THE PUZZLE MASTER by Daniella Trussoni

5 stars

Mike Brink, a genius puzzle and pattern solver due to a sports brain injury as a teen, faces off against one of the hardest mechanical puzzles in the world in his thrilling second outing by Trussoni. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat, racing through the pages to find out what happens next!

Sakura, a woman from Japan who’s a talented puzzle solver in her own right, shows up on Mike’s doorstop with a small puzzle box she presents to him. It’s an invitation to a challenge to solve the rumored Dragon Puzzle Box created in the mid-1800’s by a Japanese emperor intent on protecting a powerful secret. No one knows what the secret might be, and the emperor who commissioned it engaged a puzzle box builder intent on trying to kill anyone who tries to open the box. The rules are that the box can only be opened during a set date of the year, which comes once every 12 years. Between that time, the box is guarded by dedicated priest who defend it with their lives moving it between religious temples.

Mike has just a minute to open the puzzle box which using his genius intuition he manages to do. But just as he readies to accept the challenge, Mike’s long-time psychiatrist, Dr. Trevers, is found dead slumped at his desk, but not after sending Mike an image associated with the puzzle box he’s just solved. This psychiatrist had been on the brink of finding a medical solution that would dull Mike’s abilities but hopefully enable him to live a more normal, less anxious life. Rachel, mike’s other close friend, an art historian who approaches the world seeking to understand the mystical and oracles, sees Mike as a possible answer to historical instances of clairvoyance. Mike asks her to come along with him as he heads to Japan to take on the puzzle challenge.

Meanwhile, there’s a long-standing group of women samurai lead by Umi who have all been training for generations since the Emperor who created the Dragon Box took away their standing in Japanese society. There’s also a powerful AI, downloaded from Jason Sedge, a genius billionaire’s brain, who’s working alongside the women samarai to grab the box’s treasure if ever opened. Mike’s also trying to figure out Sakura’s role in all this and whether he can trust her.

With potential, unseen enemies on all sides and all former contestants who have tried to open the box killed by it, Mike fights for his life as he prepares to open the box.

What a breathless adventure!! LOVE this series!! While you can read this book on its own, it’s worth reading Mike’s first outing as well.

 Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.