I’ve been a fan of Belinda Bauer for years so was thrilled to see a new book from her and I have to say, it was worth the wait. She has such a talent for bringing characters to life, all types of people from all parts of society, and making you care about them enormously.

The Impossible Thing takes place over two time periods and centres around the illicit world of egg collecting. The first part tells the story of Celie, a tiny child who manages to collect a unique red Guillemot egg from a perilous part of the Yorkshire cliffs and from there on must return down the dangerous overhang each year to collect the egg of the same bird for a London trader. The money he pays her to do so is a tiny portion of the value of the eggs but enough to change her family’s life.

The second part covers Patrick, an autistic young man, and his neighbour and best friend, Weird Nick, who is selling the property of his late father to raise money for a new gaming chair. In the loft he discovers a box containing a red egg, puts it on eBay and from there on the two are caught up in the obsessive world of collectors.

The tale of obsession, the illegal egg trade, all the main and side characters, all of it comes together to make an incredible read, full of pace and humour. Patrick is absolutely believable and his struggling to cope with emotion and reading others is beautifully told, never patronising but always endearing. Celie is also completely compelling, and her story had me with my heart in my mouth several times. I honestly couldn’t have loved this book any more than I did. I’m just sorry it was such a well contained story as I’d love to meet up with the characters again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I have always loved this author so was really pleased to receive this copy.
Historical in part and i felt somewhat different to her usual style.
I did enjoy the storyline once i had my head around how different it was.
Well written and descriptive characters.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Since Snap in 2018, Belinda Bauer has been quiet in the world of books so a new read is highly anticipated.

The Impossible Thing does not disappoint - an intriguing premise and a mix of contemporary and historical themes and settings.This was book that couldn't be put down
This is a novel about the illicit and illegal world of collecting eggs from birds- a pastime for the rich and the obssessed that has taken place over the last two centuries.

The story focuses around the elusive and 'magical' Metland Egg - a unique bright red guillemot egg found in the 1920s by young farm girl Celie on the North Yorkshire coast. The discovery of this egg resulted in double-dealing and consternation and greed among the oologist community.

A century later a robbery of an egg results in Patrick and "Weird Nick' to set out on the trail to discover who stole the egg and retrieve it.

Juxtaposing the two stories and the world of egg stealing is fascinating- a world that most people do not consider. The pace of the mystery as to who stole the egg is fast and the dynamic between Nick- a gamer - and Patrick - neurodivergent - is brilliantly played out as the two young men encounter drama way beyond their expectation .

But it is the story of Celia that really hooks the heart; as a young girl she is made to suspend herself from a cliff top to retrieve eggs and makes the discovery which is then sold to the 'madly ' determined George Ambler - a wealthy Londoner- who obsessively wants a Metland egg taken every year for his collection.

The modern day crime of egg stealing and how eggs are subsequently used and stored is incredibly interesting but it is the power of human obsession to obtain and simply 'have ' that permeates through the book

Belinda Bauer's writing is pitch perfect in capturing the passion of the gamers to find their stolen egg but equally the desperation to escape the rural poverty of the 1920s in Celie's world and family is highly moving.

Highly recommended - a fascinating mixture of crime novel and historical adventure and intrigue . A 2025 book to watch out for .