Clayton Stumper is an enigma.
He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt.
Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution.
When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future.
Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve – and it’s a secret that will change everything…
Samuel Burr is a TV producer who has worked on popular factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds.
Samuel’s writing was selected for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy.
He previously studied at Westminster Film School.
Clayton Stumper is a character that’s different. He’s a young man of 25, who seems like he’s 75. His ways are different, he is different. But, he doesn’t know who he is and he wants to find out.
What a beautiful novel. It’s all about chosen family, love and the solving of puzzles. Including the puzzle of existence and finding out about yourself. Clayton needs to find out who he is and how he grew up with a woman who was long past having children, but who took him in. Did she know who his real family are? Will he ever find out? I found both Pippa and Clay were fascinating characters and there was much more to them than you might originally think. A great book for not thinking you know anyone more deeply than they let you!
I really advise that you read this lovely novel this summer. It’s a beautiful book, about finding yourself, love, and a truly life affirming story about choosing your own way, family, following your heart and it’s a wonderful read. If you need an uplifting novel do read this.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
Books’n’banter 