CW: death, grief, sexism, cancer, suicidal thoughts (mentioned), car accident (recounted), homelessness

I would like to thank NetGalley and Vintage Anchor for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

After the death of the main parental figure in his life, Pippa, Clayton is at a loss of what to do next. When he discovers that Pippa left him with a set of puzzles that could lead him to find his biological parents, Clayton sets out on this journey where he learns what family ultimately means.

I had some high hopes for The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers when I first requested it back in September. The book’s concept seemed interesting and I thought I would be delighted with a nice cozy read set in England.

While this book didn’t live up to all of my expectations, it wasn’t a terrible read and there’s definitely readers out there who will fall in love with The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers when it comes out this spring.

One of Burr’s biggest strengths in this book is the unique character voices it provides to Clayton and Pippa. Told in alternating timelines (one featuring Clayton’s journey and the other on Pippa starting The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers), each voice gets their own distinct characteristics and personality traits to the point where you’re almost conversing with them as the story plays out. I also thought Burr had a nice writing style and did a really good job with alternating between timelines and how they ultimately sync up with each other.

My main critique with this book is the pacing. You will come to realize that the pacing for this book is very slow and it shows the more you read it, to the point where it feels like the book drags in certain places. I’m not the biggest fan of books with slow pacing, which is why I didn’t really like the book as much.

Nevertheless, while I wasn’t the right reader for this book, that doesn’t mean you won’t like it. Fans of Lessons in Chemistry of the Thursday Murder Club series, there’s a good chance you will like the quirky ensemble of Fellowship members featured throughout the book. If you love unique character voices and don’t mind the slow pacing, Burr’s writing style will be up your alley. That being said, this book wasn’t for me, but it can be a good pick for some readers.

I think this story will be a hit for those that love cozy mysteries, like Thursday Murder Club. I didn't enjoy the characters as much as I could of and felt the past chapters were a slower pace, but the mystery and puzzle pieces were all very interesting.

I was originally drawn to this book by the description, which reminding me a little of A Series of Unfortunate Events. A story about a young person trying to uncover the secrets kept by the people who raised them, with ties to a mysterious organization. I was not disappointed.

I liked the structure of the two different narratives, one past and one present, running parallel and alternating each chapter and eventually coming together in the end. I liked the puzzles included throughout the book for the reader to try to solve on their own before the story provided the answers, although occasionally the way the answers were worked in felt a bit heavy-handed. Also, I liked how the mystery of Clayton's parentage wasn't so obvious that one would guess it immediately, but also the answer didn't come out of nowhere either. Overall an enjoyable book and one that I will recommend to friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Anchor, Doubleday for the advance reader copy!

A quirky band of puzzlemakers join together to live in a commune situation. Lead by Phillipa Allbrook, they lead their lives creating all sorts of puzzles, mazes, a code breaker and anything related. One day Pippa finds a hat box at her door and it contains a baby. Of course being a lover of puzzles, Pippa takes the baby in. Twnety-six years later Clayton Stumper is determined to discover who his parents were. After Pippa dies, Clayton discovers a puzzle, of course, that will lead him to his parents, if he can solve it. A sweet, charming novel with some wonderful characters with a warmth to them that makes them seen like your friends.

This was such a lovely read. It alternates between two timelines and is so well done. I love puzzles so I was intrigued by the theme, and it delivers on the puzzle front and so much more. The store makes you feel warm and fuzzy and has you trying to solve the puzzle as well. You see many characters develop and take incredible journeys through life. There are great reminders of life lessons in the book, but not in a preachy way. The characters feel real and relatable. I absolutely loved this book and wanted there to be more because I loved the characters so much. This is an excellent read when you want to feel cozy and better about life.

Sweet story that had a lot of depth. I liked the way Samuel Burr wrote both timelines and I did fall in love with Pippa. This book took me a bit of time to work through because I did not feel an urgency to read ''just one more chapter'' but I enjoyed it and I am grateful to have read it.

I immediately fell in love with old-beyond-his-years Clayton and take-the-world-by-storm Pippa. The Puzzlemakers are all genuinely fascinating individuals who choose to live their lives together and contribute to each other's successes and the family of the Fellowship. The story follows Clayton as he embarks on a journey to discover who he is ... and also who he wants to become. There are, of course, puzzles, clues, and riddles to help him along the way along with Fellowship members playing important roles in his journey. This is a simply charming book filled with love and the message that family is oftentimes so much more than just blood relatives. I highly recommend this wonderful book. *I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This story was quite charming. I like how the author weaves both post and present to tell the story. I was drawn to this story for the love of crossword puzzles, as i love them too. I enjoyed following along to the characters story.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a fun, engaging read with a lot of heart! I like how Burr weaves the narratives of the past and present into a marvelous journey of discovery and community. A definite recommend for anyone who loves logic puzzles and just good story telling!

Thanks to the Publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This sweet little story is a mild cozy mystery. It takes place in two timelines- one is late 1900s, and the founding of a fellowship of puzzle makers who are very much alone in the world and forge a community based in a stately English county house. In modern day the story starts with the death of Pip, the founder of the fellowship, and Clayton- a foundling raised by the fellowship and his quest to find out where he came from. True to form, from beyond the grave Pip sends Clayton on a quest to piece together clues, traveling outside his comfort zone to discover his story and ultimately, the freedom to become his true self.
The story, like a warm cup of tea is a balm to the reader. There are no villains, no murders, no race against time or dire circumstances. Just lonely people looking for and finding out where they belong. The mystery is fairly slight as the “ suspects” of who could be Clayton’s mother are few- there are only 3 women in the story and one is in her 60s. The character of Pip and Nancy are well developed, but Clayton and the other men- were really flat for me.

Pippa Allsbrook Is a puzzle maker. She loves writing clues for crossword puzzles. Knowing that other people create puzzles, she starts a puzzle makers club. She wants to bring puzzle makers and those who enjoy puzzles together to form a society. They will have fun solving things, teach puzzle methods, and enjoy being with like-minded people. The Fellowship begins with Pippa as the founder. This evolves into a group of puzzle specialists living together in a commune. Someone thinks enough of these intelligent people to leave a baby on their doorstep. The baby, Clayton Stumper, grows up in an unusual and eclectic home. Pippa and the rest of the Fellowship have decided to raise this child. As an adult, he has assumed the caretaker role for the puzzle makers. When Pippa dies, Clayton wonders about his life. Who are his parents? What does he want to do with his life?
Clayton embarks on a trip of self-discovery. He has never traveled and spent time alone. He will experience the good and bad of society and determine his future.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a charming book. The characters are vibrant and fit their roles in the story exceptionally well. It is gratifying to watch Clayton come into his own. Burr uses past and present time to unveil the story. This works well and when the reader reaches the ending, the story has come full circle. What an enjoyable book!

At 50%; I love this book. *updated* finished ... I LOVE THIS BOOK!

If you love puzzles and books, this one is for you! (I love puzzles and learned a few tips.) I loved that puzzles were provided in the book, but not immediately solved. Claytons chapters begin with a crossword clue.

Clayton was dropped off as an infant on the doorstep of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers commune. Pippa raised Clayton as her own and he loved her dearly, but Clayton wasn't a gifted puzzlemaker like everyone else in the house. Pippa passes away early in the book (not a spoiler) and Clayton is finally ready to investigate his origins. Pippa has prepared clues for him and his adventure begins.

The point of view alternates between Clayton in the present and Pippa and the origins of creating The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. Author Samuel Burr created such wonderful characters; I especially loved Clayton.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Doubleday) for the opportunity to review the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. 368 pages; Publication date is April 9, 2024.

This book is going on my best of 2024 list bookshelf and I'll be recommending it.

*updated* I finished The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers the next day, Dec 21 ... so good ... and honestly the last thing i needed was to be so wrapped up in a book a couple days before Christmas that i couldn't stop reading. And even worse yet, I slowed down my reading because i didn't want the book to end! But thankfully I finished at 11:30pm and not 3am. So Merry Christmas to me. (moving to end of review, even though this gushing was originally at the beginning.)

- This is book follows two main stories: a woman forming a fellowship of puzzle makers who each find a family in their fellowship, and a man who was left as a baby on the doorstep of the fellowship as he tries to uncover details of his parentage.
- If you love puzzles, this book has them scattered throughout so that you can "play along" with the characters.
- 1loved the love in the book — so many new and different types of love uncovered and explored.
- Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Anchor for the Advanced Copy!

This is a neat story that revolves around crossword puzzles and the group that belonging to this interesting club,

Pippa Allsbrook found Clayton Stumper as an infant in a hat box on her steps and raised him among her elite club of puzzle-makers.
Now at twenty six, Pippa has died and while cleaning her room he finds a letter she has written and left in that old hat box.
Now he can begin to work to solve the puzzle she has left in her note and find the answer he needs; "Who were his parents?"
Can he complete the puzzle as Pippa has asked? Will he find the truth?

There is friendship, love and of course many puzzles within the pages of this story and it is fascinating!

I truly enjoyed reading this novel. It is very different and it will make a hit, I am sure!
Thank you to @NetGalley and @Vintage Anchor, Doubleday for this Arc and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

What a nice, heartwarming story!
Our story centers around a group of creators of different types of puzzles; running the gamut from crossword puzzles to jigsaw puzzles to anagrams to mazes. There is a wonderful group of characters, all with their stories to tell. The main characters are Pippa, the person who started the fellowship of the puzzle makers, and her son, Clayton. As the story goes back and forth between the past and current time, we learn more about the puzzle makers and their lives.
I really enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it! Happy reading!

What a powerful story. I enjoyed this book and hope to read it again with friends. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars. I have a feeling this will do very well with bookclubs.

Unfortunately I couldn't really get into this one like I thought I would from reading the description. It wasn't bad but not that good at holding my attention.

Thanks to Vintage Anchor, Samuel Burr, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the concept of a group of puzzlemakers having a fellowship intriguing. The book contains numerous puzzles available to solve if you wish but it is not necessary to enjoy the story of relationships, love, and redemption.

The story bounces between two protagonists, which works well to provide background and context as Clayton solves the puzzle of his past. Samuel Burr has created characters we care about, develops them throughout the story and leads them to a satisfying conclusion.

Review posted on Goodreads manually due to broken link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6035595993

There are two things I love in books, number one, maps and number two, puzzles the reader can play along with. This book is filled with the latter. It is a heartwarming story about friendship, family, love and a bit of self-discovery thrown in. The characters are a mixed bunch whose quirks make them special and even now as I think about them I smile.

A fun read with bonuses for any puzzle lovers.

Thanks @netgalley and @vintageanchorbooks for the early access. Due for publication April 2024.

Such a sweet story of Clayton's discovering who is really is and finding out what it means to be true to himself! Pippa is a British puzzlemaker and heads up a weekly meeting of puzzlemakers in a local bar. Soon the group organizes and becomes a very loving commune in an estate house that Pippa inherits. A baby boy is left at her door one day, and the child grows up with a family of puzzlemakers. But, at age 25, he is compelled to find out who his parents are and how he ended up at the commune.

This story alternates between Pippa's point of view, 25 years earlier, and Clayton's point of view, currently. The writing is very British, which I don't always love, but I read it in lightning speed because I wanted to find out how the puzzle of Clayton's life was constructed, and how it was solved. The story has a lovely, satisfying ending.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.