The Impossible Thing
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer is a captivating narrative published by Atlantic Monthly Press in 2025, featuring 336 pages in English. This novel intertwines two timelines, beginning in 1926 on the cliffs of Yorkshire, where a young girl discovers a valuable sea bird egg that dramatically changes her life. The story then shifts to a century later, where Patrick Fort uncovers a robbery involving his friend and mother, leading him on a quest to recover a stolen carved case containing a rare scarlet egg.
Readers will find a richly woven tale that explores themes of obsession, greed, and ambition against a backdrop of mystery and crime. As Patrick and Nick delve into the dark world of egg trafficking, they uncover a lost collection of eggs that has remained hidden for generations. The Impossible Thing presents a unique blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, showcasing Bauer’s skill in crafting an immersive and thought-provoking experience.
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“A solid gold, suspenseful, immersive and intriguing story.”–Lee Child
“One of the most enjoyable novels I’ve read in ages . . . utterly distinctive and totally addictive.”–Paula Hawkins
“The gift of The Impossible Thing is the pure joy of reading.”–Val McDermid
From the exceptionally original mind of CWA Gold Dagger Award winner and Booker longlisted author Belinda Bauer, 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.
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.
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