Debut author Samuel Burr delights readers with his charming story of Pippa and her chosen family in The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. That feeling of belonging is universal and the Fellowship provides a safe haven for jigsaw puzzle makers, coders, maze makers, lexicographers and the like; a quirky bunch who join together in friendship and camaraderie. Pippa, the leader of the group, always wanted to be a mother so when a baby was left on the doorstep of the Fellowship, she took him in and raised him as her own. Once he becomes a young man, he wants to know who his real parents were but before he could get any answers, Pippa passes away. Although she doesn’t openly reveal the secret of his birth before she is gone, unbeknownst to him, she leaves the boy with a puzzle that will lead him to his truth, and as he follows the clues to learn where he came from, he finds himself in the process.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a heartwarming story of people who come together because of a common interest, develop warm relationships by creating a supportive, family-like environment and travel the winding road to self discovery. Author Samuel Burr made this book so much fun for me -the Membership Registry page, the inclusion of many types of puzzles and puzzle-related professions, and the likable characters and how they experienced different kinds of love…so much joy and puzzle solving! A real winner for me!
And One More Thing…
Did you know LinkedIn now has puzzle/games? I am hooked! Queens is like Sudoku with no numbers, just crowns and colors. Pinpoint is more of a guessing game, and Crossclimb is more like a crossword. Adding all that to the NY Times Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee and Wordle, I just have to wake up earlier to solve all the puzzles and play all the games before the day begins!
About Samuel Burr, Author and TV Producer
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, BBC Four’s Make: Craft Britain, and the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds.
A documentary he shot inside a retirement village when he was eighteen 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 several elderly charities as a telephone befriender. He lives in London with his partner Tom and their cat Muriel.
He has always been old at heart.
