An entertaining read.
A gentle caring book about relationships and going for what you want in life wrapped around Clayton’s search for his birth parents.
Told in two timelines in a very clear way so no confusion as there we follow the story of Pippa setting up the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and Clayton trying to discover his origins with the help of puzzles along the way.
A delightful book

A lovely story of friendship and discovering who you really are. When fellowship leader Pippa dies, she leaves the clues as to where Clayton really came from. He was left on the doorstep as a baby and since he lives in a house of puzzle setters, he must solve the clues to uncover the mystery. He goes on a voyage of discovering more than just who his birth parents are.

A gentle mystery with lovable characters, a nice little romance thrown in and a few crossword clues to solve on the way.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free arc in return for an honest review. 4.25/5

A hug in a book 🥰 Clayton was left as a baby outside the fellowship. Years later when his guardian Pippa passes away, he discovers she left him clues to find his birth family. Of course, these clues follow in the form of crosswords, a maze, jigsaws and puzzles.

I love a book that’s a bit different and I loved this one! A quirky, interesting plot, well developed characters and some puzzles thrown in for good measure! This book is full of emotion, such an imaginative and charming read. A brilliantly written must read 📚❤️

Sometimes, finding your place in the world is the greatest puzzle of all.

Sometimes you only have to look at a book and know you’re going to love it. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers was everything I’d hoped for and more. Cryptic, quirky and uplifting, this magnificent debut is an absolute gem. An ode to friendship, community, love and finding your place in the world, this hit the sweet spot where you want to devour it whole but also never want it to end.

Clayton Stumper is not your average 25-year-old. He was abandoned at birth and found in a hatbox on the steps of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by its founder, Pippa, and has been raised there ever since. But when Pippa passes away she leaves behind one final puzzle to be solved: the mystery of Clayton’s parentage. Can Clayton follow the clues to finally solve the puzzle that has eluded even the brightest minds of the country?

Debut novelist Samuel Burr has set the bar sky-high with this phenomenal debut and I will be buying anything he writes from now on. It is cleverly written, shrewdly plotted and steadily paced, keeping the reader guessing with misdirection and surprising revelations. The story moves smoothly between dual timelines and narrators, following Clayton on his journey of self-discovery in the present, while the past details the Fellowship’s conception and events leading up to the day Clayton was discovered on their doorstep. But what I loved most about this book was how Burr intricately weaves puzzles into every aspect of the story, including making it so the reader can play along and try to solve the clues alongside the characters. But, don’t worry if you don’t like puzzles, because you can also flip to the answers at the back. I’m a puzzle fan and enjoyed trying to solve the clues, but I did use the answer sheet for some of them, too.

Burr has created an eclectic cast of wonderful and fascinating characters who fit together like puzzle pieces despite coming from different boxes. I enjoyed their friendships that slowly blossomed into a found family. Clayton and Pippa were excellent protagonists who were both likeable, relatable, easy to root for, and had compelling backstories. I loved seeing Clayton slowly emerge from his self-imposed cocoon like a butterfly as he followed Pippa’s clues and enjoyed looking for ones that might be hidden in the flashbacks. Pippa was a nurturing, caring and supportive character, and I loved how she brought everybody together by creating a place where they could do what they love without judgement. It reminded me of finding my people in the book community, and when Pippa and the Puzzlers spoke about how puzzling makes them feel, it was as if I was speaking about my love of reading.

Charming, warm, joyful, and addictive, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is feel-good fiction at its finest. Add this to your TBR now!

This is a dual-timeline book, with alternating chapters following Pippa, aged 52 at the start, a nice age for the heroine of a book (!) as she goes about setting up a group of puzzle people of all kinds: she's a newspaper crossword compiler but she gathers around her makers of wooden puzzles, people who paint the pictures for jigsaws, a maze maker, a quiz question setter, etc.) and they set up home in a big old house and work out how to keep going. Then we follow Clayton Stumper, the enigma who turned up on the Fellowship's doorstep as a baby, now 25, Pippa dead, having to follow cryptic clues she's set him to discover his own origins.

Clayton's a bit of an old fogey, looking after the now elderly Fellowship and not travelling far, so he's sent out of his comfort zone with things to do, places to see and people to meet - however the most important person, perhaps, who he meets is encountered by chance. There are puzzles scattered throughout the book but it's not imperative the reader solves them and the answers are given at the back. It's a lovely, warm, positive and clever book with unusual characters.

Reviewed on my blog 19 May: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2024/05/19/book-review-samuel-burr-the-fellowship-of-puzzlemakers/

This was a light, entertaining read. There are two major strands. The first one is how Pippa fights discrimination and prejudice to establish the titular fellowship of Puzzlemakers. This fellowship is at first a "loose" collection of experts in all areas of puzzles from a jigsaw artist to a maze maker. The fellowship later evolves into a community.
The second strand follows Clayton who was found ,as a baby, on the steps of the community. He wants to find out more about who he is and who are his parents . He wants to find out how he belongs and to do this he must solve a succession of puzzles.

The theme of "belonging" is a strong one in the book
"everyone was looking for the blank box they could conveniently slot themselves into. They were all just unsolved clues in the world's most mundane crossword" . Pippa doesn't "fit" the stereotypical female roles of her time. Clayton doesn't belong, he thinks, because he was found as a baby. He also is different in his outlook on life to his contemporaries and in his sexuality. There are also nods to the theme of ageing and "seeming"

The plot moves along smoothly but the interspersed clues will appeal to anyone interested in puzzles.

Clayton Stumper is an enigma. A young man abandoned at birth to be cared for by a commune of the greatest minds in Britain - the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. When Pippa Allsbrook passes away she has left clues for Clayton to solve the mystery of his parents.

I found this such an uplifting read.

A cosy mystery about finding one's origins, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a dual-timeline story about a young man seeking his backstory after his beloved adoptive mother, a mistress of all things puzzles and games, passes away. It's light on intrigue and is more about the sheer cosiness of it all, but that's part of the charm, a lightweight tale of companionship and the joys of gameplay.

This story is definitely not as dark as I usually lean towards. It’s not a desperate hunt for a violent serial killer or a determined protagonist attempting to escape a terrifying ordeal. This is a story about a young man who is trying to solve the mystery of his past, his heritage and the reason he was abandoned as a small baby. He has had a wonderful upbringing but simply wants answers and to find out who he really is. That idea in itself isn’t a unique one, but what propels it to another level is fact that Clayton has the help of some of the most intelligent men and women in the country - the fellowship. This older group of puzzle makers, code breakers and quiz masters included his recently deceased adoptive mother, and she is making him work for the answers he is seeking. Before she died, she set him an elaborate series of challenging clues and riddles that he must solve if he wants to unlock the mystery.

The mystery of Clayton’s life story is already intriguing but to add another layer of fun, there are also puzzles and clues for the reader to solve as you work your way through the book. It’s not necessary for you to succeed with the puzzles in order to carry on reading the story, but it does provide a different type of reading experience., What I found was that the puzzles actually put you in Clayton’s shoes – the clues and questions are tricky and my frustration when trying to solve them mirrored Clayton’s feelings as he tried to navigate the fiendishly challenging trail Pippa had left for him.

Above all, this is a story about family, about love and about connections. I was surprised at how much I loved this book given my usual preferences. However, I do enjoy Codewords and tackling jigsaw puzzles with my daughters, and obviously I love Crime Fiction which is based around mysteries and solving problems, so this element of the story allowed me to fully embrace the other parts. I adored the other members of the fellowship and honestly think this story will stay with me for a long time to come - the hourglass, IYKYK! If there isn’t a second book on the cards yet then I am going to start a campaign to bring everyone back to solve another mystery!

Such a good book, I really enjoyed it. My only grip is having one chapter Clayton and the next Pippa, and then back to Clayton. It’s this way for the majority of the book and although I understand why it needs to be that way, I still found it annoying as I was really getting into the story and then boom, it’s time to read about someone else. Both stories are brilliant and I enjoyed reading about the characters. I definitely recommend it, thank you #netgalley

Abandoned on the doorstep of a house belonging to a collective of puzzlers, Clayton Stumper is a twenty something old fogey. He doesn't know what he wants from life but when his adoptive mother dies, Clayton has the opportunity to discover the secret of his birth. As his quest takes him away from home Clayton learns the truth about himself.
There are many rave reviews about this book and it is good. However, for this reader, it's not that good! The puzzles are fun and easy enough to solve. The story is nicely put together with an eclectic cast of characters but it is really predictable.

An exquisitely crafted and beautifully heart-warming book that just blew me away with every chapter.

It's hard to explain just how clever this story is, and there's no way to describe the plot in detail without spoiling it for other readers. What I will say is that the cast of characters make this novel the thing of beauty it is.

There's mystery, and humour. Sadness and longing. Hope and ultimately love. I know I will want to return to Creighton Hall time and again when the world gets too spiky and I long for comfort.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a delightful debut novel. I enjoyed the characters and their stories, the puzzles to solve (although I can’t say I was able to solve any of the puzzles), and the different timelines that made for an engrossing read.

The story is told from two different perspectives. Clayton Stumper is twenty-five-years old but, based on his clothes and his tastes, you wouldn’t know it. He was raised by the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers after he was found by its founder, Pippa Allsbrook, right after his birth. He doesn’t know anything about his biological parents and, even though he found a family in the members of the Fellowship, he always wondered. After Pippa’s death, Clayton finds out that she left him a series of puzzles that will lead him to the true identity of his parents. All he has to do is follow the clues that will take him first to London where he meets an old friend of Pippa and finds a new one for him. And, as we follow Clayton on his quest towards the truth, we also learn about Pippa, how she founded the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, about the challenges, the dreams, the secrets, and the relationships that form and grow over the years.

I liked how the narrative alternates between two timelines and I loved the character of Pippa, a strong woman who always knows what she wants, and the character of Clayton, who never felt like he belonged, but now has the chance to find what he’s been looking for.

An emotional and entertaining read, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a story that is very easy to love!

Puzzle enthusiasts and cozy mystery fans, welcome to your next favourite read; The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers.

This debut has puzzles within the plot for you to solve, a feel good vibe, a cast of interesting characters and a secret to unravel.

It’s a book that gets you interested from the get go, but I found the pace really dropped in the middle. I was more interested in Pippa’s backstory than her son’s adventure and I am not sure that was the point.

Still I can see a lot of people are going to enjoy this book. It would be a great read for book groups.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the change to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is set to be one of my top reads of 2024! The story follows the inception of this fascinating society, whilst also uncovering Clayton Stump's origins - a baby abandoned on the steps of the Fellowship's home and raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists. His journey starts following the death of the Fellowship's leader Pippa, who tasks him with one last puzzle to prepare him for a future outside of the society. This extraordinary debut was an engrossing read- I'll be recommending it to everyone!
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers was an absolute delight to read. It was full of warmth, love and terrific puzzles.

This is such a strong debut. Burr has excellent characterisation and transforms the standard coming of age narrative into a brilliant puzzle for Clay and the reader to solve together. I loved how we got to explore the creation of the society through Pippa’s perspective and see it flourish through Clay’s. Both of them are flawed characters in many ways, but that just made them all the more believable to me. Pippa is determined, very intelligent and sometimes a bit too stubborn and set in her ways. Clay is kind, smart and a bit naive in navigating the world.

A core theme of this book is that of loneliness and the importance of community, friendship and found family in overcoming it. There is one particular scene on Clay’s journey that highlights the beauty of a simple act of kindness, the restoration of humanity through simple conversation and connection. In Pippa’s narrative, there is also an embedded narrative along the same lines that speaks to previous tragedy.
Burr does not shy away from the darker moments in life, but the resounding message is one of hope and light. There is pure joy in these pages. Found family is always a trope that warms my heart but this is taken to a wonderful place here, with the sharpest minds coming together and forging their own community & sense of family. The puzzles are so much fun and you can solve along with the characters or have it unpicked for you later in the narrative. They add an extra dimension to the book that is endlessly fascinating and shows off the cerebral skills of these characters. I also have to quickly shout out the central relationship that develops with Clay, which has an adorable meet-cute, great chemistry and a dynamic that realistically builds into something beautiful.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is the perfect, uplifting cosy mystery read. Burr bursts out of the gate with a heart-warming ode to found family, the craft of puzzles and beginning to write your own story.

This has a little bit of everything, it tugs at your heartstrings, it makes you laugh, it gives you hope, and it makes you a little frustrated.

What a lovey book, telling the wonderful story of the Puzzlemakers and how they enriched each others lives, then Clayton came along and enriched it more. I genuinely fell in love with everyone and I just loved Angel! I did feel bad for Clayton - why didn’t Pippa just tell him? Making him go through the puzzle- although he did gain a little by it. I did feel frustration for him.

Overall a heartwarming, lovely, lovely story.

My thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review .

Clayton Stumper was abandoned on the doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers at birth. It's the only life he's ever known. Pippa Allsbrook, the founder of the Fellowship, is the closest thing Clayton has to a mum. When she passes away Clayton is lost, grieving both for Pippa but also the biological mum he doesn't know. Luckily Pippa has left him one last puzzle, a series of clues that will eventually lead him to his birth parents, challenging everything he thought he knew along the way.

I absolutely loved reading this, and found it almost impossible to put down. It's like a warm cosy hug, which was exactly what I needed after a tough couple of months.

The story is split in to two timelines, with alternating chapters. As Clayton grows ever nearer to finding out who his parents are in the present time, the past timeline starts out at the beginning of the fellowship and moves towards when Pippa finds him. Both stories work towards slowly revealing who his parents are, but from different directions. I thought the time split worked really well, and meant that we got to know not just Clayton, but Pippa and Earl and other puzzlemakers too. They're all a likeable bunch - to be honest there's nobody in this that I found dislikeable.

The storyline is one of self discovery, not just for Clayton but also for some of the older characters as they find their way in the fellowship. It's a very heartwarming story, and really does showcase the strength we can find in groups.

To top it all off there is plenty of puzzles interspersed throughout the book. There's chance for you to solve them all, but if you struggle the answers are revealed in the next few pages. I do love a puzzle so this was one of my favourite parts of the book.

I thought this was a great debut, and will be interested to see what Burr writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is an absolutely joyful book with some of the most impeccably cosy vibes I've ever read. I love the idea, I love the characters, and I love the setting. Is the story a little contrived? Yes. Does it matter? Not really. Highly recommended.

Creighton House is home to some of the most brilliant minds in the UK, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers was founded by Pippa Allsbrook years previously when she was looking for a creative outlet for her talent that wasn't work related, and also looking to spend time with like minded people to help with her loneliness.

Years later, Clayton Stumper is left abandoned on the doorstep of the fellowship, much to Pippa Allsbrook's delight. She had always wanted a child, but life unfortunately hadn't worked out in the way that she had planned.

She had thought about fostering, or adoption, until she was betrayed by the very house that she lived in. The Fellowship had been inhabiting Pippa's crumbling ancestral home for years, not realising it's true financial state.

A summer fayre and the worlds biggest puzzle helped to generate the funds needed for the fellowship to be able to stay. And stay they did, welcoming Clayton into their world and giving him the best possible upbringing, even if it was a little unconventional.

When Pippa passes away, Twenty-Five year old Clayton is bereft, but is prompted in to action to try and discover the story of how he came to be left on the doorstep of the Fellowship. He knows that Pippa knows more than she ever told him whilst alive, but he never wanted to push.

Now that she has gone, he feels like he has her permission to finally discover the truth This is confirmed when he discovers that she has left him a set of clues.

One final puzzle for him to solve...

None of them are prepared for what he is about to discover, it will change everything.

I can't say too much more, as I really want you to discover this delightful novel for yourself! I loved this novel SO much. It is a brilliant debut, and I really can't wait to read whatever this author has to offer next.