87000

Really poorly written. ( )

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 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. ( )

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?

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 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. ( )