Narrated by Phil Dunster
Presented by Dreamscape Media

I wasn't 100% sold on the egg thing, but I trusted the author and it was well worth it!

It's a strange topic - illegal egg trade - but the author does a wonderful job bringing it to life with fantastic characters (welcome back, Patrick!) and plenty of action.

We get the dual narrative, exploring the late 1920s when the eggs were first captured, and the present day in which Patrick and his friend, Nick, are chasing a stolen egg. Patrick takes everything quite literally, which adds a delightfully humourous element, and those who have read Rubbernecker will likely appreciate his reappearance in this novel.

The egg trade is an interesting idea that doesn't come up too often in books, so it was fun to read about a topic I knew little about. That said, there's not so much information that it bogs the story down, and the action plays out at a cracking pace.

The audio was excellent - the narrator does a convincing job of each character, allowing the listener to be truly immersed in the telling. There was plenty of expression in his voice and his enunciation was clear.

This was a unique crime novel with interesting characters and a fresh topic. I'd happily recommend this to fans of crime, and of the author in general.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

Thanks to @Dreamscape_Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book for an honest review. I would like to start out my review by saying I had limited to no knowledge about egg collections or the history before listening to this book. I appreciated the stories about how they were collected by those brave enough to slip into the cracks of a high ledge to retrieve them, and how doing so changed the life of one of the main characters, Celie. I’m not the biggest fan of dual perspective storylines, and this one was hard to follow until about mid book, because I didn’t understand how Patrick and “Weird Nick” would fall into the mix. I was blown away by the emotional investment I felt towards the rare eggs as the story unfolded, especially throughout Nick and Patrick’s quest to recover Nick’s stolen egg.

I wasn’t super engaged throughout the whole book, but about 2/3rds through I was very intrigued and invested in the outcome of the story and inevitably the eggs. I would recommend this to someone who had a fondness of history of collectible items, and natural history. I’m not sure it is a book I would prefer to have read without being given the option to through NetGalley, however I think it was a very interesting concept for a book and overall I liked it.

2.5 stars
I found the premise of the book very interesting. We’ve got the history of a bird’s egg over a century, from the moment it was found in one timeline until it was stolen in another. I’m not the biggest fan of dual timeline but it worked for this story since the egg tied it together. I preferred the earlier timeline, if only because I didn’t like how the descriptions of the neurodivergent character(s) made them seem low IQ. The narration was good- though a bit of a monotone.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy

I was drawn to The Impossible Thing by its captivating cover. Having finished it I now see the imagery in another light - the crumbling cliffs and soaring birds a perfect metaphor for the emotional journey of reading this story.

I’m new to Belinda Bauer’s work but was captivated by her writing style, and this wholly original premise for a mystery. I was blown away by the emotional investment I made in this world of rare egg collecting. My heart hurt for Celie, her family, and the vulnerable birds. The flash forwards to present day offered welcome relief and I loved the relationship between Patrick and Nick, and their capers.

I was fortunate to enjoy this as an audiobook and ebook and both were wonderful. The production quality of the audiobook was excellent. Despite the fast pace of the story, and the very large cast of characters spanning multiple times, the narration was completely immersive and easy to follow. The dramatisations were subtle and impactful, and I flew through the book in only a day.

Overall I would highly recommend this read for anyone looking for a beautifully written, unique and captivating mystery.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

First of all, I really enjoyed listening to the narrator. The accent was perfect for the setting of the story.

I had no idea that I could be so invested in an egg heist! You heard me, a heist for an egg! But not just one, 30! And not just any eggs, but the rarest colored eggs to never be seen.
The story is based on the Bempton eggs which have been heard of, but never seen. This story gives a very thrilling tale to why that is.
The mystery behind the story had me reading into the night. I just couldn't believe some of the stuff people would do for an egg. I can't even explain to you how I felt reading it. I was having so much fun! The characters were a blast and so well written.

It goes back and forth between the past were Celie - a six year old girl - finds a very rare red Guillemot egg and the present where Patrick finds his friend, Weird Nick, and mother tied up and robbed. What was stolen? The red Guillemot egg. The past explains to us the significance of the egg and the price that oologists (egg collectors) were willing to pay to have it (Crazy what greed can do to a person. I can go as far as to call them monsters) and the present trying to figure out who stole the egg in the first place.

We grow up with Celie as the years go by and every year she collects the next egg from that specific guillemot, whose nest is in an area that no one had ever collected before because of the overhang being too dangerous for anyone else to try. That one even changed her life.

We go back to Patrick and Nick who are working out a plan to figure out how to get the egg back. An egg that they didn't even know was worth so much until they did their research. Patrick is a good representation of neurodivergent people since you can tell he is on the spectrum., but he is also very smart and it is because of him that Nick has a chance to get the egg back.

I didn't know the history of these guillemot eggs. Apparently each egg is unique to each bird and they will lay that same color/design egg for the rest of their lives. They only lay one though. It was a little sad when the author talked about the birds looking for their lost egg. Also sad how many of these birds didn't make it to adulthood because of egg collectors or people shooting them for "target practice".
I never knew I could be so sucked in to a story about eggs.

Not to mention there were two moments that had my heart racing with anticipation of what was going to happen. One ended very badly and the other ended just as it should have.
I also almost cried twice because of the casualties that happened in the book. My jaw was on the floor and I had to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. I couldn't believe what happened.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Phil Dunster does a fantastic job narrating this story!

Based upon historical accounts, this novel that spans close to a 100 years beginning in 1926 on the cliffs of Yorkshire. Men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of seabirds, which are then sold for large sums. In 1926, Celie Sheppard is a young, neglected girl whose single family is very poor. To her, stealing the eggs is a means to be able to eat. In modern day, Patrick helps his friend Nick attempt to retrieve a precious egg that was stolen from his home.

This is a well written story about egg theft and the issues that arise. The part of the book about the Guillemot bird parents' grief over their lost egg was almost as tragic as the impoverished life of Celie. The historical settings were vividly described, making it easy to become completely engrossed in the scenery. The plot was well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged. Overall an unusual and interesting read!

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent read. It is a dual timeline mystery that jumps between 1920s Yorkshire and present times, and we are introduced to the world of egg trafficking. A young girl who collected bird eggs paves the way for the main characters of today's time Nick and Patrick trying to solve the mystery of their stolen egg that they procured from her unknowingly. The egg proves to be the rare Metland egg that many collectors have spent ages looking for, and Patrick and Nick must find out who stole it.

The dual timeline flowed well. However, I feel that the pacing of the story was slow at times, which really disengaged me from it. Some of the characters included were also pointless to the storyline and contributed to the slow pace of the story. I did not expect the ending, which was refreshing to not be predictable.

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
Narrated by Phil Dunster

To enjoy this book meant that I had to delve into things I didn't want to read about or know. The book starts in 1926 and we learn all about the way the eggs of sea birds are stolen from them, all for the greed of men who will pay large sums for those eggs. The suffering of the parent birds, to have humans interfere with their eggs in such a cruel, inhumane way, makes me sad. Then there is the poor family that supports themselves because of the little girl who is small enough to steal from a mating pair on their almost useless shelf of land over the sea. It's all a sad and dangerous business fueled by greedy men who are willing to use living creatures for hobby and pleasure.

In the present day we once again meet Patrick Fort of Rubbernecker fame. When Patrick's friend Nick, and Nick's mother, are tied up and robbed of a red egg that Nick had tried to sell online, Nick wants his egg back. We go back and forth in time, watching tiny Celie Sheppard at the dangerous task of removing the coveted eggs from her family's cliffside in the 1920-1930s and to the present day as Patrick and Nick hunt down the person who stole Nick's egg.

The story is too sad for me during the sections with Celie. Life is almost impossible for her and her family and for their existence to hang on the destruction of unhatched birds, over and over and over, all for the greed of rich men, is very hard to stomach. Yet those very eggs are what bring Celie and her family out of poverty. Anytime we are back in the present day with Patrick and his friend Nick, I enjoy the story much more. When Patrick sets his mind on something, it's going to get done one way or another, and I hope we see more of Patrick and company in the future. If I'd had my druthers, I would have liked this story to have stayed in the present day with Patrick because the past storyline felt too sad to endure, at times. Phil Dunster did a fantastic job as the narrator of this touching story.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.75⭐️

I love this authors books, her characterisation is superb. I had the audiobook read by Phil Dunster who does a good job.

The storyline is highly original. I learnt quite a lot about Gulliemots, and the illeg@l trade in eggs. This book covers a 100 years, and looks at ste@ling birds eggs. A topic as a bird watcher I find very upsetting. My heart went out to the sea birds as their distress was seen by the reader. I loved how briefly we were put into the guillemot’s perspective.

It is so beautifully written, I love the main characters from both time frames, the children Robert (whose kind nature melted my heart)and Ceile from the 1920’s which extended over quite a long period also in the present Patrick makes a reappearance from Rubbernecker (my favourite Bauer book) with his friend Weird Nick. It had me chuckling at their interactions.
I did get myself a little confused over the golden eagle nest and eggs, and the situation that surrounded it which is the only reason it’s not a full 5⭐️

I’d describe this as a character driven mystery which is partly historical. Because of the subject matter it might have a more niche appeal, I am interested in the topic, so it was a great subject for me. I was very interested to see that it is based on a true story.

I'm a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. This story didn't resonate with me how I expected it to. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the story in general.

That being said, I still thought this was a really brilliant book. I loved the writing, the structure, and the concept. The narration was also admirable but for whatever reason, I felt a disconnect during this book.

I think I want to land in the middle with a 3 star rating because while I struggled to connect to this one, there were so many things that I was still able to appreciate with this book.

I loved that this was based on a true story and I loved that this was something that I don't normally read about. The setting was another plus. I truthfully don't know how to explain my feelings on this one because they don't make much sense to me either. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right mood to read this at this time?

I think I would like to reread this later. This feels like a book that has the potential to have a higher rating from me later on when I'm in the right mood.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

3.5

1926 Yorkshire England - men hung by ropes to steal beautiful colored eggs laid by sea birds. A small girl dares to try this as she is penniless and hungry but a treasure that sets off a decades long fight for this egg.

A century later this rare red egg is stolen from Nick from and his mother. Nick and his friend Patrick are determined to get this egg back and find there are a lot of greedy people who want any of these rare eggs.

I was expecting a more thrilling pace of telling this story. Although an interesting story, it felt slow to me.

My thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This is a gem of a book. The plot is original, unfolding with just the right mix of mystery, humor, and heart. The characters are wonderfully likable—quirky, flawed, and impossible not to root for. Bauer’s sharp writing (and the perfect narration by Phil Dunster) and knack for balancing tension with warmth make this thoroughly enjoyable.

what a beautifully written book and the audiobook narrator was perfect for a book set in a small town of Yorkshire. I love it when the narrator has the ability to change their British inflection and accent to portray different regions. I did get a little lost with the flipping back and forth in time because we didn't get any kind of notice of the change and it was jarring to be in the present day and when it went back to the past, the adjustment regarding what was utilized during that time had this audiobook listener confused. Overall a very beautifully written book but I'm not sure it was the easiest book to listen to on audiobook. Would recommend the physical copy of the book to read.

Eggcellent! A cracking read. (Sorry, couldn't resist).

The Impossible Thing is a tale of collecting bird eggs set over the course of 100 years - from young Celie Sheppard in 1926 finding an incredibly rare type of guillemot egg, through to the present day with friends Patrick and Nick having experiencing a fair amount of trouble relating to the same egg, now sitting in a wooden display box.

It's a tale of greed, illegality, and suspicion, in both timelines, and though the plot was gripping, I really enjoyed the study of character and of the morality of the collecting of the eggs throughout. Celie's story in particular was so well written.

It's the first book by Belinda Bauer that I've read, and I'll definitely be seeking others out.

How do you find something that doesn’t exist? This was my first introduction to the works of Belinda Bauer, and wow, what an interesting read! I know there's always a black market for most collectable things, but I never really knew the extent to what people went to in order to collect those articles. This novel exposes the reader to the people who are used for their collection skills, the rich and/or obsessed collectors, and the consequences of poaching (which this basically is) eggs from birds.

I really liked the character of Patrick. I hope he makes appearances in future novels by Bauer. He's a well formed and interesting character that really brings life to the story. More please!

I didn't find the time-travelling narrative difficult to follow, but I know it's a deal-breaker for some readers. Give this book a try! It's very unique!

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Belinda Bauer is a hugely popular author, but The Impossible Thing is my very first read from her.

The Impossible Thing starts with a number of seemingly separate stories. In the 1920s, egg collecting has reached quite a frenzy. The rugged Yorkshire coast sees a dangerous and barbaric practice each Spring, drawing huge crowds. In current times, two friends, Patrick and Nick have blindly stumbled into the now illegal world of egg collecting.

The story was really well written, I found myself engrossed. I listened in just over 24 hours, wondering how each of the stories would end. All of human nature was examined. From obsession, desperation and greed, to generosity and love, even in the hardest of times. The characterisation was strong, each individual having their own personality and voice. Really good books always provoke strong emotions from me, this one certainly did.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration, it gave the book a solid sense of place. The accents were authentic, each individual voice, and both timelines felt distinct and easy to distinguish.

The disregard for wildlife conservation in the century old timeline is a hard read, from a modern sensibility. Also, the attitudes towards certain members of society, makes me very grateful to be born in the time I am, despite current world events.
As I mentioned earlier, this is my first Belinda Bauer read, but certainly not my last. It’s 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

*The Impossible Thing* by Belinda Bauer is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that weaves together a story of obsession, greed, and the lengths people will go to for something they deem priceless. Told across two timelines, the story follows Celie Sheppard in the 1920s-1930s and a modern-day mystery involving Patrick and Weird Nick.

In the past, Celie’s small size allows her to be lowered over a cliff year after year to collect red guillemont eggs, an act that both thrills crowds and rescues her family from poverty. While Celie’s feats are impressive, there's an underlying sadness as the birds, who initially fight to protect their eggs, eventually give up in the face of human greed. The moral complexity of these events is haunting, especially as the story evolves.

In the present-day storyline, Patrick and Nick find themselves drawn into a mystery involving one of the stolen eggs, leading them to uncover the disturbing truth behind the obsession with these precious objects. The book masterfully explores human frailty, obsession, and the madness that can arise from a pursuit of wealth, leaving the reader with a sickening sense of the damage caused by greed.

Though the narrative can be confusing at times, the puzzle pieces come together in the end, making for a rewarding and eerie read. Overall, *The Impossible Thing* offers a chilling look at the dark side of human desire, making it a powerful and memorable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm absolutely blown away by this story, based on real events.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of both text and audio versions. The audio is excellently read by Phil Dunster who got tone and pitch spot on. No melodrama and no silly voices. I really enjoyed it. In fact I enjoyed the entire thing - book, audio, story. Perfect.

I've not read any Belinda Bauer before but I was expecting something very different than a fast-paced story about egg collecting. It was brilliant.

The story is split into two timelines. Celie Sheppard isn't much loved. She is the product of an extra marital liaison that caused her father to leave the family home. She is ignored by everyone but the farmboy, Robert. That is until she persuades Robert to help her collect the valuable eggs from Bempton Cliffs, home to thousands of birds. What Celie brings up on her very first haul is a rare red guillemot egg. An egg that people will pay money for - a lot of money

The second timeline follows Patrick Fort, a neurodivergent child, and his best mate, Weird Nick (who is often quite weird despite being brilliant at Call of Duty, persuading Patrick to go along with his schemes and trying to find as many ways as possible to make money. After a terrifying raid on Weird Nick's home he tells Patrick about the bright red egg that was stolen.

The two stories run alongside each other with Celie being used to steal more eggs and Patrick and Nick trying to find the missing egg whilst trying to solve the mystery of who and why it was taken.

If I'm making it sound tame I'm telling it wrong. It's absolutely action-packed. The characters burst off the page including the sneaky egg collector, Ambler, who made my skin crawl. Both Celie and Patrick are sympathetic characters and their stories made me laugh and weep.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley, Grove Atlantic and Dreamscape Media for the audio and text advance review copies. Very much appreciated.