Belinda Bauer has always possessed an uncanny ability to merge the macabre with the mundane. In \u201cThe Impossible Thing,\u201d\u00a0Belinda Bauer returns to this territory with aplomb, delivering a crime novel that spans a century and explores how a simple object\u2014in this case, a blood-red guillemot egg\u2014can inspire obsession, greed, and murder across generations.<\/p>\n
The novel marks Bauer\u2019s triumphant return to Patrick Fort, the protagonist of her award-winning 2013 novel \u201cRubbernecker<\/a>.\u201d Patrick, a young man with a unique perspective on the world, is drawn into a mystery when his friend Nick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Bauer crafts her narrative across dual timelines with remarkable finesse:<\/p>\n 1920s Yorkshire<\/strong>: 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 \u201cMetland Egg\u201d becomes the first of thirty identical eggs harvested over the years by broker George Ambler, who pays Celie\u2019s family handsomely while treating the egg as his ticket to wealth and fame. The narrative strands intertwine masterfully, building toward revelations about the eggs\u2019 fate and the lengths to which collectors will go to possess such rarities.<\/p>\n Readers who loved \u201cRubbernecker\u201d will delight in Patrick\u2019s return. His neurodivergent perspective offers a fresh lens on human behavior and motivation<\/a>:<\/p>\n Patrick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Supporting Patrick is a colorful cast of characters, including:<\/p>\n Weird Nick<\/strong>: Patrick\u2019s only friend, who finds himself in over his head when his family heirloom egg is stolen Bauer excels at making historical crimes feel immediate. The plight of the guillemot\u2014a seabird whose unique red eggs were systematically stolen year after year\u2014becomes a powerful metaphor for exploitation. The detailed descriptions of \u201cclimming\u201d (the dangerous practice of collecting seabird eggs from cliff faces) are fascinating and horrifying in equal measure.<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n What Works Brilliantly:<\/strong><\/p>\n Setting and Atmosphere<\/strong>: From the windswept Yorkshire cliffs to the sterile museum halls filled with millions of eggs, Bauer creates vivid environments that heighten the tension Where It Occasionally Falters:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pacing Inconsistencies<\/strong>: The middle section, particularly the museum heist, sometimes drags compared to the taut opening and powerful conclusion What elevates \u201cThe Impossible Thing\u201d above standard crime fare is Belinda Bauer\u2019s profound engagement with questions of humanity\u2019s relationship to nature. The red guillemot eggs represent something that should never have existed\u2014an impossibility of nature that nonetheless captivates human imagination.<\/p>\n Particularly moving is her portrayal of the guillemot\u2019s confusion and grief when its eggs are stolen. In one poignant passage, she writes:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\nWorlds Colliding: Then and Now<\/h2>\n
\nPresent Day<\/strong>: Patrick Fort and his friend \u201cWeird Nick\u201d Morgan embark on an investigation to recover Nick\u2019s stolen egg, leading them into the strange, obsessive world of egg collectors\u2014past and present\u2014where scientific value, monetary gain, and conservation ethics clash violently.<\/p>\nPatrick Fort: An Unconventional Detective Returns<\/h2>\n
\u201cPatrick worked hard at understanding what people meant. It often took him a long time to think it through, and he didn\u2019t always reach the right conclusion\u2026\u201d<\/h4>\n
\nMeg<\/strong>: The compassionate medical student who understands Patrick better than most
\nDr. Christopher Connor<\/strong>: The museum curator whose passion for eggs borders on obsession
\nFinn Garrett<\/strong>: The zealous RSPB officer determined to protect birds at any cost<\/p>\nA Historical Crime That Echoes Through Time<\/h2>\n
Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n
\nCharacter Development<\/strong>: Patrick\u2019s growth from \u201cRubbernecker\u201d is subtle but significant, and Celie Sheppard\u2019s journey from neglected child to young woman is beautifully rendered
\nHistorical Authenticity<\/strong>: Bauer\u2019s research into egg collecting and climming traditions shines through without overwhelming the narrative
\nMoral Complexity<\/strong>: The novel refuses easy judgments about collectors, conservationists, or museums, presenting compelling arguments from all sides<\/p>\n
\nCoincidences<\/strong>: A few plot developments rely heavily on fortunate timing or unlikely encounters
\nVillain Motivations<\/strong>: While most characters have clear, compelling reasons for their actions, a few antagonists feel somewhat one-dimensional in their obsession<\/p>\nThe Natural and Unnatural World<\/h2>\n
\u201cIf birds mourn, they mourned.<\/h4>\n
The next day they left for Norway, without a chick for the second year running.<\/h4>\n
Next year, they would be back to try again.\u201d<\/h4>\n
Verdict: A Worthy Return for Patrick Fort<\/h2>\n