Bookseller Reviews
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Never thought eggs would cause trouble
Thanks to Bantam for the uncorrected proof. This book spans 2 time periods, now and late 1930s. A tale of greed and obsession and eggs.
I cannot quote but... READ MORE
Intelligent, captivating thriller with characters to love - truly eggcellent!
A historical crime/thriller full of surprising charm in its marvellous characters, set in the unique world of egg collecting. Told across two timelines: on... READ MORE
A fascinating historical mystery!
Told over 2 timelines, The Impossible Thing is a fascinating mystery following the famous Metland Egg. In the height of egg collecting, where eggs can reac... READ MORE
Charming
There is something uniquely charming about this book. The events follow the mystery of the Metland Egg and the lives of those it touched. Be ready to delve... READ MORE
Synopsis
Loved by readers... discover this gripping, entertaining crime caper about a hungry young girl, an impossible discovery, and a crime that remained unsolved for one hundred years.
Until now.
It was the most daring crime of the century . . .
1926. On the towering 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. But when small and hungry Celie Sheppard finds an 'impossible' red egg, it will forever alter the course of her life - and the lives of others.
One hundred years later in a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort discovers 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 skulduggery at every turn, The Impossible Thing is a blazing testament to Belinda Bauer’s status as one of our greatest living crime writers.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
- ISBN: 9781804997888
- Number of pages: 416
- Dimensions: 197 x 127 x 28 mm
- Weight: 288g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allCompelling mystery/crime drama.
A mystery story built on the back of an egg hunt and no ordinary egg hunt. It all starts in 1926 on the cliff tops near Bridlington in Yorkshire where men... READ MORE
An incredible mystery about a red egg
What a story.
Cleverly told in dual timelines, it will break your heart and make it race at times.
As easy to read and entertaining as always with Belinda'... READ MORE
Haunting and captivating
I'm a great fan of Belinda Bauer's books and 'The Impossible Thing' is no exception. I requested the DRC as soon as I saw Belinda's name and had no idea of... READ MORE
A Fabulous Read
I loved this book about a subject I know little about ,the illegal world of egg collecting ,the most precious and valuable egg being the Metland Egg a red ... READ MORE
A terrific story, this book has it all!
Belinda Bauer's novels are absolute gems being humorous, touching and approachable like an old friend. Her super powers extend to crafting characters the r... READ MORE
Unique and full of character.
I’ve been waiting for this book ever since Exit, Belinda Bauer’s last book back in 2021. The Queen of quirky character-driven Crime is back to claim her cr... READ MORE
An incredible read
I’ve been a fan of Belinda Bauer for years so was thrilled to see a new book from her and I have to say, it was worth the wait. She has such a talent for b... READ MORE
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer is a fascinating story told by the author and is very subtle in its telling, creating a story of men’s greed over the... READ MORE
An amazing story
‘The Impossible Thing’ by Belinda Bauer sees the return of this author with a bang.
Set in the world of egg collecting and associated crimes, you really d... READ MORE
Missing Egg Mystery
I have never read a Belinda Bauer book before so I didn’t know what to expect. This is an absorbing duel-timeline story about the trade ( now illegal ) in ... READ MORE
Haunting and captivating
I'm a great fan of Belinda Bauer's books and 'The Impossible Thing' is no exception. I requested the DRC as soon as I saw Belinda's name and had no idea of... READ MORE
Highly recommend.
I've never knew Eggs could be so fascinating. An absolutely brilliant book. It's full of Skulduggery, danger, odd, quirky characters who you just fall in l... READ MORE
Quirky and Twisty
4.5* The Impossible Thing - Belinda Bauer. Wow! Quirky, tense and great fun.
Told across 2 timelines, The Impossible Thing is a story about bird egg ... READ MORE
Eggsellent
The Impossible Thing is a wonderfully enjoyable story about birds' eggs and their collectors.
In the 1920's a young girl perilously dangles off the clif... READ MORE
an unusual tale
This was certainly an unusual book and good to read something different, and discover the world of bird's eggs and the murkier world of egg collectors. As ... READ MORE
An eggcellent eggciting tale!
I have enjoyed this author’s previous books but was a bit unsure about the subject of this one, Nevertheless I started to read it and then couldn’t stop an... READ MORE
A Prized Egg
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
Book review - 5*
The book moves back and forth between two timelines throughout the book.
The first timeline... READ MORE
A brilliant mix of crime, history and intrigue - unputdownable
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 - a... READ MORE
An enduring mystery, an unforgettable book!
“Anticipation had warmed them.”
I have been extremely hot myself waiting for this book. So long since this talented and accomplished author brought out ... READ MORE
Not what I'd expected, but I was gripped!
I have only read one Belinda Bauer book previously - a dark thriller - but I enjoyed it, and I was keen to try another. This one starts out in a very creep... READ MORE
Wonderfully unique and imaginative
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer is a wonderfully unique and imaginative novel that sets this author apart from all others. Her cunning plot spans a o... READ MORE
Unique and captivating crime fiction.
I’ve been waiting for this book ever since Exit, Belinda Bauer’s last book back in 2021. The Queen of quirky character-driven Crime is back to claim her cr... READ MORE
LOVED IT!!
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
This is gripping and beautiful to read - I absolutely loved it.
Part historical novel, historical... READ MORE
Quirky and Involving
The Impossible Thing is a quirky tale from Belinda Bauer giving an insight into the competitive and sometimes deadly world of oology.....the now illegal ho... READ MORE
I'd like to see more of Patrick
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
Narrated by Phil Dunster
To enjoy this book meant that I had to delve into things I didn't want to read about or ... READ MORE
Excellent story
Birds eggs collected off the Yorkshire sea cliffs by local men and boys are sold to collectors for a few pounds. None are collected off Metland though as t... READ MORE
A novel about obsession, theft, friendship and loyalty, this is no ordinary crime fiction.
Belinda Bauer introduces the reader to such unusual subject matter in ‘The Impossible Thing’ – early twentieth century egg collecting and the contemporary ... READ MORE
Incredible read, full of pace and humour
I’ve been a fan of Belinda Bauer for years so was thrilled to see a new book from her and I have to say, it was worth the wait. She has such a talent for b... READ MORE
Fvie stars!
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer is an enthralling and intricately crafted crime novel that weaves together historical intrigue and contemporary suspe... READ MORE
I cried, I laughed, I learned, I ate this up.
This is a surprise 5 star for me. I picked it up on a whim and had no idea it was the second book in a series.
Whilst there are allusions to the first ... READ MORE
Interesting Subject
A swashbuckling tale that flits between1926 and the present day.
It explores the history of stealing sea bird eggs for profit and the mysterious disappea... READ MORE
Unexpectedly good
I was somewhat bemused when I started this book, and realised it was about people stealing birds’ egg, (which, by the way, is now illegal in England). I ne... READ MORE
Clifftop Drama
Whilst it may be easy to be caught up in the distasteful activity of egg collecting this story gives so much more. It is a gripping story set over two time... READ MORE
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 o... READ MORE
Simply fantastic
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 Yorkshir... READ MORE
Clever, original and compelling
This is a very original novel about greed and ambition that stretches over 100 years. It starts in 1926 in Yorkshire where Celie Sheppard is tasked with co... READ MORE
An absorbing read
This was an interesting tale in two timelines revolving around the lucrative trade in sea bird eggs and in particular the Metland Red. In 1926 Celie finds ... READ MORE
An Intriguing Read
In this book, we are reminded of the time when egg trafficking took place on the Yorkshire cliffs in the 1920s. Men had to be lowered by ropes over the edg... READ MORE
The Impossible Thing
We start in the past, with men being lowered down the cliffs of the Yorkshire coast to steal eggs from seabirds' nests. Some of them are unique and beautif... READ MORE
A fascinating and unusual novel!
I loved this! I remember enjoying Belinda Bauer’s first two books, Blacklands and Darkside, around the time they were published in 2009 and 2011 respective... READ MORE
Different
In 1926 6 year old Celie Sheppard gets an impossible egg from an impossible to reach part of a cliff face and this action changes the fortunes of her famil... READ MORE
Oological obsession
Little Celie Sheppard is a small, hungry child but when she discovers an unusual red guillemot egg on the cliffs behind her family farm her family is set f... READ MORE
Unique crime concept
4.75⭐️
I love this authors books, her characterisation is superb.
The storyline is highly original. I learnt quite a lot about Gulliemots, and the i... READ MORE
Excellent story
Birds eggs collected off the Yorkshire sea cliffs by local men and boys are sold to collectors for a few pounds. None are collected off Metland though as t... READ MORE
Magical tale
Twists and turns in this wonderful tale from Belinda Bauer. The egg collectors of the 19th century fight for the finest examples of the Bird Egg. Collectin... READ MORE
Eggciting and highly recommended.
You never know what you’re going to get from a Belinda Bauer novel. You know it will be deep and rich in terms of characterisation and that the story telli... READ MORE
Another wonderful book from Belinda
I'm a great fan of Belinda Bauer's books and 'The Impossible Thing' is no exception. I requested the DRC as soon as I saw Belinda's name and had no idea of... READ MORE
Gripping, quirky and interesting
It starts with an egg – a very unusual scarlet guillemot egg, raided from the parents’ nest in 1920. Back then, stealing wild bird’s eggs wasn’t a crime bu... READ MORE
Utterly brilliant.
The Impossible Thing is the second book in the Rubbernecker series by award-winning British journalist, screenwriter and author, Belinda Bauer. Immediatel... READ MORE
Not my cup of tea
I was looking forward to this book, but had I known the subject matter I wouldn't have bothered.I have always hated birds' egg collectors and got through t... READ MORE