The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers

 by Samuel Burr

The Fellowship of Puzzle makers by Samuel Burr was published on 9th May 2024 by Orion. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the tour.

Synopsis

Clayton Stumper has grown old before he’s grown up. Abandoned at birth in a commune of puzzlemakers, he must follow a series of clues to discover his secret past. But first he must find his place in the outside world. Clayton Stumper is an enigma... He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution. When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future. Yet 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 will change everything... THE FELLOWSHIP OF PUZZLEMAKERS is storytelling at its finest and at its heart, it’s a mystery about a young man finding his place in the world. It’s a celebration of the wisdom of age and the friendships that can exist between the old and young. Sometimes finding your place in the world is the biggest puzzle of all…

My Review

 I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. The concept of the storyline is new and intriguing and keeps you engrossed throughout. I spent many minutes also trying to work out the various puzzles that present themselves at intervals throughout the book , though more often than not I had to try and work them out after I knew the solution.

This is a clever idea for a storyline and I, for one, did not guess the final piece of the puzzle in Clay’s quest to discover his parentage which is what I really like in a good book 

I cannot actually say much more about the book without giving too much away, and I have no intention of spoiling this innovative idea for a story as it is one you need to discover and experience for yourselves. 

So without further ado I will just say “Clear a few hours of your time, find somewhere quiet where you will be undisturbed and enjoy this lovely story of love and secrets “

About the Author

Samuel Burr studied at Westminster Film School and is now a freelance TV executive, developing and producing popular-factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated SECRET LIFE OF 4 YEAR OLDS. A documentary he shot inside a retirement village when he was eighteen years old launched his career in television and inspired his debut novel, THE FELLOWSHIP OF PUZZLEMAKERS, which was acquired by Orion Fiction in a highly competitive eight-way auction. Samuel’s writing was shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. 

In his spare time, he volunteers for elderly charities Age UK and Re-Engage. He lives in London with his partner Tom and their cat Muriel. He has always been old at heart.

Website: www.samuelburr.com 

Instagram: @samuelburr 

Twitter: @samuelburr

 Facebook: samuelburr2