The Puzzle Box

The Puzzle Box by Lisa Adair is a suspenseful mystery set against the nostalgic backdrop of 1980s Saskatchewan. By highlighting authentic period details, from library card catalogs and rotary phones to the joys of biking through town largely unsupervised, this novel captures the essence of growing up during that era, balancing its unique charm with the genuine challenges of the time.

The story opens at a high-stakes poker game in Toronto, but the book primarily takes place in the small fictional town of Glenmere, Saskatchewan, where the sixteen-year-old Amy Young, recently orphaned and left in the care of her aunt by marriage, is working herself to the bone in hopes of leaving town to pursue an education and a better life one day. Amy's journey is portrayed with depth and realism. Her genuine yearning for education and independence creates a poignant contrast with her bleak present, as she shifts seamlessly between a maturing, adultified perspective and the vulnerable, naive outlook of her youth, adding significant complexity to her character arc.

The pacing of the book is well done, maintaining a consistent rhythm that drives the narrative forward toward a satisfying conclusion where all loose ends are resolved, albeit a tad too neatly.

At times, The Puzzle Box sacrifices character consistency to prolong the mystery. For instance, despite her grandmother’s urgent warning about the box’s significance, the protagonist inexplicably hides it under her bed while she attends to mundane tasks like sorting bills and reading a book on woodworking, a decision that feels entirely out of character. When the box is finally opened at the book's conclusion, what it reveals seems anticlimactic given that it's taken over two hundred pages to get there.

While the protagonist is young, this is an adult mystery with some violence, reference to drug use, and criminal gangs. This mystery will appeal to anyone who enjoys mysteries with strong themes of coming-of-age and personal growth, and Gen X readers looking for a hit of nostalgia.

The Puzzle Box by Lisa Adair is a well crafted story that captures the nostalgic essence of 1980s Saskatchewan while maintaining a compelling, high-stakes plot. While the narrative occasionally suffers from pacing issues and character choices that feel contrived for the sake of the mystery, these flaws are outweighed by deep character development and a satisfying conclusion. Ultimately, this book is an excellent recommendation for readers who enjoy coming-of-age themes, as well as readers seeking a vivid, character-driven trip down memory lane.