The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown

Book Blurb

The world of unknowable objects – magical items that most people have no idea possess powers – has been quiet for decades . . .

But three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world – and keep the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artefact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends the Society’s newest member, author Magda Sparks, to investigate.

Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artefact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.

Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States – not in pursuit of an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.

Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful: the truth.

My Review

Last year I read and reviewedGareth Brown’s debut novel The Book of Doors and it was one of my favourite reads of 2024. I was really excited to be invited to read Gareth Brown’s new book The Society of Unknowable Objects. The main setting of this book is a wonderful second hand bookshop in London, an unassuming place that holds a chest of magical items. The Society is there to protect these objects from people who would use them for nefarious purposes.

I absolutely loved the premise for this book, who wouldn’t want magical items that could make you fly, slow down time, see people’s souls, and even bring back a loved one.for-example; but magic always comes at a price. Gareth Brown takes us on a journey both metaphorical and literally in this book, from London to Hong Kong and America as members of the society learn more about the society, its beginnings, the secrets kept and themselves. It is Magda who goes on the biggest journey, stepping out of her comfort zone from her relatively normal life to taking on a thief who wants the magical objects for himself. What I enjoyed about her story was seeing her character develop, seeing how she gained confidence through the book and came out of her shell and being more assertive. It was also nice to see her with a love interest.

This may seem like a nice cosy story about magic and a secret society but it takes a very sinister turn half way through. The darkness of magic in the wrong hands, and creating magical objects for the wrong reasons. This got really creepy and sinister in parts, it had a feeling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at one point.

Gareth Brown is a fabulous storyteller, his plot building drew me into this fabulous story and the fast pace kept me hooked. His descriptions of both the people and the settings were vivid and real, giving a grounding for the magical aspect. The characters became people I cared about, and even the villain had redeeming qualities that made me feel sorry for him.

The Society of Unknowable Objects is a wonderful read full of magic, danger, adventure and a touch of romance. This book had a lot to live up to after reading The Book of Doors and it was just as good in both plot and characters and as addictive. This is an enthralling read that will take you on a journey you won’t forget; simply stunning.