The Puzzle Master - Active Reading Discussion

[John]

This area is for any discussion about the May 2023 special book selection, The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni, while we are reading it.

Please make use of the spoilers function ([spoiler]...[/spoiler] but replace [] with <>) as appropriate to be sure we don't ruin parts of the book for others.

spoiler: (view spoiler)[ It looks like this :) (hide spoiler)]

Happy reading!

[Jason]

I'm about 50 pages in. Has me hooked!To me it has a Dan Brown's Robert Langdon character vibe (which I really enjoyed). Anyone else start reading it yet?

[Nanette]

Jason wrote: "I'm about 50 pages in. Has me hooked!To me it has a Dan Brown's Robert Langdon character vibe (which I really enjoyed). Anyone else start reading it yet?"

Jason, I really enjoyed Dan Brown's Robert Langdon character. I am planning on starting the book tonight.

[Doug]

I’m about 100 pages in. It seems to have a good balance of small scale puzzle details and a big picture conspiracy mystery so far. The codes and the personalities appear accurately drawn. Watching Astrid at the same time by coincidence and there’s lots of parallels. My classmate wrote a best selling nonfiction book on the Spectrum and what I’ve seen in that work is reflected in modern fiction characters now.

[John]

I thought the same about Robert Langdon or Baldacci's savant character that solves crimes for the FBI. He became a savant through a football injury too. I'm hoping this Jess character will be interesting. I like the PDF format to read too.

[Michael]

Looking forward to starting this, but trying to finish off two other books I'm partway through before diving into another.

[Doug]

Now 200 pages in and the book is different than what I expected, but will leave further comment for end of month review.

[Nicole]

I just started the book this weekend and I was immediately drawn into the conspiracy/mystery aspect of the book but I love the entire vibe shift that takes place once the Sedge house journal section starts. I keep getting upset when I have to set the book down because I want to know everything...

[Doug]

Nicole I agree the strengths of the book are in the journals.

[Esther]

I cracked this one open and the first puzzle is in Hebrew so that is a good start.

[Michael]

I started last night. Just a few chapters in, but I'm already intrigued by the premise and the writing style is engaging.

[Jenny]

I finished reading this book today—an excellent book to read. A book that is hard to put down. Lucky for me, I started reading it yesterday, so I didn't need to go to sleep last night.

[MJ]

I love its structure in small chapters. It gives it a very good rhythm. It has an easy reading and a clever plot. By the moment, I am enjoying it a lot. I'm in chapter 26.

[Johanna]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[Haha, the doll :D I actually love horror with dolls involved - they can be too creepy 😂😂 I am curious to know what's the secret that is dangerous to know about. Is it the location of the doll? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

John wrote: "I thought the same about Robert Langdon or Baldacci's savant character that solves crimes for the FBI. He became a savant through a football injury too. I'm hoping this Jess character will be inter..."

I don't like the format because I can't change the size of the font nor the color or light of the background -.-

[Johanna]

Finished
(view spoiler)[This felt a bit slow somehow. I loved the beginning but soon noticed how slowly things were revealed. And then the reading didn't feel really intriguing. Well you can't get every secret revealed immediately but those same paper were chased after so long. And I thought the doll would have played a bigger role. Especially after that one terrifying night when it moved O.O That would have been so awesome! I think this was more thriller than horror and I just prefer a bit more fast-pacing thrillers. This had it's moments but wasn't extremely thrilling either. And that insta-love wasn't my thing. Characters were a bit flat. I just loved the premise but I am not so sure if this delivered what I had expected :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Michael]

Finished today. Review to follow.
I really enjoyed this. I would have finished much sooner if I didn't have so much else going on right now.
Read in small doses whenever I had a little time. I had no trouble recalling where I left off -- the images and descriptions/situations were so memorable!

[Esther]

Having visited Prague in January 2020 I admit I was quite thrilled at the mention of the Old-New Synagogue (and yes I did buy a little Golem figurine)