Ever since I first read Katherine Neville's The Eight, I've longed for a puzzle novel as captivating and satisfying, but, just as we've never had another The Secret History, there's never been another story--Scarlett Thomas's The End of Mr. Y came terribly close--as compelling as The Eight, until now. My only complaint is that I will never read The Puzzle Master for the first time, again.

I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of this novel but didn’t care for the supernatural elements, which struck me as a bit overwrought.

First of all... trigger warning if antique dolls freak you right out!
Acquired savant syndrome and synesthesia are fascinating to me so I liked that I was able to sort of experience those alongside Mike in a way. I also love puzzles. This book did have several of them that Mike had to figure out along the way, mostly of the word variety. At the beginning of the book, he is given an incomplete puzzle and tasked with not only figuring out what is missing, but find its solution. He is helped by several experts in different fields and has a wild adventure in (I believe) a 2 or 3 day time span. It definitely does give off Dan Brown vibes with a supernatural twist.
If you enjoy books that give your brain a workout, especially regarding theories of consciousness, you will definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to review the unique and suspenseful “Puzzle Master”. Great twists and turns and a genius character in Mike Brink..

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to review “The Puzzle Master” prior to publication.. I am appreciative and leave my sincerity review voluntarily.

Absurd. I was looking forward to a Divinci Code type journey but the supernatural element to this story derailed the whole book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had all the complexities, enigmas and history of a Dan Brown novel. A man with a rare condition that makes him an elite puzzle maker and solver, the intricacies of porcelain, the Kabbalah, blockchains, the JP Morgan library and more woven together in an insane tapestry. At times the plot becomes a bit ridiculous, especially during the climax of the story, yet the book remains fairly fast-paced and captivating throughout. If you enjoy stories filled with conundrums, historical fiction, technology and bit of horror mixed in, you'll enjoy this book.

This is the kind of book that you pick up and can’t put it down. I went in expecting one thing and the story ended up veering in a direction that I did not initially expect. I’m not mad about it though, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride that this book took me on.

The story follows Mike Brink, a former football player who in a tragic accident on the football field, acquires savant syndrome. This syndrome unlocks something in his mind that allows him to expertly solve puzzles, read rapidly, and remember things in detail that is almost superhuman. Now a puzzle constructor, Mike meets a woman serving time for murder and an ancient puzzle. He embarks on a journey to solve this puzzle and learn more about this strange woman who is pulling a “silent patient.”

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was fantastic, the characters captivating, the lore and historical information integrated well. This is not a straightforward story and there are some supernatural elements and honestly some classic horror moments (I kept thinking Frankenstein at some points). So, if you like a good thriller/mystery/puzzle hunt/supernatural story, this is a book for you!

Thanks so much to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this one! While I definitely agree that this is a fascinating combo of DaVinci Code and The Silent Patient (both books I enjoyed), I think it ended up combining my least favorite parts of them. I couldn't handle how different the puzzle master's brain worked being mentioned over and over again. I could have used more puzzles and less lore drop/textbook vibes from this. I can definitely see this being a very interesting read for some and I think it was still interesting enough to finish with some interesting historical stories. Thank you Random House for the ARC of this one.

Puzzlers rejoice, as this novel centers around an expert puzzle designer and solver being thrust into a finding a solution that involves ancient mysteries. Mike Brink, following a traumatic brain injury as a rising Midwest football star, emerges with a rare medical condition that enables him to see patterns and solve puzzles that elude everyone else. Brink’s busy creating puzzles for the New York Times and pretty much being a loner when he gets summoned to a prison in upstate New York where an murder convict, Jess Price, has created a complex puzzle that her psychiatrist believes might hold clues to why Jess has remained completely silent since her arrest and might help with her care.

Mike, intrigued, drives up to see the puzzle, but more puzzling still for him becomes powerfully drawn to Jess. He embarks on an increasingly dangerous quest, involving increasingly complex puzzles and a hunt for clues. With both Mike and Jess’s lives threatened, the tension mounts.

For me, the novel’s core “God Puzzle” does not work, as it’s completely entangled in religious myth and the Kabbalah, with ancient mystical forces at play and a creepy, Golem, come to life porcelain doll.

But the rest of the novel gets you hooked, from the mind-bending puzzle solving to the powerful romance building between Jess and Mike.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Danielle Trussoni is a master storyteller and The Puzzle Master is masterful, compelling, complicated, involving and just plain unputdownable. I'm so glad she has a new series and this won't be the only one with this wonderful concept.

I really enjoyed the puzzle aspect of this book and that's what drew me to want to read this thriller. The author put a lot of time into researching and depicting all of the puzzles - so complex and intriguing. While I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of the book, when it veered off into the more supernatural/thriller arena I didn't find it as easy to read. There were a lot of moving parts to keep track of in order to keep up with the story. The author weaves a good tale and I like her writing style. I would give this book 3.5 stars - I rounded up because the puzzle aspect of this book was so good.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Loved this! Thanks to the publisher for the advanced readers copy. Well-written thriller about a puzzle expert who solves a mystery involving a woman accused of murder. I love puzzles myself and the puzzles woven throughout the book were fun. Highly recommend this one, due out in June.

This book represents a new genre for me (sort of part locked-room, part dark history, gothic and murder), and I thank Random House and Ms. Trussoni for the opportunity to try this book out in the form of an ARC.

While there is much to like in this book, it was not a title that captured my personal reading preferences. I selected the book based upon its cover (great) and the synopsis. After finishing the read, I realized that this much diversion from reality just was not my cup of tea.

For those who enjoy their mystery/thriller selections a little off of the beaten path of conforming substance should give this book a look. The author's effort is not to be minimized in my rating. Being very current in some ways, the content even includes post-COVID references.

Watch for this book to be released in early June, 2023.

Review
The puzzle master

I first started reading Danielle Trussoni when she came out with her angelology books and have always kept an eye out for her new novels.

This one was absolutely fantastic. It's a fast paced mystery/thriller steeped in religious mysticism, and a tremendous amount of research on the author's part which makes the book even more compelling. I never wanted to be far from picking it back up and devouring it!

My first 5 star of the year!

thank you to net galley for the chance to read and review this gem!

For fans of Katherine Neville The Eight. I loved Angelogy years ago. Never quite caught up with her further works. The Puzzle Master had me by the end of 10 pages. I loved the confusion n one character's mind and how they thus saw the world. I keenly became invested in the other main characters. I found I picked non fiction books and was so impressed with author's research and knowledge. Very, very satisfying. I received this as a NetGalley preview and already purchased a HC for family member when book comes out in 6 months. Worth the time, investment, and greatly a full Turkey dinner meal satisfaction. Kudos.

A twisty, turny journey that struggles with pacing a bit in some sections. I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Angie Kim described The Puzzle Master as " Da Vinci Code + Silent Patient + sprinkles of Stephen King" and I could not have been more intrigued. Mike Brink is a genius at solving puzzles, and creating them is his job. He is asked to meet with Jess Price who is imprisoned for murder, and the story takes off from there, never once slowing. This book is a must read for anyone who loves action, twists, turns, and of course, puzzles. I do not see any way this does not become a film. It is a well done, wild ride!

This story held me in its grip from the first page and never let me go throughout. This tale is a puzzling adventure, spanning timelines and world religions. I would recommend this for fans of Blake Crouch and Donna Tartt.


Posted to GoodReads @KAT

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

I was between 2 and 3 starts on this book and really went back and forth between 2 and 2.5 stars until the twist at the very end. Don’t get me wrong, this book is beautifully crafted. The amount of detail of the puzzle entertained with religion sometimes went over my head, at no fault to the author.. There were times when I was fully engrossed and times I had to push through and skim.