The Society of Unknowable Objects, Gareth Brown
The Society of Unknowable Objects, Gareth Brown
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The Society of Unknowable Objects
A Novel

Author: Gareth Brown

Narrator: Olivia Vinall

Unabridged: 11 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: William Morrow

Published: 08/12/2025


Synopsis

From the author of the internationally bestselling The Book of Doors, another fantastical, stand-alone novel in which a trio of seemingly everyday people are members of a secret society tasked with finding and protecting hidden magical objects—ordinary items with extraordinary properties. The world of unknowable objects—magical items that most people have no idea possess powers—has been quiet for decades, but the 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 the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artifact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends Magda Sparks—author by day and newest member—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 artifact 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, now in pursuit of not an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the professional 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.

About Gareth Brown

Gareth Brown is the author of the international bestseller The Book of Doors. He wanted to be a writer from a very young age, and he completed his first novel as a teenager. For the last twenty years he has worked in the UK Civil Service and the National Health Service while writing in his spare time. When not working or writing, Gareth loves travelling, especially the whirlwind first few hours in a new city and long road trips through beautiful landscapes. He enjoys barbecues, patisseries, playing pool, and falling asleep in front of the television like an old man. Gareth lives with his wife and two impudent and highly excitable Skye terriers near Edinburgh in Scotland. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) on October 04, 2025

Immersive, spellbinding, and undeniably special, The Society of Unknowable Objects pulled me happily back into the world of The Book of Doors. From the evocative prose to the found family dynamic, there wasn’t a thing not to love about this genre-bending tale. Conjuring up the perfect mix of magical......more

Goodreads review by Dennis on July 07, 2025

I fell in love with Gareth Brown's debut fantasy novel, BOOK OF DOORS, so when I heard that his next novel, THE SOCIETY OF UNKNOWABLE OBJECTS, was in the same universe, I knew that I needed to jump in as soon as possible. Sadly, this one didn't really work out as well for me, but I am very happy tha......more

Goodreads review by Christy on July 30, 2025

'All unknowable objects did something: ordinary, everyday items that would enable those who possessed them to do unusual and extraordinary things.' The Society of Unknowable Objects has been meeting for decades. Charged with the protection of magical items coming into the possession of an ill doer, m......more

Goodreads review by emilybookedup on August 13, 2025

teetering between 3.5/4 stars so rounding up! THE BOOK OF DOORS author is back with a new novel set in the same universe. it was definitely a good read, but hard to live up to the caliber of his debut. one question to answer right away: while this isn’t a sequel to THE BOOK OF DOORS, it is interconn......more

Goodreads review by Ruben on August 25, 2025

Magda Sparks is a very popular and accomplished writer, although she uses a pseudonym in her books. In addition to being a writer, she's also a member of the Society of Unknowable Objects (SOUO) which convenes twice a year to talk about "unknowable objects", but what are they? They are every-day obj......more