Having read Danielle Trussoni’s The Puzzle Master last year, I was excited to read another suspense book featuring Mike Brink, a quirky puzzle savant.

Not only was Mike back, but so was his sweet dachshund Connie (short for Conundrum). I’m a sucker for doggo sidekicks.

In The Puzzle Box, Mike is asked to go to Tokyo to solve a 150 year old legendary puzzle, the Dragon Box, which not only has been unsolvable, but has actually killed every person who has ever tried to open it.

I absolutely loved this storyline as not only do we get a fun thriller, we get a great deal of Japanese historical culture. I learned so many things about Japan’s royalty, but also about their beautiful locations, and the history of Japan, including some interesting information about the samurai. I found the entire novel to be absolutely fascinating.

I seriously need more of Mike Brink and his little dog Connie. If you read one suspense novel this year, I recommend it be The Puzzle Box.

And as a side note… Have you seen the cover of this amazing book? It’s stunning!

*Thanks so much to the author Danielle Trussoni, to Random House Publishing, to NetGalley, and to MB Communications for the gifted finished copy and for including me on the booktour!*

Mike Brink has acquired savant syndrome, which means he had a traumatic brain injury that left him with uncanny ability to solve any puzzle in the world! I loved him from The Puzzle Master, and now in the sequel, I love him even more! The story was heavy on Japanese history and culture, and packed with Amazing Race-like adventures. It was quite fascinating to follow along as Mike tried to unravel The Dragon Puzzle Box. Each of those 72 steps were nerve-wracking to read and the suspense just about killed me! I kept on saying that this series should be adapted into a film or tv series. Even non-puzzle enthusiasts will for sure enjoy it!!! You don’t have to read book 1 to appreciate The Puzzle Box, but it would be nice if you do so you can follow Mike Brink’s growth and character development. I still wish for him to have a love life but for now I am contented in seeing his softer side in this second installment. Here’s hoping that we get to read more about Mike and his puzzle solving exploits! It’s always fun to read intellectually stimulating mysteries.

This book is great if you're in the mood for a fast-paced, action centered story. It's definitely for fans of the DaVinci Code. There's elements of history, mythology, and geography, plus interesting facts about puzzles and solving them. It's the second in the series, and it left a lot of questions to be answered in the next installment. Big thanks to Random House and NetGalley for access to the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni is the sequel to The Puzzle Master.

"Mike Brink, the ingenious puzzle-maker and puzzle-solver is invited to Tokyo to open the legendary Dragon Box. Something of great power has been hidden inside for centuries. Many have tried to open it and all have failed. Brink may be the only one capable. But others want what is inside and are willing to kill to get it."

Trussoni takes readers on a wild ride. There are lots of puzzles. Lots of info about puzzle boxes and Japanese history. And an ancient secret society working with an advanced AI. There are even graphics of some of the puzzles that Brink has to solve, so you can test your puzzle-solving ability. Trussoni does a nice job with the pace and keeper readers guessing. Who knew a puzzle could harm or kill the person trying to solve it?
There are mild spoilers about the previous book.

Entertaining action-drama from Trussoni.

The Puzzle Box
Danielle Trussoni
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

When I picked up this book I wasn’t aware it was the second. I was worried I might have missed out on the story because of not reading the first. However, I didn’t feel lost at all. I do want to go back and read book 1 because of how interesting this one was!

If you’re looking for a book filled with twists and turns. One where your mind is constantly trying to figure things out. Then make sure to pick up this book.

Right off the bat I was immediately intrigued with Mike Brink. I’d never heard of savant syndrome and was eager to read this story to see how it would play out. The effects of this medical disorder drew me in. Not to even mention the Dragon Box and all that went into that.

This book is filled with such descriptive writing. Where it actually seems as though you are seeing it played out before your eyes. I loved the Japenese culture all throughout this book. Loved seeing all the Japanese culture throughout this book.

It would be amazing to see this book turn into a movie!

Thank you @danielletrussoni, @thrillersbookloversthepulse and @netgalley for my #gifted copy.

This was a fun book full of puzzles and racing against a faction to solve The Dragon Box....a 150 year old mystery.

I didn't read book 1 but I didn't feel (?) that I needed to, to enjoy this one. Mike became a savant after a TBI (traumatic brain injury) and now he can solve the most complex puzzles. He gets invited to Japan to a contest to open the box (a contest that only happens every 12 years)...a contest where people have died or disappeared while trying.

I loved the pace of the race through Japan. I loved the drawings that accompany and of the puzzles. I liked to see how Mike thought through things and the help he had throughout.

The Puzzle Box is the second book in a series by Danielle Trussoni about Michael Brink who doesn’t know how to solve intricate puzzles but feels how to solve them and this puzzle is the deadliest one yet. In the past 150 years six people have attempted to solve the puzzle and non-have lived to talk about it most don’t even get past the first action and to solve it you must have 72 correct answers I thought the last book with Michael Brink was a great read that gave me heart palpitations but this one is propulsive and had me not wanting to put the book down he has a crazy group of people wanting him to beat the puzzle but even then he may still not live to talk about it. Not to mention the Mike loses someone he’s very close to and will reconnect with someone who died that he never wanted to see again. This book goes in crazy directions and I loved it all! What a great read. #NetGalley,#Random house, #DanielleTrussoni, #PuzzleBox,

{4.5 stars}

Thanks to Random House for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

I've been a fan of Danielle Trussoni's writing since reading The Ancestor. I love the mix of fast paced action while immersed in a wealth of knowledge. The Puzzle Master immersed us in ancient Jewish tradition and I hung on every word. This new story has Mike Brink solving a centuries old Japanese mystery where we get the same depth of history and culture with considerably more danger. We get a lot of returning characters, although, I think this could definitely be read as a standalone. Lots of puzzles to solve along with Mike and a few that take some great turns. I think I liked the last story slightly more because I was really worried for Mike and this time I had so much confidence in him and his skills! A bit like DaVinci Code vs Angels and Demons... so much intrigue and yet by the second time around you know what your protagonist is up against. Still a great story if you like action and using your brain to solve along with the MC.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for the book #ThePuzzleBox by #DanielleTrussoni. Loved this book as much as The Puzzle Master. Highly recommend!! Mike Brink is at it again with his brain and his puzzles. This time leads him to Japan where he is very much needed. Can he handle this?

I enjoyed the Japanese culture, lore, and settings. As a puzzle lover I was once again disappointed that the reader was not given all of the information we would have needed to solve the puzzles right along with Mike. There were a few puzzles to solve, but the were not terribly difficult. It started leaving me with the idea that the author didn't want to create the puzzles completely. If you aren't going to give it all to us, why bother? I still enjoyed the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC, as well as author Danielle Trussoni for the invite! I also received the audiobook from PRHaudio and truly enjoyed the narrator!

Wow!! I didn't realize this was Book 2 in a series, but even without reading the first I really enjoyed this story!

It gave me The Da Vinci Code vibes with some Kill Bill action! Set in NYC and Japan, it uncovered a great mystery of Japan's ancient culture. I loved the suspense too! Highly recommend to all who love action adventure!

The Puzzle Box is a wild ride with thrills and adventure! It’s unlike what I’ve read before! I admire the talent of Danielle Trussoni & am excited for what’s to come!

There are secrets that have the power to change everything.

Mike Brink would like nothing more than to live an ordinary life. Instead, due to a traumatic brain injury he suffered while playing high school football, he lives with an extremely rare condition known as savant syndrome. In Mike’s case he has a photographic memory, is able to learn and retain information quickly and easily, and is capable of identifying patterns in whatever he sees. His gift allows him to solve complex problems easily, but also has resulted in a damaged nervous system, near-constant anxiety and insomnia. With the help of renowned neuroscientist Dr. Trevers, he has learned coping mechanisms to help manage his condition somewhat, but it a constant struggle for him. One winter’s day he is approached by Sakura Nakamoto, a young Japanese woman who invites him to travel to Tokyo with her and attempt to solve what is rumored to be the most challenging puzzle in the world (if it actually exists), the Dragon Puzzle Box. There are more rumors than known facts about this particular mystery, including the disappearance of the last two people who allegedly attempted to unravel it. Mike is torn between wanting to face this challenge and not completely trusting Sakura, but he needs to make a quick decision as there is a limited window of time in which to solve the puzzle and the next opportunity won’t occur for twelve years. He heads to see Dr. Trevers, who is as much father figure and mentor as he is doctor to Mike….but Dr. Trevers has just been found dead, and Mike can only assume that there is a connection between his invitation to Japan and Dr. Trevers unexplained death. He decides to accept the invitation and soon finds out that, as difficult and in fact treacherous as the Dragon Puzzle Box may be, he will also be immersed in a world that may prove deadly. Female samurai, the Imperial Family, two highly trained sisters whose motives may run contrary to his own, and the reemergence of an old adversary who is dead yet somehow has managed to live on in a virtual way and who is determined to have the treasure held inside the puzzle box swirl around him. With only 24 hours to solve a task whose solution has eluded talented puzzle masters for centuries and facing a box filled with deadly booby traps, Mike matches wits with a puzzle maker long dead and outside forces who want to use his talents for their own reasons.
This sequel to The Puzzle Master finds the talented but tortured Mike Brink still trying to understand what he is and how he can survive the negative components of his condition. With his dachshund Connie (short for Conundrum) and trusted friend and scholar Rachel Appel (and maybe fellow puzzle expert Sakura) for support, Mike is plunged into tales of Japanese history and legend, and exposed to the creations of 19th century puzzle maker Ogawa Ryuichi. Elements of something that is not quite AI but is frightening just the same as well as the legendary (putative) designer and developer of Bitcoin are intertwined with shoguns and samurai, a goddess and the empresses said to be descended from her. Many of the characters are struggling with breaking free of the past, embracing their true selves and living up to their responsibilities. The intriguing setting and the mystery borne from it grabbed my attention from the very beginning, and plot twists and a bevy of people who may be part of those forces who want to corrupt Mike’s gift make for an exciting read. Those who have read author Danielle Trussoni’s first book in the series will definitely want to pick up a copy of this, its sequel, and fans of authors like Dan Brown, Steve Berry and James Patterson should also add this to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of this fast-paced adventure; I enjoyed it every bit as much as did The Puzzle Master, and eagerly await Mike’s next challenge.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Puzzle Box by by Danielle Trussoni from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in order to read and give an honest review.
…“The Puzzle Box” is a well-crafted and engaging read for fans of thrillers and those seeking a literary adventure.
Danielle Trussoni’s “The Puzzle Box” is a captivating blend of mystery, thriller, mythology and science fiction that takes the reader on a thrilling journey. The novel, set in Japan, follows protagonist Mike Brink, a puzzle master who is drawn into a high-stakes adventure to solve an ancient puzzle box tied to Japanese mythology. His task is to unlock the deadly puzzle box and do what no other has done before…survive. The solution hidden within reveals ancient secrets that can change the world and Mike and a new friend are in the crosshairs as opposing sides are willing to kill to possess what the box contains. One thing that threw me that normally I wouldn’t have probably wanted to read was the role AI had to play in the book and how seamlessly in was blended in along with history, Japanese culture and ancient mythology. All in all I enjoyed the book especially Trussoni’s vivid descriptions of Japan’s customs and landscapes which gives the reader an introduction to Japanese culture. I wasn’t aware The Puzzle Box was part of a series, it would of helped reading the first but it did manage to still work well as a standalone. While the story is fast-paced and action-packed, it was balanced with a few slow moments to give the reader time to breathe while giving, backstory and a glimpse of Japan. In my opinion The Puzzle Box is a well-crafted and engaging read for fans of thrillers and those seeking a literary adventure. Definitely an enjoyable read that will appeal to readers and fans of authors such as Steve Berry and Dan Brown.

"The Puzzle Box" by Danielle Trussoni is an interesting thriller that to me, was a bit of a combination of the book/movie "The Da Vinci Code" and the movie "Kill Bill." Set mainly in Japan, it continues the adventures of the puzzle master, Mike Brink, who is called upon to solve puzzles that no one else can do. This time it is a Japanese puzzle box, one that was created in the Meiji Era and killed all those who attempted to open it. No one is entirely sure what is in the puzzle box, but everyone knows that it is of utmost importance and people will kill in order to retrieve the secret.
This is a book continuing the exploits of Mike Brink, but I hadn't read the other books. It was fine as a stand alone book and I don't feel that I missed out on anything by not reading the others.

As a person who has lived in Japan for more than 45 years, I usually cringe a great deal when I read books set in Japan because there are often so many mistakes and misconceptions. In this book, however, it is clear that the author has done her homework. There were some cringe worthy moments for me--but those were related to needing to suspend disbelief in order to follow the story. A lot of things were just too fantastical, but that's fiction. And a thriller. I can definitely see this book turned into a popular movie.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

Danielle Trussoni’s The Puzzle Box is a captivating blend of mystery, historical intrigue, and suspense that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story revolves around Mike Brink who is invited to Tokyo to solve the Dragon Box, a mysterious nineteenth-century puzzle that has been unsolved for over 150 years. Trussoni’s vivid descriptions create a richly atmospheric setting, making it easy to get lost in the story.

The Puzzle Box is the sequel to Trussoni’s The Puzzle Master which released last year. While this one can be read as a standalone, I wish I had read book one first to get more of Mike Brink’s backstory. I found his character so intriguing and was completely immersed in the story as I tried to solve the puzzle along with him.

The book’s compelling premise and the references to Japanese culture incorporated throughout kept me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed the way the narrative tied everything together while leaving it open for another book. I thought this book was a unique twist on the typical mystery novel.

Overall, The Puzzle Box is a fascinating read that offers plenty of intrigue and suspense, and I highly recommend this series! It’s no wonder everyone over at Thriller Book Lovers:The Pulse has been buzzing about this one!

Thank you MBC Books, Random House, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review!

“The Puzzle Box,” by Danielle Trussoni, Random House, 336 pages, Oct. 8, 2024.

It is the Year of the Wood Dragon, and puzzle expert Mike Brink has been invited to Tokyo, Japan to open the legendary Dragon Box, a 19th-century puzzle that has remained unsolved for over 150 years.

The box was constructed during one of Japan’s most tumultuous periods, when the samurai class was disbanded and the shogun lost power. In that moment of national crisis, Emperor Meiji placed an Imperial secret in the Dragon Box, locked it, and hid it in a temple far from the palace. Only two people knew how to open the box: Meiji and the box’s constructor, Ogawa. Both died without telling anyone the secret.

Since then, the Imperial family has held a contest to open the box every 12 years. The Dragon Box is difficult, filled with tricks, booby traps, poisons, and mind-bending twists. Every puzzle master who has attempted to open it has died in the process.

But Brink is not any puzzle master. With his abilities, he may be the only person alive who can crack it. He suffered a traumatic brain injury as a teenager that left him with savant syndrome. His injury made him a mathematical genius with the ability to solve complex puzzles. Sakura Nakamoto is his Japanese-American contact. She escorts him to Japan. Her aunt, Akemi, is secretary to the empress.

Yet, Brink’s determination is echoed by the faction, a radical group who have vowed to claim Meiji’s secret. The leader of the women is Sakura’s sister, Ume. When the group aligns with Brink’s archrival, Jameson Sedge, Brink is up against the most dangerous challenge of his life. Brink finds himself Sedge’s target although he witnessed Sedge die two years earlier.

This is a sequel to “The Puzzle Master,” but it can be read as a stand-alone. “The Puzzle Box” is reminiscent of “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown. It is intense and non-stop as readers will race through it to find out how Brink gets through the various traps. The illustrations of puzzles are beautiful. You don’t have to be a puzzle enthusiast to enjoy “The Puzzle Box.”

I rate it five out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is book two featuring Mike Brink, puzzle master extraordinaire. Although it's book two, this could absolutely be read as a stand alone book.

It's been a few years since the Jameson Sedge and Jess Price incident. Mike Brink is trying to get on with his life and just be as normal as he possibly can, given the genius that is his brain.

Brink is invited to solve a very prestigious puzzle box by the Japanese Imperial Family. A puzzle which has killed every player prior. Everyone, including Brink himself, is sure that he is the one person who can solve this century old puzzle box.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. I really liked The Puzzle Master and was looking forward to getting back into this series. I tried and tried, but the reading was slow from start to finish.

I am not sure if it was the story itself, my little known knowledge of Japanese history, or a combination of both. I had the hardest time seeing the images in my head because I just had no idea the reality of what the scenery and architecture would look like.

Then there was the story of the sisters and how they were connected both to the Japan narrative and somehow connected to Brink. It was just so confusing to try and get everything sorted out.

Then there was the "ending". It was like suddenly the book was near the end and the author suddenly wrapped things up quickly and too perfectly. It was boring and predictable while being very unbelievable- as in there is no way it could happen.

I wish I could give this a better review, but it was 3 stars for me. I do look forward to the next book in the series though!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review.

"The Puzzle Box" is set to be released here in the U.S. on October 8, 2024 so pre-order now.

Happy Reading!

This is the second of Trussoni’s novels that I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. In The Puzzle Box, Trussoni has created an atmospheric and very engaging mystery set in modern day Japan. Mike Brick, a young American who suffered a traumatic brain injury some years earlier has developed unusual symptoms: synesthesia, photographic memory, and incredible ability to create and solve all kinds of complex puzzles. When a young woman approaches him and presents an invitation from the Emperor of Japan to try his hand at solving the mythical Dragon Box puzzle, Mike is both terrified and eager to take on the challenge. Twelve attempts have been made in the past to open the Dragon Box, but all were unsuccessful and none of those making the attempt survived.

This suspenseful thriller includes fascinating Japanese history, mythology, and culture, and also explores advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence, while following Mike on his journey to find the secret of the Dragon Box and outwit those who would stop him. I found myself returning to the book every chance I got, eager to learn what obstacles Mike would encounter, and whether and how he would overcome them.

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload it to Amazon on release day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Danielle Trussoni for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Puzzle Box coming out October 8, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this author’s writing! She writes such fascinating and smart stories. I loved that this book featured Japan. I love learning more about Japan. Brink definitely went on a journey in this book. I loved the places he traveled. I would definitely read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure stories!