Belinda Bauer has always possessed an uncanny ability to merge the macabre with the mundane. In “The Impossible Thing,” Belinda Bauer returns to this territory with aplomb, delivering a crime novel that spans a century and explores how a simple object—in this case, a blood-red guillemot egg—can inspire obsession, greed, and murder across generations.
The novel marks Bauer’s triumphant return to Patrick Fort, the protagonist of her award-winning 2013 novel “Rubbernecker.” Patrick, a young man with a unique perspective on the world, is drawn into a mystery when his friend Nick’s house is broken into and an unusual red egg in a carved wooden box is stolen. What begins as a simple quest to recover stolen property evolves into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with museum curators, egg collectors, and zealous conservationists.
Worlds Colliding: Then and Now
Bauer crafts her narrative across dual timelines with remarkable finesse:
1920s Yorkshire: We meet Celie Sheppard, a neglected child who discovers that her tiny frame allows her to be lowered through a crack in a cliff overhang to retrieve a rare red guillemot egg. This “Metland Egg” becomes the first of thirty identical eggs harvested over the years by broker George Ambler, who pays Celie’s family handsomely while treating the egg as his ticket to wealth and fame.
Present Day: Patrick Fort and his friend “Weird Nick” Morgan embark on an investigation to recover Nick’s stolen egg, leading them into the strange, obsessive world of egg collectors—past and present—where scientific value, monetary gain, and conservation ethics clash violently.
The narrative strands intertwine masterfully, building toward revelations about the eggs’ fate and the lengths to which collectors will go to possess such rarities.
Patrick Fort: An Unconventional Detective Returns
Readers who loved “Rubbernecker” will delight in Patrick’s return. His neurodivergent perspective offers a fresh lens on human behavior and motivation:
“Patrick worked hard at understanding what people meant. It often took him a long time to think it through, and he didn’t always reach the right conclusion…”
Patrick’s logical approach to investigation provides both humor and insight. He analyzes situations that others would find overwhelming with methodical precision, such as when he meticulously disassembles museum display cabinets to reach hidden eggs.
Supporting Patrick is a colorful cast of characters, including:
Weird Nick: Patrick’s only friend, who finds himself in over his head when his family heirloom egg is stolen
Meg: The compassionate medical student who understands Patrick better than most
Dr. Christopher Connor: The museum curator whose passion for eggs borders on obsession
Finn Garrett: The zealous RSPB officer determined to protect birds at any cost
A Historical Crime That Echoes Through Time
Bauer excels at making historical crimes feel immediate. The plight of the guillemot—a seabird whose unique red eggs were systematically stolen year after year—becomes a powerful metaphor for exploitation. The detailed descriptions of “climming” (the dangerous practice of collecting seabird eggs from cliff faces) are fascinating and horrifying in equal measure.
The narrative tension builds expertly as the layers of mystery unfold. Who has the remaining eggs? What happened to George Ambler, the broker who coveted them? And what drives present-day collectors to risk everything for these fragile treasures?
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Brilliantly:
Setting and Atmosphere: From the windswept Yorkshire cliffs to the sterile museum halls filled with millions of eggs, Bauer creates vivid environments that heighten the tension
Character Development: Patrick’s growth from “Rubbernecker” is subtle but significant, and Celie Sheppard’s journey from neglected child to young woman is beautifully rendered
Historical Authenticity: Bauer’s research into egg collecting and climming traditions shines through without overwhelming the narrative
Moral Complexity: The novel refuses easy judgments about collectors, conservationists, or museums, presenting compelling arguments from all sides
Where It Occasionally Falters:
Pacing Inconsistencies: The middle section, particularly the museum heist, sometimes drags compared to the taut opening and powerful conclusion
Coincidences: A few plot developments rely heavily on fortunate timing or unlikely encounters
Villain Motivations: While most characters have clear, compelling reasons for their actions, a few antagonists feel somewhat one-dimensional in their obsession
The Natural and Unnatural World
What elevates “The Impossible Thing” above standard crime fare is Belinda Bauer’s profound engagement with questions of humanity’s relationship to nature. The red guillemot eggs represent something that should never have existed—an impossibility of nature that nonetheless captivates human imagination.
Particularly moving is her portrayal of the guillemot’s confusion and grief when its eggs are stolen. In one poignant passage, she writes:
“If birds mourn, they mourned.
The next day they left for Norway, without a chick for the second year running.
Next year, they would be back to try again.”
This perspective gives emotional weight to what might otherwise be merely a tale of theft and obsession. It reminds readers that behind human greed lie real consequences for the natural world.
Verdict: A Worthy Return for Patrick Fort
“The Impossible Thing” by Belinda Bauer proves a worthy successor to “Rubbernecker,” taking Patrick Fort into new territory while retaining the qualities that made him such a compelling protagonist. Bauer’s ability to balance dark humor, historical mystery, and contemporary crime is on full display.
The novel feels both timeless and timely. Its exploration of collecting—what we take, what we keep, what we protect—resonates in an era of environmental crisis and debates about museum collections and their provenance.
While not without minor flaws, “The Impossible Thing” solidifies Belinda Bauer’s reputation as a crime writer of uncommon depth and originality. For readers new to her work, this novel stands alone perfectly well, though familiarity with “Rubbernecker” enriches the experience of following Patrick’s development.
For Fans Of…
Readers who enjoy “The Impossible Thing” by Belinda Bauer might also appreciate:
Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series for their strong sense of place and unconventional detectives
Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike novels for their blend of contemporary and historical mysteries
Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series for the interplay between past and present crimes
Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy for atmospheric settings and crimes rooted in local traditions
Bauer’s previous works, particularly “Blacklands” (her CWA Gold Dagger winner) and “Snap” (Booker Prize longlisted), also showcase her talent for finding the extraordinary in seemingly ordinary circumstances.
Final Thoughts
“The Impossible Thing” reminds us why Belinda Bauer remains one of the UK’s most distinctive crime writers. By merging natural history with human cruelty, by finding beauty in obsession while condemning its excesses, she creates a mystery that lingers long after the final page.
Ultimately, this is a novel about possession—what we truly own, what claims we have on the natural world, and what price we’re willing to pay for our desires. In Patrick Fort, Bauer gives us a protagonist uniquely qualified to navigate these murky waters, seeing patterns others miss and questioning assumptions others take for granted.
For a crime novel with depth, atmosphere, and a genuinely surprising conclusion, “The Impossible Thing” delivers magnificently. It’s a rare achievement: a sequel that both honors and expands upon its predecessor while telling a story entirely its own.