I was so delighted to hear that there would be a sequel to the Puzzle Master, which was one of my favorite reads of 2023. In this book, Mike Brink has tried to move on from his experience with the God Puzzle and get back to his life - creating puzzles and taking care of his dog, Connie. When a mysterious woman appears on his doorstep with an invitation from the Emperor of Japan to solve an impossible puzzle box, he feels incapable of saying no. From there, he finds himself on a breakneck journey across Japan to solve a 150-year-old puzzle that has left a trail of bodies in its wake.

We are introduced to a few new characters, friends and foes, as well as brought back to some familiar faces from the previous book. I wouldn't say it's essential to read the Puzzle Master before picking up this book, but there is a lot of background that would be easier to understand by starting from the beginning. The themes surrounding artificial intelligence felt especially poignant in this moment in time give how quickly AI has become a part of our daily online existence in the past year. This book made me want to turn off my phone and throw it away!

It's so obvious how much research and care goes into Danielle Trussoni's books. As enjoyable as the thriller elements of this book were I equally enjoyed learning about the Japanese setting, history, and culture that are deeply threaded through the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I enjoy suspenseful reads without a lot of dark crime and gore, so Trussoni's Mike Brink series fits that bill. In the first novel of the series, we're introduced to Mike Brink, who, through a traumatic brain injury, developed an off-the-charts skill in seeing patterns immediately and solving puzzles.

In The Puzzle Box, Brink is roped into another twisty mystery involving his digital nemesis, Jameson Sedge. He is invited to try to solve The Dragon Box, a mechanical puzzle box that has been shrouded in rumor and mystery for decades. Anyone who has attempted to solve the puzzle has not lived to tell about the experience. The Japanese Imperial Family is not the only group that wants what the puzzle box leads to. A sinister group is waiting for Mike Brink to bring them another tool in their quest for digital domination.

I found the book entertaining and enjoyed following the puzzle trail. It was creative, and the fleshed-out characters added to the enjoyment. It's a great escape read!

I recently read The Puzzle Master so I was excited to get my hands on the second installment of this series, The Puzzle Box. I’ll start by saying that you can absolutely read this as a standalone as many important details are brought back up and explained BUT of course, you should read them both. Mike Brink is such an amazing character and I loved seeing his growth from the first book. I’m absolutely amazed with the author’s writing style and I’m so impressed with the research that must’ve been done to write this. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

I didn't know that this was the 2nd in a series when I picked it up, but I didn't feel lost while getting into Mike Brink's world.

This was an easy, breezy type of read that didn't pretend to be anything more than what it was - a popcorn thriller with a fun premise. I didn't think too hard about the plot (or plotholes) and I had a toof time reading this book - a solid action thriller to end my summer.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️
THE PUZZLE BOX
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery
📖 336 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 📦🐉🇯🇵🧩☠️🗡️🏯👑🐕🤫
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 10/8/2024

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ puzzles & origami
◽️ danger
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ SQUID GAMES

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

Thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted copy! @thrillerbookloversthepulse is loving this one!

THE PUZZLE BOX is a thrilling blend of puzzles, codes, & origami that will captivate readers who enjoy using their minds to unravel intricate challenges. From the very first page, the story pulls you into a world of danger & adventure, where each clue is more complex than the last. The author does an excellent job of maintaining tension & keeping the reader engaged through clever twists & unexpected surprises. There is even some romance sprinkled in.

The writing is sharp & well-researched, particularly in its attention to detail about the puzzles & codes, making each moment feel carefully crafted. The backdrop of Japan adds a rich layer to the narrative, offering fascinating insights into its culture.

Though this is the second book in a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. The plot is self-contained, & you don't need to have read the first book to appreciate the story. It’s a well-executed mystery!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: In the Year of the Wood Dragon, puzzle master Mike Brink is invited to Tokyo to solve the mysterious Dragon Box. The box holds a priceless Imperial secret, locked away by Emperor Meiji during a time of great upheaval. For centuries, no one has succeeded in opening the box, which is filled with deadly traps & complex puzzles. Brink faces fierce competition from 2 sisters of a samurai lineage who seek the treasure for themselves. His quest takes him on a thrilling journey across Japan, uncovering Meiji’s hidden secret & the full extent of his own unique abilities.

Brink was injured in an accident that left him with acquired savant syndrome. In this book he is invited to solve a puzzle box by the Japanese emperor. As this is book two of the series, you are introduced to several characters, but it felt like you didn't necessarily get all of their background. Sakura felt like the only character where we got to know her a bit better and I would have liked a better idea of who Brink was an how he sustained his injury, his various Doctor friends, who sounded like they were very interesting, and more about Rachel. This may be revealed more in book one. This was a fast paced adventure novel, reminiscent of fiction titles one might pick up in an airport bookstore. While it was captivating and kept my attention with the various puzzles, I felt that sometimes it missed opportunities at character depth. Brink's dog, Conundrum, was wonderful!

Mike Brink has been invited by a messenger named Sakura, to Japan to open the mysterious nineteenth century Dragon Box. The Imperial family holds a contest to open the box every twelve years. However, the catch is that no one has been able to open it since its construction and those who have attempted to have all died trying. It’s creator was a sadistic man and his intention was to destroy anyone who tried to open the box. However, as a result of a brain injury, Mike developed savant syndrome and has a special ability to solve puzzles. He is drawn to this task and despite the warnings, he feels that he has no choice. He needs to be the next to attempt to open the box, even if it kills him.

This story takes you on an treasure hunt and is full of twists and turns along the way. The puzzle itself takes you on an adventure, as is filled with suspenseful moments as Mike attempts to solve the various puzzles that open this dangerous box. I loved that pictures of the actual puzzles that Mike needed to solve were shown throughout the book. There is also an added element of suspense once you realize that the members of the Imperial family aren’t the only ones who want the box opened, and it’s a race against time to see if Mike can succeed in opening the box and escape its dangers as well as those of his enemy, Jameson Sedge. This book is full of nail-biting moments that take you on an edge of your seat journey through parts of Japan, as Mike and his allies team up to solve the mysteries of the puzzle box!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆: 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 • 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 • 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽 • 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 • 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲 • 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 & 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 • 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 • 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 • 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

The writing was superb and well researched! I will be reading the first book in this series asap. I don’t usually read books out of order but here we are. 🧐🤓

I am convinced that Danielle Trussoni is a literal genius. The way she weaves together complex puzzles into a fabulous storyline is beyond me, but I'm here for it! Mike Brink is back and this time takes us on an adventure to Japan. I absolutely love Japan and loved the setting for this! You can tell that the author is extremely knowledgeable and puts a lot of time into research. Like The Puzzle Master, this one is hard to categorize into one type of genre. It incorporates historical fiction- based on real past events, religion, suspense, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, betrayal, and romance. All of these elements combined makes for one stellar read! I highly recommend this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THE PUZZLE BOX, the follow up thriller to THE PUZZLE MASTER by Danielle Trussoni, is an international romp in the world of puzzle enthusiasts that collides with female samurai and the world of technological surveillance. Mike Brink, the world’s greatest puzzle master, has set out to solve the most fabled puzzle box in the world, the Dragon Box. It is also the most dangerous. Most have never seen it. No one has ever solved it. Other puzzle masters have lost fingers trying. More than one has died. No one knows what is in it, only that it is a precious treasure.
As Mike races across Japan, from Imperial compounds to historical temples, dark forces gather, intent on stealing the treasure, posing just as much of a threat to Mike as the lethal Dragon Box. Crafted as beautifully and intricately as a puzzle box, this thriller had me locked in tight from the beginning, heart-pounding with each twist and turn of the puzzle, until the jaw-dropping conclusion.
While this is part of a series, the book works as a standalone as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book.

“The Puzzle Box” is a rare treat of a book by master storyteller Danielle Trussoni! Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC. I will recommend this book to everyone who loves a good mystery with a touch of sci fi. This is the second Mike Brink novel, who is a brilliant puzzle genius, with some original characters from the first book playing a major role. . This time, the setting is in Japan. Think Shogun!

Mike is tasked by the Emperor of Japan to solve a deadly puzzle called “The Dragon Box” that leads to a priceless treasure. . Others have died trying to open the box and a cast of characters have their own agenda trying to stop Mike. Two sisters descended from a Samurai line are on either side of Mike’s quest. This book has a bit of a Da Vinci Code feel! I loved the book and hope the author writes another story with Mike Brink.

This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed the mystery and the action throughout the novel. I didn't read the first in the series but this could be read as a stand-a-lone. Of you like puzzles and are up for a good adventure this book is perfect for you..

Many thanks to the author, Random House, and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

"The Puzzle Box" is the second installment in the Puzzle series, and I have yet to read the first book, "The Puzzle Master". Although both books can be read independently, I still look forward to reading the first book. In this story, you'll learn about some of the background of Mike Brink.

This book was incredibly engaging and exciting to read; I particularly liked the scattered puzzle graphics that added a thrilling element! A sign of a great book is when it leads you down various research paths while you read; I found myself frequently stopping to delve into Japanese history, legends, and stories about Savant Syndrome. Although this is the second book in a duology, it functions superbly as a standalone piece.

If you have a love for puzzles, folklore, and mysteries, you will like this book.

Thank you Danielle Trussoni for my e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni is an incredible adventure thrilling that captivated me from page 1. The story follows Mike Brink, a talented puzzle solver who obtained his ability after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Mike works with Sakura, an equally talented women with a complex past to solve the Dragon Box - a mysterious and deadly puzzle connected to the Japanese Imperial family.

I literally could not put this down and I finished it in a matter of hours. The Japanese setting and rich cultural connections were perfect, and the characters were interesting and complex, with clear and consistent motivations throughout the story. I find that thrillers can sometimes struggle to find the balance between action and storyline, but this book managed it beautiful. If you grew up loving Dan Brown, this is the perfect book to segue into. I will personally be moving straight to the next book by the author and will be buying a physical copy as soon as possible!

The book is brilliant, emotional and touching. Set in Japan. I loved the characters back stories. And the book completely gripped me from page one. The mystery of the legendary Dragon Box made me curious and kept me on the edge. I am deeply touched by the Mike’s character as well as Sakura too. I loved how the author has explained Mike as a character. I loved the message at the end of the book and how the author wrapped it up. So the book is about imperial treasure, two sisters and adventure filled with both thrill and perils ahead. Author has not only unveiled the mystery but also encapsulated the characters true facade and shown us who they truly were.

Many Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Puzzle Box By Danielle Trussoni
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

The Puzzle Box is one of the most intelligent thrillers I've ever read! This book was a beautiful melding of two genres, thriller and historical fiction, and it captivated my interest with its rich Japanese culture and intricately detailed game of cat and mouse.

From cover to cover, this thriller was unlike any other I'd read before. The book was filled with mysterious puzzle-solving and riddles to pique the interest of the most analytical of readers. The depth of the Japanese history detailed in these pages created a story steeped in culture, and this book felt, at times, like a magical adventure of a thriller spanning centuries.

The narrative of the storyline was carefully woven and strung together, leading the reader in a cultural game of hide-and-seek that was both exciting and uniquely intriguing. I really enjoyed the characters and learning about their individual vulnerabilities, as well as the history that brought them to this current place. And while this book is listed as a sequel to The Puzzle Master, I read this one as a stand-alone and didn't feel like I missed anything, so I would say you can read it without reading the first book (though you will probably want to go back and read the first book after you finish this one!).

If you enjoy crossword puzzles, sudoku, logic puzzles, or other word games -- you will absolutely love this book! If you enjoy reading historical fiction, this thriller will really appeal to you too! And if you enjoy the cat-and-mouse style of thriller, I think this book is for you too!

I want to say a big thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Danielle Trussoni for inviting me to be a part of this book tour. And thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Don't miss this one when it comes out on October 8th!

#ThePuzzleBox #DanielleTrussoni #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrillerbookloversthepulse #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs

The Imperial family of Japan is in possession of the legendary Dragon Box. A box that only two people know how to open, both of whom are now dead. Mike Brink has been invited to Tokoyo to get a chance at trying to solve and open the Dragon Box. A feat that hasn't been able to be accomplished in 150 years and which has led to the death of anyone who has tried to open it. As Brink races across Japan to beat the clock and open the box, he is also trying to avoid being caught by his foe Jameson Sedge.

The Puzzle Box is such a unique, fun book to read. I would love to have the ingenius mind of Mike Brink. This book is filled with riddles and puzzles you can interactively solve as you read if you choose. Danielle Trussoni does an amazing job building up the tension on how dangerous a task of opening the Dragon Box is going to be for Brink. Once Brink actually sat in front of the box to open it, I was literally on pins and needles. Each move he made to open the box, I felt my pulse racing. Once the box was open, this was where the real adventure of the story actually began. I'm not going to say anymore because I don't want to give anything else away about the plot because this one is just so good!! I loved every minute of it. The twists, turns, puzzles, and actions were just incredible. I was pulled into the world and mind of Mike Brink and couldn't stop reading. If you love books where it takes brains and intellect to help you escape from perilous situations, then add this to your tbr.

This book is action packed from beginning to end with puzzles, danger and thrills.
We are solving this puzzle over at @thrillerbookloversthepulse.
Mike, a puzzle master, is invited to try and solve the “Dragon Puzzle Box” in Japan. It’s a mysterious puzzle from the 1800’s that holds an ancient secret. Every 12 years someone is invited to try and solve it but no one has survived.
Mike is determined to solve the puzzle or die trying.
If you love puzzles, tension and mystery you’ll definitely want to check out The Puzzle Box.

The Puzzle Box is a mystery centred around a mysterious 19th century Japanese puzzle box. Mike Brink is a renowned puzzler and is able to figure out the most difficult puzzles in record time. He is invited by the Japanese Imperial family to crack the secret of the Dragon Box. He travels to Japan along with his friend Rachel and dog Conundrum, whereupon they are quickly drawn into intrigue and adventure. I really thought this book would be right up my alley but I wasn't as drawn in as I thought I would be but I don't know if it is because I didn't realize that there is a first book in the series. It is a solid, Dan-Brown-esque read that will keep you entertained.

Thank you NetGalley for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Fans of: The Da Vinci Code, Origin
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: 🔪 Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓

Synopsis: In this sequel to 2023’s The Puzzle Master, Mike Brink—HS-QB-turned-puzzle savant by a traumatic brain injury—returns to solve another impossible puzzle: open a deadly antique box said to contain an Imperial secret. His breakneck quest across Japan will illuminate the nature of his own gift.

Thoughts: The Puzzle Master was one of my top 2023 reads, and there’s lots to rave about in the sequel. Its primer on Japan’s religious and imperial history transported me to a new place and time. I also appreciated how the story functions on 2 levels. It is the quest to solve an intriguing puzzle. But it is also about Mike’s internal struggle: the compulsion to solve harder and harder puzzles—even if it puts him in mortal danger—chasing the same high as risk junkies. It makes Mike—a once-in-a-generation genius capable of extraordinary mental feats—more relatable. While the pursuit of the puzzle’s solution is its own compelling story, the author cleverly builds on Book 1’s cliff hanger, allowing readers to wonder how the 2 connect until well into the narrative. I did have one nit. Obviously, its paranormal futurism requires suspension of disbelief, but I a story should still follow its own internal logic. There are places where “rules” are established and later disregarded in service to story. Likewise, weather is often ignored, even when the characters are soaked. That being said, the book definitely shares DNA with The Da Vinci Code, so if you like thrillers built on ciphers and puzzles, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy The Puzzle Box.

Thank you to Random House & NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What’s your favorite puzzle-based novel?

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