The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni

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.

Published by Random House
on October 8, 2024

Review:

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley and the publisher via PRHAudio. All thoughts are my own.

I read nothing but thrillers and horror books in October, and after a while, they all started to feel uninspired and predictable. I am happy to say that this book broke that cycle for me. This was precisely the type of book I needed and a lot of that was due to the unique story the author has crafted. I was completely captivated by this one and was so invested that I both listened to an audiobook and read an electronic ARC. There were times when I was literally on the edge of my seat.

The story follows Mike Brink, a puzzle master dealing with something called acquired savant syndrome. This is a real thing, and according to Google (and the information provided at the beginning of the book), it typically occurs when a person experiences some sort of head trauma and leaves them with extraordinary cognitive abilities. People suddenly develop musical talents, mathematical skills, etc. In Mike’s case, he has an uncanny ability to solve puzzles thanks to a traumatic brain injury that he suffered in high school. One day, a strange woman appears in his life and invites him to Tokyo to open the legendary Dragon Box, a puzzle box that has remained unsolved for over 150 years. The stakes are even higher because anyone who has attempted to open the box in the past has died. Mike understands the danger ahead, but he also feels that this is something he has to do – so off to Tokyo he goes.

Set in the Year of the Wood Dragon, the book takes us on a journey through Japan’s rich history and culture as Brink delves into the mystery surrounding the box. The story goes from intriguing to tension-filled the moment Mike sits down and attempts to solve the box’s many puzzles. The author does a fantastic job of describing the puzzles and how Mike goes about solving them. I could easily picture them in my mind. It also helped that the electronic ARC I read had illustrations of some of the puzzles, making it that much more immersive.

Trussoni’s writing is very strong. The plot is intriguing, the characters likable, and the action is pretty much non-stop – the book seemed to fly by, and I was surprised when I reached the end. Trussoni wastes no time ramping up the action and does a great job of peeling back the layers of Mike and other supporting characters little by little while keeping the pacing brisk and tensions high. I didn’t realize that this is the second book in a series. I didn’t feel like I had missed anything, and I will definitely be going back and reading the first book in the series.

As far as the audiobook goes, the narration was top-notch. Edoardo Ballerini’s portrayal of the characters and his ability to hit all the beats effortlessly was commendable. His performance added another layer of enjoyment to the book.

Overall, this was a different type of thriller than I typically read and was a welcome departure from the predictable murder mysteries I tend to gravitate toward. With its unique blend of puzzle-solving, high-stakes action, and a rich cultural backdrop, I was totally engaged the entire time. The intricate, fast-paced plot makes this a must-read for anyone looking for a different type of action-packed thriller.