This is an interesting one. There was a lot of set up and not much pay off. Really interesting characters, and the plot was intriguing, but the ending had a lot of weight to bear to make the adventure worth it, and sadly, I was a let down.

The plot was thrilling, with the puzzles, and the adventure, but then the puzzle was solved and the answer just seemed made up on the spot. I'm still confused how Jess was let out of prison, just because Sledge committed suicide. Really, the adventure starts there. That should have been the midpoint, Sledge living on in the machine directing Cam Putney after Brink and Jess. A golem in the machine.

"The Puzzle Master" is an imaginative thriller from beginning to end. Author Danielle Trussoni does a wonderful job of weaving several storylines together, giving the reader the info they need as they go. It reminded me of a more fun "DiVinci Code." Highly recommend giving it a read!

I was not prepared for the creepy factor of this book. When puzzle master Mike Brink is called in to visit with convicted murderer Jess Price, his world turns upside down. Jess is charged with a murder that has changed her mental status. It is up to Mike to solve the puzzle that Jess has laid out for him and in the process not get killed himself. This was a fast-paced brush with creepy dolls that I was not expecting, but it was very well done. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. 4 stars.

This was a really strange story. I'm not sure I liked it. I knows I didn't dislike it.

Give it a chance. The strangeness alone is enough to read this book.

I walked into this book thinking it was going to be similar to Clue, The Westing Game, Inheritance Games, etc. It is not. I still enjoyed it, but it was not what I expected or what the the synopsis implies (I thought). While the main character, Mike Brink, is a puzzler due to a traumatic brain injury in high school, and there is talk and explanations of puzzles, there isn't as much puzzle solving as I thought. One puzzle causes problems for a lot of people and starts the book on it mysterious course, but from there the book is about defeating they bad guy who has some crazy ideas! I enjoyed this and I'm glad I read it.

This is an action packed story perfect for fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry.

This was one fun book! There’s murder, demons, religious prophecies, brilliant geniuses and evil masterminds. What more could you want? I haven’t read a book by Danielle in a while (I was obsessed with Angelology when it was published in 2011). When I read the synopsis for this book, I was hooked. This book is fast paced and takes the reader on an action-packed couple of days with Mike Brink – an ex-football player who, after an injury, wakes up as a puzzle genius. One of my favorite parts of the story was seeing how Mike’s brain, how he saw patterns, and how his day job of making puzzles for the New York Times worked. It was a cool little insight into a job I never really thought about. I also liked that he had a bit of an offbeat job instead of being a professor or something like that which you would expect from someone with his capability.

Of course, this story isn’t just about puzzles. Rather, Mike gets called into a prison to help solve a mystery about a prisoner. Without knowing, he sets off a series of events that almost leads to his death and uncovers some ancient religious mysteries that have been hidden for a long time. Along the way, he stumbles across some other people who also want to know the answers and have their own reasons why, and the money and weapons to get what they want. I felt like I was constantly guessing if the people who ran into him (some literally) were there to help or harm him. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

I loved how fast paced this book was. A lot happens very quickly. Like any action movie, there’s a lot of convenient things that happen at times to help the plot along. Does some of it seem super surreal or very unlikely? (there’s a mix of quantum science, obscure mathematical puzzles and demons mixed with doll making). Yes. But I’m not reading this book as an historically accurate tome. I’m reading it to enjoy the story. I believe there could be a second book after this, and there’s definitely a cliffhanger at the ending, so I hope that’s correct. I’d love to read more about Mike and his adorable dog, Conundrum (spoiler alert: Conundrum does not get hurt in the story – this is no John Wick movie).

I absolutely enjoyed this book and now want to dive back into Danielle’s back list and revisit some favourites I haven’t read in a while. This is the perfect book to keep you entertained for a weekend – and you may never look at the puzzle section of a newspaper the same again.

THE PUZZLES!!! This one was SO fun. I don't want to give too much away but the twists and turns on this one are INSANE. I loved it from cover to cover. I hope I get to read much more by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me this intriguing book by Danielle Trussing - 4.5 stars!

Mike Brink was a promising high school football star when an injury left him with acquired savant syndrome. It left him able to solve puzzles in ways that ordinary people can't. He is called to meet Jess Price, a woman serving 30 years in prison for a murder. She hasn't spoken a word since her arrest 5 years before. She reveals a dangerous truth behind her silence and sends Brink into a hunt for the truth as well as an obsession for Jess herself. At the heart of the mystery is the God Puzzle, an ancient prayer circle created by a 13th century Jewish mystic.

First, I love books that take place in familiar environments - this one had two; Cleveland and Upstate NY. Besides that, I love puzzles, although I certainly am no Mike Brink! But I have to start my day with Wordle and Quordle. This was a multi-layered book, mystical, mysterious, and takes you from ancient times to today's world. It also has great characters - I really liked both Mike and Jess. There's a lot in this book to unpack, but it's a great journey.

The Puzzle Master is centered around well - a puzzle master - that experiences a traumatic brain injury that induces a rare medical condition known as acquired savant syndrome. He abandons his promising football career to attend MIT and create crossword puzzles and other puzzles. I'm not a person that really enjoys crossword puzzles, but I do like how they were incorporated into this book. I would suggest this book to those who enjoyed National Treasure, Angels & Demons, or Clue.
The MC, Mike Brink, is contacted by a woman (Jess Price) serving thirty years in prison via his puzzles. The book takes off soon after this and I had a hard time putting it down. Great suspense, nicely developed characters, and a uniquely pleasureable read. I will be reading more by Danielle Trussoni.

Favorite quote:
I've never liked roses much. They've always struck me as beautiful but cold, like crystal or mathematics.

Mike Brink is a savant. Due to a high school football injury, he is a genius. A genius that graduated from MIT in 3 years. A genius that makes puzzles for a living. One day, he receives a strange request to talk to a prisoner in a maximum security mental institution. From this point forward, an adventure begins that will lead Brink down the path of murder, Jewish mysticism, and possessed porcelain dolls.

Upon reading the premise of the story, I thought that this would be similar to The DaVinci Code., full of intrigue and narrow escapes to save the world. And to some extent, The Puzzle Master is all of those. However, the pace of the story grinds to a halt when the author spends extensive amounts of time explaining the history of the family, dolls, Jewish mysticism, and quantum computers. There were times it felt like the actual action that moved the story was rushed, leading the reader to fast starts and stalls throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I'm always willing to dive in blind when there is a blend of mystery and adventure with a splash of horror. I have no regrets about reading The Puzzle Master beyond the reinforcement of my fear of porcelain dolls.

🧩 I loved the concept and execution of this story. It is complex, intriguing, and exhilarating! Puzzles, murder, religion, history, horror, and even romance are included in this compelling, fast-faced, and multi-genre read!

🧩 The writing is very detailed, and the plot covers a lot of ground. There is a lot going on here and the book requires your full attention, but it isn’t a difficult read. I think the author did an exceptional job of keeping the complicated details understandable to the average reader. The craftmanship was outstanding.

🧩 The story includes a creepy doll! I hate creepy dolls, particularly ones with religious elements, so the inclusion of one in this story really created a deep horror aspect for me personally.

🧩 Mike Brink, the main character/puzzle master, is fantastic. He’s a normal guy who suffered a brain injury that made him a savant. He never asked to be a hero, but he becomes one in the story. I liked him a lot and I would love to read more books that feature him!

🧩 The ending was satisfying – which I was particularly happy about. I’ve found that books with intricate plots like this one can sometimes derail at the end, but this one didn’t. Yay!

🧩 Do not let this book intimidate you! While complex, it isn’t pretentious or difficult to understand. I think it is the perfect blend of multiple themes and genres and it would easily appeal to almost any reader. I couldn’t put it down!

🧩 Oh, and this book is going to be a movie someday… I am 100% sure of that! It’s quite a ride!

Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhouse for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Great thriller full of action, puzzles, and creepy dolls. Would definitely recommend to readers who love any of the above!

I was very excited to pick this up based on the synopsis. The first few chapters were really great and I found Mike and his puzzle ability so interesting. Things started to go downhill for me when the dolls entered the picture and the puzzles left. There was too much info about porcelain and the doll maker; I didn’t really care and ended up skimming pages. There was just way too much going on, the story didn’t flow well, and it was at times confusing. It came off as trying too hard.

I waited a while after reading this book before reviewing, because I wanted to sit with the concepts and attempt to process before jumping in to review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the eARC.

The Puzzle Master follows Mike Brink, who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a young football player that gave him savant syndrome with a particular skill for puzzles. Years after his injury, he is living a stable if somewhat isolated life as a celebrated puzzle maker with a fan following, when he receives a note from a prison psychiatrist requesting his presence to speak with a convicted murderer, Jess Price. Jess hasn't spoken since her arrest five years earlier, but draws a puzzle linking herself and the crime to Mike. The book follows Mike through the mystery of a violent murder, a porcelain doll hidden in the attic, a "God Puzzle," a cabal of mysterious forces working to achieve selfish and nefarious aims, and the magic of creating life from nothing.

The plot is initially really intriguing, setting up a Dan Brown-esque story tracking a mystery through history and artifacts, though the psychosexual (and psychic??) connection between Mike and Jess is a little out of left field. It feels out of place considering how grounded in reality the book is initially, and happens too instantaneously to make sense or feel organic. Still, the story is exciting and haunting, and veers into the creepy and supernatural in a fun, surprising way, with dolls coming to life and strange mysteries surrounding an old house. But then towards the end the threads sort of unravel as Trussoni tries to bring it all together and "solve" this "God Puzzle," taking a hard left into mysticism and cryptic ancient theories that didn't quite make logical sense. Maybe they make more sense to those with a background in Abrahamic religions or theology, but to an intelligent but ultimately lay reader, caused the whole novel to fall flat, because it set up a cool climax to end in a frayed, tangled resolution.

3-3.5 stars
Being a fan of crossword puzzles, logic problems, etc., I usually like books involving puzzles and patterns. I'm also intrigued by tales of those with various "savant" abilities. So this book succeeds on those counts: a thriller whose protagonist has acquired savant syndrome and must solve puzzles and riddles to solve a crime and clear a falsely accused woman. However, books that have mystics who have come upon just the right set of rituals and incantations to create life, to take on the power of God, annoy me greatly. I mean, sure, as long as you say the right words in the right order while standing in the right place, with the proper candles lit--makes sense. Sure. Additionally, the book became too convoluted as the mysteries went further and further into the past.

The book is suspenseful, has a good bit of action, and some unexpected twists, so fans of The DaVinci Code (for example) may well enjoy this.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. This story centers on Mike Brinks, a genius puzzle constructor who acquired his abilities to see hidden patterns through a traumatic brain injury. He's shown a puzzle drawn by a prisoner jailed for the murder of her friend five years prior. His attempts to solve the puzzle and growing connection to the prisoner, thrusts him into a world of ancient Kabbalah, a dangerous cryptographer, and the supernatural.

I honestly enjoyed reading this story! It was page-turning and well-plotted, and definitely reminded me of Dan Brown's novels. Fans of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child novels might like this too. The puzzles were interesting and the illustrations helped me to understand the ideas. There were some aspects I wasn't sure about, but overall the story was gripping. I've read the author's past novels (and have one of them on my shelf!) and thought they were good as well. This is definitely a book to read if you like puzzles and ancient mysteries. I look forward to reading more from this author!

DNF’d at 50%.

I lost the plot. There were so many named characters, some of which go by last name but we’re told both names. It’s confusing and at the halfway point, too much is happening and yet nothing at the same time. Maybe I’ll attempt to read this again in the future, but for now I’m going to set this one down.

THE PUZZLE MASTER was a tricky story. That's to be expected, right - THE PUZZLE MASTER? We've got a woman in prison/mental institution for murdering her boyfriend. We've got a man who is an absolute, super rare genius at creating AND solving puzzles. We've got good guys. Bad guys. A potential romance. A supernatural angle. And I was completely on board 75 percent of the story.

When I finished reading the book I came to the realization that I just wasn't smart enough to grasp the last piece of the puzzle to this story. And that was disappointing.

There were so many different elements to this story that seemingly were coming together until they weren't.

SPOILER ALERT: I didn't like the explanation given regarding religious elements because it felt forced and "trendy" in our current landscape.

I think the premise was amazing, but in the end the story didn't seem to come together because there were too many jagged sides that didn't make a complete puzzle.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an e-copy of THE PUZZLE MASTER to review.

I rate THE PUZZLE MASTER three out of five stars.

I would first like to start by saying thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni.

This story follows Mike Brink, a man who had a TBI that resulted with intellectually superior puzzle solving skills. One day, he gets a call to meet Jess Price, a woman who is in prison for murder and has refused to speak to anyone for five years, after she draws a unique puzzle that only Brink can solve. Matters take a drastic turn as he becomes enraptured by this woman and the trouble that seems to surround her.

Overall, I found the premise of this story to be interesting, but it ultimately lacked in many ways and seemed to fall flat. The story line felt too forced and unrealistic in the way events were lined up with what we were shown There was no flow or connection between what was written and the story taking place. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to make her characters seen otherworldly and interesting. I enjoy a good puzzle, but it all felt too convoluted and did not wrap well in the end.

There's potential in the story line and characters, it just needed to be thought through and outlined better.

Great writing and an interesting plot. Liked the photos/drawings scattered throughout the book. My eyes glazed over a little when it got a bit religious and technical but it was intriguing enough for me to plod through. Could not believe the love connection between Jess and Brink, felt contrived. Overall, a decent book would read more from this author.