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The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
An extraordinary, gloriously uplifting novel about the power of friendship and the puzzling ties that bind us
Clayton Stumper might be twenty-six years old, but he dresses like your grandpa and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.
When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton's life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. As Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve—and it's a secret that has the potential to change everything.
Clayton Stumper might be twenty-six years old, but he dresses like your grandpa and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.
When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton's life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. As Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve—and it's a secret that has the potential to change everything.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
About the author
Samuel Burr
2 books129 followersSamuel Burr is a TV producer who has worked on popular factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. Samuel’s writing was selected for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He previously studied at Westminster Film School.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 905 reviews
February 26, 2024
If ever a book was written for a specific audience, this is it. Puzzle lovers will immediately feel at home with a complete sense of understanding what drives these characters. At the beginning, Pippa asks why the fellowship members do puzzles - Destiny, Ritual, Inspire, Respite, Stimulation, Rapture, Erudition, Tradition, Healing, Mischief. What will be interesting is how many readers are delayed because of taking the time to actually try to complete some of the puzzles.
For a book that covers the intelligence of puzzle makers, the author lacked a grasp of simple math. Pippa is 67 when she finds a baby she named Clayton on the steps of the fellowship hall. She’s 89 when she dies, yet the book states that Clayton is 25 at the time of her death. I’m hoping as this is an ARC, it gets corrected before publication. Luckily, Burr is much better at writing than math. This is a gloriously written book with phrases and descriptions I fell in love with. With a few well chosen words, he can describe a scene or a character.
The story is told along two timelines. There is Clayton’s present day quest to know his background and the past timeline of Pippa’s life pre-Clayton. I immediately connected with Pippa. Not her brains, heaven knows, but that she’s the rare woman in a group, her desire to always have to be the one to fix a problem, her shouldering the weight of the world. But she’s also someone willing to create her own family, to find a group of “allies”. Clayton, is an old man in a young man’s body. And after being sheltered for his first 25 years, he’s now stepping out into the world. Like Pippa, he is also a caring person, one who consistently seeks to be there for others. But all the characters are equally enjoyable.
I highly recommend this for folks that love a story about finding yourself and making your own family. It’s a book that encompasses all the different varieties of love.
My thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an advance copy of this book.
For a book that covers the intelligence of puzzle makers, the author lacked a grasp of simple math. Pippa is 67 when she finds a baby she named Clayton on the steps of the fellowship hall. She’s 89 when she dies, yet the book states that Clayton is 25 at the time of her death. I’m hoping as this is an ARC, it gets corrected before publication. Luckily, Burr is much better at writing than math. This is a gloriously written book with phrases and descriptions I fell in love with. With a few well chosen words, he can describe a scene or a character.
The story is told along two timelines. There is Clayton’s present day quest to know his background and the past timeline of Pippa’s life pre-Clayton. I immediately connected with Pippa. Not her brains, heaven knows, but that she’s the rare woman in a group, her desire to always have to be the one to fix a problem, her shouldering the weight of the world. But she’s also someone willing to create her own family, to find a group of “allies”. Clayton, is an old man in a young man’s body. And after being sheltered for his first 25 years, he’s now stepping out into the world. Like Pippa, he is also a caring person, one who consistently seeks to be there for others. But all the characters are equally enjoyable.
I highly recommend this for folks that love a story about finding yourself and making your own family. It’s a book that encompasses all the different varieties of love.
My thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an advance copy of this book.
April 9, 2024
3.5 stars
Fiftysomething Pippa Allsbrook is an unmarried cruciverbalist (crossword puzzle enthusiast) who longs to socialize with like-minded individuals.
So Pippa starts a club called 'The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers', and recruits a variety of puzzlers, including: a codebreaker, an arithmetician; a trivialist; a jigsaw puzzle maker; an inventor of mechanical puzzles; a maze-designer; etc.
All the puzzlemakers - and the folks they meet - are engaging, each with his/her individual history, personality, and quirks. For instance, Sir Derek Wadlow, a codebreaker, was part of the team that built the Enigma machine at Bletchley Park;
Earl Vosey is a personable maze-maker whose wife has cancer;
Nancy Stone is a cab driver who excels at trivia;
Hector Haywood is a quiet artist turned jigsaw designer;
Angel, a housekeeper/cook, means well but causes chaos; and more.
In time the puzzlers become a kind of family, and decide to share a big house in the country, with a room for each resident, and studios and outbuildings where the puzzlemakers can work. The members, who make money from their puzzles, contribute to the household expenses.
Pippa never had a child, and she feels an absence in her life.
Then one day a miracle happens. A black leather hatbox with gold trim is left on the doorstep of the Fellowship residence. Inside the box is a baby boy, only a few days old.
Pippa becomes the boy's guardian, and all the puzzlemakers help raise the little fellow, who's named Clayton Stumper. Clayton is very happy at the Fellowship, though he's curious about his history: Who are his parents? Why did they give him away? Clayton can't seem to get any answers.
Then when Clayton is twenty-five, Pippa dies and leaves Clayton a series of puzzles to solve. The puzzles are actually a kind of treasure hunt that provides clues about Clayton's parents. The crosswords and riddles take Clayton to London.......
.....and then to the continent, and Clayton, who was very sheltered at the Fellowship, makes new friends along the way.
The story is told in dual timelines, so that Clayton's adventures in the present alternate with flashbacks to the past, when the puzzlemakers come together, establish their fellowship, 'adopt' Clayton, and so on.
I enjoyed this charming story, which shows that a diverse group of people can become a family; and that love can fluorish in unexpected places. As a bonus, the enthusiastic reader can try to solve the puzzles along with Clayton (they're not so easy).
Thanks to Netgalley, Samuel Burr, and Doubleday for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
April 5, 2024
4.5 stars
What an absolutely lovely story! It’s part mystery but the heartfelt sentiment throughout is really what made the book for me.
Clayton Stumper is 26 years old and is on the hunt for answers as to why he was left at birth on the steps of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. Pippa Allsbrook founded the group decades ago. It started off as a weekly meeting bringing together experts in such things as crosswords, codebreaking and other logic puzzles. Camaraderie developed which is why the members decided to live on a commune together where each one would create puzzles to sell to the general public. After the death of Pippa, the maternal figure in Clayton’s life, she leaves behind clues so he can finally uncover the mystery of his parentage.
I truly adored this book and the cast of characters. A beautiful example of how people from all walks of life can become a family. This is a book to read when you need a bit of a pick me up and a reminder to keep your faith in humanity.
Recommend to the fans of The Wishing Game or anyone in the mood for a heartwarming tale.
Thank you Anchor Books for sending me an advance reader’s copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
What an absolutely lovely story! It’s part mystery but the heartfelt sentiment throughout is really what made the book for me.
Clayton Stumper is 26 years old and is on the hunt for answers as to why he was left at birth on the steps of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. Pippa Allsbrook founded the group decades ago. It started off as a weekly meeting bringing together experts in such things as crosswords, codebreaking and other logic puzzles. Camaraderie developed which is why the members decided to live on a commune together where each one would create puzzles to sell to the general public. After the death of Pippa, the maternal figure in Clayton’s life, she leaves behind clues so he can finally uncover the mystery of his parentage.
I truly adored this book and the cast of characters. A beautiful example of how people from all walks of life can become a family. This is a book to read when you need a bit of a pick me up and a reminder to keep your faith in humanity.
Recommend to the fans of The Wishing Game or anyone in the mood for a heartwarming tale.
Thank you Anchor Books for sending me an advance reader’s copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
May 11, 2024
Is predictable a bad thing when it comes to books?
Not always.
The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers was predictable in that I knew I was in for a heart-warming read about found family, friendship, and finding one’s place in the world. I knew it would have an upbeat ending and that’s just what I wanted. So predictable can be really good, especially if you get exactly what you were looking for. I also loved solving the mini puzzles sprinkled throughout the book. So clever and fun!
Not always.
The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers was predictable in that I knew I was in for a heart-warming read about found family, friendship, and finding one’s place in the world. I knew it would have an upbeat ending and that’s just what I wanted. So predictable can be really good, especially if you get exactly what you were looking for. I also loved solving the mini puzzles sprinkled throughout the book. So clever and fun!
October 18, 2023
*Thank you to the publishers via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
While I appreciated the central themes of this book (i.e. it's never to late to find your people/a place you belong and the importance of community) and the interactivity of the puzzles throughout, I feel as though the writing felt slightly distanced from both the plot and the characters. Clayton is the primary character giving us the present day-POV, while his adoptive mother, Pippa, is the past-POV. I truly think that more time should have been spent in the present day. While it was interesting seeing the creation of the Fellowship, at times it felt like it dragged. I would've appreciated more time in the present, letting Clayton gain a bit more agency as a character, or, if there had to be a POV set in the past, that it followed Clayton from his early years, so that both Clayton and the other members of the Fellowship would get more fleshed out as characters. As it is, I never really connected to any of the characters and the more emotional beats never quite hit in the way that I wanted them to. The ending as well felt rather anti-climactic and, given how much it was built up, something that didn't feel entirely earned.
I guess I just wanted something that showed more than told, while also inviting the reader into the Fellowship. I appreciate what it tried to do, but ultimately the book wasn't for me.
While I appreciated the central themes of this book (i.e. it's never to late to find your people/a place you belong and the importance of community) and the interactivity of the puzzles throughout, I feel as though the writing felt slightly distanced from both the plot and the characters. Clayton is the primary character giving us the present day-POV, while his adoptive mother, Pippa, is the past-POV. I truly think that more time should have been spent in the present day. While it was interesting seeing the creation of the Fellowship, at times it felt like it dragged. I would've appreciated more time in the present, letting Clayton gain a bit more agency as a character, or, if there had to be a POV set in the past, that it followed Clayton from his early years, so that both Clayton and the other members of the Fellowship would get more fleshed out as characters. As it is, I never really connected to any of the characters and the more emotional beats never quite hit in the way that I wanted them to. The ending as well felt rather anti-climactic and, given how much it was built up, something that didn't feel entirely earned.
I guess I just wanted something that showed more than told, while also inviting the reader into the Fellowship. I appreciate what it tried to do, but ultimately the book wasn't for me.
January 3, 2024
oh my GOD I loved this book. Read it if you need a book hug.
February 16, 2024
In some ways this reminded me of Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Novel by Rachel Joyce. Not as much in terms of the story, itself, although this does include a journey, but in the underlying charm of this story.
This story revolves around Clayton Stumper, a young man as this story begins, found on the doorstep of ‘The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers’ by the founder, Pippa, through her he finds puzzles she left him, puzzles for him meant to lead him to finding his birth parents.
The story is revealed slowly, sharing moments from the past that share how the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers began, and their bond. When Pippa decides they should buy this home and all live there together, a home for all of the Puzzlemakers, it takes a while before the problems begin to surface. There are people-relationship problems, and then there are structural problems, as well, but overall, it works for the most part.
I loved the characters and how this story evolved, how Clayton’s story leads him to something and someone he never expected.
Pub Date: 09 Apr 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Vintage Anchor, Doubleday
September 21, 2023
What a fabulous story. young adult Clayton is tasked with discovering where he actually came from following caretaker Pippa's death. As Clayton follows clues he learns a lot about life, family and connections.
Interspersed between the puzzles and narration is the story of Pippa Allsbrook and how she created the wonderful Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers, an interest group bringing together persons of all kinds interested in creating and solving puzzles. As the only woman at first, Pip is a fearless leader and it she who adopts Clayton when he is found abandoned in a hatbox. Fun to read- an absolute pleasure!
If you love a puzzle, a crossword or a cozy, this is a book for you! #TheFellowshipof Puzzlemakers #SamuelBurr #VintageAnchor
Interspersed between the puzzles and narration is the story of Pippa Allsbrook and how she created the wonderful Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers, an interest group bringing together persons of all kinds interested in creating and solving puzzles. As the only woman at first, Pip is a fearless leader and it she who adopts Clayton when he is found abandoned in a hatbox. Fun to read- an absolute pleasure!
If you love a puzzle, a crossword or a cozy, this is a book for you! #TheFellowshipof Puzzlemakers #SamuelBurr #VintageAnchor
April 4, 2024
Pippa Allsbrook, an esteemed London crossword compiler, puts out a call for all those of a like mind to form a 'fellowship' of puzzlemakers, drawing in the best of the best in all related fields. Their motto? 'I CAME, I SAW, I SOLVED.' Eventually the group moves in together in a grand old house known as Creighton Hall where creativity flows and brilliant ideas abound.
But as time goes by, there's one puzzle they haven't been able to solve--the parentage of the foundling left on their doorstep 25 years ago, the baby boy they called Clayton Stumper. When Pippa passes away, she leaves a set of clues for Clayton to follow and perhaps find himself in more ways than he expects.
Being someone who enjoys doing puzzles of all sorts, I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted, charming story. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this debut novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
But as time goes by, there's one puzzle they haven't been able to solve--the parentage of the foundling left on their doorstep 25 years ago, the baby boy they called Clayton Stumper. When Pippa passes away, she leaves a set of clues for Clayton to follow and perhaps find himself in more ways than he expects.
Being someone who enjoys doing puzzles of all sorts, I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted, charming story. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this debut novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 3, 2024
A warm hug of a book. We read this book as the fiction pick for our Texas reading retreat, and it’s such a special story. The characters are quirky in the best way possible, where they’re charming but also have depth. It’s one of those books you never want to end (with actual puzzles throughout!), and random sentences brought a smile to my face.
Four stars only because I wish the puzzles were a bit more challenging. (And because I prefer stories are told in one chronological timeline, but that’s a “me” thing.)
Highly recommended!
Four stars only because I wish the puzzles were a bit more challenging. (And because I prefer stories are told in one chronological timeline, but that’s a “me” thing.)
Highly recommended!
February 15, 2024
This was a joy to read. Pippa was the founding member of the fellowship. It is a story of a family formed, not by blood. Together they did so much better. At some point, Clayton is left on their doorstep as an infant. Upon her death, Pippa has designed her final puzzle for him to solve. This will lead him to discover so much about himself as well as who his birth parents are. We learn so much about the personal lives of the other members of the fellowship. They are all unique and interesting. The only part I didn’t enjoy was the homosexuality, it wasn’t prolific. I hope to read more books by this author and highly recommend. I received a free advance review copy of this book, and I am voluntarily submitting this review.
May 8, 2024
As a baby, Clayton is left in a hatbox on the doorstep of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, and is brought up in their commune by the entire Fellowship. As an adult, Pippa, the woman Clayton would class as his mother, sends him off on an adventure to discover who his biological parents are.
I really enjoyed this book. It's just a really lovely, joyful read, and a story of how family are those that raised you. There are a number of great characters, from all walks of life, with stories of their own to tell.
Clayton is a wonderful character, who is probably a little naive based on the fact he has rarely left the commune, and his friendship with Neil was just beautiful. And I loved that Clayton’s journey was made of a series of puzzles and codes to crack.
It's a book that will make you smile a lot! :)
I really enjoyed this book. It's just a really lovely, joyful read, and a story of how family are those that raised you. There are a number of great characters, from all walks of life, with stories of their own to tell.
Clayton is a wonderful character, who is probably a little naive based on the fact he has rarely left the commune, and his friendship with Neil was just beautiful. And I loved that Clayton’s journey was made of a series of puzzles and codes to crack.
It's a book that will make you smile a lot! :)
February 1, 2024
I was excited to read this one: I love a wholesome, found family story. I thought the first half of Pippa’s story was delightful: she’s putting herself out there and starting a puzzlers society. In parallel, we see Clayton who was raised by Pippa and the fellowship after he mysteriously appeared on their doorstep as a baby, unmoored by Pippa’s passing. We watch Clayton try to solve the mystery of his birth while we watch Pippa establish the fellowship.
But I think for a book to really pass the uplifting test—and this one is certainly advertising itself that way—the book needs to resolve in a really satisfying way. And this one…doesn’t. I was left pretty angry with some of the characters in the end, and while that’s totally fine with most books, that’s not what I’m looking for from a “gloriously uplifting novel”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday!
But I think for a book to really pass the uplifting test—and this one is certainly advertising itself that way—the book needs to resolve in a really satisfying way. And this one…doesn’t. I was left pretty angry with some of the characters in the end, and while that’s totally fine with most books, that’s not what I’m looking for from a “gloriously uplifting novel”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday!
March 4, 2024
This book could be summarized by a sentence that falls within its pages "Getting older without getting old." The idea of a crop of puzzling experts forming a commune, then being infiltrated by an insurmountable enigma in the person they dub Clayton Stumper was inherently appealing to a puzzle fiend such as me. There are cryptics, anagrams and word ciphers throughout, some truly hilarious. Clayton arrives shortly after his birth in a large hatbox, and I for one could hear Lady Bracknell intoning "A HANDBAG???" And he is raised by the eccentric group of puzzlemakers without any clues as to his provenance. Yes, this is typical cozy, but if puzzles are your thing, you'll find it delightful.
June 27, 2024
Rezension folgt zum ET 🌞
March 13, 2024
Finished reading: March 12th 2024
"The magic was always found in the solving, never in the solution."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Doubleday in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
May 25, 2024
I'd known about Burr's work in British TV so I hoped his skill at visual storytelling would carry over to books. While somewhat intriguing, I felt the characters lacked depth, the pacing tedious and the plot somewhat predictable.
The story opens with Pippa Allsbrook, founder of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers discovering a hat box at the door of the residence, its contents a darling baby boy she names Clayton Stumper. Get it? Puzzle expert uses stumper as the child's last name. Snicker, snicker. It then leads us to her severe illness and ultimate demise.
The story toggles back and forth between Pippa's early days and Clayton's decision to uncover his origin due to a 'puzzle' his mother left him.
We learn of Pippa's expertise with crossword puzzles and eventual connection with an array of 'puzzle' heads and over time the formation of a 'fellowship'. Characters include a maze master, painter turned jigsaw expert, cryptologists and masters of the puzzle world. The author throws in a dab of soap, Greek words and a number of other 'puzzling' elements. And while interesting, the intrigue, mystery and 'riddle me this', was missing.
And yes, Clayton does discover his birth mother and father at the end, but felt this was a weak attempt overall. Debuts can be hit or miss, and I'd say this one came close, but still missed.
The story opens with Pippa Allsbrook, founder of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers discovering a hat box at the door of the residence, its contents a darling baby boy she names Clayton Stumper. Get it? Puzzle expert uses stumper as the child's last name. Snicker, snicker. It then leads us to her severe illness and ultimate demise.
The story toggles back and forth between Pippa's early days and Clayton's decision to uncover his origin due to a 'puzzle' his mother left him.
We learn of Pippa's expertise with crossword puzzles and eventual connection with an array of 'puzzle' heads and over time the formation of a 'fellowship'. Characters include a maze master, painter turned jigsaw expert, cryptologists and masters of the puzzle world. The author throws in a dab of soap, Greek words and a number of other 'puzzling' elements. And while interesting, the intrigue, mystery and 'riddle me this', was missing.
And yes, Clayton does discover his birth mother and father at the end, but felt this was a weak attempt overall. Debuts can be hit or miss, and I'd say this one came close, but still missed.
April 13, 2024
This was a fabulous, heartwarming debut about a group of older British puzzlemakers (each with their own specialties) who form a club based on their shared interests and end up becoming life long friends.
Full of secrets, fantastic puzzles (including the crossword clue chapter headings) and told in a dual timeline structure as one of the dead members leaves clues for her grown adopted/foster son to follow and learn about his birth parents.
Full of heart and even some romance and highly recommended for fans of The Thursday murder club books. This was good on audio and a solid, original debut story sure to put a smile on the faces of readers of all ages!
Full of secrets, fantastic puzzles (including the crossword clue chapter headings) and told in a dual timeline structure as one of the dead members leaves clues for her grown adopted/foster son to follow and learn about his birth parents.
Full of heart and even some romance and highly recommended for fans of The Thursday murder club books. This was good on audio and a solid, original debut story sure to put a smile on the faces of readers of all ages!
April 19, 2024
2.5⭐ - If you're looking for a cozy mystery-type book centering around a found family of smart puzzle makers and solvers, this might be for you. I was really excited by the idea behind the story. Unfortunately the execution never really hit for me.
Everything was very okay and, while I love a found family trope with all my heart, the characters weren't really that interesting. Most of the fellowship felt like they were barely in the story besides a main little group. The plot itself was a real slow burn and I just wasn't into it with nothing else in the story being compelling enough to make that work.
I won't say I hated it because that would be a lie, but ultimately, it wasn't my favorite. Others who enjoy a nice cozy story might like it though!
Everything was very okay and, while I love a found family trope with all my heart, the characters weren't really that interesting. Most of the fellowship felt like they were barely in the story besides a main little group. The plot itself was a real slow burn and I just wasn't into it with nothing else in the story being compelling enough to make that work.
I won't say I hated it because that would be a lie, but ultimately, it wasn't my favorite. Others who enjoy a nice cozy story might like it though!
May 18, 2024
Picked this one out as one of my birthday books from Barnes & Noble. It beat out Salman Rushdie's new memoir Knife because it sold itself as being a mystery for people who love puzzles ... as in crosswords and shit. And I looked at myself and said, "Thass me!" But I kinda knew going in that I probably wouldn't like this one very much overall, simply because it sounded like something that would appeal mostly to old ladies. Not that there's anything wrong with that in and of itself -- it's just that I'm not an old lady.
I do love puzzles though! And this one has puzzles included for readers to solve and that are woven into the narrative, so it's interactive puzzling-reading! And I'm such a big sucker that I bought it, plopped down in my reading chair next to Constance, my wife and steadfast reading companion, and after reading a few pages, I turned to her and said, "This is definitely one for old ladies. But, the author's a dude, right? Samuel Burr? So, there's gotta be some manly puzzle-solving or something going on with it." I flipped to the flap on the back cover (flipped to the flap haha), and had a good chuckle at the author's photo, because he looks like a big, goofy kid in it posing for a school picture. Then I read his bio -- he does charity work for the elderly and he has a cat named Muriel.
"Oh."
I flipped through the pages.
"Well ... there are puzzles here. And it's not terribly written. It's not great, but it's standard fluff. Maybe I can tough it out for the sake of the puzzles...?"
And tough it out I did.
So, let's get the narrative review out of the way first. Early on in my reading of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, I told Constance that I was actually enjoying the characters -- This eccentric group of elderly folks who are all master enigmatologists in some form or another. Pippa, the main protagonist of the earlier timeline, who is a renowned cruciverbalist and forms the entire fellowship; Hector, the homeless jigsaw artist; Nance, the brash London cabbie and master quizzler; and even Angel, the well-meaning but bungling housekeeper. But I soon found that I was getting pretty bored of these people. Even though they each have their own narrative arc, progress through those arcs comes in fits and starts -- spurts of "Well, this shit is happening to me all of a sudden." But they mostly just hang around the Fellowship house, talking about their projects and mildly flirting with one another. Most disastrous of all is how under-realized the remaining Fellowship members are. I know there's a maze-maker, but I couldn't tell you his name. And a dude who crafts puzzles out of wood. And I think there's a riddler, but I couldn't be sure. There's definitely a guy who does puzzles with numbers ... ? One of them is gay, but I couldn't tell you which. And one of them has caught Pippa's romantic eye ... I think it was the maze guy.
This is such an unforgivable travesty, because I'm certain (like 98% certain) that Samuel Burr has populated his book with people that he knows in real life. He could have done his subjects a bit of justice by giving them all memorable personalities. And even if they aren't based on real people, at least make them memorable for the reader! Especially if the dominant theme of that timeline is about fellowship, about people coming together and accomplishing shit as a group. And they're puzzlemakers! How cool is that? But, unfortunately, the mere fact of their vocation is their defining characteristic.
The other timeline features 26-year-old Clayton Stumper. He was dropped off on the Fellowship's doorstep as an infant and was raised by Pippa and her friends, never really stepping out of the Fellowship's environs. Shortly after Pippa's death, Clayton decides he wants to find out who his real parents are, and it turns out that Pippa has bequeathed him a puzzle-styled scavenger hunt for him to uncover the clues of his past. This dude is such a milquetoast, and I hate saying that because I'm certain (like 99% certain) that he's based on the author himself (Muriel the cat features in this book, y'know?). But this is the timeline where all of the novel's puzzles are featured, as Clayton attempts to work through Pippa's clues as he advances on his quest. Along the way, he has such harrowing adventures as -- walking down the street. Approaching the wrong house. Talking to some old woman on a bench. Visiting an old-folks' home. Visiting a museum. Taking a cab ride.
You get the picture.
There is a little bit of romance worked into Clayton's adventure, but it's kind of cringey and juvenile for a character who's nearly 30. There's also some action in the form of a surprise mugging that serves no purpose at all other than to force the romance I just mentioned. The fact that Clayton loses all of his money in the event doesn't seem to hinder him from taking hotel rooms and cabs for the remainder of the adventure.
I think I get the point of Clayton's storyline. It's a coming-of-age story, in a way. Finding oneself and one's place in the world. But it's all very mundane, and the puzzle-solving is the only thing that gives it a glimmer of interest.
Well ... it would have given it a glimmer of interest if the puzzles weren't so shittily constructed.
Clayton's entire adventure is sparked by Pippa leaving him one final crossword to solve. I'd upload a photo of this crossword, but I've already filled it in and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. But really, there's not much to spoil. For a master cruciverbalist, Pippa's created a pretty lame crossword. There are 10 across clues and 10 down clues, with minor overlap within the grid. This makes it quite unfun to solve because the clues are occasionally so cryptic and vague that you need the letters from the connecting acrosses or downs to solve them with any certainty. The one clue I got hung up on was purely from poor construction. The clue was "a hungry desire." Now, as any crossword solver will tell you, when a clue is written as a noun (like this one is), then the answer to the clue must also be a noun. The actual answer had entered my mind a few times, but I dismissed it because it's a verb. But no. The answer to "a hungry desire" is a verb in Pippa's puzzle, so this just made me want to light the entire book on fire. Cause it's the whole reason I bought the thing to begin with!
I feel pretty ripped off. But here's worse. Check out this maze.
Solve the maze to reveal the message?? Okay!!
What the .... ?
So. Okay then. $30 for a shit story with the hopes that the puzzling will be worth it, and this is what I'm given.
Pretty sure I'll just stick with my NY Times Games subscription from now on.
I do love puzzles though! And this one has puzzles included for readers to solve and that are woven into the narrative, so it's interactive puzzling-reading! And I'm such a big sucker that I bought it, plopped down in my reading chair next to Constance, my wife and steadfast reading companion, and after reading a few pages, I turned to her and said, "This is definitely one for old ladies. But, the author's a dude, right? Samuel Burr? So, there's gotta be some manly puzzle-solving or something going on with it." I flipped to the flap on the back cover (flipped to the flap haha), and had a good chuckle at the author's photo, because he looks like a big, goofy kid in it posing for a school picture. Then I read his bio -- he does charity work for the elderly and he has a cat named Muriel.
"Oh."
I flipped through the pages.
"Well ... there are puzzles here. And it's not terribly written. It's not great, but it's standard fluff. Maybe I can tough it out for the sake of the puzzles...?"
And tough it out I did.
So, let's get the narrative review out of the way first. Early on in my reading of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, I told Constance that I was actually enjoying the characters -- This eccentric group of elderly folks who are all master enigmatologists in some form or another. Pippa, the main protagonist of the earlier timeline, who is a renowned cruciverbalist and forms the entire fellowship; Hector, the homeless jigsaw artist; Nance, the brash London cabbie and master quizzler; and even Angel, the well-meaning but bungling housekeeper. But I soon found that I was getting pretty bored of these people. Even though they each have their own narrative arc, progress through those arcs comes in fits and starts -- spurts of "Well, this shit is happening to me all of a sudden." But they mostly just hang around the Fellowship house, talking about their projects and mildly flirting with one another. Most disastrous of all is how under-realized the remaining Fellowship members are. I know there's a maze-maker, but I couldn't tell you his name. And a dude who crafts puzzles out of wood. And I think there's a riddler, but I couldn't be sure. There's definitely a guy who does puzzles with numbers ... ? One of them is gay, but I couldn't tell you which. And one of them has caught Pippa's romantic eye ... I think it was the maze guy.
This is such an unforgivable travesty, because I'm certain (like 98% certain) that Samuel Burr has populated his book with people that he knows in real life. He could have done his subjects a bit of justice by giving them all memorable personalities. And even if they aren't based on real people, at least make them memorable for the reader! Especially if the dominant theme of that timeline is about fellowship, about people coming together and accomplishing shit as a group. And they're puzzlemakers! How cool is that? But, unfortunately, the mere fact of their vocation is their defining characteristic.
The other timeline features 26-year-old Clayton Stumper. He was dropped off on the Fellowship's doorstep as an infant and was raised by Pippa and her friends, never really stepping out of the Fellowship's environs. Shortly after Pippa's death, Clayton decides he wants to find out who his real parents are, and it turns out that Pippa has bequeathed him a puzzle-styled scavenger hunt for him to uncover the clues of his past. This dude is such a milquetoast, and I hate saying that because I'm certain (like 99% certain) that he's based on the author himself (Muriel the cat features in this book, y'know?). But this is the timeline where all of the novel's puzzles are featured, as Clayton attempts to work through Pippa's clues as he advances on his quest. Along the way, he has such harrowing adventures as -- walking down the street. Approaching the wrong house. Talking to some old woman on a bench. Visiting an old-folks' home. Visiting a museum. Taking a cab ride.
You get the picture.
There is a little bit of romance worked into Clayton's adventure, but it's kind of cringey and juvenile for a character who's nearly 30. There's also some action in the form of a surprise mugging that serves no purpose at all other than to force the romance I just mentioned. The fact that Clayton loses all of his money in the event doesn't seem to hinder him from taking hotel rooms and cabs for the remainder of the adventure.
I think I get the point of Clayton's storyline. It's a coming-of-age story, in a way. Finding oneself and one's place in the world. But it's all very mundane, and the puzzle-solving is the only thing that gives it a glimmer of interest.
Well ... it would have given it a glimmer of interest if the puzzles weren't so shittily constructed.
Clayton's entire adventure is sparked by Pippa leaving him one final crossword to solve. I'd upload a photo of this crossword, but I've already filled it in and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. But really, there's not much to spoil. For a master cruciverbalist, Pippa's created a pretty lame crossword. There are 10 across clues and 10 down clues, with minor overlap within the grid. This makes it quite unfun to solve because the clues are occasionally so cryptic and vague that you need the letters from the connecting acrosses or downs to solve them with any certainty. The one clue I got hung up on was purely from poor construction. The clue was "a hungry desire." Now, as any crossword solver will tell you, when a clue is written as a noun (like this one is), then the answer to the clue must also be a noun. The actual answer had entered my mind a few times, but I dismissed it because it's a verb. But no. The answer to "a hungry desire" is a verb in Pippa's puzzle, so this just made me want to light the entire book on fire. Cause it's the whole reason I bought the thing to begin with!
I feel pretty ripped off. But here's worse. Check out this maze.
Solve the maze to reveal the message?? Okay!!
What the .... ?
So. Okay then. $30 for a shit story with the hopes that the puzzling will be worth it, and this is what I'm given.
Pretty sure I'll just stick with my NY Times Games subscription from now on.
May 7, 2024
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 4*
Characters: 5*
Uniqueness: 4*
Puzzles: 5*
What a refreshing and unique story, for fans of cozy mysteries, without the murders from the likes of The Thursday Murder Club series.
It's not often I purchase the physical copy of a NetGalley that I have read, but this was an absolute must, and instant, buy.
The characters were by far the standout in this book, and they gave me all the feels. I was worried at the start when I was presented with a list of Who's Who on the first page I'd be overwhelmed but it was far from the case. Each member of the fellowship brought something new to the story and was easy to navigate their various roles. The writing was amazing and the duel timeline added to the excitement.
Ending was utterly prefect for me, a solid 5* read and will be recommending to everyone.
Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 4*
Characters: 5*
Uniqueness: 4*
Puzzles: 5*
What a refreshing and unique story, for fans of cozy mysteries, without the murders from the likes of The Thursday Murder Club series.
It's not often I purchase the physical copy of a NetGalley that I have read, but this was an absolute must, and instant, buy.
The characters were by far the standout in this book, and they gave me all the feels. I was worried at the start when I was presented with a list of Who's Who on the first page I'd be overwhelmed but it was far from the case. Each member of the fellowship brought something new to the story and was easy to navigate their various roles. The writing was amazing and the duel timeline added to the excitement.
Ending was utterly prefect for me, a solid 5* read and will be recommending to everyone.
September 7, 2023
This was a gorgeous quirky read about Pip, a crossword compiler who decides to establish a fellowship of her fellow puzzle makers, and of Clayton who was left abandoned in a hatbox on the doorstep of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and raised by Pip. This is told in two time frames, predominantly this is Clayton’s story as, after Pips death, he decides to try discover more about his parentage assisted by some puzzles Pip has left him but it also tells Pip’s story starting with the very first fellowship meeting and continuing at key points in the organisations history. This is a charming tale with some fabulous and incredibly different characters, gentle humour and an appreciation of all types of puzzles. It’s original and uplifting and an absolute ode to not just friendship but fellowship.
June 4, 2024
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Thank you to Edelweiss, Doubleday, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: I was utterly charmed by this novel, and oh so so so so deeply desire for this to be a film - with the right actors and settings this could be one of the top films ever made and I'll die on that hill. The puzzles?? Creighton Hall?? The relationships?? The PUZZLES? Ugh, it'd be amazing.
This had a now & then narration; now showcasing Clayton trying to figure out who he is in the world without his adopted mother, Pippa; and the then showing how Pippa came to found The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and how she became Clayton's family (as did the rest of the Fellowship, but don't even get me started on that because I'll cry).
There were a lot of side characters here, some more enjoyable and fleshed out than others - but I really didn't mind. The ones that needed to be full were, and the ones that weren't were still delightful.
I really liked how the end all came together, even if (by that point), it wasn't wholly surprising. Definitely recommend this cozy, lovely, wonderful novel.
(Also, I didn't get many of the puzzles throughout but it didn't dampen my enjoyment.)
Some quotes that I loved:
A good friend should build you up, she always used to say. They should help you become the best version of yourself. In that sense, forging a friendship was akin to finding a soulmate.
"But the trick, young man, is to find the person who loves you the way you love them. The way you deserve to be loved. Because, in the end, ..." Her hands were clasped around his again. "Love is all that matters."
Content Warnings:
Thank you to Edelweiss, Doubleday, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: I was utterly charmed by this novel, and oh so so so so deeply desire for this to be a film - with the right actors and settings this could be one of the top films ever made and I'll die on that hill. The puzzles?? Creighton Hall?? The relationships?? The PUZZLES? Ugh, it'd be amazing.
This had a now & then narration; now showcasing Clayton trying to figure out who he is in the world without his adopted mother, Pippa; and the then showing how Pippa came to found The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and how she became Clayton's family (as did the rest of the Fellowship, but don't even get me started on that because I'll cry).
There were a lot of side characters here, some more enjoyable and fleshed out than others - but I really didn't mind. The ones that needed to be full were, and the ones that weren't were still delightful.
I really liked how the end all came together, even if (by that point), it wasn't wholly surprising. Definitely recommend this cozy, lovely, wonderful novel.
(Also, I didn't get many of the puzzles throughout but it didn't dampen my enjoyment.)
Some quotes that I loved:
A good friend should build you up, she always used to say. They should help you become the best version of yourself. In that sense, forging a friendship was akin to finding a soulmate.
"But the trick, young man, is to find the person who loves you the way you love them. The way you deserve to be loved. Because, in the end, ..." Her hands were clasped around his again. "Love is all that matters."
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.63
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings:
June 10, 2024
Ho intrapreso la lettura de La compagnia degli enigmisti di Samuel Burr convintissimo, non so bene perché, si trattasse di un thriller e invece mi sono ritrovato tra le mani un romanzo adorabile.
Clayton, il protagonista, è stato abbandonato alla nascita davanti alla sede della compagnia degli enigmisti: una stramba associazione di menti geniali gestita da Philippa Allsbrook. Da quel giorno di 25 anni fa ha sempre vissuto lì. Philippa, sul letto di morte, gli lascia un ultimo rompicapo che cambierà per sempre le sorti della sua vita.
La compagnia degli enigmisti ruota attorno non solo al mistero principale ma anche a piccoli enigmi che i lettori e le lettrici troveranno disseminati qua e là durante la lettura. Non preoccupatevi: non rimarrete con l’incubo di non poter ultimare un cruciverba perché le risposte sono ben evidenziate nel testo.
È un romanzo leggero, scorrevole e molto piacevole, con una punta di emotività che non guasta mai e che arricchisce la trama.
Il mix tra enigmi e narrazione è ben calibrato: chi vuole una lettura più fluida potrà leggerlo normalmente mentre chi vuole leggermente scervellarsi potrà farlo.
Onestamente? Io lo vedo perfetto per una lettura estiva!
Puoi trovare questa e altre recensioni sul mio profilo Instagram “I libri di Dede” www.instagram.com/ilibrididede o sul mio blog/sito www.ilibrididede.it 📚
Se non vuoi perderti neanche una recensione c’è anche il canale telegram: https://t.me/ilibrididede
Mi è stata inviata una copia gratuita di questo libro da parte della casa editrice che ringrazio.
Clayton, il protagonista, è stato abbandonato alla nascita davanti alla sede della compagnia degli enigmisti: una stramba associazione di menti geniali gestita da Philippa Allsbrook. Da quel giorno di 25 anni fa ha sempre vissuto lì. Philippa, sul letto di morte, gli lascia un ultimo rompicapo che cambierà per sempre le sorti della sua vita.
La compagnia degli enigmisti ruota attorno non solo al mistero principale ma anche a piccoli enigmi che i lettori e le lettrici troveranno disseminati qua e là durante la lettura. Non preoccupatevi: non rimarrete con l’incubo di non poter ultimare un cruciverba perché le risposte sono ben evidenziate nel testo.
È un romanzo leggero, scorrevole e molto piacevole, con una punta di emotività che non guasta mai e che arricchisce la trama.
Il mix tra enigmi e narrazione è ben calibrato: chi vuole una lettura più fluida potrà leggerlo normalmente mentre chi vuole leggermente scervellarsi potrà farlo.
Onestamente? Io lo vedo perfetto per una lettura estiva!
Puoi trovare questa e altre recensioni sul mio profilo Instagram “I libri di Dede” www.instagram.com/ilibrididede o sul mio blog/sito www.ilibrididede.it 📚
Se non vuoi perderti neanche una recensione c’è anche il canale telegram: https://t.me/ilibrididede
Mi è stata inviata una copia gratuita di questo libro da parte della casa editrice che ringrazio.
April 9, 2024
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 🥹 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫����𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 (𝐚����𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤).
𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲. 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞” 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞-𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟐𝟎’𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩’𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲. 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞; 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬).
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢��’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞—𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐭.
𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕓 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕜!
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎, 𝒟𝑜𝓊𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒹𝒶𝓎, & 𝒮𝒶𝓂𝓊𝑒𝓁 𝐵𝓊𝓇𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 🥹 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫����𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 (𝐚����𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤).
𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲. 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞” 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞-𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟐𝟎’𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩’𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲. 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞; 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬).
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢��’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞—𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐭.
𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕓 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕜!
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎, 𝒟𝑜𝓊𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒹𝒶𝓎, & 𝒮𝒶𝓂𝓊𝑒𝓁 𝐵𝓊𝓇𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
May 17, 2024
Thanks to an intriguing review by a GR friend (thanks Bam) I ordered this book almost immediately. Like my GR friend I have my puzzles that I use to keep my aging brain sharp. I do a couple of daily rounds of Wordle and Quordle and then Worldle, a world geography puzzle. If that weren't enough I also do the daily WaPo crossword and until recently the NYT crossword. I stopped the NYT because it got far too expensive and they like to use silly gimmicks in their puzzles like employing symbols, numbers, and omitting letters all of which I consider crossword heresy. That being said a book with the title The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers seemed a sure thing. Now that I've read it I can say it was a good thing but not a great thing. It is worth reading and I enjoyed it but it was lacking something extra that would have made it a 4 star book.
The story revolves around a multi-faceted group of puzzle makers and solvers. The founder and motivating force for the group is a crossword puzzle designer of significant repute named Pippa Allsbrook. After inviting selected respondents to her daily newspaper crossword features she forms an informal group that meets regularly in a local pub. After some time and the resources of an inheritance Pippa suggests that the group take on a formal arrangement and purchase a decaying estate where she grew-up. The group agrees and some of them move into the main house of the estate which until the purchase functioned as a boutique hotel. When the group moves to the former hotel the story takes on the characteristics of a assisted living facility for old puzzle enthusiasts which affected my enjoyment of the plot. Of course then there is the plot which didn't help the tone at all.
After a number of years the group suffers some financial difficulties, there are expensive maintenance issues that have been neglected, and a couple of residents of the house leave without notice. Just as all of this is being dealt with an infant is left on their door step. The discovery of the abandoned infant is the center point of the story which, for the most part, is told in two time lines. The first time line covers all the events of the group prior to the discovery of the infant and the second time line starts 25 years later with the death of Pippa and the infant, now an adult named Clayton, wanting to know who he is. For the last 25 years Clayton has lived among the members of the group and has been raised by them and now functions as something of a caretaker for these aging group members. The isolated young man and his functioning among all of the old folks in the group seemed to skew the story's tone for me. However, as it turns out Pippa, knowing that she was dying, had prepared a puzzle for Clayton to solve after her passing that would lead him to learning about his origin and who his parents were. The nature of Clayton's quest is the highlight of the book and this is where the author disappointed me. The quest had the potential to contain something to surprise the reader and make an impact but it didn't. The quest was enjoyable but the conclusion while not obvious wasn't exactly surprising either. As I stated above it was a good book but not a great book. Enjoy.
The story revolves around a multi-faceted group of puzzle makers and solvers. The founder and motivating force for the group is a crossword puzzle designer of significant repute named Pippa Allsbrook. After inviting selected respondents to her daily newspaper crossword features she forms an informal group that meets regularly in a local pub. After some time and the resources of an inheritance Pippa suggests that the group take on a formal arrangement and purchase a decaying estate where she grew-up. The group agrees and some of them move into the main house of the estate which until the purchase functioned as a boutique hotel. When the group moves to the former hotel the story takes on the characteristics of a assisted living facility for old puzzle enthusiasts which affected my enjoyment of the plot. Of course then there is the plot which didn't help the tone at all.
After a number of years the group suffers some financial difficulties, there are expensive maintenance issues that have been neglected, and a couple of residents of the house leave without notice. Just as all of this is being dealt with an infant is left on their door step. The discovery of the abandoned infant is the center point of the story which, for the most part, is told in two time lines. The first time line covers all the events of the group prior to the discovery of the infant and the second time line starts 25 years later with the death of Pippa and the infant, now an adult named Clayton, wanting to know who he is. For the last 25 years Clayton has lived among the members of the group and has been raised by them and now functions as something of a caretaker for these aging group members. The isolated young man and his functioning among all of the old folks in the group seemed to skew the story's tone for me. However, as it turns out Pippa, knowing that she was dying, had prepared a puzzle for Clayton to solve after her passing that would lead him to learning about his origin and who his parents were. The nature of Clayton's quest is the highlight of the book and this is where the author disappointed me. The quest had the potential to contain something to surprise the reader and make an impact but it didn't. The quest was enjoyable but the conclusion while not obvious wasn't exactly surprising either. As I stated above it was a good book but not a great book. Enjoy.
July 5, 2024
La compagnia degli enigmisti è un gruppo di persone che hanno vissuto collettivamente creando enigmi e rompicapi in una magione che, al presente della storia, deve dire addio alla fondatrice Pippa Allsbrook.
Tra queste persone riunite il più giovane è Clayton, un ragazzo che venticinque anni prima della scomparsa di Pippa è stato trovato in una cappelliera esagonale sull’uscio della porta e adottato dalla compagnia.
In questo libro la trama prende quindi due strade parallele: da una parte il presente con Clayton e la Compagnia degli enigmisti che si riunisce per risolvere l’enigma relativo al passato di Clayton e della sua famiglia di origine, dall’altro la narrazione con protagonista Pippa della nascita e dell’evoluzione della Compagnia stessa.
A differenza di quello che un lettore potrebbe aspettarsi dalla copertina, questo libro racconta soprattutto storie personali e collettive ma prettamente private. Da una parte i membri della Compagnia e la loro “nascita” come comune di enigmisti, dall’altra il passato di Clayton.
Il libro è strutturato con capitoli alternati tra passato e presente, questo a mio avviso crea aspettativa ma rallenta molto la lettura.
Si parla ovviamente di enigmi, cruciverba e labirinti ma sono soprattutto i personaggi e le loro storie ad emergere dalle pagine.
La narrazione non è particolarmente coinvolgente ma la lettura scorre senza parentesi noiose o prolisse, sicuramente accadono meno cose di quanto ci si aspetti dalle premesse. Anche sul finale ho trovato tutto un po’ forzato, la soluzione all’enigma è sì un colpo di scena ma forse non meritava così tante pagine e una serie di indizi per essere palesata. Leggibile ma non così tanto appagante.
Tra queste persone riunite il più giovane è Clayton, un ragazzo che venticinque anni prima della scomparsa di Pippa è stato trovato in una cappelliera esagonale sull’uscio della porta e adottato dalla compagnia.
In questo libro la trama prende quindi due strade parallele: da una parte il presente con Clayton e la Compagnia degli enigmisti che si riunisce per risolvere l’enigma relativo al passato di Clayton e della sua famiglia di origine, dall’altro la narrazione con protagonista Pippa della nascita e dell’evoluzione della Compagnia stessa.
A differenza di quello che un lettore potrebbe aspettarsi dalla copertina, questo libro racconta soprattutto storie personali e collettive ma prettamente private. Da una parte i membri della Compagnia e la loro “nascita” come comune di enigmisti, dall’altra il passato di Clayton.
Il libro è strutturato con capitoli alternati tra passato e presente, questo a mio avviso crea aspettativa ma rallenta molto la lettura.
Si parla ovviamente di enigmi, cruciverba e labirinti ma sono soprattutto i personaggi e le loro storie ad emergere dalle pagine.
La narrazione non è particolarmente coinvolgente ma la lettura scorre senza parentesi noiose o prolisse, sicuramente accadono meno cose di quanto ci si aspetti dalle premesse. Anche sul finale ho trovato tutto un po’ forzato, la soluzione all’enigma è sì un colpo di scena ma forse non meritava così tante pagine e una serie di indizi per essere palesata. Leggibile ma non così tanto appagante.
July 3, 2024
Loved this, it was such a feel-good book with a hopeful story. I thought it was so fun! The only problem I had was with the repeat use of the words "warm" and "puce" LOL :-)
October 19, 2023
In a perfect world, this book would be out now, I would be able to talk openly about it, and we would share our love for it. But unfortunately, “The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers” by Samuel Burr, doesn´t come out until next year. Let me share my thoughts on it, so you can see why this is awful for all of us.
Clayton Stumper was left at the fellowship´s doorstep. Pippa, founder and president of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, after realizing this, decides to raise him as his own. Years later and after Pippa´s death, Clayton decides to find out who left him behind, and even from the grave, Pippa still helps him out with puzzles that made me stare at the ceiling in thought and had Clayton running around the entirety of London.
The book tells the story of both, Clayton´s journey finding out where he comes from, and hoe Pippa founded the fellowship and the story of it, through a dual point of view.
This book has a promising everything: cover, title, and premise. And the delivery is nothing short of amazing.
I had a fantastic time reading this. The main characters were not only interesting to read about, but they were likeable without being the same kind of person, and they both had me itching to know more about where their stories would lead. And more than anything, they both shared one characteristic; they were caretakers. They took care of everyone they met, and it made me care about each character that was mentioned, too.
I think it goes without saying that this book was a fun read, but I would like to say that it did make me sit in my bed and think about it for a while. Because more than puzzles, this book is about loneliness and love. Love of all kinds. It comes with a beautiful message: What you do and what you say matters. You will always have an impact on other people and is never too late to remember that.
The one thing that I think could’ve been done better, was that I really don´t think we got to see Clayton process the news at all. I would´ve liked to see more character development, specially from him.
Aside from that, I think the book ticks every box that could be mentioned.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc!
Clayton Stumper was left at the fellowship´s doorstep. Pippa, founder and president of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, after realizing this, decides to raise him as his own. Years later and after Pippa´s death, Clayton decides to find out who left him behind, and even from the grave, Pippa still helps him out with puzzles that made me stare at the ceiling in thought and had Clayton running around the entirety of London.
The book tells the story of both, Clayton´s journey finding out where he comes from, and hoe Pippa founded the fellowship and the story of it, through a dual point of view.
This book has a promising everything: cover, title, and premise. And the delivery is nothing short of amazing.
I had a fantastic time reading this. The main characters were not only interesting to read about, but they were likeable without being the same kind of person, and they both had me itching to know more about where their stories would lead. And more than anything, they both shared one characteristic; they were caretakers. They took care of everyone they met, and it made me care about each character that was mentioned, too.
I think it goes without saying that this book was a fun read, but I would like to say that it did make me sit in my bed and think about it for a while. Because more than puzzles, this book is about loneliness and love. Love of all kinds. It comes with a beautiful message: What you do and what you say matters. You will always have an impact on other people and is never too late to remember that.
The one thing that I think could’ve been done better, was that I really don´t think we got to see Clayton process the news at all. I would´ve liked to see more character development, specially from him.
Aside from that, I think the book ticks every box that could be mentioned.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc!
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