The Connection Game is a remarkable novel that defies expectations and leaves a lasting impression. Benny Basilworth, with his exceptional intellect, takes readers on a journey filled with unexpected connections and startling conclusions. The story effortlessly blends humor, wisdom, and a touch of madness to create a truly unique reading experience. As Benny and his family face destitution, their basement apartment becomes the backdrop for Benny's remarkable insights that have the power to change lives and challenge the world as we know it. With its surprising twists and thought-provoking themes, The Connection Game is a book that lingers in your mind long after the final page. Prepare to be captivated by this extraordinary tale of intellect, resilience, and the power of unconventional thinking.

Benny the protagonist is a smart, intelligent person who I think is a little too smart for his own good. It all starts with a television game show called The Connection Game which Benny is a master at. It then ends up with Benny and his family destitute and living in a undesirable state. While I found the plot to be confusing, it is definitely out there and unique but for some reason I was hypnotized and I believe it is because of the different writing style. It was a breath of fresh air. The characters are superbly strange but that is also what me keep reading because we are all different and I loved that they weren't your typical personalities. I think the ending summed up beautifully what was a conflicting read but the conclusion explained it all.

I’m slow to post this review. The Connection Game is a book that requires mental processing.

The author created a fantastic tale of mental illness, manipulation, conspiracies, and love. Benny and Bell (readers of the story earn the right to call her Bell) are polar opposites that find love in the midst of the craziness of life. When their perfect world is shattered and all they have are themselves and their children, chaos reigns amongst the data-fueled world.

This story is important for many reasons, but mostly to prove the resilience of family. If you enjoy conspiracy theory fiction, and the intricacies of brilliant brains subjected to incredible challenges, you will adore this book.

The story, while many times confusing, is pulled together in the final chapters. This is what makes it a fantastic tale. Once you reach the end, you can reflect and process on all you have read. The pieces come together with a relief like the final click in solving a Rubik’s Cube. You will probably experience several of those “How did I not put that together?” moments that define a well-written, engaging, psychological thriller

I recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a mind-challenging tale of humanity vs data, normal vs abnormal, creative writing, suspense, and most important, the power of family.

Thank you to the author, The Story Plant and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb on this book is more than a bit misleading. I was expecting at least some humor, but found the characters dour, bitter and (understandably) beaten down by their circumstances and the story a misery. Benny, the protagonist who makes the connections of the title is - probably - a brilliant intellect, but a horrible person to his wife and children. The writing is clunky and the dialogue is mired in strange expressions, e.g. consistenly using"honey", instead of first names. The premise behind the whole thing: a fantasy? Or mental illness? Either way, I was glad to be done with it and would not recommend.

The latest from S.S. Turner will be released on March 21st of 2023. The Story Plant provided an early galley for review.

Last year, I read and reviewed Turner's Secrets of a River Swimmer. I found the author's approach to storytelling different and intriguing. On this new book, the story is a bit more straightforward however it does of some intriguing elements of its own. Rather than growth from success, the reader sees how characters are impacted and grow after going through a terrible hardship. It does not focus as much on the hardship, which might make for a depressing read, but instead focuses on the rising up from the pit.

Though Benny is the one with the brilliant mind who sees all of these connections, the major spotlight of the tale is on Belinda (Bell), his wife. She is the one who narrates the story, and it is through her, the "outsider" of her family dynamic, that much of the plot is propelled. She is the one who is trying to hold everyone together when things are falling apart, and then she is the one who is trying to make sense of the connections of the passersby and is putting herself into possibly harrowing situations.

The topic of extreme paranoia also comes into play in this narrative. It becomes much more evident as the story progresses. At times there were even a couple spots where I was wondering what was going on and whether the connections that Benny was seeing emerge were actually valid or not. Still, I was very interested in continuing to see how things would ultimately play out, especially when the pace of the plot got frantic. I encourage readers to stick with it as well.

"The Connection Game" wraps a mystery around a pivotal character who is portrayed as such a genius that the narrator (as well as the readers) will never be able to keep up with his thought process. Centering around a mystery started by Benny's participation in a intellectual game show, the novel leaps from middle class living to prosperous to life in a small apartment paid for by the government where the only window is a small square on the sidewalk, showcasing feet walking by and patterns to be found.
Although memorable, the novel's writing is clunky and characters annoying. Benny is portrayed as a real catch fr the narrator, someone great to be married to, but is shown to be selfish, cocky, and so wrapped up in his intellect that he is at times neglectful to his own family.
It's a quick read with writing that sounds a bit choppy, but it's a memorial novel that portrays strange scenes to intrigue readers.

Benny is a genius at seeing connections in data points. After he wins big on a game show, the Connection Game, his fortune takes a bad turn after identity theft and job loss, leaving him and his family in a tiny underground apartment with a single window to the street. Benny believes he starts to see patterns out the window and eventually his family get sucked into his potential delusion. This was weird. The story itself was very unusual but not bad. The writing felt stilted and kind of forced though. I didn't really like it overall. 2 stars.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I found the first half of the book quite compelling. The short chapters and matter-of-fact narration pulled me right in. It is a very inventive plot and I found it very clever. I didn't know where it would go - if it was about a real conspiracy or a case of paranoia and I read the book in a matter of hours to find out.
However, the dialogue is very awkward and stilted and I found that pulls you out of the story. Also, the lead-up to the climax of the book was very repetitive and I questioned whether I cared or not about the ending. I did care in the end but it either could have been tighter or something more added to the last half. Lastly, I'm sure it's not possible but this book really needs a different cover. It doesn't draw people in and seems quite amateurish.
Thank you to #netgalley and #thestoryplant for the opportunity to read The Connection Game in exchange for an honest review.