Overall, this book was fun to read but not what I was expecting. From what I had heard about it, I thought it would be more mystery than science fiction/supernatural. Fun read if you’re into that type of book!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni in exchange for an honest review. This was such an interesting take on a mystery. Having a man with a TBI that made him a savant in puzzles help solve the crime of a woman who hasn't spoken in years. I really enjoyed this book.

I didn’t finish this one. I was so confused as to what was happening. I really wanted to like it. Just didn’t connect

An engrossing, but uneven piece of brain teaser, The Puzzle Master is simultaneously doing the most, and not enough, enticing the readers with layers of mysteries and fascinating factoids, but overestimates its ability to actually assemble them towards a cohesive, compelling resolution.

I love the premise of a puzzle designer accidentally gotten himself involved in a murder case (side-note, the visual of puzzles scattered throughout is a neat, immersive touch), and the first third of the novel borrows heavily from gothic horrors, which immediately has me hooked (a particular location reminds me of a level in Resident Evil Village). But as the scope expands, going back in time and beyond centuries, the plot starts to lose me with its nosedive into quantum mechanics, forbidden spells, and knowledge on immortality. While the short chapters still keep me turning pages, I start to care less as the story trying to find its way out of the abyss of riddles it has generated. Not only do I find its progression convoluted (a lot of legwork, yet things always work out with the least amount of effort, and the characters find answers very easily), but also question the inclusion of romance (it was just... weird in an unflattering way) .

The Puzzle Master turns out to be more silly, fantastical National Treasure than I expected; granted I should've guessed when the ultimate riddle is called a 'God Puzzle'—so the rating is perhaps reflecting more on personal preference (and my lack of enthusiasm has possibly made the story's flaws even more apparent). But objectively this being a sure page-turner, and definitely packed with entertainment value (just don't over-analyze it).

Ohh I Loved this book!!! This book was the perfect combination of The Silent Patient and The DaVinci Code. I loved the puzzles, I loved the characters, and I loved the mystery and thrill. Soooo sooo good. Can't wait to read more by her !!

The Puzzle Master is absolutely spellbinding! Danielle Trussoni has this unique ability to create worlds that suck you in and I really hope we get a sequel to The Puzzle Master. The historical and religious facts are catnip for those of us who enjoy the genres on their own but the way she weaves them with "what ifs" to create her stories and worlds is phenomenal. I really enjoyed her characters in this one and would love to explore Jess more in a sequel,

I really enjoyed the historical flashbacks through letters and how each layered just enough extra to keep the plot going. This is the type of book for people who enjoy adventures, historical mysteries, esoteric religious subjects, and philosophical books that make you think... what if?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review.

Just wasn’t for me. I liked the main character, and anytime a dog is well used as character and not plot device I enjoy. This book was just convoluted, meandering, and meh.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I so enjoyed this book! Puzzles are one of my absolute favorite plot points and I was hooked by the premise of this book. The story was enthralling and read like a thriller and mystery that I just couldn’t put down.

All the world is a puzzle, and Mike Brink—a celebrated and ingenious puzzle constructor—understands its patterns like no one else. Once a promising Midwestern football star, Brink was transformed by a traumatic brain injury that caused a rare medical condition: acquired savant syndrome. The injury left him with a mental superpower—he can solve puzzles in ways ordinary people can't. But it also left him deeply isolated, unable to fully connect with other people.

I really liked the aspect of trying to figure out a puzzle. It was fast paced and kept my interest to the end.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy for an honest review.

Mike Brink, a celebrated puzzle constructor known for his unparalleled understanding of its intricate patterns, possesses an extraordinary insight into puzzles that sets him apart from all others. Once a promising Midwestern football star, Brink's life took a dramatic turn when he suffered a traumatic brain injury that led to an exceedingly rare medical condition known as acquired savant syndrome. This injury granted him a remarkable mental superpower—the ability to solve puzzles in ways that elude ordinary individuals. However, it also rendered him profoundly isolated, making it a struggle to form genuine connections with people.

Everything changes when Brink crosses paths with Jess Price, a woman sentenced to thirty years in prison for murder. For the past five years, she has remained silent since her arrest. When Price sketches an enigmatic puzzle, her psychiatrist believes that solving it might offer insight into the motives behind her crime, prompting him to enlist Brink's puzzle-solving prowess. What begins as a fascination with deciphering an intriguing cipher soon spirals into an obsession with Price herself. She unveils that there is something more pressing and perilous concealed behind her silence, setting Brink on a relentless quest for the truth.

The core of the book revolves around Mike Brink, celebrated as an ingenious puzzle constructor with an unparalleled grasp of its intricate patterns. This story pushes Brink to the limits of his abilities, as well as the readers. It embarks on a journey spanning centuries, belief systems, and dimensions. Reviewing "The Puzzle Master" is a challenging task as it offers a highly enjoyable and unique experience. However, I'm cautious about revealing too much and spoiling the story, so I'll keep this concise.

I'm always on the lookout for stories that are both unique and original, and "The Puzzle Master" unquestionably delivers on this front. This genre-bending narrative combines elements of action, adventure, murder mystery, a touch of the supernatural, hints of science fiction, and even a dash of romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Puzzle Master is Mike Brink – a man who has the ability to construct detailed and challenging puzzles. Mike acquired this ability after a traumatic brain injury on the football field his senior year of high school. It manifested into a rare condition called acquired savant syndrome. Now, he sees puzzles everywhere and knows how to solve them. When Jess Price, a woman serving thirty years for murder, gives him a puzzle she has drawn specifically for him, Mike is intrigued and determined to solve it. This leads him to a series of clues and unexpected danger, as well as an emotional connection to Jess.

The Puzzle Master is a well- written mystery, with an interesting plot, that leads the reader through ancient history and folklore. It has unexpected twists and can be quite unpredictable. The characters are unusual and the author has given them very definitive personalities. But, as the story moved into the ancient secrets that surrounded the puzzle and some supernatural aspects, it became much more complicated and it seemed to jump around a bit too much. So, while I really enjoyed the first half of the book, the second half was a little more tedious for me. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

This book started really good but then it got confusing. There was a lot going on and I found it hard to follow thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The Puzzle Master is a fast-paced book. The main storyline occurs within a week of Mike going to the prison to meet Jess. I liked that it wasn’t so fast that I had to reread the previous chapter. The author did slow down during certain parts of the book so I could digest what happened in the last chapter. There is some lag during the book sections that centers on the doll maker and his trip to Prague. But it wasn’t enough to distract me from the book or my enjoyment.

Trigger/Content Warning: There are trigger warnings in The Puzzle Master. Some of these are graphic, and most are on page. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Suicide (on and off page)—The suicide is not described (very vague), but the suicide note is the first thing you read in the book. There is also an on-page suicide towards the end of the book.
Mental Illness (on page)—Jess, who is in prison, is being treated for several mental illnesses.
Violence (on page)—There is graphic violence throughout the book.
Gun Violence (on page)—Mike is shot at and threatened with a gun throughout the book.
Animal Cruelty (on page)—Mike’s service dog, Conundrum (Connie), is put in the trunk of a car and left there. When she is let out, she is almost dead. The person then sets her free and drives away.
Body Horror (on page)—During the chapters set in Prague, the Jewish rabbi, and his son were severely injured after the ritual went wrong. That’s all I can say without spoilers.
Murder (on and off page)—There are several murders committed throughout the book.
Attempted murder (on page)—There is an attempted murder towards the middle of the book.
Grief (on and off page)—A man grieves over the death of his beloved daughter. His grief and what he did set the course for this book.
Child death (on page)—A semi-graphic child death is discussed in the book.
Sexual Content: I was pretty surprised at this, but there is sexual content in The Puzzle Master.

Language: There is foul language used in The Puzzle Master.

Setting: The Puzzle Master is set in a couple of different places. In the present day, it is set in upstate New York and New York City. In the past, it is set in Prague.

Representation: There is Indian representation (Mike’s mentor is from India, but the author doesn’t say what part). There is Jewish representation (Gaston befriends a Jewish scholar and his family). There is a god who is both male and female.

Tropes: Cursed Items, Humans Can Be Evil, Traumatic Past

Age Range to read The Puzzle Master: 21 and over

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

When Mike was in high school, he was a promising football player. But a traumatic brain injury resulting from a brutal hit ended that but opened an unwelcome and unwanted door. The brain injury somehow made Mike a savant–acquired savant syndrome. He could see patterns and puzzles in everything. Not only that, but he developed an eidetic memory. Mike made the most of what he was gifted, using it to solve and create puzzles. So, he is intrigued when a psychiatrist contacts him at a prison. He is even more intrigued after meeting Jess Price, who is in jail for killing her boyfriend. His interest is even more when Jess uses a puzzle to communicate with him. Determined to solve the crime and prove her innocence, Mike soon becomes obsessed with Jess and her case. But there is more to this case than Mike expected, and his poking around puts a target on his back. Will Mike be able to prove Jess’s innocence and set her free? Or will what he learned kill him?

Main Characters

Mike Brink: I liked Mike. I couldn’t imagine living with what happened to him after the brain injury. I felt terrible that he felt that he couldn’t connect with people. In a way, I think that is why he became so focused and obsessed with Jess. He felt an immediate connection with her, and that might have been the first connection he had in years. I hated how he was treated later in the book and what Jameson Sedge tried to force him to do.

Jess Price: She was an enigma. I was on the fence with her until Mike got a hold of her diary entries and met Jameson. I will only get a little into her character because a huge twist happens towards the end (and it involves what Gaston described in his journal).

Jameson Sedge: I felt dirty after reading his character. He had a finger in everything, including monitoring Jess at the prison. He also had a loyal hitman who would do whatever Jameson told him. Again, I am not going much into his character because of spoilers. But he got what he deserved at the end of the book.

Secondary characters: The secondary characters were fantastic in The Puzzle Master. I liked that they added extra depth to the storyline and, in some cases, helped explain what was happening. There were some characters that I liked and others that I wanted to boot from a plane.

My review:

The Puzzle Master was a well-written, well-researched book that kept me glued to the pages. I am not interested in puzzles (of any kind), but I was fascinated by what the author wrote in the book. She used actual anagrams and puzzles throughout the book (including The God Puzzle). When asked to describe this book, I told my husband it was like The DaVinci Code but with puzzles and anagrams.

The Puzzle Master has two storylines. One centers around Mike, Jess, and The God Puzzle. The other storyline centers around Gaston LaMoriette and what happened to him before, during, and after Prague.

The storyline centered on Mike, Jess, and The God Puzzle was well-written and well-researched (as I said in the first paragraph). This storyline has a huge twist that is directly tied to Gaston’s storyline.

The storyline centered on Gaston had some surprises in it. I can’t explain what surprises are because of spoilers. After the author revealed that tidbit of information, a lightbulb went on in my head. And when she tied it to Mike and Jess’s storyline, it became apparent.

The mystery angle of The Puzzle Master was excellent. I was truly kept in the dark about everything until the end of the book. The author had a couple of huge twists that took me by surprise.

The end of The Puzzle Master was almost anti-climactic. The author did wrap up most storylines in a way that I liked. But, there was a huge twist that was surprising and scary at the end of the book. The author set up book two perfectly with that. I also liked the afterward. It explained a lot about what was happening in the book.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Random House, Random House, NetGalley, and Danielle Trussoni for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Puzzle Master. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

I loved The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni! It has great characters, a creepy backstory, and plenty of intrigue. The main character, Mike Brink, had a head injury playing football in high school, and when he woke up, he had a new talent— he was able to solve any puzzle and could read pages in seconds and memorize them instantly. This ability is what gets him into trouble in The Puzzle Master. He is asked by a prison psychiatrist to help solve a puzzle that a prisoner has drawn. This puzzle is the beginning of a huge mystery that has been playing out for hundreds of years. The story takes off from here and never slows down. I can see Mike Brink having a series of books. In fact, I hope he does! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What a thrilling ride. Mike Brink, a "puzzle master" is invited to visit a prison by a therapist who feels her patient is trying to communicate through a puzzle. The story doesn't let up from there. There are urban legends, haunted houses?, weird dolls (sorry if dolls are your thing).
I would recommend this book for most people- okay not a literary novel, but it hits so many themes that many would enjoy it.
If you like intrigue and action... a little history, complicated families, extraordinary gifts- I would give it a go!

This started out really strong. It felt similar to the davinci code, as the marketing stated. I enjoyed all the cultural aspects, like Jewish folklore. I really enjoyed it, but it did get a bit long and convoluted, and I needed more from the main character to get attached to him.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a strange book that I couldn't really get into. The narrator sounded like Alex Trebek half of the time and the other half he sounded like John Lithgow from 3rd Rock from the son. Not a fave.

Surprisingly, this novel is a lot deeper than I originally assumed when I first heard about it via various bookstagram channels. The descriptive language was enjoyable but without too much conversation between characters I felt my attention drifting on multiple occasions. The plot has plenty of suspense, but it wasn't captivating to me.

After a football injury altered the pathways of his brain, Mike Brink is now a famous puzzle creator with a genius level of synesthesia. This allows him to not only create and see puzzles and patterns in his head but recall
a vast amount of information that he can read in minutes. When he is specially requested by a woman in prison, charged with murdering her boyfriend, he is intrigued to see how he can help but does not expect the level of secrecy and genius that this woman soon shows him.

Overall The Puzzle Master and the main protagonist, Mike, reminded me greatly of the Robert Langdons of the world and Dan Brown's DaVinci Code books. Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Intriguing mystery that went in unexpected directions that kept me reading! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy. Five stars!

Ultimately, this book just wasn't for me. If you liked The Da Vinci Code or things of that nature then definitely check this one out. Somehow it felt like the plot was trying to do way too much while simultaneously felt repetitive which was confusing. I just didn't connect with the story so it was difficult to push through.