The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

368 pages; Published by Orion 09/05/2024; Dimensions 15.2 x 3 x 23.4cm

Marvellous, uplifting and inspiring.

I was desperate to get my hands on a copy of this stunning book with the ingenious puzzle piece cut out. This absolutely brilliant design is from Andrew Davis.

I raced one evening to one of my local Waterstones after university and I got there a minute before closing.  They had just one copy. It was actually for my husband as a gift as he was also after this and again, especially for cut out. I was definitely wanting to read it too.

I had just seven days to read ahead of meeting the amazing author. I had a very heavy load on my plate that week and hoped I’ll be able to do it. Of course I managed to read it in time as it was unputdownable!

I loved all the characters, I loved The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers for its uniqueness and quirkiness of the narrative. If you enjoyed Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club then you will most probably enjoy this, though there are  no murders but a group of people who are quite different and just happen to make it work.

You can spend time doing the puzzles in this book or like myself carry on with the story. If my dear papa, who was an author himself, was still here for this year as Father’s Day, I would most definitely have bought him a copy.

Sensory aspects, this for me has a stunning colour combination of turquoise and yellow, bright and happy. There is no jacket and is straight to the hard back which has a slight cloth textured feel to it. There is the most wonderful cut out in the shape or puzzle piece.

This is for me, the best hardback cover of 2024! Inside the book it is nice as spacious and not too daunting with layout of the text.

I was thrilled to have met Samuel Burr at my local Waterstones. I was so so grateful to have been gifted a wonderful tote bag and a rare pin badge. 

Samuel was most entertaining when talking about his career and how the book The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers came about. I loved hearing how Samuel met Andrew Davis but had no idea later down the line Andrew will be designing the cover for the book as one of his first designs in his new role. 

I urge everyone to buy this book and if Samuel is coming to bookshop near you, you should definitely go, you will be in for a good time the wonderful Samuel Burr.