Charlotte May's Reviews > The Solitaire Mystery

I'm really toying the line between 3 and 4 stars so I've settled with 3.5. It's a hard one, as the concept with this book was so clever and different; and it's not like me to say but I almost think it was too different.
Hans Thomas and his father travel across Europe in search of his mother, who they believe is in Athens.
While on this journey Hans Thomas is given a magnifying glass by a dwarf and shortly after 4 sticky buns from a baker, the largest one containing a very small book inside.
So begins a story within a story within a story - threefold! Even my head was struggling to keep everything straight.
During the story within the sticky bun book we learn of a magical island with 52 dwarves each a card from a pack of playing cards - so 2 of diamonds, king of spades etc.
Throughout we learn that this information passes on to another every 52 years, and by the very end of the book we learn how this island and the men who have learned all of its secrets and treasures link in with Hans Thomas and his family.
A very smart premise and it is a remarkably woven tale, I enjoyed it and the writing was wonderful, with even some philosophy thrown in! I just feel it was kind of tricky for me to get my head around, I was concentrating so much I didn't get to stop and actually enjoy the book itself. Still 3.5 I reckon.