Original, fresh and immensely uplifting, Burr’s clever debut pays homage to the greatest mysteries in an absorbing tale of an orphan brought up by Britain’s top puzzlemakers as the great secret of his inheritance begins to unfold.
Sometimes finding your place in the world is the greatest puzzle of all...
Clayton Stumper is an enigma.
He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt.
Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution.
When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future.
Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve - and it's a secret that will change everything...
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
ISBN: 9781398712324
Number of pages: 384
Weight: 268 g
Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 32 mm
Utterly beautiful, such a wonderful story told with kindness, elegance and understanding - JOANNA CANNON
Truly heartwarming [...] the idea of puzzling as a way to make sense of the world and forge connections with others is celebrated with tenderness - THE TIMES
A real breath of fresh air, one of those rare books that seems to arrive just when it's needed the most - A J PEARCE
A life-affirming gem - HEAT Magazine
Just gorgeous: wholesome, heartwarming, funny, bittersweet and endearing - Belfast Telegraph
Clever & layered, a secret that keeps you turning the pages, & most of all real, flawed characters - GEORGINA MOORE
Bursting with love and hope . . . the kind of book the world needs right now - JENNIE GODFREY
A gorgeously quirky read - GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
Infused with warmth and a sense of community. A joy - S. J. BENNETT
Fiendishly clever, intricately plotted and beautifully written. A classic in the making - VERONICA HENRY
A dazzling and unique debut - SARAH J. HARRIS
A delightful conundrum that he unpicks with wit and empathy. A puzzle that's a treat to complete - BETH MORREY
A gem of a book - KRISTEN PERRIN
Bursting with humour, humanity and wit. A delightful treat - JANICE HALLETT
Full of the most enchanting characters - ANSTEY HARRIS
Very special. It's original, quirky and adorable - MATT CAIN
A lovely read - warm, amusing and engaging. There is abundant pleasure on offer here - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH
An intriguing story of love and family . . . Funny, wise and revealing - KEITH STUART
Brilliant, funny, clever, quirky - ERICKA WALLER
Rich with emotion and intrigue. If you enjoy mysteries and puzzles, this will keep you guessing and eagerly turning the pages until the very end - YOURS Magazine
Utterly beautiful, such a wonderful story told with kindness, elegance and understanding. - JOANNA CANNON
A real breath of fresh air, Samuel Burr's debut novel is one of those rare books that seems to arrive just when it's needed the most. - AJ PEARCE
Clever & layered, a secret that keeps you turning the pages, & most of all real, flawed characters. - GEORGINA MOORE
Bursting with love and hope . . . This is the kind of book the world needs right now. - JENNIE GODFREY
From crossword clues and codes to the biggest puzzle of all: who we really are. [This novel] is infused with warmth and a sense of community. A joy. - S.J BENNETT
Fiendishly clever, intricately plotted and beautifully written, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a classic in the making. - VERONICA HENRY
A dazzling and unique debut. - SARAH J. HARRIS
Samuel Burr has created a delightful conundrum that he unpicks with wit and empathy. A puzzle that's a treat to complete! - BETH MORREY
Such a perfect blend of found family . . . A gem of a book. - KRISTEN PERRIN
A warm, clever, hopeful novel. - JENNIE GODFREY
Full of the most enchanting characters - ANTSEY HARRIS
With this book, Burr establishes himself as one of the most important writers of his generation. - AWAIS KHAN
Very special. It's original, quirky and adorable. - MATT CAIN
A lovely read - warm, amusing and engaging. There is abundant pleasure on offer here - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH, Author of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this wonderful novel (coming out in May 2024) and enjoyed immersing myself in every page. Beautiful, skilled writing with vivid imagery, Pippa and Clayton made for... More
Clayton Stumper, now grown up and mourning the loss of his beloved adopted mother Pip, has never known where he came from. Abandoned as a baby at the home of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, even the surname they gave... More
This is an ingenious book, eve if you aren’t into solving puzzles. A great backstory and even better the present time. Very clever and kept me guessing throughout, making it a great mystery. Samuel Burr’s characters... More
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