The Toymaker

Hugely memorable, The Toymaker is an unflinching examination of the dark instinct for survival that lies in all of us

Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites

The Toymaker is a bold and compelling tale, from a writer properly assured of his skills.

Peter Pierce, Weekend Australian

The Toymaker is a compulsively readable collision between the past and the present that results in a surprising future. Secrets and survival, optimism and opportunism are the kindle that fuels this funny, furious and unforgettable book.

Sydney Arts Guide

The narrative is subtle, measured and worth every second. I can’t let the story go . . . The author delivers on his hook, drawing in readers as he skilfully highlights the nuances of evil played out for 'best interests' and self interests. This a modern lesson, one valid decades on from the Holocaust.

Amanda Ellis, West Australian

At times harrowing to read, The Toymaker will stay with you beyond the last page. It is superbly written, utterly engrossing and morally challenging. Pieper has written a masterful story with the skill of a sure hand. An amazing debut novel.

Melissa Sargent, LOVEthatBOOK http://melissa-sargent.com/review-the-toymaker-by-liam-pieper/

The Toymaker is confronting, original and engaging – a deep, often disturbing look at the dark heart of the modern world.

Pile By the Bed http://pilebythebed.com/index.php/2016/the-toymaker-by-liam-pieper/

As the novel draws to a close and Pieper reveals his narrative hand, a shocking twist gives The Toymaker an entirely new dimension, one that asks the reader to think long and hard about the price of secrets, and what morality really means. Read it once, then read it again.

Readings.com.au

Very well drawn characters (unlikeable as some may be) and a compelling and often shocking story burning under the present day narrative. Towards the last chapter, I gasped. I'll say no more. Excellent debut fiction.

Zan Rowe

Pieper's use of a dual narrative is creative and evocative; it serves the story well. Pieper handles the contrasting journeys in different time periods with ease and style . . . The author's crisp turn of phrase and the efficiency with which he crafts the two differing but comparable fictional journeys. Pieper achieves said craftsmanship with as much, if not more, assurance than many of his more heralded contemporaries. For this feat alone, his work is worthy of commendation.

Laurie Steed, Australian Book Review

Haunting, dark and enthralling, Pieper's storytelling spans the gamut of situations guaranteed to provoke extreme emotions.

Rosalea Ryan, Bendigo Weekly

Compelling . . . explores how our secrets can shape our lives.

Sunday Life

It's clear within pages of The Toymaker that he is a professional writer of prodigious talent. This is a juicy book with an intricate, layered plot, three-dimensional characters, and with brio – it is at once a Holocaust novel, a family drama, and a contemporary literary treat . . . Issues of identity plague this novel, and by the end, Pieper has choreographed an exquisite twist.

Louise Swinn, The Age

Powerfully affecting . . . An important new testament to the horrors and secrets of the Holocaust.

Australian Women's Weekly

Liam Pieper has written a stunning debut novel with a shattering final twist that will leave you breathless (and perhaps even outraged) from its impact. His exploration of the darker side of human nature, survival at any cost and the dire consequences of keeping too many secrets will keep you clamouring for more from this outstanding new author.

Pauline Latham, South Coast Register