Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC and MB Communications & Random House, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Puzzle Box in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Random House / PRH Audio
Published: October 8, 2024
Summary:
It is the Year of the Wood Dragon, and the ingenious Mike Brink has been invited to Tokyo, Japan to open the legendary Dragon Box, a mysterious nineteenth-century puzzle that has remained unsolved for over 150 years.
The box was constructed during one of Japan’s most tumultuous periods, when the samurai class was disbanded and the shogun lost power. In this moment of national crisis, Emperor Meiji placed a priceless Imperial secret in the Dragon Box, locked it, and hid it in a temple far from the palace. Only two people knew how to open the box: Meiji and the box’s sadistic constructor, Ogawa. Both died without telling a soul what was inside, or how to open it.
Since then, the Imperial family has held a clandestine contest to open the box every twelve years, in the Year of the Dragon. The Dragon Box is devilishly difficult, filled with tricks, booby traps, poisons, and mind-bending twists. Every puzzle master who has attempted to open it has died in the process.
But Brink is not any puzzle master. With his uncanny abilities, he may be the only person alive who can crack it. Yet, his determination is echoed by a radical group—headed by two sisters descended from an illustrious but disgraced samurai clan—who have vowed to claim Meiji’s secret. They know that the box’s contents have the power to change the fate of Japan, and the world. When they align with Brink’s archrival, Jameson Sedge, Brink is up against the most dangerous challenge of his life.
Mike Brink’s quest to open The Dragon Box launches him on a breakneck adventure across Japan, from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to the pristine forests of Hakone to historic Kyoto to an ancient cave in Kyushu. In the process, he discovers the power of Meiji’s hidden treasure, and– more crucially– the true nature of his extraordinary talent.
My thoughts:
Last year, I picked up a copy of The Puzzle Master after seeing rave reviews for it and I fell in love with not only the concept of the plot but also with the main character, Mike Brink. I wanted more and was so happy when I heard another Puzzle book was coming out and dare I say this second book was even better!
While you can absolutely read The Puzzle Box as a stand-alone, I do recommend reading the previous book to really get a feel for who Mike Brink is. Yes, the author does give just enough backstory in this latest book to get you up to speed, but I feel you will have a much better picture of just who he is and why he is the right man for this quest if you do read The Puzzle Master.
Now…let’s talk about this new one. I think one of the main reasons I loved this one more is because of the puzzle itself – it just appealed to me more. The idea of a centuries old puzzle box that has remained unsolved for over 150 years and those who have tried ended up dead? Tell me more! Plus, there is the Japanese culture and even bits of history that are woven into the story. So many rich descriptions of places, royalty and even the food!
This is an action-packed, high stakes read that is full of intrigue, mystery and suspense. I also loved that it reads very visually. I felt that I was able to see very clearly what was happening as I was reading this one, that’s how vivid the writing was.
I hope this is not the last we’ve seen of Mike Brink and his amazing puzzle-solving ability!
Audio thoughts:
I paired the audio with the print when I saw that Edoardo Ballerini was narrating this one. He did an amazing job with the voices, making for an excellent listening experience. Having the print book on hand allowed me to see the puzzles when they were drawn into the book.
Books in this series:
- The Puzzle Master
- The Puzzle Box
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