Publication
Random House Large Print, 2023
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction T
Physical description
505 p.; 24 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:Reality and the supernatural collide when an expert puzzle maker is thrust into an ancient mystery�??one with explosive consequences for the fate of humanity�??in this suspenseful thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Angelology �??In short: The Puzzle Master = (The Da Vinci Code + The Silent Patient + sprinkle of Stephen King) x gorgeous writing.�?��??Angie Kim, author of Miracle Creek All the world is a puzzle, and Mike Brink�??a celebrated and ingenious puzzle constructor�??understands its patterns like no one else. Once a promising Midwestern football star, Brink was transformed by a traumatic brain injury that caused a rare medical condition: acquired savant syndrome. The injury left him with a mental superpower�??he can solve puzzles in ways ordinary people can�??t. But it also left him deeply isolated, unable to fully connect with other people. Everything changes after Brink meets Jess Price, a woman serving thirty years in prison for murder who hasn�??t spoken a word since her arrest five years before. When Price draws a perplexing puzzle, her psychiatrist believes it will explain her crime and calls Brink to solve it. What begins as a desire to crack an alluring cipher quickly morphs into an obsession with Price herself. She soon reveals that there is something more urgent, and more dangerous, behind her silence, thrusting Brink into a hunt for the truth. The quest takes Brink through a series of interlocking enigmas, but the heart of the mystery is the God Puzzle, a cryptic ancient prayer circle created by the thirteenth-century Jewish mystic Abraham Abulafia. As Brink navigates a maze of clues, and his emotional entanglement with Price becomes more intense, he realizes that there are powerful forces at work that he cannot escape. Ranging from an upstate New York women�??s prison to nineteenth-century Prague to the secret rooms of the Pierpont Morgan Library, The Puzzle Master is a tantalizing, addictive thriller in which humankind, technology, and the future of… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member MontzaleeW
The Puzzle Master
By Danielle Trussoni
OMG, what a wild ride read this! I loved the way the author presented the storyline. It was presented by way of a diary, letters, dreams, and live action. All while going back and forth in timelines, yet it was not confusing! Brilliant!
There's the wonderfully
The main plot centers around a puzzle, A God Puzzle. Maybe some puzzles need to be left unsolved! Immortality?
The plot and world building is also terrific! The book reminds me of a supernatural, science fiction Dan Brown novel! It's fast paced when it needs to be and slow and terrifying when the need arises. Its a thriller, horror, science fiction, action adventure, with a touch of fantasy and romance. It's a complex story. The kind you can really sink your teeth and brain into! The ending has a special twist I didn't see coming!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing novel! It's one of my favorite books I have read this year.
By Danielle Trussoni
OMG, what a wild ride read this! I loved the way the author presented the storyline. It was presented by way of a diary, letters, dreams, and live action. All while going back and forth in timelines, yet it was not confusing! Brilliant!
There's the wonderfully
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crafted characters too. A girl that has seen too much that can't be real and in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Also, a puzzle master that sees things different than the average human. All of the other characters here are well developed too!The main plot centers around a puzzle, A God Puzzle. Maybe some puzzles need to be left unsolved! Immortality?
The plot and world building is also terrific! The book reminds me of a supernatural, science fiction Dan Brown novel! It's fast paced when it needs to be and slow and terrifying when the need arises. Its a thriller, horror, science fiction, action adventure, with a touch of fantasy and romance. It's a complex story. The kind you can really sink your teeth and brain into! The ending has a special twist I didn't see coming!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing novel! It's one of my favorite books I have read this year.
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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie
From high school football star to puzzle master. Mike Brink’s life has been quite the journey. One minute he was wondering how many football scholarships he’d have to choose from and the next - after a traumatic brain injury - seeing and feeling everything in a new, strange and often
Well, once he meets Jess Price stress becomes a constant. His quiet puzzle-creating life becomes full of non-stop action, danger, letters, journals, transcriptions, ancient writings, symbols, puzzles and priceless collectible dolls that may be key to solving the puzzle. He spends time inside the prison where Jess is an inmate, at the home of a (probably) mad scientist where the murder Jess was convicted of took place, with academics, religious scholars, doctors, the prison psychiatrist. And he doesn’t know who to trust, what the puzzles he encounters mean, if he’ll survive this race against time.
The Puzzle Master is complex, lightning-fast paced, jumping through different points in time, different places around the world, different pieces of religious history and incorporating multiple points of view. Don’t get bogged down in the details – this story is incredibly complicated – but just hop on and enjoy the ride. Mike Brink is likable, a guy who used to be average except for his football skills and who has now been dumped into a world he barely understands but something inside, something almost obsessive, is pushing him on. The story is riveting, the characters are fascinating, and the ending has a nice twist.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Group for providing an advanced copy of The Puzzle Master via NetGalley for my enjoyment and honest review. Danielle Trussoni is an author whose work I will read more of. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
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frightening way. He now has something called acquired savant syndrome, a rare medical condition in which a normal person acquires extraordinary cognitive abilities after a traumatic brain injury. At first he thought he was going crazy, but he’s adjusted to this new life. However, he now finds it difficult to connect with people, is somewhat a loner with his puzzles, avoiding stress.Well, once he meets Jess Price stress becomes a constant. His quiet puzzle-creating life becomes full of non-stop action, danger, letters, journals, transcriptions, ancient writings, symbols, puzzles and priceless collectible dolls that may be key to solving the puzzle. He spends time inside the prison where Jess is an inmate, at the home of a (probably) mad scientist where the murder Jess was convicted of took place, with academics, religious scholars, doctors, the prison psychiatrist. And he doesn’t know who to trust, what the puzzles he encounters mean, if he’ll survive this race against time.
The Puzzle Master is complex, lightning-fast paced, jumping through different points in time, different places around the world, different pieces of religious history and incorporating multiple points of view. Don’t get bogged down in the details – this story is incredibly complicated – but just hop on and enjoy the ride. Mike Brink is likable, a guy who used to be average except for his football skills and who has now been dumped into a world he barely understands but something inside, something almost obsessive, is pushing him on. The story is riveting, the characters are fascinating, and the ending has a nice twist.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Group for providing an advanced copy of The Puzzle Master via NetGalley for my enjoyment and honest review. Danielle Trussoni is an author whose work I will read more of. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member Dokfintong
Really really awful. Mike Brink has acquired savant syndrome of a sort that allows him to see patterns in data and forms. He went to MIT as a math major. Then he was a spy. He goofed up and now designs puzzles. Mike is summoned to a prison by an aphasic inmate who, upon meeting him, starts to
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com
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speak. They become psychically linked. There is an evil prison guard who is part of a secret society. The prison shrink died in a car accident. The inmate has a magic porcelain doll. Murdered people have strange markings sliced into their skins. The procession of nonsense goes on.I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com
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LibraryThing member fredreeca
Mike Brink received a head injury in high school. It changed his life drastically. He acquired a rare condition called savant syndrome. He now has a weird super power. He can solve any puzzle in seconds. This has left him strangely isolated from people. So, when he is called to a prison to meet a
I love how this author weaves in religious or historical mysticism in her books and this one is one of her bests. Still not as good as Angelology, in my opinion, but is pretty dang close.
This is a fascinating tale with a unique race for time. I swear, I love a book which has me reading faster and faster to help the main character. And this book leads the reader on a fast paced chase with dire consequences. And an ending you won’t see coming!
Need a unique mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for an honest review.
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famous murderer, he is perplexed. Little does he know this will draw him into an ancient mystery with a maze of clues and his life at stake.I love how this author weaves in religious or historical mysticism in her books and this one is one of her bests. Still not as good as Angelology, in my opinion, but is pretty dang close.
This is a fascinating tale with a unique race for time. I swear, I love a book which has me reading faster and faster to help the main character. And this book leads the reader on a fast paced chase with dire consequences. And an ending you won’t see coming!
Need a unique mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Andy5185
Super suspenseful, twisty and entertaining. Prepare for creepy porcelain dolls, intriguing puzzles, Jewish mysticism, some steamy romance and characters whose motives are consistently questionable.
LibraryThing member dwcofer
Without a doubt, this is the best book I have read this year. The Puzzle Master is a mystery, a thriller, and a puzzle full of twists, turns, and an unpredictable plot.
The book has short chapters, usually five to six pages each, which I love. Almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, drawing the
The story follows Mike Brink, who after a football related brain injury, has a photographic memory, and an uncanny ability to solve even the most difficult puzzles with ease. In fact, he is a puzzle constructor. Mike is drawn into a mystery involving an ancient porcelain figurine, the puzzle it contains, and Jess Price, a woman serving time in prison, who has not spoken since her arrest. The figurine and its related powers is the source of many deaths and almost costs Mike and those around him their lives. At the heart of the novel is the ultimate puzzle, the God puzzle, and it involves powerful forces at work in their lives. Mike, Jess, and their accomplices are in a race against time to solve the mystery.
The ending is quite satisfying and is left open to a sequel, which the author stated in a recent interview she is writing and will be published in 2024. I cannot wait to read it. My only issue with the book is the character’s conclusion that God is multi-gendered, both male and female. But, this is a work of fiction, so some poetic license is granted for this conclusion.
I highly recommend this book, even if you are not into thrillers or puzzles. It is a great read you will not soon forget.
The book has short chapters, usually five to six pages each, which I love. Almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, drawing the
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reader to the next chapter with irresistible force. The narrative and author’s voice flowed like water down a river, making the prose easy to read. The illustrations in the book of various puzzles are beautifully done and an asset to the reader to fully understand the puzzles the characters are attempting to solve. The book is extremely well researched by the author, who provides many details surrounding the puzzles, especially the God puzzle, of which is central to the novel.The story follows Mike Brink, who after a football related brain injury, has a photographic memory, and an uncanny ability to solve even the most difficult puzzles with ease. In fact, he is a puzzle constructor. Mike is drawn into a mystery involving an ancient porcelain figurine, the puzzle it contains, and Jess Price, a woman serving time in prison, who has not spoken since her arrest. The figurine and its related powers is the source of many deaths and almost costs Mike and those around him their lives. At the heart of the novel is the ultimate puzzle, the God puzzle, and it involves powerful forces at work in their lives. Mike, Jess, and their accomplices are in a race against time to solve the mystery.
The ending is quite satisfying and is left open to a sequel, which the author stated in a recent interview she is writing and will be published in 2024. I cannot wait to read it. My only issue with the book is the character’s conclusion that God is multi-gendered, both male and female. But, this is a work of fiction, so some poetic license is granted for this conclusion.
I highly recommend this book, even if you are not into thrillers or puzzles. It is a great read you will not soon forget.
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LibraryThing member waldhaus1
A clever fantasy about trying to solve a puzzle about the nature of God. It involves elaborate dolls acting as ‘golems’. The idea of quantum computers shows up as well.
LibraryThing member rmarcin
I was intrigued by the mystery and the puzzle element to this book, as well as the relationship between the two main characters, Michael Brink and Jess Price. However, the story got very strange as it dove into the mad dreams of a man who had odd ideas, and would condone violent acts as part of his
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obsession. That part was just too strange for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
I freely admit I didn't understand most of the puzzles and math addressed in this book, but fortunately, I didn't need to take a test, and the information was really necessary in order to enjoy the story.
Mike Brink was injured in a high school football accident which caused a very rare condition
It's a fascinating story in the mode of Dan Brown that leads the reader on a journey through computers, the Kabbalah, porcelain collector dolls, and other esoteric paths that merge into a complex but intricate and satisfying story. I really liked the protagonist and I hope to read more books about him.
Mike Brink was injured in a high school football accident which caused a very rare condition
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called acquired savant syndrome. He can solve puzzles and, after a stint at MIT, now has a lucrative career as a puzzle designer. He's called in to speak to a woman convicted of a gruesome murder who has a mysterious puzzle to solve.It's a fascinating story in the mode of Dan Brown that leads the reader on a journey through computers, the Kabbalah, porcelain collector dolls, and other esoteric paths that merge into a complex but intricate and satisfying story. I really liked the protagonist and I hope to read more books about him.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
It didn’t need to be this complicated. It didn’t require the intense detail or the logarithmic exploration. It was a interesting, solid, fast moving mystery-thriller without all the genius speak. “That is the nature of the puzzle: to offer pain and pleasure by turns.” I was in way over my
I like stories with damaged characters and this one has it. I enjoy a well done conspiracy with its myriad webs and tangles. Employing the past and present can be a successful writing tactic if the writer pays careful attention to detail. The Puzzle Master has all this and yet while is channels a little of Dan Brown and a smidgeon of Helene Wecker in her book “The Golem and the Jinni” it falls short of satisfying. There were too many moving parts, too much esoterica, mixed in with too many others things like religious mysticism and arcane references. It mostly kept my attention and much of the books was a serious page turner but the places where I got bogged down stole the momentum. I felt my time was well spent but wished that Trussoni hadn’t felt the need to throw in the kitchen sink.
I am rounding up for a very inventive plot although at times jumbled and abused. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a copy.
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head except for the human element which felt about right. I like stories with damaged characters and this one has it. I enjoy a well done conspiracy with its myriad webs and tangles. Employing the past and present can be a successful writing tactic if the writer pays careful attention to detail. The Puzzle Master has all this and yet while is channels a little of Dan Brown and a smidgeon of Helene Wecker in her book “The Golem and the Jinni” it falls short of satisfying. There were too many moving parts, too much esoterica, mixed in with too many others things like religious mysticism and arcane references. It mostly kept my attention and much of the books was a serious page turner but the places where I got bogged down stole the momentum. I felt my time was well spent but wished that Trussoni hadn’t felt the need to throw in the kitchen sink.
I am rounding up for a very inventive plot although at times jumbled and abused. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a copy.
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LibraryThing member hairball
Read for the puzzles. Kept wanting to put it down, but I finished it. Regret that this is my first book of the year (although I started on 12/30). What a dumpster fire. Whatever happened to line editing?
LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I enjoyed this one! I love a good puzzle as much as the next guy, but Mike Brink is a savant in the realm of puzzles, and this story is a doozy of one. Quite a few things are going on so the reader needs to pay close attention to keep track of all the threads in this story. I liked the various
Mike Brink’s life changed on a football field when a brain injury left him with acquired savant syndrome. He loves puzzles and can’t resist the one involving a woman serving time for murder. The mystery at the center of this story is pretty complex and takes more than one unexpected turn. Mike was a great character, and I couldn’t wait to see him figure out what was happening.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Edoardo Ballerini did a wonderful job with the story. I believe that this may have been the first time that I have listened to this narrator’s work and I must say that I was impressed. He did a great job of bringing Mike Brink and the rest of the characters in this story to life. I found his voice to be very pleasant and had no problems listening to this audiobook for hours at a time. I am certain that his performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was completely entertained by this intelligent and action-packed story that left me questioning everything at times. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
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twists and turns worked into the plot that kept me guessing and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would come together before this story drew to a close.Mike Brink’s life changed on a football field when a brain injury left him with acquired savant syndrome. He loves puzzles and can’t resist the one involving a woman serving time for murder. The mystery at the center of this story is pretty complex and takes more than one unexpected turn. Mike was a great character, and I couldn’t wait to see him figure out what was happening.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Edoardo Ballerini did a wonderful job with the story. I believe that this may have been the first time that I have listened to this narrator’s work and I must say that I was impressed. He did a great job of bringing Mike Brink and the rest of the characters in this story to life. I found his voice to be very pleasant and had no problems listening to this audiobook for hours at a time. I am certain that his performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was completely entertained by this intelligent and action-packed story that left me questioning everything at times. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
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LibraryThing member skraft001
Really poorly written.
Language
ISBN
9780593743867