The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers

by Samuel Burr

Overview

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An extraordinary, gloriously uplifting novel about the power of friendship and the puzzling ties that bind us • "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers takes readers along on Clayton [Stumper]'s quest to discover his roots, treating us to a literary mood boost about friendship and found family."—Real Simple
 
“A lovely read, warm, amusing and engaging.”—Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series

Clayton Stumper might be in his twenties, but he dresses like your grandpa and fusses like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.

When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton’s life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. So begins Clay’s quest to uncover the secrets surrounding his birth, secrets that will change Clay—and the Fellowship—forever.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is pure joy, a story about love and family and what it means to find your people—no matter what age you are.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593470091
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/09/2024
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	56,392
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 2.40(d)

About the Author

Samuel Burr is a TV producer who has worked on popular factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. Samuel's writing was selected for Penguin's WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He previously studied at Westminster Film School.

Editorial Reviews

02/05/2024

Burr debuts with the cheerful tale of a young man’s found family and the joy of puzzles. Clayton Stumper, 25, was left at the doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers in Bedfordshire, England, as an infant and grew up surrounded by the eccentric, elderly residents of the commune, including his primary caregiver, Pippa Allsbrook, founder of the Fellowship and the most prolific crossword compiler in Britain. Feeling unmoored by Pippa’s recent death, Clayton determines to discover the identity of his birth parents. Pippa, one step ahead as usual, has left him with a series of puzzles for him to complete, which set him on his course. His first stop is London, where he visits Nancy Stone, an ex-member of the Fellowship who left Bedfordshire just before Clayton showed up there. As he pieces together Pippa’s clues, he tentatively explores life away from his routines and feels the beginnings of his first romance with Nancy’s home health aid, Neil. The PG-rated scenes with Clayton and Neil feel a bit too restrained—Burr is better at intricate plotting than he is at portraying Clayton’s burgeoning sexuality—though there’s a genuine sweetness to both story lines. This has plenty of heart. Agent: Hellie Ogden, WME. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

A Real Simple Best Book of 2024

“A lovely read—warm, amusing and engaging. There is abundant pleasure on offer here.”
—Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series

"Samuel Burr’s The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers takes readers along on Clayton’s quest to discover his roots, treating us to a literary mood boost about friendship and found family."
—Real Simple
 
"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 (UK)
 
"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
 
"Just gorgeous: wholesome, heartwarming, funny, bittersweet and endearing"
—Belfast Telegraph

“I LOVE THIS BOOK! I knew I loved it in the first few pages, and stayed head over heels until the very end. Romance, puzzles, and cats? Yes, please!”
—Helen Ellis, author of Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge

“The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a big-hearted story of family, community and the joy of human connection. Following Clayton as he solves the clues – sometimes reaching dead ends, sometimes making valuable discoveries – we experience the delights to be found in a cleverly-constructed puzzle. The lessons Clayton learns along the way are ones we all could do with being reminded of from time to time. A story that pulled me along with its gusto while touching my heart. Lovely!”
—Sarah Haywood, bestselling author of The Cactus

“An utterly charming and thoroughly captivating read, and a stunningly assured debut. Prepare to fall in love with the enigma that is Clayton Stumper.”
— S.J. Watson, bestselling author of Before I Go To Sleep
 
“The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is such an intriguing story of love and family, told beautifully through the medium of play and puzzle-solving. Samuel Burr has done the seemingly impossible and found a whole new way to be funny, wise and revealing about relationships and what a mystery they are.”
—Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks

“The book’s sweet-tempered storytelling and game-playing element are appealing and its characters good company.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“This story is a puzzle-lover's delight, from crossword clues and codes to the biggest puzzle of all: who we really are. It's infused with warmth and a sense of community. A joy.”
—S.J. Bennett, author of the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series
 
“The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is such a warm hug! I loved the quirky characters, wit, and mystery all wrapped up in creative puzzles. Such a perfect blend of found family, messages of connection and how important it is not to overlook people. A gem of a book.”
——Kristen Perrin, author of How To Solve Your Own Murder
 
“A ripping yarn full of warmth and wonder, with a splendidly oddball cast, Samuel Burr has created a delightful conundrum that he unpicks with wit and empathy. A puzzle that’s a treat to complete!”
—Beth Morrey, author of Delphine Jones Takes a Chance
 
“Utterly beautiful, such a wonderful story told with kindness, elegance and understanding. I am genuinely devastated to leave Pip and the gang behind! An explorations of identity, belonging… and love. I absolutely adored it.”
—Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things about Elsie
 
“Warm and joyful, clever & layered, a secret that keeps you turning the pages, & most of all real, flawed characters.”
—Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls
 
“Fiendishly clever, intricately plotted and beautifully written, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a classic in the making. I fell in love with every member of The Fellowship. It’s also great fun. Samuel Burr is a genius!”
—Veronica Henry, author of How to Find Love in a Book Shop
 
“A dazzling and unique debut. This joyous, beautiful book about love and friendship contains a satisfying mystery and will lift your spirits.”
—Sarah J. Harris, author of The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder
 
“Full of the most enchanting characters.”
—Anstey Harris, author of When I First Held You
 
“Bursting with love and hope. I laughed, cried, loved every single character and was just swept away into the most beautifully drawn world. This is the kind of book the world needs right now, it’s just gorgeous.”
—Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
 
“Beautiful, uplifting and inspiring, this is a book that deserves to be read and then reread. I simply could not put this down. With this book, Burr establishes himself as one of the most important writers of his generation.”
—Awais Khan, author of Someone Like Her
 
“Very special. It’s original, quirky and adorable - and it has added puzzles!”
—Matt Cain, author of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

“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. Hugely uplifting, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a wonderful story full of kindness, intelligence and warmth.”
—AJ Pearce, author of Mrs. Porter Calling

“Richly detailed and beautifully imaginative, this charming debut will have readers sharpening their puzzling pencils.”
—Abbie Greaves, author of The Silent Treatment

“Irresistibly charming, devilishly inventive . . . a total treat.”
—Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg

From the Publisher

2024-01-05
Abandoned at birth and left in a hatbox on the doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, Clayton Stumper is tasked with solving a puzzle his foster mother designed before her death to help him discover where he came from.

Now 25, Clay was lovingly raised by Fellowship founder Pippa Allsbrook, “pioneering cruciverbalist” and British queen of crosswords. The novel alternates between his pained efforts to complete her puzzle, which leads him, step by step, to significant people and places, and Pippa’s account of becoming Clay’s caregiver at 67 while running the Fellowship. Her challenges include overcoming the opposition of eccentric members shaken by the very idea of having a baby among them and turning a run-down hotel in Bedfordshire that was once her ancestral home into the group’s headquarters. As it turns out, this diverse community of “enigmatologists,” who attend seminars on topics like “the history of lipograms and univocalics,” helps raise Clay. So does Nancy Stone, a female cabbie who’s into TV game shows (she was a contestant on Brain of Britain) and becomes Pippa’s best friend and ally. Burr’s first novel doesn’t get much deeper than “it’s never too late…to find the missing pieces that make you feel complete” and “love is all that matters.” Pithier wisdom is provided by Nancy, who says that puzzling is “good for the old noggin” and “stops you going doolally when you’re old.” But the book’s sweet-tempered storytelling and game-playing element are appealing and its characters good company even when not much is happening.

A nice novel best enjoyed by crossword fans.

Kirkus Reviews

Penelope Keith and Russell Tovey embody the warmth of the protagonists in this charming novel told from dual perspectives. Tovey narrates with emotional vulnerability and an inquisitive tone in portraying Clayton Stumper. The lovably old-fashioned 26-year-old unravels the final mystery left by the legendary puzzle maker Pippa Allsbrook, who raised him in her later years after he was abandoned at birth on her doorstep. Penelope Keith lends a spirited voice to the scenes from Pippa's perspective, which explore her youth as a talented crossword maker in the male-dominated field and her unlikely path to raising Clayton. The sole weakness is the interactive puzzles included throughout the story, which are challenging to follow in the audio format even with the balanced pacing. Otherwise, this is a rich, captivating adaptation. C.J.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

JULY 2024 - AudioFile