Less compelling for me in this novel is the amount of theological exposition (I admit that for some readers, the religious and supernatural elements may prove the most intriguing). I also think the author could have condensed the aforementioned madcap adventures—a few too many chase scenes vs. character scenes for me. (Interestingly, the charge of plot vs. character imbalance was levied against The Da Vinci Code as well.) Overall, the novel kept my interest and taught me things about puzzle making and ancient Judaism.

Readers who enjoy puzzles, mathematics, religious mysticism, and creepy dolls (Yes! creepy dolls!) will find much to appreciate in The Puzzle Master.

I received a copy of The Puzzle Master from Net Galley.

"The puzzle Master" by Danielle Trussoni sends readers on a whirlwind adventure, as Mike Brink, a world renown puzzle solver, is asked by a psychiatrist to meet with Jess Price an inmate, serving, a 30 year sentence for murder. She has not spoken since her arrest and has only drawn a puzzle. As Mike tries to unravel the meaning of the puzzle, he becomes aware of a greater opponent that he must keep at bay.

Although an interesting story with a very likeable main character, I was not enthralled by the focus on Jewish mysticism. Furthermore, I fee) that the story lost some of my interest as it reviews the puzzles that Mike Brink had already solved in his career; the story would have been more compelling if the main character had solved progressively more difficult puzzles in order to unravel the secret. As such, I feel that this book missed its mark.

Nevertheless the potential for Mike Brink to use his skills in other cases is intriguing and I would be willing to read a future book with this title character.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Trussoni's Puzzle Master was a very interesting book. I immediately loved the idea of the puzzles that were at play in the book, and actually wish there were more of them. The protagonist was interesting and while he was somewhat similar ( in terms of medical condition for being able to solve puzzles) to Baldacci's Memory man, who also had synethsesia, and a near perfect memory, I did not feel like it was a copy-cat.

The book Z was a captivating and was a quick read, and while it had a predictable resolution, it had enough twists and turns to keep you trying to figure out how it would end. There were some parts in the middle that seemed a bit slow, but all in all a good read.

For the right Reader this is 5 stars. For me, the book is 3 stars. Readers will enjoy this book if they are interested in science, religion, and the supernatural. The First third of the book I was absolutely hooked. The second third of the book, my mind would wander when reading. The last third of the book was TOO informative. I actually quit the book at 88%

Mike Brink has a brilliant mind for puzzles, but can he solve the greatest puzzle humanity has ever known? When he is called upon to assist with a patient convicted of murder, he gets launched into an action-packed supernatural meets mystery adventure.

This book is being billed as The Da Vinci Code + The Silent Patient + a sprinkle of Stephen King. This might be the most accurate marketing copy I’ve seen yet for a book. I really enjoyed this wild ride and it deserves a spot on your list of summer reads.

Jesse is accused of murder enter Mike who wants to help not knowing that to help Mike he has to solve a puzzle for the truth. Anyone that has read DaVinci Code has to read this book.

Thanks to Random House for the advanced copy. This book is WILD! I don't quite know how to describe it since it's a mash-up of different genres like mystery and horror with supernatural and puzzle elements to it. Just when I thought the book was headed in one direction, it completely went in a different one. I don't want to say much more than that so I'll just note the publishing copy here.

There were so many interesting facets to Danielle Trussoni's The Puzzle Master-- history and lore, mysticism and technology, puzzles and porcelain, and creepy antique dolls (my favorite thing in the world!) -- that I don't even know where to begin. So I'll start by saying that if you like the idea of this particularly esoteric combination of ideas, entangled in a thriller interwoven with hints of the supernatural, you'll enjoy this story. Mike, a man with an exceedingly rare medical condition involving patterns and puzzles, experiences a strangely deep and profound connection with Jess, a woman serving prison time for murder, and is drawn into an ancient--and dangerous-- mystery. Aside from the romantic aspect of the story, which I never love in any story, this was right up my alley and a great deal of fun. If you are not a fan of purple prose or a flowery turn of phrase, you'll appreciate the direct, uncomplicated tone and writing style here. I found this a bit weird because I recall Trussoni's The Ancestor being a bit more descriptive, with more ornate prose and poetic language. But The Puzzle Master reads more like a fast-paced, pulpy mid-century men's adventure story. I'll have to read more from this author to get a more complete sense of their range, I suppose.