The Impossible Thing

Rubbernecker #2

by Belinda Bauer

From the exceptionally original mind of CWA Gold Dagger Award winner and Booker longlisted author Belinda Bauer comes this sweeping tale of obsession, greed, ambition, and a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years.

How do you find something that doesn’t exist?

1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A small girl—penniless and neglected by her family—retrieves one such treasure. Its discovery will forever alter the course of her life.

A century later. In a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now.

A taut, wonderfully imagined novel brimming with skullduggery at every turn, The Impossible Thing is a blazing testament to Belinda Bauer’s status as one of our greatest living crime writers.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2025

About the author

Belinda Bauer grew up in England and South Africa. She has worked as a journalist and screenwriter, and her script THE LOCKER ROOM earned her the Carl Foreman/Bafta Award for Young British Screenwriters, an award that was presented to her by Sidney Poitier. She was a runner-up in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition for "Mysterious Ways," about a girl stranded on a desert island with 30,000 Bibles. Belinda now lives in Wales.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

The anticipation of reading a new Belinda Bauer novel is off the scale or should that be off the cliffs at Bempton on the North Yorkshire coast with the climmers?
1920s, Bempton cliffs. Here, men such as Jim Chandler are lowered in a harness attached to a rope to steal the eggs of the many sea birds that nest there. Jim thinks he’s got a prize guillemot double yoker and a special egg like this can yield 10 bob (shillings) or even a pound on a good day. A lucrative (not necessarily moral but we’ll get to that) exercise in straitened times. A neglected, rejected farm girl Celie Sheppard at Metland farm a bit further along from Jim, dangles precariously over the cliff edge and finds an egg that will change the course of her life and that of her poverty stricken family. These will become the infamous mythical Metland eggs which people will die for or at the very least get tied up and robbed. Just ask Weird Nick and Patrick Fort in the present day. They learn only too well what lengths people will go to in order to track down the elusive red eggs. This original novel takes us on a journey of obsession, murder, mayhem and skulduggery that beggars belief.

What a terrific novel. Who knew that a story centring on climmers and birds eggs would make such a gripping tale?! it is creative, clever, so different and I find it especially fascinating as I’ve been to Bempton cliffs several times. Into the bargain it’s also thought provoking, witty and funny on occasions, it’s sad and bittersweet, it’s a mystery thriller with plenty of shocks at all of the shenanigans that go on. The lengths that people will go to in order to fulfil their passions! It’s got it all.

All the characters are good but a special shout out for Neurodivergent Patrick whose portrayal is both sensitive and exemplary and to Nick. The pair balance each other out so well as they go on quite an adventure. Also Celie and Robert from the 1920s who take me on an emotional journey.

The narrative from the two timelines meld together seamlessly and allow understanding to grow. The ending is tense, exciting and feels right in every sense of the word.

Next time I’m at Bempton seeking out the puffins, I’ll think of Celie and her perils and those special eggs.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars raised to 5. When I first discovered a book by Belinda Bauer on Goodreads, I was enthralled with its original storyline and memorable characters This led me to read and enjoy all her books in rapid succession, and I considered her a must-read favourite crime writer. It has been a long time since her last book, and I was worried that she had retired from writing. I was excited to learn that she has a new book, 'The Impossible Thing,' coming soon, and was thrilled to obtain the ARC through NetGalley and the publisher. This went to the top of my reading list, and I neglected everything else to read it in one day.

The book introduced me to the obscure, mostly forgotten topic of egg collecting, and the story was riveting. The story examines the cruel world of egg trafficking on the cliffs of Yorkshire in the 1920s. Men are lowered on ropes over the cliffs where sea birds build their nests, putting some species in danger of extinction. Rival egg traffickers await them on the cliff above. They offer payment for the eggs retrieved and resell them to wealthy collectors and scientific institutions for a huge profit. It is a story of greed and the obsessive quest by wealthy men to obtain unique, priceless eggs valued for their colours and markings. The nesting birds are made frantic by their loss, and with their eggs being stolen, extinction is forthcoming.

The most desired and priceless eggs have been retrieved by Celie, a tiny neglected girl from nearby Metland farm. She did not resemble her siblings, so the father left when she was born, leaving her mother to struggle on an impoverished farm. Her mother blamed Celie for everything, and the girl was undernourished and tiny, about the size of children half her age. Her small size and bravery led to her being lowered through a small opening on the cliff, where she obtained an unusual treasure, a vivid red egg from a guillemot pair that is highly coveted. By the late 1930s, Matland Farm had prospered due to money Celie received for her efforts, and she decided she was finished retrieving the precious eggs for the traffickers.

Later, Patrick Ford ( an autistic man from Rubberneckers) visits his friend Weird Nick. He finds Nick and his mother tied up in their remote home following a home invasion. The only thing stolen in the robbery was an elaborately carved case containing a scarlet egg. Nick had advertised the egg briefly on eBay but discovered that the selling bird's eggs was now prohibited by law.

The two young men decide to go on a quest to find the stolen egg Nick is brave and reckless, and Patrick's unique thought patterns make him invaluable in the search. He decides there is not just one egg missing but thirty eggs, according to the number of times Celie had been lowered through the small crevice. Very few have guessed this number exists, and the precious eggs may be hidden and forever lost to history. There are so many places where the eggs may have been kept secretly. Where to start looking? Patrick and Nick may be putting their lives in danger. Also, Celie, now married and pregnant, is at risk.
I found the characters to be fascinating, but their vast numbers and names tended to confuse me. There were the names of children, workers on nearby farms, rival traffickers, obsessive and dangerous collectors, etc. I wish I had kept notes. Nevertheless, I was absorbed in the thrills and suspense of the story. I was happy to see hope in the present day that the extinction of wild sea birds may be avoided through the efforts of conservationists.

I highly recommend this book and Bauer's previous books. 'The Impossible Thing' is due to be published on April 08. 2025.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The crime was egg-trafficking. The real mystery? Why I couldn’t get into it.

I wanted to love The Impossible Thing. It has rave reviews, it tackles themes I usually eat up like candy and it opens with a bold premise. But for some reason… it was impossible for me to get through.

Sure, it’s unique — egg trafficking! That’s definitely a first for me in a crime novel. It’s an unusual subject, with an unpredictable plot. Endangered birds, obsession, and the dark lengths people will go to get their hands on rare eggs. Sounds like it should be gripping, right?

But… it never really hatched for me.

While I liked where this one was going, the pace absolutely did me in. Seems like a recurring theme for me lately: struggling with slow burns. I found myself zoning out, flipping pages, then realizing I had no clue what just happened and worse, didn’t care enough to rewind.

The bird stuff, It should have been interesting new territory, high stakes, but it never quite soared. I kept waiting for the plot to take off… but it fluttered, then stalled,and never took flight. The message is beautiful that even the impossible might not be. But ironically, it felt impossible for me to stay hooked.

This witches’ buddy read took flight for Debra and Carolyn—but I was the bird left behind in the nest

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and swooping and sailing through sky and sea, just like the cliff birds, Bauer's story moves and moves until it ends and in the meantime it hooks me in and I don't want to leave.

She delves into the fascinating obsession with eggs, beautiful eggs, stolen eggs. She adds in poverty, family and repercussions and lets us once again be present to part of Patrick and Nick's story. In this one she had me counting eggs and feeling sad and angry about the little guillemot.

Like always her characters and through them their story is what keep me there. With her people I always find myself wanting more, wanting to be there, to see what they are doing. So it's good that she likes to revisit her characters in following books.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs - East Riding - Yorkshire - England

An ARC kindly give by publisher/author via Edelweiss and Netgalley.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew collecting eggs was a thing? It was actually a Big thing! I'm a bit of an outlier because I found this book to be a bit odd. The writing felt very stream of consciousness and it took me quite some time to grasp the flow of it. The Impossible Thing focuses on the stealing and trafficking of eggs. Egg climbers would be lowered over cliffs to collect the eggs of the birds which lived there. Depending on the bird and the color of the egg, it could be a lucrative thing/hobby/collection etc. This book is told in two timelines and proved to be a slow burn as eventually the two timelines connect

In the past timeline (1920-1930), Celie Sheppard is tiny and petite. She proves to be the perfect size to lower over the side of a dangerous cliff that no one else dares to go over. She is successful in finding and obtaining a gorgeous red guillemot egg. She does this year after year as crowds gather to watch. My heart broke for the birds she stole from. They fought to save their egg to finally learn it is to no avail and to simply turn its head unable to watch.

Patrick and Weird Nick are in the present day and looking for a scarlet egg that was stolen during a robbery. They go looking and find and learn more than they expected. They are both interesting and great characters.

While I enjoyed the characters of Celie, Nick, and Patrick, this book failed to wow me as it did most readers. I found it too be too slow in spots and I struggled with the writing. What worked were the three main characters and a very unlikeable character that I found myself booing and hissing at.

There are some wonderful descriptions and characterizations in this book. The author did a great job with that. This just didn't wow me as it did other readers. Speaking of other readers and reviewers, please read their reviews as well.

*This was a witches words buddy read with Carolyn, Brenda, and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews to see if they enjoyed this book or if it was a hard egg for them to crack.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Michael Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publishes April 8, 2025~

Whisked Through It

Belinda Bauer has quite a reputation as a crime writer, she has even been longlisted for a Booker Prize. This may have been the reason I requested a copy of her latest novel, “The Impossible Thing.” It delves into the mesmerizing world of… wait for it… egg collecting.

A valuable egg, one of thirty stolen from a dangerous Yorkshire cliff nest beginning in the 1920s, resurfaces a century later in the attic of a young man, Weird Nick. Oblivious to its worth, he lists the egg on eBay, only to have it stolen during a home invasion. Determined to recover the pilfered egg, Nick and his friend Patrick embark on a quest to find the thieves.

The story, told across two timelines, features well-developed characters and a brisk pace, making for a competent "whodunit" plot. Despite numerous positive reviews, I found the book to be slightly fluffier than I prefer. It's a good beach read, but not much more.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic, NetGalley, and Edelweiss for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mind was all over the place while I was reading this book. I was giving it three stars at first as I waded through all the strangeness of people who collect birds' eggs and the sadness of the deaths of all those poor chicks.

I moved it up to four stars once Patrick who we know from a previous book called Rubbernecker appeared. What a great character and he definitely saved this book for me! The end was worthy of five stars and I still have goosebumps over the last four lines of text. I wish I could give it five but overall for me the book is a four.

Perhaps the author could consider bringing Patrick back for more adventures. He is definitely a star in his own right.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Chewable Orb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer, Narrated by Phil Dunster (Audiobook Version)

A century ago, egg collecting was a hobby. Who knew? Certainly not I. No, this was not merely a pastime for the average person; rather, it was for the wealthy and affluent. Bursting at the seams, money oozed out of their self-centered hands. Finding those rare shells, exquisite in colors, bright in their rare hues proves paramount. Thus allowing bragging rights within a small circle of the wealthy trying to “one up” each other. I challenge you, dear reader, to think of anything more significant than obtaining a miraculous egg to elevate our status in a world full of insecurity.

Celie Sheppard was the destroyer of the family, or so it seems to her siblings. Outwardly different in appearance, she was a girl with a small caveat. She was thin. Her slight build can be attributed to a variety of factors, one of which may be a lack of nutrition. What she lacked in bulk or height, she made up with toughness and grit. Through this determination, she could squeeze through the smallest of crevices, allowing her dangerous access to uncover some rather unique eggs. A rare egg resting on a not-so-ordinary cliff—this cliff no one dared to venture to due to its precarious position, inferring death at its doorstop. Her bravery afforded her possession of one such special egg. The fortunes for her family positively altered, albeit with specific stipulations from a well-paying egg connoisseur.

In the present time, Nick, and his friend Patrick have experienced robbery. Ultimately, one that was preventing them from purchasing a new gaming chair. An empty box is found with hints that a majestic egg once was placed within. Who has the egg? Why would anyone steal an egg? After some investigation, they start to unravel the mystery. What once thought a small crime, a complex plot reveals itself with a multitude of bizarre possibilities.

What a story. I was enamored with the characters. Belinda Bauer, our author, has set the table. Eggs are the main course within the countryside cottage of Yorkshire. Phil Dunster, the narrator, confidently expresses emotional fervor in the telling of this story. His inflections and accent whisked away my senses to the countryside. Birds flocking to the cliffsides, laying their precious cargo. As the tale gathers momentum, Bauer introduces the sourness of collectors, causing my stomach to unsettle. Per usual, monetary gain being the evil culprit. Greed emphatically clutches its self-serving paws on the less fortunate. However, the foundation has been laid: beauteous characters lie in wait upon a blustery windtorn rockface, thus making for an eventful listen that I can encourage others to partake in.

A journey well worth your time. The writing and narration meld together perfectly to provide a rewarding experience. Recently I gave pause watching a heron fly close to the nearby inlet covered in rocks and oceanic debris. With a subtle nod, I slowly nodded my head in solemn respect as it flew off into the distance, appreciating its grace in flight. The book has forever touched me, and for that I am grateful. I am giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars. Rounding up to 5 stars! Highly Recommended!

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for the audiobook through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

[Shannon M (Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved THE IMPOSSIBLE THING. It took me less than 24 hours to read, and given my aging eyes, that’s impressive.

But, as with many Belinda Bauer books, how do I organize the review? It begins with Finn Garrett stalking Matthew Barr in the woods. An exciting moment, and then it’s over. Garrett and Barr will appear sporadically throughout the novel, but they are minor characters. In Chapter 2, the timeframe switches to the 1920s, and a description of men who steal bird’s eggs to sell to egg collectors. Do I start here, because the story revolves around egg collectors? But Chapter 3 is about Celie Sheppard at Metland Farm, an outcast due to the fact that she looked nothing like her mother’s husband. He left the family to fend for itself, and it was all Celie’s fault in the eyes of her mother and siblings. Do I start here? Celie is the first character we meet in the novel who plays a major part in the narrative.

Or do I start at Chapter 4, with the main theme?

*****

THE IMPOSSIBLE THING marks the return of Patrick Fort, the autistic young man who played an important role in “Rubberneckers”. Now in his mid-twenties, Patrick and his friend, Weird Nick (who had a minor role in “Rubberneckers”), are on a quest. Patrick discovers Weird Nick and his mother tied up after a home invasion. But the only thing stolen was a bird’s egg that Nick had briefly listed on eBay. It was listed for only 30 minutes because Nick discovered that it was illegal to sell the eggs of wild birds—but as Patrick and Nick later discover, before egg collecting became illegal, a coterie of wealthy men had maintained unique collections.

As Patrick and Nick carry on their quest to retrieve Nick’s egg, we learn about egg collectors and their obsessive nature. Only Belinda Bauer could take such a boring topic and make it fascinating.

Throughout the novel, the timeframe periodically changes from Patrick and Nick (in the present) to the past (1920 to 1939), where we follow Celie Sheppard of Metland Farm, who becomes a heroine when she discovers a way to obtain a special guillemot egg—special because of its colour. Only Celie is brave enough to take the perilous cliff swing to obtain what becomes called the “Metland Eggs” and consequently, over time, Celie’s family gains enough money to live comfortably.

For Celie, it comes to a climax (in the late 1930s) when she decides she doesn’t want to steal any more eggs from the guillemot parents, but an obsessive collector refuses to heed her request. For Patrick and Nick, it comes to a climax (in the present) when they attempt to retrieve the stolen egg from an obsessive collector.

*****

This is a story about (1) a noble quest; (2) irrational obsessive collectors; (3) a young girl’s bravery; and (4) Patrick’s unusual but effective thinking patterns. It is difficult to classify, but if you are a Belinda Bauer fan, you won’t want to stop reading. She magically puts you in the minds of several characters. Even—briefly—in the mind of the guillemot parents whose eggs continue to be taken.

You don’t need to read “Rubberneckers” to understand and enjoy THE IMPOSSIBLE THING. It is a standalone. But given there are a few months before THE IMPOSSIBLE THING is published, if you haven’t read “Rubberneckers”, why don’t you read it now.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See my reviews for:
Rubberneckers
Blacklands
Darkside
The Facts of Life and Death
The Shut Eye
The Beautiful Dead
Snap
Exit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[CarolG · Rating 5 out of 5]

1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A century later in a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking and become involved in a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years.

This is flagged as Rubbernecker #2 but in my opinion it's not necessary to read #1 first. Seeing as it was first published in 2013 you've likely forgotten a lot of it anyway. I read it recently in preparation for reading this one so it was still fresh in my mind. I loved Rubbernecker and recommend reading it but I think I loved this one even more. The descriptions of egg collecting in the 1920s had my heart in my throat and the colourful characters made it even more outstanding. The current-day story following Patrick and Nick's exploits in trying to recover the missing egg was at times humorous and at times scary and the two friends are interesting and unusual characters. The history covered in this book is totally different from anything I've read and I highly recommend it. There are so many threads to follow and so many characters to love or hate, it would be too easy to accidentally give something away so I'll just say, Read It! A touching ending as well. I rather hope there's more of Patrick and Nick in the future.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic, via Netgalley, for granting my request to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 8, 2025

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Snap in 2018, Belinda Bauer has been quiet in the world of books so a new read is highly anticipated.

The Impossible Thing does not disappoint - an intriguing premise and a mix of contemporary and historical themes and settings. This was book that couldn't be put down

This is a novel about the illicit and illegal world of collecting eggs from birds- a pastime for the rich and the obssessed that has taken place over the last two centuries.

The story focuses around the elusive and 'magical' Metland Egg - a unique bright red guillemot egg found in the 1920s by young farm girl Celie on the North Yorkshire coast. The discovery of this egg resulted in double-dealing and consternation and greed among the oologist community.

A century later a robbery of an egg results in Patrick and "Weird Nick' to set out on the trail to discover who stole the egg and retrieve it.

Juxtaposing the two stories and the world of egg stealing is fascinating- a world that most people do not consider. The pace of the mystery as to who stole the egg is fast and the dynamic between Nick- a gamer - and Patrick - neurodivergent - is brilliantly played out as the two young men encounter drama way beyond their expectation .

But it is the story of Celia that really hooks the heart; as a young girl she is made to suspend herself from a cliff top to retrieve eggs - making the discoveriez which are then sold to the 'madly ' determined George Ambler - a wealthy Londoner- who obsessively wants a Metland egg to be taken every year for his collection.

The modern day crime of egg stealing and how eggs are subsequently used and stored is incredibly interesting but it is the power of human obsession to obtain and simply 'have ' that permeates through the book.

Belinda Bauer's writing is pitch perfect in capturing the passion of the gamers to find their stolen egg but equally the desperation to escape the rural poverty of the 1920s in Celie's world and family is highly moving.

Highly recommended - a fascinating mixture of crime novel and historical adventure and intrigue . A 2025 book to watch out for .

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm absolutely blown away by this story.

I've not read any Belinda Bauer before but I was expecting something very different than a fast-paced story about egg collecting. It was brilliant.

The story is split into two timelines. Celie Sheppard isn't much loved. She is the product of an extra marital liaison that caused her father to leave the family home. She is ignored by everyone but the Farnborough, Robert. That is until she persuades Robert to help her collect the valuable eggs from Bempton Cliffs, home to thousands of birds. What Celie brings up on her very first haul is a rare red guillemot egg. An egg that people will pay money for - a lot of money

The second timeline follows Patrick Fort, a neurodivergent child, and his best mate, Weird Nick (who is often quite weird despite being brilliant at Call of Duty, persuading Patrick to go along with his schemes and trying to find as many ways as possible to make money. After a terrifying raid on Weird Nick's home he tells Patrick about the bright red egg that was stolen.

The two stories run alongside each other with Celie being used to steal more eggs and Patrick and Nick trying to find the missing egg whilst trying to solve the mystery of who and why it was taken.

If I'm making it sound tame I'm telling it wrong. It's absolutely action-packed. The characters burst off the page including the sneaky egg collector, Ambler, who made my skin crawl. Both Celie and Patrick are sympathetic characters and their stories made me laugh and weep.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of both text and audio versions. The audio is excellently read by Phil Dunster who got tone and pitch spot on. No melodrama and no silly voices. I really enjoyed it. In fact I enjoyed the entire thing - book, audio, story. Perfect.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley, Grove Atlantic and Dreamscape Media for the audio and text advance review copies. Very much appreciated.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction book centers around the lives of wild bird egg thieves, the nefarious and illegal act of egg trafficking, the obsession with egg collecting, and the lengths that someone would go to obtain an obscure and rare egg.

I expected this to be an intriguing and suspenseful story. Unfortunately, it did not end up capturing my interest. I found the dual timeline narrative to be choppy in its delivery and the beginning of the story to have an overabundance of characters that detracted from my overall enjoyment. The second half of the book was a little better than the first half but had this not been an ARC it might have ended up on my DNF shelf.

Though this was the first time that I have read a book by this author, I would still consider reading another work by her. Many other people saw this book differently and enjoyed it more than I did, and I would encourage readers to definitely check out some of their reviews.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Publishers for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Barbara K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I have been as completely entertained by a book as this. Not elevated or awed, just entertained.

Bauer has given us an interesting story, superb pacing, perfect length, engaging characters, plenty of humor, and intelligent writing. And a good vs evil plot.

To supply wealthy collectors of birds’ eggs, along the North Sea coast in Yorkshire men are lowered by ropes down cliff sides to grab eggs from the thousands of birds who nest there. One day in 1926 a young girl convinces someone to lower her so that she can get a [very large] guillemot egg, not to sell, but to make an omelette. The eggs of each guillemot are uniquely colored, and as it happens the girl’s egg is a startling deep red never seen before. So, no omelette, but an impressive sales price to a collector.

That’s the back end of the story. The other end is in the present; these days wild egg collecting is no longer permitted in the UK. There is a “war” between underground collectors and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Into this situation Bauer inserts Patrick and his friend Nick, who just happens to have inherited the red egg although he has no idea of its worth. And Patrick. Well, he has Asperger’s. He has a few issues with life in general, but his attention to detail and critical thinking skills help the guys navigate the red egg situation.

Someone could (and possibly has) written an entire narrative non-fiction book about oology, the official name for egg collecting and study. But if it’s something you are interested in, read this book instead. It is, by the way, based on a real mystery surrounding red guillemot eggs!

By the way, part II: I listened to the audio and Phil Dunster, the narrator, is fabulous with accents. The inflections and pronunciations he uses for Patrick and Nick (who live near Cardiff) sound just like my friend from Swansea. The first time I’ve come across this in a book with a Welsh setting.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Everything was Celie Sheppard's fault.
Her fault they were hungry. Her fault they didn't have shoes. Her fault Molly was sick and Tom fell off the wall and the fox got the small brown hen.
Celie was to blame for every ill that befell her family, and had been from the moment of her birth, when John Sheppard's black eyes had looked down on the blue-eyed, white-browed baby seeking its first nipple.
'She takes after my mother,' Enid Sheppard had ventured desperately.
'No,' he'd spat, 'she takes after her father.' And he'd driven away from Metland Farm and never come back.

ABOUT 'THE IMPOSSIBLE THING': A sweeping tale of obsession, greed, ambition, and a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years

How do you find something that doesn’t exist?

1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A small girl—penniless and neglected by her family—retrieves one such treasure. Its discovery will forever alter the course of her life.

A century later. In a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now.

MY THOUGHTS: It took me a wee while to find my feet with The Impossible Thing, but when I did, I was swept along by the drama and tragedy of it all. There is a lot of drama. A lot of tragedy. More than I could ever have envisaged being caused by a desire to own a bird's egg, never mind a whole collection of them. But then I guess, some people just don't understand my passion for collecting books either.

Rubbernecker was the first book I read by Belinda Bauer and young neurodivergent Patrick Fort featured in that. It does, by the way, still remain my favorite of all the books I have read by this author. It was unexpected and rewarding to reconnect with Patrick in The Impossible Thing; Patrick and his friend Weird Nick and Meg.

The Impossible Thing is set over two timelines - the 1920s when collecting birds eggs was a badly needed source of income and where we meet Celie who will find the means to support her family; and one hundred years later when Nick tries to sell an egg he found in his attic, online, to fund the purchase of a gaming chair. And that's all you are going to get out of me about the plot because, strangely enough, it all ties together beautifully and I don't want to spoil a thing.

Looking at the subject matter, I can't believe that I found this book so gripping and interesting that I finished it in two days. I read through the night. I picked it up every chance I got. I told everyone about it at coffee after aquarobics. We have a book group once a month, but I couldn't wait another two weeks for that!

Bauer has created some superb characters. Celie, who is loved by only one person. Robert, the farm hand. Patrick and Nick who don't always understand one another but who make an awesome and formidable team. The tactics they learned in their gaming marathons stand them in good stead. I will never roll my eyes again when gaming is mentioned.

And that ending! Tense! Breathtaking! Exciting! And oh, so satisfying - in both timelines.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheImpossibleThing #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Belinda Bauer is a famous writer of crime novels, who was born in 1962 in England. She also spent some of her childhood years in Africa. Bauer didn’t have a very easy life. In fact, she had to experience a sudden dive from a wealthy home, where she lived with her parents in South Africa to a poverty west country house in Britain, when she returned there with her mother. Finally Belinda settled in Cardiff and lived longer in Wales than anywhere else in her life. She also attended the Welsh Academy as a member. But she had some good opportunities there. She was trained as a journalist at Cardiff University and worked as a journalist there for 7 years, which was incredibly valuable for her. Right from when she was a trainee, her copy was going straight to the news desk of every national paper.

According to Belinda, crime is actually the story of how lives of people can change by the misdeeds of others: from the pensioner who may lose his savings in a stock market crash, to the refugee, to the mugging victim. Life is a river and crime is the rocks. And it is just when people hit a rock, that they find out whether they are the ones of life’s swimmers or sinkers. Belinda focuses on survival and recovery – the rock itself is almost incidental. (Source: bookseriesinorder.com - abridged)

DISCLOSURE: Thak you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

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[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I read anything Belinda Bauer writes as soon as I can get my hands on it.

This one is different than anything I’ve ever read.

A young girl finds a scarlet egg on the cliffs of Yorkshire that will change her life.

Years later a young man finds a red egg in his attic and tries to sell it on eBay. Quickly the egg is stolen and Nick and his friend Patrick do everything they can to find it.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shifts between two time periods. In the earlier period, a young girl finds a red egg that is craved by obsessive collectors of rare bird eggs. The find changes her life, and that of her family. In the later timeline period, one of those rare eggs is stolen. There’s an exploration of the often unhinged behavior of fanatical collectors and the ethical implications of ripping these eggs from nests and dissolving the unborn chicks.

The writing is lovely, and the book has an original premise and interesting characters. I preferred the part of the book set in the earlier timeline. I did not care for the switching back and forth, because it made the story too disjointed.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Christopher Febles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off the cliffs of Yorkshire on Britain’s eastern shores, in the 1920s, the locals rappel down to the ledges and steal beautiful, valuable, unique bird eggs. They’re collected and shown off by wealthy gadabouts until the practice is banned a few decades later. Then, in modern times, two oddball English youths try to reclaim a mysterious egg pilfered from their possession and get sent on a…well, I’d say something about a goose chase, but you know. Wrong bird.

I had no idea eggs were a thing. OK, maybe when you’re baking a cake and you’re missing that one darn ingredient. But for a thriller novel? If you’re confused, just do what I did: treat the Metland Egg like another famous literary artifact, like the Maltese Falcon, the Holy Grail, or the vehicle in “Dude, Where’s My Car?” In the process, I learned a lot about bird eggs and its place in British culture.



And speaking of British: for a while there, I had a hard time following the 20th Century lingo until I heard Celie, the young “climmer,” say something familiar. Then I realized: it’s Yorkshire! They were speaking in the accent heard in The Secret Garden! Oh! I art daft, or something. Once I adjusted my ears, I could follow the story.

Again, the unusual object of the caper made it a little perplexing for me at first. But at about 40%, the action picks up, and the intrigue increases. The heroes and villains started to make themselves better known, and Bauer makes them complex and vibrant.

Patrick, one of those modern goofs seeking the Egg, made for a terrific sleuth. He takes everything literal and his “slowness” in human emotions leads him and “Weird Nick” in the right direction. They were real underdogs, and their little plan was simple, relatable, and in the end, rather genius. Their action starts and doesn’t let up.

The 20th Century story seemed slower, but more personal. We get more of a description of Celie’s world there: a detailed look at the cliffs, the farm, and the people’s situation. Oh, I really disliked Ambler! Just like we were meant to. You’ll love to see what happens there. The character voices seemed genuine, and the historical settings and occurrences accurate. I felt like I was living through both times. The storylines never merge, but they connect via the artifacts in a satisfying way.

Adventure in eggs: who knew? A zippy, irresistible thriller with a quirky plot and likeable characters (except for one!). Worth a good, hard look. But no egg puns, please! That would be egregious.



Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. The Impossible Thing will be published April 8, 2025.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated by Phil Dunster
Presented by Dreamscape Media

I wasn't 100% sold on the egg thing, but I trusted the author and it was well worth it!

It's a strange topic - illegal egg trade - but the author does a wonderful job bringing it to life with fantastic characters (welcome back, Patrick!) and plenty of action.

We get the dual narrative, exploring the late 1920s when the eggs were first captured, and the present day in which Patrick and his friend, Nick, are chasing a stolen egg. Patrick takes everything quite literally, which adds a delightfully humourous element, and those who have read Rubbernecker will likely appreciate his reappearance in this novel.

The egg trade is an interesting idea that doesn't come up too often in books, so it was fun to read about a topic I knew little about. That said, there's not so much information that it bogs the story down, and the action plays out at a cracking pace.

The audio was excellent - the narrator does a convincing job of each character, allowing the listener to be truly immersed in the telling. There was plenty of expression in his voice and his enunciation was clear.

This was a unique crime novel with interesting characters and a fresh topic. I'd happily recommend this to fans of crime, and of the author in general.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

[K.J. Charles]

This is a banger. Terrific split historical /present mystery-romp sort of thing about egg collectors. Which sounds like a dullish topic but is marvellously done. It's hugely engaging, funny, with real heart in the oddball characters, a serious look into what drives the egg collectors to their awful hobby, and proper comeuppances. A slight oddball as crime novels go but all the better for that.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true story of egg thieves in England. This was a well-paced story bringing together two timelines, exploring themes of ownership and stewardship, but I wasn’t in the mood really to read about humans hunting animals pretty much to extinction, it hits a little too close to home.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Impossible Thing is the second book in the Rubbernecker series by award-winning British journalist, screenwriter and author, Belinda Bauer. The audio version is narrated by Phil Dunster. Immediately post-WW1, making a living on a small-holding farm in Yorkshire isn’t easy; even harder for Enid Sheppard when her husband takes one look at their new baby daughter and abandons the family.

Tiny Celie Sheppard is given to the care of eight-year-old farm boy, Robert, but turns the family’s fortunes, and perhaps their sentiments about her, when at six years old, she shows a talent for climming. In a makeshift harness fashioned by Robert, she returns from under the overhang on the edge of her family’s holding, Metland Farm, with an extremely rare red guillemot egg. Egg Broker George Ambler is beside himself: what won’t a collector pay for such a beauty!

Almost a century on, Patrick Fort has been washing dishes at the Rorke’s Drift for three years and not yet tired of it. Returning home one winters evening, he discovers his friend and neighbour, Weird Nick, and Nick’s mum Jen gagged and bound in their unlit house. Two men in ski masks (it’s not even snowing!) with cable ties to secure the residents of Ty Newydd have ransacked the place. The only thing missing is a red egg in a fancy carved box.

Belatedly, Nick has discovered it’s illegal to sell, or even own, wild bird eggs, but the fleeting listing on Facebook Marketplace was sufficient, it seems, to make their little Welsh cottage a target. Legal or no, he wants the egg back. Patrick’s brilliant deductive work leads them to the probable thief, and Nick ropes in his unwilling friend to confront eggman456.

That doesn’t end well: “Before Nick could open his mouth, the big man grabbed him by the front of his jumper, yanked him forward, headbutted him, then withdrew and slammed the door. It all happened so fast that Patrick was left open-mouthed with amazement, already replaying it in his head. The door, the arm, the fist, the head, the door. It was like a very violent cuckoo clock.”

Before they finally locate the egg, and several more like it, there’s a courtroom scene with lots of shouting, a visit to a museum with thousands of eggs, and a jaw-droppingly vindictive destruction of a felon’s collection.

Patrick has a too-close encounter with dog droppings, is an accidental stowaway in the car of a nasty, violent man, and has to climb through a toilet window. A balaclava and a potato masher play significant roles. At one point, Nick asks where his sense of adventure is: “Patrick didn’t answer. He’d already accidentally had one adventure in his life and it had been very stressful. He didn’t really fancy another.”

Told through multiple narratives and a dual timeline, Bauer gradually reveals the path that the Metland egg takes from 1920’s Yorkshire to modern-day Wales and beyond. She gives the reader some wonderful descriptive prose “…barristers in yellowing wigs and black cloaks flitted between them like giant bats”, and only the hardest hearts won’t have a lump in the throat at the poor guillemot’s ordeal. There’s plenty of action drama which, together with the dialogue, offers some very black humour. Fans can only hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of Patrick Fort. Utterly brilliant.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. This story didn't resonate with me how I expected it to. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the story in general.

That being said, I still thought this was a really brilliant book. I loved the writing, the structure, and the concept. The narration was also admirable but for whatever reason, I felt a disconnect during this book.

I think I want to land in the middle with a 3 star rating because while I struggled to connect to this one, there were so many things that I was still able to appreciate with this book.

I loved that this was based on a true story and I loved that this was something that I don't normally read about. The setting was another plus. I truthfully don't know how to explain my feelings on this one because they don't make much sense to me either. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right mood to read this at this time?

I think I would like to reread this later. This feels like a book that has the potential to have a higher rating from me later on when I'm in the right mood.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“The feeling of something beautiful having been lost was overwhelming.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Gotta love that opening. Uff, you could feel the tension boiling to an explosion that required patience and silence. It was --- phew, an adrenaline rush of intrigue and suspense and those darn eggs that leaves you to speculate just what exactly the characters are referring to. What exactly took place that has led to such intense violence and sheer rage, if not manic desperation. 😦

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Trust me. I was caught - hook, line, & sinker. And well, while there is plenty of room for some egg-ceptional egg jokes that can be boiled, the premise itself is wrought with so much heart and drama and mystery that it would be in bad taste to make them at their egg-spense.

Okay, jokes over. 🙃🥚

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I did enjoy reading this. Despite the story alternating between two different timelines, it is how the past influences the present that leads to the future actions that propelled me to continue and see how the loose threads would tie together. For what connection does six-year-old Celie Sheppard of Ireland's Metland Farm from 1920 -1939 have with a young man with Asperger's Syndrome, twenty-three-year old Patrick Fort (a character from one of her previous novels) and his best friend/next door neighbor/gaming buddy Weird Nick and an abstract egg that was recently stolen from his house. 😟 It is a slow build and a slow tie-in that carefully reveals the hints and the clues that lead us on a trial of deception and danger - financial spoils and family drama - desperate collectors vying for the coveted prize - and an emotional visceral growth on both sides that defines the human spirit and courage it takes to do what is right and what is good. To be brave to right the wrong and prove that the resilience of man is not one to be toyed with. 🤝🏻

“Mate! You’re a genius!’

Patrick shrugged . He didn’t answer pointless statements.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Patrick and Weird NIck's friendship reminded me of the film Snatch. Two unwitting and unsuspecting guys who unwittingly get involved in a scheme of theft much grander than either of them expected, simply trying to make do with the opportunities and skill-sets they have available to them.

But, I like Snatch and I liked them.

I did! 😆

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ For starters the timing of humor and banter between the two was so well delivered. 👏🏻 I did not know that they were already characters previously known to familiar BB readers, but I guess, it does make sense now. With his neurodivergence, Patrick was a dynamic character that carried the narrative in style. Even with his bluntness and straight-forwardness, he and Nick's rapport played out well. Nick just got him and Patrick even believed in Nick; they worked well together as a team to find a way to best those who had involved them in an illegal shady business that was showing its ugly side in the most unusual of lights. It was adventurous and daring, but also very fitting to their unique personalities and their knowledge of eBay and prospective intentions, which made it all that more entertaining. 😊 They understood each other and navigated their thoughts in a way that made me enjoy watching them figure things out and try to solve the mystery behind Nick's home invasion, which literally propelled them into something they had no idea what it was!

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The author did a really great job in crafting the business of egg collecting in a way that hits so hard on the gravitas and risk of it. 🪺 It is a mundane business, but wow, it is deadly - ruthless in one's desperation for the coveted prize and the risks and the fervent need to have it all. 💸 The need was visceral; it can be cutthroat for those intent on having the most egg-ceptional egg in their collection, while also still thwarting one's attempt to keep it for oneself '– greedy people wanting more than they need and taking it from the weak and the vulnerable.' 🥺 And then there are even other plotters whose intentions may be more lucrative or sympathetic than others, but still beguile a hidden motive that speaks volumes of human's drive for greed. It is years of plotting and protecting and hoarding - one that takes deliberation and skill to keep going. I was engrossed - totally engaged and intrigued at how the events would unfold.

“What do people mean?
What do people want?”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The history of the special guillemot egg was a heartbreaking one rich with detail that captured the imagination and tested the resilience of a young girl's determination to survive and beat the odds - 'Because life should be lived, not destroyed for our stupid pleasure.' The coast of the Irish and the whims of the scheming if not conniving collectors who wish to procure as many for their own personal gain. 😥 It is a tumultuous and treacherous slope and what I admired was the skillful way in which the author showed how ideas and emotions can shift. How times change and spirits awaken to act justly. The bittersweet way in which the wrong was righted was captured in an emotional and spirited climax that unfolded in a gripping and challenging fashion of how justice is truly served. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A few grievances marred it from being a complete win for me. While I had no qualms with the dual perspective of Celie and Patrick, I did fumble a bit with the few povs of what I felt were unnecessary characters that did not quite - make sense or lack purpose to me. It made it slightly confusing to follow along - despite the few Easter Eggs scattered throughout - I think if they had been excluded, it really would not have mattered. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I also thought the writing faltered in the end, where it became the cat-and-mouse chase. Yes, it was nerve-wracking, but the writing lost its ah - not quite emotional touch, but it became slightly more comical than I would have liked. It sorta lost the seriousness of the situation, which took me out of it. 😔

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Still, I am deeply grateful I took a chance with The Impossible Things, especially with a new-to-me author; it certainly paid off in style. Despite my rating, it is a memorable read for me, one that portrayed a captivating and enriching story of how people rise above their own limitations and shine even in the deepest of peril. It just lacked a little oopmh towards the end to make it land as an egg-cellent win.

You know I had to. 😆

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Catherine Victor Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry this was not for me at all!
The narration and the writing was good. its the story I had issues with. why would anyone write a story about eggs even if it was inspired by real events?
I cannot imagine many people will find this a fascinating story.
There is a dual timeline: Present following Nick and Patrick who find a weird looking red egg in the attic only for it to be stolen and the rest of their story is them trying to find out more information about this mysterious egg, why and who stole it. We also have the BEFORE which starts off in the 1920's and progresses up to 1940s and follows the family who originally discovered these rare red eggs.
The most interesting this about the book was the way of life of the family in the BEFORE. other than that I cannot say there was too much to keep me interested or invested in this story. had it not been for the fact that it was an audio i would have DNF'd it.
Perhaps its just me.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media who provided me with the audio version of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years after introducing readers to Patrick Fort in her acclaimed novel Rubbernecker, Belinda Bauer resurrects this uniquely fascinating character in The Impossible Thing. This remarkable historical crime thriller weaves together two timelines: the 1920s Yorkshire coast, where the mysterious "Metland Egg" makes its first appearance, and present-day Wales, where Patrick finds himself entangled in a century-old mystery involving rare birds' eggs, obsessive collectors, and unexpected violence.

Bauer has crafted a narrative that's simultaneously a gripping heist story, a moving historical drama, and an exploration of neurodivergent perception. The novel's dual timeline structure allows her to examine how obsession transcends generations, creating a rich tapestry where past crimes reverberate into the present with devastating consequences.

The Enduring Mystery of the Metland Egg

At the heart of this novel is the Metland Egg itself—a blood-red guillemot egg that defies natural explanation. In 1920s Yorkshire, we witness a poverty-stricken young girl named Celie Sheppard retrieving this impossible natural wonder from beneath a cliff overhang at Metland Farm. Unlike the mottled, marbled eggs typically laid by guillemots, this egg is uniformly red, making it the most coveted prize among wealthy egg collectors.

Bauer's fictional creation feels so authentic that readers might find themselves Googling "Metland Egg" to determine if it actually existed. This blurring of fiction and reality enhances the novel's sense of historical authenticity, even as Bauer acknowledges in her author's note that while the tradition of "climming" (men being lowered on ropes to collect birds' eggs) was real, she's embellished certain elements for dramatic effect.

The present-day storyline follows Patrick Fort—whose literal-minded perspective and difficulties with social interaction suggest he's neurodivergent—and his friend Weird Nick as they attempt to recover Nick's stolen egg, only to discover they've stumbled upon a lost collection worth a fortune. What begins as a simple quest to retrieve stolen property evolves into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with obsessive collectors willing to kill for their prize.

Character Development and Narrative Structure

Bauer's greatest strength lies in her character development. Patrick Fort returns as complex and compelling as he was in Rubbernecker. His literal interpretations of figurative language provide both humor and insight, while his methodical approach to problem-solving drives the contemporary investigation forward. Readers familiar with Patrick will delight in his growth while newcomers will find him an engaging, if unusual, protagonist.

The historical characters are equally vivid. Celie Sheppard's journey from neglected child to young woman is rendered with compassion and nuance. Her relationship with Robert, the "idiot" farm boy who looks after her, unfolds with tender restraint. Meanwhile, George Ambler, the egg broker whose greed knows no bounds, emerges as a villain whose comeuppance feels both shocking and inevitable.

The narrative alternates between past and present, with chapters focusing on different time periods and perspectives. This structure allows Bauer to create suspense by withholding key information until precisely the right moment. As the two timelines converge toward their respective climaxes, the connections between them become increasingly apparent, creating a satisfying narrative symmetry.

Themes of Obsession, Exploitation, and Nature

The Impossible Thing explores several interconnected themes:

1. Obsession - From egg collectors to Patrick's fixation on teaspoons, the novel examines how obsession can both drive people to extraordinary achievements and destroy their lives

2. Exploitation - Whether it's birds being robbed of their eggs, a young girl being used for her small size, or a housemaid being abused by her employer, exploitation permeates both timelines

3. Human relationship with nature - The novel questions our right to claim natural wonders as possessions, ultimately suggesting that some things belong only to themselves

These themes are woven together with remarkable subtlety, never overtaking the propulsive plot but enriching it with moral complexity.

Prose Style and Pacing

Bauer's prose is economical yet evocative, particularly in her descriptions of the Yorkshire cliffs:

"Celie had expected a cliff, but all she could see was a towering wall of birds. It was nearing dusk and most were back to roost, where a roost was any ledge that would hold an egg. Three inches would do for some of the birds, and the chalkface was dense with them, huddled wing to chocolate wing."

The pacing is expertly handled. The historical sections unfold with deliberate care, allowing readers to immerse themselves in early 20th-century Yorkshire. The contemporary storyline moves at a brisker clip, with Patrick and Nick's investigation gaining momentum as they get closer to the truth. This contrast in pacing complements the thematic differences between the timelines while ensuring that neither section feels superfluous.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

- Patrick Fort's characterization - His unique perspective makes him an unconventional but compelling protagonist

- Historical detail - The practices of "climming" and egg collecting are meticulously researched and vividly rendered

- Moral complexity - There are no simple villains or heroes, just people driven by their desires and limitations

- Converging storylines - The way the historical and contemporary narratives connect creates genuine suspense and emotional resonance


Weaknesses:

- Some plot conveniences - Occasionally, characters make discoveries that seem too fortuitous
- Underdeveloped antagonists - While Dr. Connor and Finn Garrett are interesting, their motivations could have been more fully explored
- Limited female agency in the historical sections (though this accurately reflects the period)
- Predictable twists - Some revelations, particularly regarding character relationships, are telegraphed early in the narrative


Final Assessment

The Impossible Thing is a captivating blend of historical drama and contemporary crime thriller. Bauer has created a narrative that works on multiple levels: as a return to the world of Patrick Fort for fans of Rubbernecker, as a standalone historical mystery for newcomers, and as an exploration of the sometimes destructive human desire to possess nature's wonders.

While the novel occasionally relies on convenient plot developments and some character motivations remain underdeveloped, these flaws are overshadowed by Bauer's masterful storytelling, memorable characters, and the haunting central image of the blood-red egg that drives the action across a century.

Whether you're a longtime fan of Belinda Bauer or new to her work, The Impossible Thing offers a compelling reading experience that combines the pleasures of historical fiction with the tensions of a modern thriller. It confirms Bauer's status as one of the most original voices in contemporary crime fiction.

[Bo Verhoef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een psychologische thriller zonder spanning of echte plottwist 🫣? Ik was echt hooked aan het verhaal; ik kon hem niet wegleggen en ik zat helemaal klaar voor de twist. En die kwam niet. Tenminste, voor mij voelde het niet zo 😅. Erg jammer, want het voelde daarom een beetje als een anti-climax. Terwijl ik het verhaal, wat op waarheid gebaseerd is, wel echt mega interessant vond. En oeps, ik wist niet dat dit een deel 2 was 🫣. Love het feit dat het om Patrick draait en nu ik weet dat het een serie is, begrijp ik wel de schrijfstijl rondom Patrick 🤭. Wie weet lees ik deel 1 nog wel een keer!

[Indieflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this, who knew a tale about eggs could be so engaging? I didn't really know much about the egg collecting and trafficking craze of the 1920s, or indeed how lucrative it could be. Neither did I know of the dangerous practice of climming - being dangled off a cliff to retrieve the eggs of poor distressed seabirds - but I was fascinated to learn about it, I'm also very happy to say that egg collecting is now illegal as it's so harmful to our bird population, not to mention incredibly cruel.
This story is a sequel of sorts to my favourite Bauer book Rubbernecker, this one is told in two timelines, 1926 and present day, both equally engaging. I love the characters so much I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a third book, 5 stars.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this historical mystery thriller about the metland egg both when they were found to modern day

[Tom Mooney · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Easily the cosiest mystery I've ever read, it could happily be a kids book if you removed the few swear words. It served a purpose as a page-tuner over a few days while ill at home.

But I can't help being frustrated by there being a really interesting story hidden amongst the rather silly dual mysteries that dominate the book. I wish Bauer had been braver and just told us in more detail the story of the Metland egg and life on the farm with Celie and Robert, which was endearing and endlessly fascinating, rather than the over-the-top nonsense of two young men running around the UK for spurious reasons, getting into ever more ludicrous scrapes.