The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is what I would classify as a lovely book. I don’t think anyone would dislike it, but I didn’t walk away from this book loving it -I was just in like with it.

What works for this book - the dual timeline/pov, the cast of characters, the puzzles. What doesn’t work for this book - a slow start that does not hook you right away, an idea that the “main” puzzle of the book in ways feels cruel during the first 2/3rd of the book.

I think this book has so many lovely parts, some boring parts, and some parts that make you go, “now why are we doing that?” I wish the ending hadn’t felt so rushed. If you want something cozy and love puzzles, I think you will enjoy this book.

I will give this 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review,

The beginning: a baby is left on the doorstep in a hatbox at the home of the Puzzlemakers.
The story: Clayton [the grown up baby] is trying to learn who his parents are. Pippi who has been his 'mother' has died. But she left clues which he must follow. This is a challenge for him as this adventure takes him outside his comfort zone.
Read and learn about the many types of puzzles there are in the world and the results of Clayton's challenge.

At the start of this book, Clayton’s adoptive mother Pippa has just died. Clayton grew up unusually in a house occupied by a bunch of older people who are all part of a group called The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, where he was found on the doorstep as a baby. The book then proceeds alternating between present day (well, 2015) where Clayton starts following puzzle clues Pippa left him to find out more about his origins, and flashbacks starting many years early all the way back to the late 70s when Pippa first established the fellowship. Interspersed throughout the book are puzzles the reader can try to solve as well.

This was a sweet quirky character/found family book, with the addition of the puzzles and The Fellowship a fun original element. Definitely one to read in physical format so you can see the puzzles more easily!

Thoroughly entertaining, I thought the author did a great job developing a whole cast of quirky characters. A feel good story and an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.

When Clayton Stumper 's beloved adopted mother dies, she leaves one final puzzle for him.

A promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the home he's grown up in.

Clay's quest takes him out of his sheltered life and into the world, meeting eccentric characters and to find his true self.

The narrative is quirky and heartfelt, much like the characters in the story, but for some reason I thought it would be more mysterious and thrilling.

The pacing is slow, and it drags, especially as Clayton tries to figure out the puzzles his mom has left for him to decipher.

Then, he crisscrosses the city and travels to meet important people in his dear mom's life that made a meaningful and long-lasting impact and how they contribute to his quest.

I loved the premise of the story but just felt it was too boring.

I didn't know Clayton or the cast of characters all that well so I didn't connect or care about either of them.

Also, in my opinion, I think it's sleazy Pippa kept Clayton's parentage a secret and forced him to go traipsing all over town to figure out his biological origins.

Not cool.

I really wanted to like this more but I may not be the target audience. Some readers will definitely enjoy this.

I wanted to love this one more than I did. I really liked the premise but the story didn’t really grab me in the same way. I felt like the hunt for the truth was a bit too easy in the end but I did appreciate the intergenerational friendships and kindness along the way. Many of the characters were not terribly likable or memorable unfortunately. I didn’t dislike reading it but I don’t think this will be one I’ll remember a month from now. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I’d rate this probably a 3.75, so rounded up to a four. I was all in on this book - two timelines, one from Pippa’s POV as a 50 some year old woman setting up the Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers and all the trials and tribulations that went into making that found family and the characters involved, and and several years later, the story following Clayton, who when born was left at the front door of the Fellowship’s communal home and raised by the puzzle loving adults there. Clayton’s story starts as Pippa’s ends - his only mother figure has left him puzzles to solve in order to figure out who his birth parents are.

I really liked the going back and forth between times - it was fun to read about the fellowship at their early stages and how they got to the point where they were a successful business and communal house, and then get information of how they are in Clayton’s time. I definitely spent some time contemplating who Clayton’s mother might be, and if a certain character is his mother, who the father might be.

I enjoyed both halves of the story- both Pippa and Clayton learn and grow through their experiences. The only part I was not really a fan of, and the reason I didn’t give this a higher rating, is that I was not a fan of who the father turned out to be/his relationship to Clayton. Without spoiling things, it just made me upset to find out who the father was. It made sense once you figured out who the mother was, but when I thought more of other aspects regarding the father, I was not entirely happy about it. Still a good story though, and kept me captivated.

I am a big puzzle fan and thought this would be a fun read but unfortunately it did not work that way for me. I was confused a lot of the time and couldn't connect to the characters or story early on.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ebook ARC. I enjoyed the different narrators and time jumps as the story progressed. The final reveal was creative and I enjoyed trying to figure out that "puzzle" as well as the others throughout the book.

"You're the mystery we've never been able to solve."

A young many follows the clues to discover his real parents. This is a sweet cozy mystery with no murder. Pleasant, but entirely forgettable.

"That's the thing about puzzles, though, isn't it?" he replied, thoughtfully. "The pleasure is in the solving, not the solution."

This is an enjoyable story for those who love puzzles, mysteries, or stories of found family. There are some math errors that hopefully are fixed in the finished copy!

Usually I enjoy a slow, character driven story. Clayton is such an interesting character. But.

This plot moves at a snail pace. There are puzzles and mystery-solving throughout, but not quickly-moving.

If a cosy character find-yourself read is high on your list, this could be the one.

Quaint and appealing, this narrative is one that goes down easy, and for many, that is exactly the guarantee they seek. A feel-good story with aspirations also to tease the brain, but it's far more successful at the former than the latter.

If gentle escapism is the aim, it succeeds. The flip side is that if you aim for general likability, there won't be a lot to make it memorable. The characters are designed to be quirky, but they are well sanded down.

To my quibbles: There is no shortage of novels that celebrate puzzling in various forms, and if you are going to go there, the brain-teasers need to be ones in which readers can play along and ones that bring reward, or at very least satisfaction. Also, a personal peeve: I'm ever weary of dual-timeline narratives that don't need to be. I can't imagine I'm alone in this.

Strong readalike for Sara Nisha Adams, Phaedra Patrick, Rachel Joyce, Freya Sampson, and Elizabeth Berg. Readers who want pleasant people to hang out with for a time will be satisfied. Those who prefer a bit of sharpness or complexity would need to calibrate expectations.

I really enjoyed this heartfelt story, even if it ways at time predictable. As a puzzle lover, the book was a warm dip into a world I enjoy, and was a refreshing break from more edgy reading. I saw another reviewer describe it as a "book hug" - precisely!

An intriguing story, told through two timelines, a bunch of eccentric characters and PUZZLES! What's not to love? I had a great time following the mystery along, from the hat box to the.... you'll see ;) Recommended for all lovers of puzzles, crosswords and mysteries!

This is a sweet story. It's told in two timelines, which I especially love when there's an elderly or deceased character so we get to see them young. The puzzle aspect is nice too - the mystery of the main character's birthmother mixed with the more typical, everyday puzzles invented by the puzzlemakers.

I love a gentle European mystery that isn't insulting to my intelligence, and this really hit the spot.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library and shared with some of our book groups.

I was looking for a feel-good book and this was it. The book follows the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers - started as a group of puzzlemakers that turned into so much more. As the youngest member of the Fellowship, Clayton has been given puzzles to figure out that will unlock his past - but also give him a path to the future. This is an adorable book that bridges generations of people and shows that a little kindness can go a long way. The ending felt a bit rushed and didn't tie things up as well as I had hoped (for one of the main reveals, it felt like it glossed over a major piece of it), but otherwise it was a fun read.

Fellowship of the puzzle makers

This was a very enjoyable read! It did take me awhile to get into it but once I did I really didn’t want to put it down.
Clayton Stumper was abandoned at birth on the steps of The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers and was raised by a group of smart and eccentric puzzle makers. When Clayton’s adoptive mother dies, he realises she’s left him a final puzzle for him to uncover his parentage.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the POV switched from the past to the present so you can get a clearer picture of what had happened.
I loved Clayton and Pip. And the relationship they shared, and how Pip leads Clayton to discover himself.
This was a very lighthearted and easy read.
Thanks to netgalley and Vintage Anchor for the arc!

This clever mystery was told in 2 timelines.
Pippa, the main character creates puzzles and forms the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, puzzle experts who create different kinds of puzzles - anagrams, crosswords, word ciphers, mazes and cryptics. who meet weekly at a pub. Eventually, the move into an old mansion and form a commune. Pippa remains the president and takes the major responsibility for maintaining the building and generally problem solving for the group. Although they represent different types of puzzles, it is not a competitive group, and the author describes each unique character.
However, one day the ceiling collapses and Pippa is left to figure out a way to solve it and allow the commune to continue in the house. The group pulls together and demonstrates the power of friendship.
The second story involves Clayton Stamper, who as an infant, was left on Pippa's doorstep in a hatbox. When Pippa dies (at age 89), she leaves clues for Clayton to figure out in order to find his birth parents. The book is sprinkles with clues and the reader can uncover the mystery along with him.
This was a heartwarming story with ingenious puzzle clues, a variety of interesting characters, and some lessons along the way.
My only objection was the format of the NetGalley proof as it was difficult to read, and did not flow easily. I hope that he actual book is clearer and the chapters are more clearly defined. I do appreciate the ARC provided to me by NetGalley and Doubleday. These opinions are my own.

I went into this book with zero expectations, and I was so surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I really needed this book.
It’s such a heartwarming story, it feels like a sigh of relief.
If you like reading about puzzles, multiple perspectives, little adventures, characters that will steal your heart, lgbtq representation, powerful women, finding love, friendship and family, please read The fellowship of the puzzlemakers. It’s great.

I was so absorbed in the story. And even if it felt a tiny bit cliché sometimes, it really is a book to lose yourself in. Who doesn’t want to go on a quest and solve little (or, in some cases, record-breaking) puzzles? This book will make you want to keep on reading, to find out what has happened, to find out what will happen next. The fact that it switches from Pippa’s to Clayton’s perspective very often, makes it even more exciting to read.

Neil and Clayton have my heart. Their characters and their relationship felt real.
Pippa is an icon. Nancy is an icon as well.
Earl is a sweetheart, Hector someone I did not understand until the very and of the book. I wish could come to one of the Fellowships fayres…

I was fortunate enough to be granted this e-book by Netgalley, and I assume that’s why I found some mistakes in it. The layout wasn’t right, sentences breaking off everywhere. Plus, I’m Dutch, and nobody says “zich voortmaken!” out of the blue. And some descriptions of Amsterdam were a bit off. Aside from that, I’m so glad I got to read this book. It really was a treat.