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The Contest
In this cozy crime novel, a previous puzzle prodigy returns to the competing world. A thoughtful, low-stakes mystery, perfect for fans of The Queen's Gambit.
Once a child prodigy of puzzles and logic games, Gillian Charles now barely ekes out a living in Los Angeles. With her sick mother facing eviction from her care facility, Gillian can't say no when her childhood nemesis, Tommy, shows up at her apartment with a $50k offer. All she has to do is return to the place where it all started, where she swore she'd never set foot Miscellany.
Miscellany is a place of wonder and enchantment—a Disney World for puzzle lovers, and one that quickly owns the lives of those who stay too long. Tommy is running the park's latest big game, and he's convinced someone is leaking the answers. With investment and expansion in the cards, Miscellany can’t afford a scandal. As a former puzzler who kept her distance from Miscellany for twenty years, Gillian should find it easy to investigate while avoiding Miscellany’s charms and entanglements.
But when Gillian arrives, she discovers things aren't so straightforward. Her turncoat ex-friend Martin Ellsberg holds the security reins, Tommy’s estranged wife Evelina spins PR webs around the park’s machinations, and the manipulative park founder Sebastian offers her the financial security and intellectual future she always wanted. With her mother’s circumstances growing more dire, and under pressure to sweep the accusations under the rug, Gillian finds childhood games all the more treacherous for adults.
Miscellany is offering Gillian the life she always wanted. But at what price?
Once a child prodigy of puzzles and logic games, Gillian Charles now barely ekes out a living in Los Angeles. With her sick mother facing eviction from her care facility, Gillian can't say no when her childhood nemesis, Tommy, shows up at her apartment with a $50k offer. All she has to do is return to the place where it all started, where she swore she'd never set foot Miscellany.
Miscellany is a place of wonder and enchantment—a Disney World for puzzle lovers, and one that quickly owns the lives of those who stay too long. Tommy is running the park's latest big game, and he's convinced someone is leaking the answers. With investment and expansion in the cards, Miscellany can’t afford a scandal. As a former puzzler who kept her distance from Miscellany for twenty years, Gillian should find it easy to investigate while avoiding Miscellany’s charms and entanglements.
But when Gillian arrives, she discovers things aren't so straightforward. Her turncoat ex-friend Martin Ellsberg holds the security reins, Tommy’s estranged wife Evelina spins PR webs around the park’s machinations, and the manipulative park founder Sebastian offers her the financial security and intellectual future she always wanted. With her mother’s circumstances growing more dire, and under pressure to sweep the accusations under the rug, Gillian finds childhood games all the more treacherous for adults.
Miscellany is offering Gillian the life she always wanted. But at what price?
325 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2025
12 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 21, 2025
The Contest by is one of the most absorbing, mind-expanding stories I've come across. Take all of the best parts of The Queen's Gambit and Squid Games, throw them in a blender, and you might come close to Macfee's Rubik's cube of a sophomore novel.
February 6, 2025
This was such an exciting book to read, I loved the world building of the competition, complete Hunger Games vibes.
Gillian was a fantastic character to follow, both as a child and adult, I was shouting at her to carry on at the river, but as we meet her later, it shows that she is just a genuine person wanting to help others.
The aspect of puzzles were intriguing, expectation adding in the underhanded behaviour of the characters.
This needs to be on your TBR
Gillian was a fantastic character to follow, both as a child and adult, I was shouting at her to carry on at the river, but as we meet her later, it shows that she is just a genuine person wanting to help others.
The aspect of puzzles were intriguing, expectation adding in the underhanded behaviour of the characters.
This needs to be on your TBR
February 26, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Contest is an intriguing thriller novel, written by Jeff Macfee, and published by Datura Books. An original premise that plays with a well-constructed worldbuilding, a wild competition with which our main character, Gillian, has a shared past that she tried to flee from.
As a child, Gillian competed in the Contest, but after losing, she walked away from that world; now, she hustles with several side gigs to keep supporting her chronically ill mother. When the winner of the first Contest comes into her life, asking her to investigate possible cheating, despite she wanted to keep all of this far from her, the money offered is too good to let it pass. But returning to the world of Miscellany also means Gillian having to confront her past and how the Contest marked her life.
We have an excellent character in Gillian's figure: not only that young genius whose esteem was put in being the very best, seeking the approbation from Sebastian (Miscellany's director), but how she's now pressured by her family and how she owes so much to her mother. Returning to Miscellany means entering again to that world she was trying to avoid; and immediately we see how she's sucked towards the young Gillian, but this time, with more at the stake. Macfee fleshed her perfectly, giving us an excellent main character, but the rest of the cast is equally memorable.
The winner, Tom, is equally interesting as Gillian; while on the surface he has a successful life, we can see how he hides darker aspects of his life. The other two OG kids are equally touched by the Contest, becoming part of Sebastian's company; but Sebastian has his own light. He's not only brilliant, but also has that quality that makes people want to please him, but we can also see him being vulnerable, human, taking him far from that Willy Wonka image he wove around himself.
The worldbuilding is quite intriguing, with this company that works on creating puzzles to stimulate curiosity, and how the Contest was the pinnacle of it: a sort of Hunger Games trials that was all or nothing for our characters, challenging not only their intelligence but also their ambition (and we can see it perfectly on the prologue). A setting that plays the best to introduce the crime element. The pacing is well-balanced, relatively fast, but it suits well into our story, mixing slower moments that allow us to know more about the characters with tenser scenes.
The Contest is an excellent thriller, quite a cozy crime novel that keeps you hooked until the very last page; if you want to read something unique and really immersive, you should give Jeff Macfee a try!
The Contest is an intriguing thriller novel, written by Jeff Macfee, and published by Datura Books. An original premise that plays with a well-constructed worldbuilding, a wild competition with which our main character, Gillian, has a shared past that she tried to flee from.
As a child, Gillian competed in the Contest, but after losing, she walked away from that world; now, she hustles with several side gigs to keep supporting her chronically ill mother. When the winner of the first Contest comes into her life, asking her to investigate possible cheating, despite she wanted to keep all of this far from her, the money offered is too good to let it pass. But returning to the world of Miscellany also means Gillian having to confront her past and how the Contest marked her life.
We have an excellent character in Gillian's figure: not only that young genius whose esteem was put in being the very best, seeking the approbation from Sebastian (Miscellany's director), but how she's now pressured by her family and how she owes so much to her mother. Returning to Miscellany means entering again to that world she was trying to avoid; and immediately we see how she's sucked towards the young Gillian, but this time, with more at the stake. Macfee fleshed her perfectly, giving us an excellent main character, but the rest of the cast is equally memorable.
The winner, Tom, is equally interesting as Gillian; while on the surface he has a successful life, we can see how he hides darker aspects of his life. The other two OG kids are equally touched by the Contest, becoming part of Sebastian's company; but Sebastian has his own light. He's not only brilliant, but also has that quality that makes people want to please him, but we can also see him being vulnerable, human, taking him far from that Willy Wonka image he wove around himself.
The worldbuilding is quite intriguing, with this company that works on creating puzzles to stimulate curiosity, and how the Contest was the pinnacle of it: a sort of Hunger Games trials that was all or nothing for our characters, challenging not only their intelligence but also their ambition (and we can see it perfectly on the prologue). A setting that plays the best to introduce the crime element. The pacing is well-balanced, relatively fast, but it suits well into our story, mixing slower moments that allow us to know more about the characters with tenser scenes.
The Contest is an excellent thriller, quite a cozy crime novel that keeps you hooked until the very last page; if you want to read something unique and really immersive, you should give Jeff Macfee a try!
February 13, 2025
"She enjoyed being put together as much as anyone, maybe more than most, but at this moment she needed to feel free and unencumbered. Confronting Sebastian was a game, and like any game, she needed agility more than style."
This was such an original premise and just what I needed! As a child, Gillian competed in a contest for puzzle lovers, but lost, and ended up walking away from that world. Now she hustles, working a ton of side gigs just to get by and help support her chronically ill mother. When her past comes knocking and she’s invited back to investigate cheating, the money is too good for her to pass up.
Plunged right away into the contest when Gillian was 12 years old, I was immediately sucked in. Four children competing in a setting that could rival the dome in ‘Hunger Games’, but with the wonder and dark side of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’. Sebastian, the creator of the contest is enigmatic and secretive and all the children desperately want to please him AND win the money that will take care of their families for life.
When Gillian returns to Miscellany, the company she left behind, in many ways she’s still a 12 year old trying to gain Sebastian’s approval. She’s conflicted and unsure of herself and her motivations. She wants to provide for her mother, but she also wants to PROVE she’s a winner... It’s fascinating how she wrestles with pride yet doubts herself as the child she WAS and the adult she IS war with each other.
THE CONTEST is an exploration of revisiting your past, deciding what’s most important and how far you’ll go for financial security. The pacing was perfect for a suspenseful light noir and had the vibes of a PI novel with mystery elements. I was taken by surprise a few times and near the end when Gillian is presented with a choice, a moral decision...I was unsure what she would do! A pleasure to read with an immersive world I was able to get completely lost in, THE CONTEST is a truly unique experience with thought provoking themes.
____
Thank you Datura Books for my free copy. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: language, drug use, Mention of: alcoholism, drug addiction, lupus, suicide
This was such an original premise and just what I needed! As a child, Gillian competed in a contest for puzzle lovers, but lost, and ended up walking away from that world. Now she hustles, working a ton of side gigs just to get by and help support her chronically ill mother. When her past comes knocking and she’s invited back to investigate cheating, the money is too good for her to pass up.
Plunged right away into the contest when Gillian was 12 years old, I was immediately sucked in. Four children competing in a setting that could rival the dome in ‘Hunger Games’, but with the wonder and dark side of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’. Sebastian, the creator of the contest is enigmatic and secretive and all the children desperately want to please him AND win the money that will take care of their families for life.
When Gillian returns to Miscellany, the company she left behind, in many ways she’s still a 12 year old trying to gain Sebastian’s approval. She’s conflicted and unsure of herself and her motivations. She wants to provide for her mother, but she also wants to PROVE she’s a winner... It’s fascinating how she wrestles with pride yet doubts herself as the child she WAS and the adult she IS war with each other.
THE CONTEST is an exploration of revisiting your past, deciding what’s most important and how far you’ll go for financial security. The pacing was perfect for a suspenseful light noir and had the vibes of a PI novel with mystery elements. I was taken by surprise a few times and near the end when Gillian is presented with a choice, a moral decision...I was unsure what she would do! A pleasure to read with an immersive world I was able to get completely lost in, THE CONTEST is a truly unique experience with thought provoking themes.
____
Thank you Datura Books for my free copy. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: language, drug use, Mention of: alcoholism, drug addiction, lupus, suicide
February 1, 2025
Loved the beginning.
December 2, 2024
This was such a fascinating premise! A wild playground, puzzles, competition but with a sinister angle.
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
We have a woman who years early lost a competition that she felt she was cheated out of. She has spent her life avoiding anything to do with the competition since. However to pay for her mother’s care she must return to the fold. She’s convinced to return by the kid who beat her, now an adult and working for the competition. The more she gets back involved the more she realises something isn’t right and she starts to uncover nefarious intentions.
I really loved the idea of the competition and the world built around this, the parks, the puzzles and the drive for giving children access to this immersive world. I would have gladly seen more of this particularly around the puzzles they solve as part of the competition. This was fascinating and such a rich part of the story. The trauma that this caused the main character too and how this rocked her foundations, leaving her with long-lasting issues was really interesting. We see her reluctance to get back involved juxtaposed with her need for the money to support her mother who is in dire circumstances.
We see how she’s tried to shape an identity outside of the competition but how it has coloured her decisions and relationships. Her difficulty connecting and the frictions with her family. This was an interesting look at what a significant impact these types of competitions can have on children and the long lasting ramifications of this sort of pressure and disappointment.
I found this a really interesting and compelling read.
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
We have a woman who years early lost a competition that she felt she was cheated out of. She has spent her life avoiding anything to do with the competition since. However to pay for her mother’s care she must return to the fold. She’s convinced to return by the kid who beat her, now an adult and working for the competition. The more she gets back involved the more she realises something isn’t right and she starts to uncover nefarious intentions.
I really loved the idea of the competition and the world built around this, the parks, the puzzles and the drive for giving children access to this immersive world. I would have gladly seen more of this particularly around the puzzles they solve as part of the competition. This was fascinating and such a rich part of the story. The trauma that this caused the main character too and how this rocked her foundations, leaving her with long-lasting issues was really interesting. We see her reluctance to get back involved juxtaposed with her need for the money to support her mother who is in dire circumstances.
We see how she’s tried to shape an identity outside of the competition but how it has coloured her decisions and relationships. Her difficulty connecting and the frictions with her family. This was an interesting look at what a significant impact these types of competitions can have on children and the long lasting ramifications of this sort of pressure and disappointment.
I found this a really interesting and compelling read.
October 18, 2024
A mystery wrapped inside a riddle inside an enigma, The Contest is a clever puzzle box of a book. An intrigue-filled, cerebral theme park provides the setting for an affecting tale about finding one’s worth after defeat, and Macfee’s storytelling instantly drew me in from the first page.
March 2, 2025
The Contest starts with child prodigy Gillian Charles navigating the obstacles of Miscellany’s Wonkaesque prize puzzle course, which promises a huge reward for the winners and the knowledge that all of their hard work, dedication and innate skill is not enough for those that come in behind first place. It’s a tough lesson for a child to learn under the eyes of family, idol and the general public.
The story really starts when we meet adult Gillian, struggling to keep the fraying ends of her life together and powered only by bitterness and a stubborn determination not to let the world see her fail (again). Then one of her fellow prodigies turns up with a job offer that would allow her to not only taste the life she could have had if her Miscellany dreams had come true but the chance to protect future Charlie Buckets and Gillian Charleses who might see their potential unfairly shattered against Miscellany’s maze walls. And the only drawback is she has to go back to what she desperately wanted and lost, and face the people who knew her back then as the woman she is now.
Far from a childhood chocolate factory romp, this book presents a mature, adult look at the effect of such competitions and challenges on children – for good and for bad – in the form of a slow-paced and personal-growth centred thriller. Gillian does investigate the mysteries at the heart of Miscellany, but the focus of the story is more about her inner investigation, as she grapples with her feelings about the competition and how it shaped her life to the current point.
As a fellow puzzle-lover, it was fascinating to see all the different challenges contestants faced and how they fit into the later mystery narrative as Gillian attempts to solve the clues she uncovers. And there are plenty of puzzles everywhere – every conversation is cryptic, guarded and potentially leading her (or pushing her) where others want her to go. In fact, I started to feel like every character was suspect and that they were all playing some complicated game of 3D multi-person chess, with Gillian as everyone’s pawn. Even her friendships are dysfunctional and give off the opposite of ‘found family’ vibes!
Mostly, though, this is a suspenseful and cerebral mystery with a really clever central premise – how would Charlie Bucket have gone back to normal life had he lost the Chocolate Factory at that final hurdle? – and the exploration through the characters of the adult childhood competitors is realistically drawn and raises interesting ethical dilemmas, all leading to the ultimate moral quandary in the finale.
Lovers of long-term strategic puzzle-solving and pursuits such as chess will enjoy the atmosphere of this unique mystery, and it serves as a warning for anyone who ever dreamed of living the Disney- or Willy Wonka Golden Ticket winner life!
The story really starts when we meet adult Gillian, struggling to keep the fraying ends of her life together and powered only by bitterness and a stubborn determination not to let the world see her fail (again). Then one of her fellow prodigies turns up with a job offer that would allow her to not only taste the life she could have had if her Miscellany dreams had come true but the chance to protect future Charlie Buckets and Gillian Charleses who might see their potential unfairly shattered against Miscellany’s maze walls. And the only drawback is she has to go back to what she desperately wanted and lost, and face the people who knew her back then as the woman she is now.
Far from a childhood chocolate factory romp, this book presents a mature, adult look at the effect of such competitions and challenges on children – for good and for bad – in the form of a slow-paced and personal-growth centred thriller. Gillian does investigate the mysteries at the heart of Miscellany, but the focus of the story is more about her inner investigation, as she grapples with her feelings about the competition and how it shaped her life to the current point.
As a fellow puzzle-lover, it was fascinating to see all the different challenges contestants faced and how they fit into the later mystery narrative as Gillian attempts to solve the clues she uncovers. And there are plenty of puzzles everywhere – every conversation is cryptic, guarded and potentially leading her (or pushing her) where others want her to go. In fact, I started to feel like every character was suspect and that they were all playing some complicated game of 3D multi-person chess, with Gillian as everyone’s pawn. Even her friendships are dysfunctional and give off the opposite of ‘found family’ vibes!
Mostly, though, this is a suspenseful and cerebral mystery with a really clever central premise – how would Charlie Bucket have gone back to normal life had he lost the Chocolate Factory at that final hurdle? – and the exploration through the characters of the adult childhood competitors is realistically drawn and raises interesting ethical dilemmas, all leading to the ultimate moral quandary in the finale.
Lovers of long-term strategic puzzle-solving and pursuits such as chess will enjoy the atmosphere of this unique mystery, and it serves as a warning for anyone who ever dreamed of living the Disney- or Willy Wonka Golden Ticket winner life!
June 7, 2025
Read for book club. Ok at the beginning where we see Gillian part of the contest and learn about the puzzle world. After a few chapters it bogs down in the minutia of these puzzles they solve and the plot changes. I didn’t think the story unfolded well at that point.
February 20, 2025
In this book, we follow Gillian, a former child prodigy who is now eking out a living doing odd jobs. Her former rival Tommy seeks her out and offers to pay her to come to Miscellany, a puzzle theme park designed and run by genius puzzlemaker Sebastian, to discover who is helping children cheat during puzzle competitions.
This book started out really strong, I loved the puzzle element and enjoyed the flashbacks of Gillian and Tommy competing for Sebastian when they were younger, with Ready Player One vibes. However, as the story developed, it moved on to more interpersonal elements which I found less interesting. I think this would appeal more to those who enjoy cosy crime and drama rather than puzzles.
A recommended read for fans of Ready Player One and The Queen's Gambit.
Thank you to Netgalley and Datura books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book started out really strong, I loved the puzzle element and enjoyed the flashbacks of Gillian and Tommy competing for Sebastian when they were younger, with Ready Player One vibes. However, as the story developed, it moved on to more interpersonal elements which I found less interesting. I think this would appeal more to those who enjoy cosy crime and drama rather than puzzles.
A recommended read for fans of Ready Player One and The Queen's Gambit.
Thank you to Netgalley and Datura books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. Full review coming soon. 🖤
March 1, 2025
Possibly biased rating because my friend wrote this, but I really did enjoy it!
February 11, 2025
When Gillian Charles lost 'The Contest' as a child for doing the right thing, she decided to reject her love of puzzles & logic games. Now an adult & barely making ends meet, Gillian lives in LA & her sick mother is facing eviction from her care facility, so when the winner of the childhood competition & now head of the company behind the world famous Contest, Tommy, turns up with an offer of $50,000 Gillian can't say no. Tommy wants her to investigate a possible scandal - he thinks that someone is leaking the answers to the next big game - & they can't afford the bad publicity. Now she finds herself back at Miscellany a theme park set around puzzles where she swore she'd never go. When Gillian arrives, she realises that the other 3 former contestants all work there in some capacity or other, she was the only one who walked away. She begins to investigate the allegations but then Tommy disappears.....
This started off really strongly with the original Contest - personally I love logic puzzles so the beginning really grabbed my attention. After that though, the pace slowed a little & the storyline got a little bogged down with interpersonal relationships & past friendships rather than concentrating on the puzzles & the mystery. Gillian was also forever second-guessing herself but apart from that she was quite a sympathetic main character. I wasn't a fan of the ending though - unless there is going to be a sequel it was rather unsatisfying. 3.25 stars (rounded down) - it was enjoyable but I think it could have been outstanding with a little more work.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Datura Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This started off really strongly with the original Contest - personally I love logic puzzles so the beginning really grabbed my attention. After that though, the pace slowed a little & the storyline got a little bogged down with interpersonal relationships & past friendships rather than concentrating on the puzzles & the mystery. Gillian was also forever second-guessing herself but apart from that she was quite a sympathetic main character. I wasn't a fan of the ending though - unless there is going to be a sequel it was rather unsatisfying. 3.25 stars (rounded down) - it was enjoyable but I think it could have been outstanding with a little more work.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Datura Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
January 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, and would describe the concept as something between Takeshi’s Castle and Squid Games. The world of The Contest was really well constructed and I enjoyed following Gillian’s journey and thought process throughout the book.
One thing I would have loved was to have some integrated puzzles to solve a la The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers - but to be honest I’m probably not up to the challenge!
Thank you to Datura and Jeff Macfee for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
One thing I would have loved was to have some integrated puzzles to solve a la The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers - but to be honest I’m probably not up to the challenge!
Thank you to Datura and Jeff Macfee for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
March 7, 2025
🧩 A Cozy Mystery With Twists, Schemes, & Puzzles Galore! 🧩
📖 Genre: Cozy Crime / Mystery
🖋 Author: Jeff Macfee
⭐️ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
🔎 Tropes: Former Prodigy Returns, A Game With High Stakes, Found Family vs. Betrayal, Theme Park Shenanigans
If The Queen’s Gambit and Knives Out had a baby, and then that baby grew up obsessing over logic puzzles, childhood rivalries, and slightly sinister theme parks, you’d get The Contest.
This book is smart, sneaky, and full of twists, but without ever losing that lighthearted, cozy charm. It’s a low-stakes mystery with high-stakes emotional tension, where an ex-puzzle prodigy is forced back into a world she abandoned, only to find herself entangled in a game where the pieces don’t quite fit.
Jeff Macfee delivers a story that’s both clever and deeply human, with a main character who is witty, cynical, and just desperate enough to take a bad deal and make it worse. If you love quirky whodunits with brain-teasing fun, The Contest is a must-read!
Gillian Charles was a child prodigy in the world of competitive puzzles and logic games, but those days are long behind her. Now, she’s barely scraping by, and her mom’s medical bills are stacking up faster than she can pay them.
Enter Tommy, her old childhood rival turned big-shot game designer, who offers her $50,000 to solve a problem at Miscellany, a theme park dedicated to all things puzzles. Someone is leaking answers in the park’s latest grand competition, and Tommy needs Gillian to find the mole.
But Miscellany is more than just a puzzle-lover’s dream, it’s a web of secrets, betrayals, and old wounds Gillian swore she’d never revisit. And as she digs deeper into the suspects (her backstabbing former best friend? Tommy’s PR-savvy ex-wife? The enigmatic and controlling park founder?), she realises the biggest question isn’t who’s cheating, it’s whether she can resist Miscellany’s temptations before it swallows her whole.
What I Loved: Clever, Quirky, and Just the Right Amount of Chaos
✅ The Atmosphere: Think “Puzzles Meet Disneyland” 🏰 – Miscellany is the kind of place I wish existed in real life! It’s a theme park built around brainteasers, riddles, and high-stakes competitions, but it also has that cult-like undertone of a place that doesn’t let you go easily. The setting is as much a character as any of the people, and I loved every second of exploring it.
✅ Gillian: A Snarky, Reluctant Heroine 🤓 – She’s intelligent, sharp, and deeply jaded, but she’s also vulnerable and struggling to keep it together. Watching her navigate her past, deal with morally grey choices, and outthink people who underestimated her was so satisfying.
✅ The Whodunit Mystery: More Layers Than A Sudoku Grid 🔎 – The mystery here is not your typical murder case—instead, it’s a game of deception, strategy, and manipulation, where everyone has an agenda. The way Gillian peels back each layer felt like solving a puzzle in real time, and I was totally hooked.
✅ The Emotional Stakes: Money vs. Morality 💰 – This isn’t just a game for Gillian—it’s her shot at financial security and taking care of her mother. The emotional weight behind her decisions made the story so much more compelling.
✅ Witty, Dry Humour That Made Me Laugh Out Loud 😆 – The banter, the inner monologues, the absolutely savage way Gillian observes people….chef’s kiss.
What Could Have Been Better?
Some Side Characters Could Have Used More Depth – There were a lot of fascinating characters, but some (especially Tommy and Martin) could have been fleshed out more. Their motivations felt a little surface-level compared to how rich and layered the rest of the book was.
Slow Burn Mystery, Fast-Paced Ending – The book spends a lot of time setting up Miscellany and its intrigue, which is great for immersion, but then the final reveals felt a bit rushed. I wouldn’t have minded a few extra chapters to let the tension breathe before the big conclusion.
If you love a mystery that’s more about brains than blood, The Contest is a fun, quirky, and deeply engaging read. It has:
✔ A unique and immersive setting
✔ A sarcastic, cynical, and lovable main character
✔ A mystery that feels like solving a real puzzle
✔ A touch of emotional depth that makes it more than just a game
It’s a brilliant mix of cozy crime, nostalgic rivalries, and intellectual intrigue, and I highly recommend it for fans of Sherlock Holmes-style deduction, The Queen’s Gambit vibes, and stories that prove the past never truly lets you go.
📖 Genre: Cozy Crime / Mystery
🖋 Author: Jeff Macfee
⭐️ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
🔎 Tropes: Former Prodigy Returns, A Game With High Stakes, Found Family vs. Betrayal, Theme Park Shenanigans
If The Queen’s Gambit and Knives Out had a baby, and then that baby grew up obsessing over logic puzzles, childhood rivalries, and slightly sinister theme parks, you’d get The Contest.
This book is smart, sneaky, and full of twists, but without ever losing that lighthearted, cozy charm. It’s a low-stakes mystery with high-stakes emotional tension, where an ex-puzzle prodigy is forced back into a world she abandoned, only to find herself entangled in a game where the pieces don’t quite fit.
Jeff Macfee delivers a story that’s both clever and deeply human, with a main character who is witty, cynical, and just desperate enough to take a bad deal and make it worse. If you love quirky whodunits with brain-teasing fun, The Contest is a must-read!
Gillian Charles was a child prodigy in the world of competitive puzzles and logic games, but those days are long behind her. Now, she’s barely scraping by, and her mom’s medical bills are stacking up faster than she can pay them.
Enter Tommy, her old childhood rival turned big-shot game designer, who offers her $50,000 to solve a problem at Miscellany, a theme park dedicated to all things puzzles. Someone is leaking answers in the park’s latest grand competition, and Tommy needs Gillian to find the mole.
But Miscellany is more than just a puzzle-lover’s dream, it’s a web of secrets, betrayals, and old wounds Gillian swore she’d never revisit. And as she digs deeper into the suspects (her backstabbing former best friend? Tommy’s PR-savvy ex-wife? The enigmatic and controlling park founder?), she realises the biggest question isn’t who’s cheating, it’s whether she can resist Miscellany’s temptations before it swallows her whole.
What I Loved: Clever, Quirky, and Just the Right Amount of Chaos
✅ The Atmosphere: Think “Puzzles Meet Disneyland” 🏰 – Miscellany is the kind of place I wish existed in real life! It’s a theme park built around brainteasers, riddles, and high-stakes competitions, but it also has that cult-like undertone of a place that doesn’t let you go easily. The setting is as much a character as any of the people, and I loved every second of exploring it.
✅ Gillian: A Snarky, Reluctant Heroine 🤓 – She’s intelligent, sharp, and deeply jaded, but she’s also vulnerable and struggling to keep it together. Watching her navigate her past, deal with morally grey choices, and outthink people who underestimated her was so satisfying.
✅ The Whodunit Mystery: More Layers Than A Sudoku Grid 🔎 – The mystery here is not your typical murder case—instead, it’s a game of deception, strategy, and manipulation, where everyone has an agenda. The way Gillian peels back each layer felt like solving a puzzle in real time, and I was totally hooked.
✅ The Emotional Stakes: Money vs. Morality 💰 – This isn’t just a game for Gillian—it’s her shot at financial security and taking care of her mother. The emotional weight behind her decisions made the story so much more compelling.
✅ Witty, Dry Humour That Made Me Laugh Out Loud 😆 – The banter, the inner monologues, the absolutely savage way Gillian observes people….chef’s kiss.
What Could Have Been Better?
Some Side Characters Could Have Used More Depth – There were a lot of fascinating characters, but some (especially Tommy and Martin) could have been fleshed out more. Their motivations felt a little surface-level compared to how rich and layered the rest of the book was.
Slow Burn Mystery, Fast-Paced Ending – The book spends a lot of time setting up Miscellany and its intrigue, which is great for immersion, but then the final reveals felt a bit rushed. I wouldn’t have minded a few extra chapters to let the tension breathe before the big conclusion.
If you love a mystery that’s more about brains than blood, The Contest is a fun, quirky, and deeply engaging read. It has:
✔ A unique and immersive setting
✔ A sarcastic, cynical, and lovable main character
✔ A mystery that feels like solving a real puzzle
✔ A touch of emotional depth that makes it more than just a game
It’s a brilliant mix of cozy crime, nostalgic rivalries, and intellectual intrigue, and I highly recommend it for fans of Sherlock Holmes-style deduction, The Queen’s Gambit vibes, and stories that prove the past never truly lets you go.
February 11, 2025
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
As a child Gillian Charles was a puzzle-solving genius. She pitted her skills in a contest against other children her age to win the ultimate prize; fame, fortune and a lifestyle where she and her family would never have to worry about a thing, ever again. But she failed. In a moment of compassion, Gillian let the lead slip and came in a paltry second place. As an adult, Gillian makes ends meet in Los Angeles. It’s a life, but not the life she thought she would have. Now, the winner of the contest, Tommy Kundojjala, is on her doorstep asking for help. Miscellany, the place where the Contest Extraordinaire took place all those years ago is set to run another big event. Tommy is convinced one of the contestants taking part has cheated in the preliminaries. And the only person who can uncover the truth is Gillian…
The Contest is a highly intriguing novel about child prodigies and what happens when it all goes wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that most of the action is set in and around a puzzle theme park. Can you imagine such a thing! A place where elite children consume riddles and conundrums, pushing themselves to be the best of the best. I was very impressed with the clever, well-drawn setting. The idea that instead of going to other well-known, adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and consuming vast amounts of calories and sugar, some children would opt for more intellectual nourishment (although I could see it providing the same level of adrenaline to its players!). The main characters are all interesting and help move the story along. Gillian is our lead. The much maligned loser of the Contest Extraordinaire. Reluctantly she returns to Miscellany because, in truth, she needs the cash Tommy has put on the table. Her mother, who she still feels she let down terribly by not winning, is severely ill and needs constant care. Plus, the draw of the puzzles is always strong. But on arrival Gillian discovers that not everything is as it should be at Miscellany. Tommy hasn’t told her the whole truth. Far from it.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Contest is an enjoyable mystery and very different to anything else I’ve read of late. I liked the world-building (elite mathletes battling it out in specially constructed arenas to be the best and win big!), I became fond of Gillian over the course of the book (not sure others will warm to her in the same way as she does have quite a hard edge to her) and I liked how all of it, everything in this strange puzzle focussed world, was the creation of one man, Willy Wonka style! The book is billed as cosy crime but I struggle with that. There’s a certain grittiness to the story. Back to that hard edge I mentioned Gillian having a few moments ago. Definitely more grit than you normally get in a cosy crime novel. I also felt there was a literary tone to the story. All in all, I enjoyed The Contest. It’s a strong debut and I look forward to seeing what Macfee has for us next. Wonderfully intricate, well-plotted and with believable, well-drawn characters. Recommended.
As a child Gillian Charles was a puzzle-solving genius. She pitted her skills in a contest against other children her age to win the ultimate prize; fame, fortune and a lifestyle where she and her family would never have to worry about a thing, ever again. But she failed. In a moment of compassion, Gillian let the lead slip and came in a paltry second place. As an adult, Gillian makes ends meet in Los Angeles. It’s a life, but not the life she thought she would have. Now, the winner of the contest, Tommy Kundojjala, is on her doorstep asking for help. Miscellany, the place where the Contest Extraordinaire took place all those years ago is set to run another big event. Tommy is convinced one of the contestants taking part has cheated in the preliminaries. And the only person who can uncover the truth is Gillian…
The Contest is a highly intriguing novel about child prodigies and what happens when it all goes wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that most of the action is set in and around a puzzle theme park. Can you imagine such a thing! A place where elite children consume riddles and conundrums, pushing themselves to be the best of the best. I was very impressed with the clever, well-drawn setting. The idea that instead of going to other well-known, adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and consuming vast amounts of calories and sugar, some children would opt for more intellectual nourishment (although I could see it providing the same level of adrenaline to its players!). The main characters are all interesting and help move the story along. Gillian is our lead. The much maligned loser of the Contest Extraordinaire. Reluctantly she returns to Miscellany because, in truth, she needs the cash Tommy has put on the table. Her mother, who she still feels she let down terribly by not winning, is severely ill and needs constant care. Plus, the draw of the puzzles is always strong. But on arrival Gillian discovers that not everything is as it should be at Miscellany. Tommy hasn’t told her the whole truth. Far from it.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Contest is an enjoyable mystery and very different to anything else I’ve read of late. I liked the world-building (elite mathletes battling it out in specially constructed arenas to be the best and win big!), I became fond of Gillian over the course of the book (not sure others will warm to her in the same way as she does have quite a hard edge to her) and I liked how all of it, everything in this strange puzzle focussed world, was the creation of one man, Willy Wonka style! The book is billed as cosy crime but I struggle with that. There’s a certain grittiness to the story. Back to that hard edge I mentioned Gillian having a few moments ago. Definitely more grit than you normally get in a cosy crime novel. I also felt there was a literary tone to the story. All in all, I enjoyed The Contest. It’s a strong debut and I look forward to seeing what Macfee has for us next. Wonderfully intricate, well-plotted and with believable, well-drawn characters. Recommended.
February 9, 2025
Thank you to Datura for a copy of this novel. Here are my thoughts!
When Gillian was a kid she was selected to take part in this huge puzzle competition, and she almost won the whole thing. Move up a decade and a half, and she is just getting by. She’s taking care of her sick mother and working humdrum jobs. Suddenly she’s pulled back into the competition but it seems like something shady is going on. Gillian is about to detangle the most challenging puzzle she has had to face yet as she gets to the bottom of the Miscellany companies antics.
I’ll start with the pieces I really liked with this novel. The puzzles that are included are fun, and are presented in such a way that the reader can take a moment to try to solve them. This led to great reader engagement. There are also quite a few twists that were shocking to me.
I enjoy books that are a lot more plot heavy, and this one was more focused on characters. But for me, the characters still fell a little flat on the page and I didn’t really feel much towards them. This made connecting to them challenging. In addition, the plot didn’t pick up until I was about 70% in, then I was much more intrigued while reading and basically finished the book once I reached that point.
I was expecting a ton of puzzles, intrigue and wit but overall it was a little lacking to me. The characters are diverse, which I appreciated and there was even awareness brought to chronic illness which is super important to have in books today. You may enjoy reading this if you do like character pieces with a little sprinkle of espionage and corporate greed!
When Gillian was a kid she was selected to take part in this huge puzzle competition, and she almost won the whole thing. Move up a decade and a half, and she is just getting by. She’s taking care of her sick mother and working humdrum jobs. Suddenly she’s pulled back into the competition but it seems like something shady is going on. Gillian is about to detangle the most challenging puzzle she has had to face yet as she gets to the bottom of the Miscellany companies antics.
I’ll start with the pieces I really liked with this novel. The puzzles that are included are fun, and are presented in such a way that the reader can take a moment to try to solve them. This led to great reader engagement. There are also quite a few twists that were shocking to me.
I enjoy books that are a lot more plot heavy, and this one was more focused on characters. But for me, the characters still fell a little flat on the page and I didn’t really feel much towards them. This made connecting to them challenging. In addition, the plot didn’t pick up until I was about 70% in, then I was much more intrigued while reading and basically finished the book once I reached that point.
I was expecting a ton of puzzles, intrigue and wit but overall it was a little lacking to me. The characters are diverse, which I appreciated and there was even awareness brought to chronic illness which is super important to have in books today. You may enjoy reading this if you do like character pieces with a little sprinkle of espionage and corporate greed!
February 14, 2025
The Contest
Jeff Macfee
Datura Books
02/11/2025
I will take a debut novel like this any day. The story starts with 12 year old Gillian Charles, a child prodigy of puzzles and games of logic. She is in a contest where the winner can basically change their life in an instant with the prize. However, Gillian’s morals got the best of her and to the guy running the show – morals have no place in the winner’s circle.
Fast forward and we find Gillian in a world full of side hustles trying to make ends meet to pay her and her mother’s bills. Enter her childhood nemesis, Tommy. He asks her to investigate Miscellany, where she competed. She vowed never to go back down that road, but when offered $50k, she can’t turn that money down.
The Contest was the perfect addition to my library. It is a little grittier than your normal cozy mystery, but totally worth it. This book was immersive and transported the reader to their own little world of puzzles and trust me, you will be cheering Gillian on the entire time.
Jeff Macfee
Datura Books
02/11/2025
I will take a debut novel like this any day. The story starts with 12 year old Gillian Charles, a child prodigy of puzzles and games of logic. She is in a contest where the winner can basically change their life in an instant with the prize. However, Gillian’s morals got the best of her and to the guy running the show – morals have no place in the winner’s circle.
Fast forward and we find Gillian in a world full of side hustles trying to make ends meet to pay her and her mother’s bills. Enter her childhood nemesis, Tommy. He asks her to investigate Miscellany, where she competed. She vowed never to go back down that road, but when offered $50k, she can’t turn that money down.
The Contest was the perfect addition to my library. It is a little grittier than your normal cozy mystery, but totally worth it. This book was immersive and transported the reader to their own little world of puzzles and trust me, you will be cheering Gillian on the entire time.
Read
February 18, 2025Dnf’ed at 40%.
Unfortunately I could not connect to this book at all.
I was very intrigued by the premise and the first chapter seemed off to a good start. But pacing keeps stuttering - tensions rise and break because of meandering details or puzzles that I expected to enjoy and ended up not cause they bogged down the narrative - and I could not connect to the protag as the story went on. Her inner monologue rubbed me wrong for some reason on more than one occasion as well. I won’t go as far as saying Men Writing Women(tm) but a bit too close to it for comfort.
Might give it another go in a future but, as it is, I’m sorry to say I had to stop.
Thank you to Datura for this review copy, I’m sorry this time it wasn’t a match!
Unfortunately I could not connect to this book at all.
I was very intrigued by the premise and the first chapter seemed off to a good start. But pacing keeps stuttering - tensions rise and break because of meandering details or puzzles that I expected to enjoy and ended up not cause they bogged down the narrative - and I could not connect to the protag as the story went on. Her inner monologue rubbed me wrong for some reason on more than one occasion as well. I won’t go as far as saying Men Writing Women(tm) but a bit too close to it for comfort.
Might give it another go in a future but, as it is, I’m sorry to say I had to stop.
Thank you to Datura for this review copy, I’m sorry this time it wasn’t a match!
February 21, 2025
Can you survive what you feel is your biggest failure in life? Especially when that failure came when you were but a child? For Gillian Charles, MacFee’s protagonist here in The Contest, the answer is…sort of. A semblance of a life, anyway. One that should be different but one she cannot change. Or can she? Now twenty years removed for her second place finish in the Contest, Gillian is pulled back in, and this time, this time she aims to win. Life, however, has other plans. Evil machinations, really, and Gillian finds herself using her puzzle solving skills for more than she bargained for. MacFee lays it down from the first page to last, his prose smooth and pulling, and though it says in the synopsis that the stakes here are small, they are stakes all the same. Fun was had!
December 14, 2025
In 2000, 12-year-old Gillian Charles is so close to winning that she can taste it. She is certain that victory is hers.
Until it is not.
18 or so years later, her nemesis arrives on a surprise visit.
Roped in by her weakness for puzzles and a free she sorely needs back to Micellany, she goes.
I want to go there though, to the park: Miscellany Park. The author makes it sound better than Disneyland Paris.🤗
Gillian is having a blast in the park, seeing herself in the children visiting. Solving puzzles.
Then it all turns dark.
Who is the real winner here?
Twist and turns are literally all over the place, especially in the labyrinth. Gillian is a very likeable person with her heart in the right place. 😊
Until it is not.
18 or so years later, her nemesis arrives on a surprise visit.
Roped in by her weakness for puzzles and a free she sorely needs back to Micellany, she goes.
I want to go there though, to the park: Miscellany Park. The author makes it sound better than Disneyland Paris.🤗
Gillian is having a blast in the park, seeing herself in the children visiting. Solving puzzles.
Then it all turns dark.
Who is the real winner here?
Twist and turns are literally all over the place, especially in the labyrinth. Gillian is a very likeable person with her heart in the right place. 😊
February 20, 2025
The Contest was a fun little escape. It's a unique premise – think mathletes battling it out in these a high-stakes, intellectual arenas. Macfee built this whole world around it, and it's all the brainchild of one guy, which gives it a quirky vibe.
Gillian, the main character, has a tough exterior and I found her compelling. The book is an edgy but fun mystery. It has a great plot, with a detailed story and believable characters. A great read if you're looking for interesting mystery that isn’t something you have read before.
Gillian, the main character, has a tough exterior and I found her compelling. The book is an edgy but fun mystery. It has a great plot, with a detailed story and believable characters. A great read if you're looking for interesting mystery that isn’t something you have read before.
July 8, 2025
I love the genre of millionaire-but-he-is-whimsy, but I found the writing of characters stereotypical and the mystery a bit underwhelming. We have the coked up COO, his Eastern European cold-hearted stunning wife, mysterious Latina baddie, and Gillian who has been moping the childhood loss of The Contest causing her to abandon her family!! I could not root for her especially after every time her sister called and she would blame her lack of care for coming second place eighteen years ago!!! The highlight of this book was when we were discussing puzzles and riddles, those were fun.
September 21, 2025
I’m sorry to say I didn’t love this one! Our main character Gillian is just plain arrogant, rude, and annoying which made it impossible to root for her. She’s so hung up on losing a puzzle contest when she was 12 (18 years ago) that she completely abandoned her family and was just mean when anyone tried to call her out on it!! And to top it off, the mystery wasn’t compelling at all, and I felt the ending was kind of sloppy. We’re supposed to hate Sebastian the puzzle master but tbh he seemed like a fine guy to me. I generally really like competition books but this one didn’t do it for me.
September 29, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and Datura Books for the advanced reader copy.
This was a bit of a different book for me, and it took a while to get into, but ultimately I really enjoyed it.
the author weaves a tangled web of deceit around the characters that keeps you guessing - the middle of the book had me especially gripped.
A twisty mystery which is perfect for puzzle lovers.
This was a bit of a different book for me, and it took a while to get into, but ultimately I really enjoyed it.
the author weaves a tangled web of deceit around the characters that keeps you guessing - the middle of the book had me especially gripped.
A twisty mystery which is perfect for puzzle lovers.
February 20, 2025
[Disclaimer: e-ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
This was described as a cosy crime but, for me, it didn't really fit the bill on either front.
I struggled to really fully connect with the book or the characters. While there were no major issues with the book, I kept waiting to be really gripped by the story and it just never really happened.
This was described as a cosy crime but, for me, it didn't really fit the bill on either front.
I struggled to really fully connect with the book or the characters. While there were no major issues with the book, I kept waiting to be really gripped by the story and it just never really happened.
February 1, 2025
A highly original and fun mystery with plenty of twists and lots of riddles.
February 8, 2025
A great, twisty and fun book! Give it a read!!
February 20, 2025
Didn't finish this, the premise is very interesting but the writing is just not for me. I couldn't stay interested in continuing the book.
May 5, 2025
This book could have been interesting but it was written in a way that made it quite confusing.
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