I was introduced to the trafficking of bird eggs by the books of Ann Cleeves, as Vera's father also was into the illegal robbing of raptor's nests. Where in Mrs. Cleeves' books the trafficking is more of a backstory to Vera's past, here Belinda Bauer sets the egg snatching and collecting in the spotlight and she does this in the most brilliant way. Told in two timelines, one actual and one in the 1920's, it mainly depicts how greed destroys people's lives, regardless of their income or status.

Both plots are swift and intriguing and I didn't want to put the book down because I wanted to know how it would evolve. But nevertheless it is its characters that absolutely stand out. The tragic life of little Celie, the beautiful but unlikely friendship between Nick and Patrick, the kindness of Robert... they are all lifelike people who will stay with me for a long time. A solid 5-star read indeed!

Bravo!

Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic & Atlantic Monthly Press, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

I was drawn to The Impossible Thing by its captivating cover. Having finished it I now see the imagery in another light - the crumbling cliffs and soaring birds a perfect metaphor for the emotional journey of reading this story.

I’m new to Belinda Bauer’s work but was captivated by her writing style, and this wholly original premise for a mystery. I was blown away by the emotional investment I made in this world of rare egg collecting. My heart hurt for Celie, her family, and the vulnerable birds. The flash forwards to present day offered welcome relief and I loved the relationship between Patrick and Nick, and their capers.

I was fortunate to enjoy this as an audiobook and ebook and both were wonderful. The production quality of the audiobook was excellent. Despite the fast pace of the story, and the very large cast of characters spanning multiple times, the narration was completely immersive and easy to follow. The dramatisations were subtle and impactful, and I flew through the book in only a day.

Overall I would highly recommend this read for anyone looking for a beautifully written, unique and captivating mystery.

Thank you Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

3.5* rounded up.

This is told mainly from the points of view of (in the present day) Patrick, whose best friend's rare and valuable red guillemot egg is stolen, and (in the 1920s-1940s) Celie, who is so small and light that she can access particularly rare red guillemots' eggs. However, there are many many more characters and viewpoints - the broker who buys Celie's eggs, the broker's customers, the broker's maid, an RSPB officer, a professor of ornithology, a volunteer RSPB guardian couple, a man who is prosecuted for possessing birds' eggs (as it is now illegal) and so on and so on. It was very confusing at times keeping everyone straight, and working out all the connections was a challenge.

Having said that, I enjoyed the writing and Patrick was a delight. I also learnt a lot about the hobby of collecting birds' eggs, although I don't see the attraction myself!

3.5

1926 Yorkshire England - men hung by ropes to steal beautiful colored eggs laid by sea birds. A small girl dares to try this as she is penniless and hungry but a treasure that sets off a decades long fight for this egg.

A century later this rare red egg is stolen from Nick from and his mother. Nick and his friend Patrick are determined to get this egg back and find there are a lot of greedy people who want any of these rare eggs.

I was expecting a more thrilling pace of telling this story. Although an interesting story, it felt slow to me.

My thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Belinda Bauer is a hugely popular author, but The Impossible Thing is my very first read from her.

The Impossible Thing starts with a number of seemingly separate stories. In the 1920s, egg collecting has reached quite a frenzy. The rugged Yorkshire coast sees a dangerous and barbaric practice each Spring, drawing huge crowds. In current times, two friends, Patrick and Nick have blindly stumbled into the now illegal world of egg collecting.

The story was really well written, I found myself engrossed. I read in just over 24 hours, wondering how each of the stories would end. All of human nature was examined. From obsession, desperation and greed, to generosity and love, even in the hardest of times. The characterisation was strong, each individual having their own personality and voice. Really good books always provoke strong emotions from me, this one certainly did.

The disregard for wildlife conservation in the century old timeline is a hard read, from a modern sensibility. Also, the attitudes towards certain members of society, makes me very grateful to be born in the time I am, despite current world events.
As I mentioned earlier, this is my first Belinda Bauer read, but certainly not my last. It’s 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

I'm absolutely blown away by this story, based on real events.

I've not read any Belinda Bauer before but I was expecting something very different than a fast-paced story about egg collecting. It was brilliant.

The story is split into two timelines. Celie Sheppard isn't much loved. She is the product of an extra marital liaison that caused her father to leave the family home. She is ignored by everyone but the farmboy, Robert. That is until she persuades Robert to help her collect the valuable eggs from Bempton Cliffs, home to thousands of birds. What Celie brings up on her very first haul is a rare red guillemot egg. An egg that people will pay money for - a lot of money

The second timeline follows Patrick Fort, a neurodivergent child, and his best mate, Weird Nick (who is often quite weird despite being brilliant at Call of Duty, persuading Patrick to go along with his schemes and trying to find as many ways as possible to make money. After a terrifying raid on Weird Nick's home he tells Patrick about the bright red egg that was stolen.

The two stories run alongside each other with Celie being used to steal more eggs and Patrick and Nick trying to find the missing egg whilst trying to solve the mystery of who and why it was taken.

If I'm making it sound tame I'm telling it wrong. It's absolutely action-packed. The characters burst off the page including the sneaky egg collector, Ambler, who made my skin crawl. Both Celie and Patrick are sympathetic characters and their stories made me laugh and weep.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of both text and audio versions. The audio is excellently read by Phil Dunster who got tone and pitch spot on. No melodrama and no silly voices. I really enjoyed it. In fact I enjoyed the entire thing - book, audio, story. Perfect.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley, Grove Atlantic and Dreamscape Media for the audio and text advance review copies. Very much appreciated.

Belinda Bauer delivers a master class in plot, character and theme in her latest book The Impossible Thing. The story itself centres around the practice of egg collecting from the early twentieth century through to the present day.
In 1920s Yorkshire, a group of climmers (sic) are lowered down the Bempton Cliffs to collect eggs of guillemots and other birds that are then on sold to wealthy collectors in London. One small farm where six-year-old Celie Sheppard lives, has an overhang which prevents the easy collection of eggs but she finds a way and in doing so discovers a rare red egg which changes her and her family’s fortunes. In the present day young man, Patrick Fort is helping his neighbour Weird Nick who was had a break in where the only thing stolen was a red egg in an ornate box that Nick had found in the attic and was trying to sell on Ebay for ten pounds. The two soon learn there is much more to that egg and its history than they could have imagined.
Bauer spins a complex interleaved tale out of the lives of Celie and Patrick, stories that swirls around each other with layered revelations right through to the final pages. In the past this story is as much about the jockeying between entitled wealthy men for prestige as it is about Celie. In the present day story, Bauer takes readers into the still ongoing world of egg collection – introducing Patrick and Nick to both the collectors and the protectors. In the middle of this tale is the delightfully drawn neurodiverse character of Patrick, who looks at the world slightly askance but together with the more worldly Nick, makes a great team.
Belinda Bauer, an author who has not only won the CWA Gold Dagger but has been longlisted for the Booker Prize, The Impossible Thing is a crime novel of sorts – there is plenty of crime on display. But it is much more than this – an exploration of a little known obsession and the people who made a living feeding that obsession, consideration of issues of conservation versus acquisitiveness, a rags to riches tale centred on a delightful young woman and also more than a bit of a romp as a pair of not particularly savvy young men try their own hand at crime solving. Overall The Impossible Thing is a delight that succeeds on every level.

Unique and enlightening historical vs present day unfolding of the saga of egg collecting in the UK, and its aftermath. Very touching story, wonderful characters, and a satisfying resolution. Highly recommended for readers of novels such as the Goldfinch.

My mind was all over the place while I was reading this book. I was giving it three stars at first as I waded through all the strangeness of people who collect birds' eggs and the sadness of the deaths of all those poor chicks.

I moved it up to four stars once Patrick who we know from a previous book called Rubbernecker appeared. What a great character and he definitely saved this book for me! The end was worthy of five stars and I still have goosebumps over the last four lines of text. I wish I could give it five but overall for me the book is a four.

Perhaps the author could consider bringing Patrick back for more adventures. He is definitely a star in his own right.

Who knew collecting eggs was a thing? It was actually a Big thing! I'm a bit of an outlier because I found this book to be a bit odd. The writing felt very stream of consciousness and it took me quite some time to grasp the flow of it. The Impossible Thing focuses on the stealing and trafficking of eggs. Egg climbers would be lowered over cliffs to collect the eggs of the birds which lived there. Depending on the bird and the color of the egg, it could be a lucrative thing/hobby/collection etc. This book is told in two timelines and proved to be a slow burn as eventually the two timelines connect

In the past timeline (1920-1930), Celie Sheppard is tiny and petite. She proves to be the perfect size to lower over the side of a dangerous cliff that no one else dares to go over. She is successful in finding and obtaining a gorgeous red guillemot egg. She does this year after year as crowds gather to watch. My heart broke for the birds she stole from. They fought to save their egg to finally learn it is to no avail and to simply turn its head unable to watch.

Patrick and Weird Nick are in the present day and looking for a scarlet egg that was stolen during a robbery. They go looking and find and learn more than they expected. They are both interesting and great characters.

While I enjoyed the characters of Celie, Nick, and Patrick, this book failed to wow me as it did most readers. I found it too be too slow in spots and I struggled with the writing. What worked were the three main characters and a very unlikeable character that I found myself booing and hissing at.

There are some wonderful descriptions and characterizations in this book. The author did a great job with that. This just didn't wow me as it did other readers.

The Impossible Thing
Belinda Bauer
Grove Atlantic
04/08/2025

I'm always eager to pick up the latest Belinda Bauer novel. Her writing consistently stands out, elevating the crime thriller genre with its depth. She creates well-rounded, engaging characters while maintaining a fast-paced and compelling plot. While crimes do unfold, it isn't exactly a traditional crime story and of course it was great to see Patrick from Rubberneckers return.
Spanning from the 1920s to the present day, the novel paints a vivid picture of the dark and perilous world of egg collecting. It also brings to life the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire cliffs, where diverse seabird species have nested and soared through the winds for centuries. Enter greed, obsession and a crime that started 100 years ago.
The Impossible Thing is a captivating and thought-provoking journey that delves into how the smallest, seemingly trivial actions can lead to profound, life-changing outcomes. Though the premise may seem unconventional at first, Belinda Bauer’s masterful storytelling makes it resonate in the most unexpected ways. For readers seeking a distinctive narrative that weaves through time and generations, this book is an absolute must-read.

Parallel narratives centered around the harvesting and selling of wild bird eggs. In the present day, young autistic man helps his friend track the egg that was stolen from him. The past and much more interesting narrative centers on a young woman who inadvertently becomes a lucrative climmer.

I’ve absolutely loved every single book by Belinda Bauer, which is why I was really looking forward to The Impossible Thing. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t click with me. I really tried to get into the story, but the plot centered around eggs just didn’t hold my interest. I found myself feeling like I could stop reading at any point without much curiosity about what would happen next.

That said, Bauer is an incredibly talented writer, and I’m still a huge fan. This book just wasn’t for me, but it hasn’t put me off at all—I’ll definitely be reading her next one with high hopes!

I had never heard of egg collecting before and I had no idea that it was a thing in the Uk in the 1920's, how barbaric, although nothing shocks me about humanity anymore I don't think. I couldn't put the book down and read it in a day

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this book. I.had absolutely no idea that egg collecting and egg collections were such a big deal in the 1930s in the UK. The book was interesting, characters well filled in and we'll written. I always appreciate learning new things when I read and this book definitely provided that. But I did find myself losing interest now and again and keeping up with all characters was a bit confusing.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC.
When I saw that Belinda Bauer had written a new book, I was more than excited. It had been so long!
This book is exquisite, so unique, I adored it. The theme of egg collectors in the 1920's is interesting, but quite sad. Those poor birds ... This was one of those instances where I felt disgusted with the human race's greed.
The writing is stellar (as usual) with great characters, including 2 from 'Rubberneckers' in the present time.
The girl Celie in the 1920's is another character I loved.
What a great read!

Off the cliffs of Yorkshire on Britain’s eastern shores, in the 1920s, the locals rappel down to the ledges and steal beautiful, valuable, unique bird eggs. They’re collected and shown off by wealthy gadabouts until the practice is banned a few decades later. Then, in modern times, two oddball English youths try to reclaim a mysterious egg pilfered from their possession and get sent on a…well, I’d say something about a goose chase, but you know. Wrong bird.

I had no idea eggs were a thing. OK, maybe when you’re baking a cake and you’re missing that one darn ingredient. But for a thriller novel? If you’re confused, just do what I did: treat the Metland Egg like another famous literary artifact, like the Maltese Falcon, the Holy Grail, or the vehicle in “Dude, Where’s My Car?” In the process, I learned a lot about bird eggs and its place in British culture.

And speaking of British: for a while there, I had a hard time following the 20th Century lingo until I heard Celie, the young “climmer,” say something familiar. Then I realized: it’s Yorkshire! They were speaking in the accent heard in The Secret Garden! Oh! I art daft, or something. Once I adjusted my ears, I could follow the story.

Again, the unusual object of the caper made it a little perplexing for me at first. But at about 40%, the action picks up, and the intrigue increases. The heroes and villains started to make themselves better known, and Bauer makes them complex and vibrant.

Patrick, one of those modern goofs seeking the Egg, made for a terrific sleuth. He takes everything literal and his “slowness” in human emotions leads him and “Weird Nick” in the right direction. They were real underdogs, and their little plan was simple, relatable, and in the end, rather genius. Their action starts and doesn’t let up.

The 20th Century story seemed slower, but more personal. We get more of a description of Celie’s world there: a detailed look at the cliffs, the farm, and the people’s situation. Oh, I really disliked Ambler! Just like we were meant to. You’ll love to see what happens there. The character voices seemed genuine, and the historical settings and occurrences accurate. I felt like I was living through both times. The storylines never merge, but they connect via the artifacts in a satisfying way.

Adventure in eggs: who knew? A zippy, irresistible thriller with a quirky plot and likeable characters (except for one!). Worth a good, hard look. But no egg puns, please! That would be egregious.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. The Impossible Thing will be published April 8, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

To start off strong, this book is firmly one of the most evocative that I have read so far, with a coastside so strongly described that you can almost taste the salt in the air and feel the wind in your hair. The book follows a few different timelines, one covering the difficult history of egg-collecting and selling, marred by tragedy, and the other a modern-day mystery revolving around an egg heist and the seedy underbelly of egg-nicking.

I did not realise that something so mundane as collectable egg specimens would have been as fascinating as this was, and yet, here we are. Driven forward by interesting characters who all have their reasons for their actions. I did find that the egg heist veered a little into cosy mystery territory, with relatively low stakes, and I definitely found the historical perspective the more interesting one, but the modern day is handled with grace.

Perhaps the most interesting character is Celie, a young woman with the kind of gumption rarely seen in historical accounts from the era, but often present and ignored. She is headstrong and manages to (without spoiling too much) hold her own against some fairly severe forces in the novel. I did wish that there was a little more focus on the twist towards the end, as it felt a little rushed between the rest of the action, but all in all this was a firmly middle of the road read for me.

While recognising the powerful, allusive writing of Bauer's style, I just took a very long time to become engaged with what's at stake here .. I 'get it' (finally) that gathering the right eggs early on, and in quantity, provides real income for people, and that there are dangers involved (a precarious locale provides a significant plot device here), but I simply found it all so distant that the only way I gripped on was recognising that the poverty and difficulties of the people engaged in this form of farming were high stake.. to point of murder and theft .. so even though I admire its artfulness and effective characterisation, there was a credulity issue for me ... I look forward, as ever, to more of her work.. (and, yes, as other readers point out, the familiar rubbernecking (sp?) character was intriguing to meet here ...)

I am always excited to get the next Belinda Bauer book. Her writing is a step above the basic crime thriller. She develops interesting characters and keeps the plot moving.
This book is a little different from her previous books. Although there are crimes committed it is not a crime story.
I was glad to see Patrick from Rubberneckers back, he is a great character.
This is a book that tells about the little known obsession( at least to me) about collecting birds eggs. The story goes back in forth through time about finding the rare and precious Metland egg. I love reading about things I knew nothing about and Bauer always has the skills to make in interesting.
Thanks to net galley for providing me with the chance to read this terrific book.