What a wild ride!!! I feel like I don’t want to say too much because everyone needs to experience it for themselves. Danielle Trussoni is breaking all the rules with this book. Think - DaVinci Code + Silent Patient. I found myself super engrossed in this story that spans multiple genres as well as multiple decades within the story. The knowledge and research that Danielle did for this book is astounding and it’s felt in every page. The dedication to the characters and story is brilliant.

This book was a fast moving thriller with big ideas, somewhat like the Da Vinci code with the action and scope of huge ideas (and a bit of suspension of disbelief). I really liked the explorations of puzzles, and I loved how Mike Brinke's mind worked. And I liked the math and science worked into the plot.

There also is a supernatural/horror episode. And face it, even if nothing happened, a room full of porcelain dolls is creepy! The parts in Prague with the dollmaker and the rabbi gave the story a neat historical connection.

Danielle Trussoni's latest supernatural literary thriller draws on familiar religious themes as her earlier books, and excels with how she brings puzzles believably into the mystery. While I loved how the puzzles were expertly woven into the story, the main characters didn't come fully alive for me as much as I'd hoped. But the depth of the research shows through, and elevates the plot rather than slowing it down, making this a compelling read.

This book was truly a wild ride - I didn’t quite know what to expect with a book about a man with Acquired Savant Syndrome who embarks on solving a puzzle to save another human. Mike Brink is a very interesting and likeable character. This book twists and turns in unexpected ways and her thorough research into some religion and mysticism. I enjoyed this book quite a bit - although there were many times I felt like the book had too much in it.

A dizzying, genre-hopping puzzle of a thriller. I was surprised and delighted with each shift of the story, captivated by the mix of horror, sci-fi, and conspiracy fiction. A must read for fans of Dan Brown.

I finished The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni a few days ago but I needed time to ruminate and get my thoughts together. If you read any book this year, it should be this one. It is truly special and magical. The deep research is evident in every word, as is a true love for puzzles. What kept me reading compulsively was the mix of genres. There is so many different layers and each time a new one was revealed, I was amazed. There were a few parts that I read more than once and then sat back and thought, Ms. Trussoni has an incredible brain. I’ve never read anything like this before and not to be too forward but I’m ready for her next book!

3/5. Parts of this book were well researched and composed, while others left the storyline feeling flat or rushed. I agree it’s likely to appeal to folks who liked the Davinci Code, but I would urge readers to slightly temper any lofty expectations.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC.

I'm not gonna lie, this was way over my head. There was too much talk of math, technology and religion that is beyond my comprehension.

I got the basic gist of the story, which is an interesting topic, but overall this book was an effort for me to finish.

The Puzzle Master is a wild blend of many genres: mystery/suspense/thriller/horror. When Mike Brink was younger he suffered a traumatic brain injury. It altered how he saw the world, allowing him to see patterns, solve puzzles. He’s intrigued when he receives a request from a psychiatrist asking him to look at a message from a woman serving a 30 year prison sentence. Intrigue turns to fixation and his search for the truth takes him on an adventure he could never have imagined. I have to admit this one hooked me early and I enjoyed the heck out of the wild ride author Danielle Trussoni took me on. I got a very strong Dan Brown vibe from the book, and I consider that to be a very good thing. If you’re looking for a unique thriller, you should really do yourself a favor and check this one out. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Puzzle Master.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2FRRBP4AXMVFJ/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

The Puzzle Master was a unique, mind-bending read that features Mike Brink, who has Acquired Savant Syndrome and is a genius at solving and creating puzzles. He is summoned to a prison to meet with an inmate who has not spoken since the horrific murder she was convicted of. He is thrown into this dangerous situation and does his best to survive and to figure out what is going on. First of all, Mike Brink, is a fantastic character and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his medical condition. His dog, Connie (short for Conundrum), was a wonderful bonus. Second, the actual puzzles included a really nice visual aspect to the story. Third, the rich details about a wide range of topics, from porcelain to Jewish culture to puzzle creation were well done and some of my favorite portions to read. There were a few locations that were well drawn and really gave the reader a sense of the place—from creepy to awe-inspiring. There were a couple of plot points that were very strange and made me uneasy, but lent itself to a suspenseful read. Over all, this was an unpredictable and fascinating read. I truly look forward to reading more by this author.

This was a very unique book. I often felt like it was a little bit over my head; it takes some brain power to understand everything going on. Mike Brink suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing high school football leading him to develop acquired savant syndrome. It allows him to solve puzzles in an unusual way as his brain 'sees' things differently than the ordinary person. When Mike meets Jess, a woman in prison for murder, he gets pulled into a dangerous puzzle that he obsessively wants to solve.

This book is a thriller, a mystery, and it's also a little bit of science fiction and paranormal. There is a lot going on. It takes a very intellectual author to pull off a book like this. I thought it was very well done with twists that makes you really think about the future of AI and how things in the past can come back to haunt us.

The puzzle master is a very hyped book coming into the summer season and part of the hype is warranted. On a basic level, it is about mike brink, a puzzle master with a tbi which gives him almost supernatural mental abilities. He is called in to help work with a prisoner, Jess price, who is convicted of a murder. Jess isn’t speaking about the crime and everyone hopes mike can crack her open as she is not speaking and only leaving puzzles. In mikes attempt to crack the puzzles, he uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that goes back generations. This book is like a da Vinci code with a touch of the supernatural. It is insanely readable and fast-paced and Mike brink is an interesting and unique protagonist. The plot is unique and creative. The plot can at times be complicated to follow, but it does tie together at the end and hopefully is the start of a fun series.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the tradition of Katherine Neville’s The Eight and many of Dan Brown’s works, Danielle Trussoni’s The Puzzle Master explores ancient text and ways of understanding. Highly recommended.

As a former psychology student and puzzle lover, of course I was interested to read about a character with acquired savant syndrome who can solve any puzzle and becomes entangled with supernatural forces. However, I didn't love the writing and that's something I tend to value over plot. It's written in third person and I had trouble connecting, but others may love it for the intriguing plot.

i was hooked from the begiining, as the idea of a puzzle master intrigued me. I enjoyed following along on Brink’s adventure.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book might have been too big brain for me, I had a hard time following along. I loved Mike’s storyline of becoming a savant after a traumatic brain injury, but the numbers and God Puzzle utterly confused me 😂

3.5 stars

This was an interesting one even if it's not what I was expecting. It was an interesting meld of mystery, thriller, historical fiction, cryptography (of sorts), and mysticism.

I liked Mike Brink's character, and I really enjoyed the parts where his genius was showcased but also found it interesting to learn how challenging it was for him to live a "normal" life. I also liked his relationship with his dog and how they saved each other. I do wish she had had a bigger role in some of the dangerous moments, though!

Where this book sometimes lost me was in the discussions about religion and the Kabbalah. I don't know if the study of the Kabbalah has any connection directly communing with demons and angels, but the religious mystery in this book made me think of Dan Brown's books.

The book was a bit all over the place, and the pacing was uneven. There were moments I was completely engrossed and other places where I had to reread passages because I would lose track of what I was reading.

There were some really good moments where I was completely creeped out (man, that doll!), but then there were moments when Brink was caught by the villains, but suddenly they would be working together (okay not by choice, but still). As I said, a bit uneven. That said, the main villain came off as being rather insane. and that heightened the creep factor for me. I also enjoyed the letters that revealed the original past mystery surrounding the doll. Yikes!

Overall there was enough in this book that kept me reading it and trying to figure out how they would survive. I enjoyed the experience and would be open to reading more books by the author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

O man, this really brought me back to my Dan Brown days. The Puzzle Master is a murder mystery wrapped in a literal puzzle, a puzzle that only a hot guy with a cute dog and a traumatic brain injury that makes him hyper-cognizant of patterns can solve. While a bit cheesy and far-fetched at times, this book is a fast-paced thrill ride that was a lot of fun to read. The ending was a bit predictable/anti-climactic, but I’m still curious to see where Mike Brink’s puzzle solving shenanigans take him next.

A few chapters in, it was exactly as blurbs said - a mix of Silent patient and The Da Vinci code. A puzzle expert meets an inmate who has not corresponded with anyone else and next minute, he is thrust into a high stakes puzzle and people are watching them constantly. This is a thriller that is totally different from others and the God puzzle is the most focussed on this. It takes us to Prague, Paris and Newyork following multiple timelines. This is an ultimate puzzle for Brink and more twists await him in his puzzle solving journey. Overall, it's a complex thriller and takes a bit for the readers to sink in as it involves multiple genres amalgamated into one wild plot-line.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for an eARC copy of The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni.

I was introduced to the book through an email from the publisher inviting me to read and review. The title alone was enough to interest me to dig into what would turn into a thriller that was refreshing to read. Especially when it comes to supernatural and religious toned thrillers. It was also nice to see the North Country of New York represented, so that also had it going for it.

After suffering a traumatic brain injury resulting in a diagnosis of acquired savant syndrome, Mike Brink is known for solving and creating puzzles that others cannot even wrap their heads around. So, when he is reached out to by a psychiatrist from the Ray Brook's women's correctional facility with a puzzle produced by an inmate known as Jess Price, he drives all the way from New York City to solve it. But when it is revealed to him that the puzzle is dangerous and that people are watching, Mike is pulled into a pursuit to solve the puzzle in time.

I loved the incorporation of the letters, journal entries, and transcriptions. BUT, I was not a fan of the multiple point of views (thought this is more personal as I've found very little books that do this well enough to be enjoyed).

This is the first book I've read by Danielle Trussoni and I was glad that I did! Hope to revisit her writing in the future.