Samuel Burr is a TV Producer who has worked on a number of popular shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is his debut novel and I highly recommend reading it.
Clayton was adopted by Pippa after being left on her doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers as a baby. The Fellowship consists of elderly residents who are all expert puzzle masters. When Pippa passes away Clayton is left clues in the form of puzzles, crosswords and a maze to help find his birth family with help from others along the way.
The first thing I can say about this book is that it was simply FABULOUS in all aspects of its creation. The plot was uniquely crafted and so very cleverly executed by the ability to create a narrative with the use of intricate puzzles that were the heart of the story. The use of past and present timelines between the two main protagonists was a significant factor in capturing the essence and nostalgia of the story as well as the attention of the reader till the end. I couldn’t fault it in any way.
I relished the big medley of lovely and memorable characters who all played a vital role to bring the story to life. A delightful and moving story about the meaning of family and community in the world.
Reviewed by Bianca Malyan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samuel studied at Westminster Film School and now works as an author and freelance TV executive. He has developed and produced popular-factual shows including Channel 4’s Genderquake and The Greatest Shows on Earth, BBC Two’s Eight Go Rallying and The Secret Life of Cleaners, and the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds.
A documentary he shot inside a retirement village when he was 18 years old launched his career in television and inspired his debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. Samuel’s writing was shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy.
In his spare time, Samuel volunteers for the elderly charity Age UK. He lives in London with his partner Tom and their cat Muriel.
He has always been old at heart.
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