It’s my absolute pleasure today to join the blog tour for The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr by sharing my review. My thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate. It’s a real privilege to help close the tour.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers was published by Orion on 9th May and is available for purchase through the links here.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
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…
My Review of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
Pippa has left Clayton the ultimate puzzle.
This. This is the kind of book we need in the world. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is warm hearted, gentle and uplifting without a hint of saccharine sentimentality. I thought it was just lovely.
What works so well in The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is the commune microcosm of the world. The members living together are representative of so many layers of society that they appeal and relate to many readers. I especially appreciated the fact that, apart from those like Clayton and Angel, the majority are older, but are not the frail token characters of other books. Instead we have strong, sharp witted, artistic and talented people who can be spikey and head strong as well as generous and supportive, regardless of age.
I love the smattering of actual puzzles throughout the story and this narrative can be read on many levels. There are secrets and puzzles from the characters’ past lives, within their relationships with one another, and in the physical and intellectual puzzles they create, so that The Fellowship of Puzzemakers feels satisfying and entertaining in equal measure.
However, the most satisfying puzzle of all is Clayton’s origins. As he learns more about himself, so the reader considers their own life. The greatest puzzle of all explored here is what do we want from our lives? Samuel Burr asks to consider our own missing puzzle piece and he gives us the impetus to search for it rather than merely accept the status quo. This is a book that allows us to be brave and content. It’s just fabulous.
The balance of text focusing on Clayton and Pippa is perfect. I so appreciated the feminism and ageism that is counteracted by Pippa and Nancy because they illustrate that we do not have to conform to the labels placed on us by others. Clayton’s gradual emergence into a world beyond the Fellowship feels natural and convincing and even having finished the book some while ago, I keep wondering how he’s getting on because I rather fell in love with him!
Imaginative, intriguing and emotionally touching, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a lovely, lovely read. It could quite easily simply be called Fellowship because Samuel Burr has provides the most charming, engaging and entertaining insight into who we are as humans and how our interactions with one another are the connections we need to solve the puzzle that is life. Don’t miss this one.
About Samuel Burr
Samuel Burr studied at Westminster Film School and is now a freelance TV executive, developing and producing popular-factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated SECRET LIFE OF 4 YEAR OLDS. A documentary he shot inside a retirement village when he was eighteen years old launched his career in television and inspired his debut novel, THE FELLOWSHIP OF PUZZLEMAKERS,
which was acquired by Orion Fiction in a highly competitive eight-way auction.
Samuel’s writing was shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. In his spare time, he volunteers for elderly charities Age UK and Re-Engage. He lives in London with his partner Tom and their cat Muriel. He has always been old at heart.
For further information, visit Samuel’s website, find him on Facebook and Instagram or follow Samuel on Twitter/X @samuelburr.
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