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The extraordinary, gloriously uplifting and hotly-anticipated debut novel from Samuel Burr – available to pre-order now!
‘Utterly beautiful. I adored it’ JOANNA CANNON
‘Hugely uplifting and wonderful’ AJ PEARCE
‘A ripping yarn full of warmth and wonder’ BETH MORREY
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…
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Reviews
A lovely read - warm, amusing and engaging. There is abundant pleasure on offer here
Bursting with love and hope . . . the kind of book the world needs right now
Infused with warmth and a sense of community. A joy
Brilliant, funny, clever, quirky
A delightful conundrum that he unpicks with wit and empathy. A puzzle that's a treat to complete
Fiendishly clever, intricately plotted and beautifully written. A classic in the making
Utterly beautiful, such a wonderful story told with kindness, elegance and understanding
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
A dazzling and unique debut
A gem of a book
Very special. It's original, quirky and adorable
A real breath of fresh air, one of those rare books that seems to arrive just when it's needed the most
Clever & layered, a secret that keeps you turning the pages, & most of all real, flawed characters
A life-affirming gem
Full of the most enchanting characters
Just gorgeous: wholesome, heartwarming, funny, bittersweet and endearing
Bursting with humour, humanity and wit. A delightful treat
A gorgeously quirky read
An intriguing story of love and family . . . Funny, wise and revealing