Danielle Trussoni’s THE PUZZLE MASTER introduces readers to Mike Brink, a puzzle expert who has come to that avocation by a very circuitous route. Brink was a high school football player in Ohio leading his team to the finals. Early in the championship game, while being tackled, he suffered a serious brain injury. It left him with acquired savant syndrome, a rare disease that follows recovery from brain damage and creates a condition in which the person demonstrates unique abilities relating to memory, artistic skills or, in Brink’s case, puzzle creation and solution.

"Several subplots involve horror, mysticism, religious fantasy and, perhaps most importantly, dolls. Keeping all of these elements moving toward an exciting conclusion is the mark of an excellent mystery novel. THE PUZZLE MASTER accomplishes that task in impressive fashion."

The book opens with a brief career summary of Brink’s life following his injury. After attending MIT and graduating with honors, he has become nationally known for his puzzle work at the New York Times. Through an intermediary, he is contacted by Jess Price, an inmate at a New York prison. She refuses to speak to anyone, including her psychiatrist. She has barely spoken since her arrest and presented no defense to the charges leveled against her for the murder of her boyfriend.

However, Price has drawn a puzzle that her doctor believes might explain the crime for which she has been convicted. So Brink is called upon to assist in solving this perplexing puzzle and somehow unlocking the secrets behind her behavior. A journey stretching from the 13th century to modern-day New York City begins.

Brink finds himself in a world that includes a Jewish mystic and a modern villain, both of whom are entangled in a search for eternal life. This is the heart of the novel, and the clues --- coupled with Brink’s emotional entanglement --- make for quite an intriguing storyline. Several subplots involve horror, mysticism, religious fantasy and, perhaps most importantly, dolls. Keeping all of these elements moving toward an exciting conclusion is the mark of an excellent mystery novel. THE PUZZLE MASTER accomplishes that task in impressive fashion.

Trussoni seems comfortable with Mike Brink and his puzzle-solving career. She is already working on a sequel set in Japan, which is scheduled for a 2024 release. If you enjoyed meeting Brink as I did, you certainly will await his next adventure with great anticipation.