A Book A Week

Since my early reading days, I've been captivated by mysteries that entice me with an enigmatic puzzle and keep me engaged until the final reveal. However, as I've grown older, a compelling mystery alone doesn't hold the same allure for me; it's the depth and complexity of the characters that truly elevate a book. Samuel Burr's debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, masterfully blends both these elements. Towards the end of last year, I received a mysterious package from his publisher. Enclosed was a manuscript cleverly disguised as a crossword puzzle and a jigsaw puzzle, with the solution revealing the book's title and cover image. While the puzzles seemed to be at the story's core, it was the depth of the characters that truly drew me into the narrative.

Pippa Allsbrook has always stood apart from the crowd. Her remarkable intelligence, rather than impressing others, often alienated her. Men found her intimidating, while women couldn't fathom her passion for deep thinking and puzzles. Despite societal expectations, Pippa's love for puzzles prevailed,  leading her to craft the local newspaper's crossword under a male pseudonym. Her true passion lies in her weekly gatherings with The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, a diverse group united by their love for solving and creating puzzles, be it math problems, jigsaw puzzles, trivia, or mazes. To preserve the group's legacy, Pippa invested her family's fortune to establish a commune where the Fellowship could live and collaborate. While this haven sounds idyllic, maintaining it presents its own set of challenges, requiring Pippa to utilize all her wit and ingenuity.

Clayton Stumper is a young man with an old soul. Abandoned as a baby at the doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised within this enigmatic community, with Pippa serving as his surrogate mother. Immersed in the world of enigmatology from a young age, Clayton grew up respecting and cherishing the fellowship's traditions. However, with the group's decline and Pippa's recent passing, Clayton finds himself among the last members, questioning his identity and heritage. After her death, Pippa entrusts Clayton with a final puzzle, promising that its solution will unveil the secrets of his lineage and equip him for the world beyond the commune's confines. As Clayton delves into the clues, he stumbles upon a mystery even the Fellowship couldn't decipher—a revelation that could reshape everything they've ever known. 

In The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, Samuel Burr crafts a novel that puzzle aficionados will find irresistible. The premise of a young man unraveling the mysteries of his past through a complex scavenger hunt filled with puzzles is undeniably captivating. While I was engrossed in piecing together the intricate puzzle, it was the characters that truly resonated with me. Burr skillfully weaves the narrative through two distinct points of view: Clayton in the present and Pippa in the past. This dual perspective offers a comprehensive view of both the puzzle's creation and its solution. I was immediately captivated by these characters, empathizing with their individual quests for love. Burr explores love in its various forms—familial, romantic, and communal. Although I found myself more invested in one perspective over the other, it didn't diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. The journey itself is more than worth the price of admission in this heartfelt debut. After all, as the book aptly puts it, "The magic was always found in the solving, never in the solution." 

For more information, visit the author’s website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 28)