El Enigma de Paris Audiobook (Unabridged)

" I really enjoy a well written mystery and unfortunately The Paris Enigma just wasn't it. The plot was slow and disjointed. The narrative confusing and there was no stage where I found this gripping! Isn't that the whole idea of a mystery? "

" I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was woven around other stories. Twelve detectives from around the world gathered at the Worlds Fair to display thier techniques. Throughout the story, each detective and each of their assistants tell a tale about some crime they solved in their home countries. While interesting, it distracted from the main plot, which in the end seemed rushed. The writing was good, the characters well developed, but there were too many of them. I was lost by the middle of the book by which assistant belonged to which detective and who was from what country, etc. "

" The Paris Enigma is advertised as a 'Historical whodunit' set in the 1880's in Paris at the World's Fair. The Twelve Detectives, a group of well known detectives from all around the world, are meeting in Paris, along with their acolytes (assistants) to spotlight their skills and implements of detection to the Worlds Fair crowds. The story is written from a first person perspective, a Sigmundo Salvatrio, who is a cobblers son in Buenos Aires, who dreams of being a detective and joins Renato Craig's (one of the Twelve) academy. When Renato gives up being a detective through illness and certain actions which I will not give away here, Salvatrio is sent to Paris in Craigs place to deliver his contribution to the Worlds Fair exhibit and a message to Viktor Arzaky, Craigs best friend and co-founder of the Twelve. Events unfold as one of the Twelve is murdered and Salvatrio is thrown in amongst what I found to be the most dysfunctional group of detectives I have ever known. Rivalry between the Twelve is one thing but I don't think they like each other at all. Translated from its original Spanish, The Paris Enigma is a very quick and enjoyable read. Where the Paris Enigma does fall down is a sense of location, I did not feel the streets of Buenos Airies or the streets of Paris while reading it. The great occasion of the Worlds Fair seemed to be a bit superfluous to the story and although the building of the Eiffel Tower does feature, it did not stand out. This may be a problem in translation as it is always said that to get a true sense of a book it should be read in its native language and in this case it may be true, I will have to give it the benefit of the doubt. Enjoyable, but not as good as I hoped it would be. "

" What is an enigma? A blank piece of paper, a painting that starts as one thing and becomes another, a jigsaw puzzle? Defeated by shoe polish! I loved it. "

" I really enjoyed this book. It was a detective story/mystery centering around 12 detectives at the turn of the 20th century (Paris World's Fair).Refreshingly different from anything I've read lately and other mysteries. Interesting characters, great ending,enjoyable. "

" Quirky but with a solution that I guessed early on. Agatha Christie he ain't. "

" A charming novel, beautifully plotted and hearkening back to the grand mysteries of the '20s and '30s. Highly recommended. "

" I liked this book more than I expected to. I thought there were some flashes of brilliance, but unfortunately, they were just brief flashes. "

" Not as good as I had hoped....liked the first part and liked the ending, but the rest was weird and hard to follow for me. Award winning fiction??? "

" Fun read, would make a fantastic graphic novel. "

" A well-written and enjoyable mystery, set in Paris at the time of the World's Fair. "

" Reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, and great fun. "

" Pretty well written yet a little bit too confusing! But certainly lovely to read. "

" This is the most amazing murder mystery I've ever read! There are so many twists and turns, right up to the end! You finally find out 'who done it' and then you get the rug whipped out from under you yet again! I can't recommend this book enough! "

" A great tale of detectives and detecting, in a Paris on the eve of the opening of the Eiffel Tower. Great fun, while you feel very intellectual because you are reading great writing. "

" Requires some thinking, but enjoyable nonetheless. "

" Not what you expect. Twice. "

" The book didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it came close. It will probably be even more enjoyable for devotees of the mystery genre. "

" 'The Paris Enigma' is a literary novel. It is beautifully written, a perfect example of how the mystery can rise above genre expectations. "

" Barely recreated in my mind the experience, energy and feel of Paris in the late 1800's. Little did it make me want to know who the murderer was by the end. "

" Really enjoyed this. An outsiders look at detectives, but ones that seem to be clearly fictional detectives. Shame most of his stuff hasn't been translated. "

" The idea sounded appealing "Twelve of the world's greatest sleuthes have gathered to discuss their most famous cases..." as did the setting of the Paris World Fair in 1889. But sadly, this one didn't really grab me. "

" A great tale of detectives and detecting, in a Paris on the eve of the opening of the Eiffel Tower. Great fun, while you feel very intellectual because you are reading great writing. "

" I think de Santis was trying to create an atmospheric historical thriller, but his characters' extended musings on the philosophical nature of detective work and mysteries simply didn't leave a very strong impression. "

" The book was a mystery as to how to read it. Like a puzzle within a puzzle and that is what made it so fun. "

" clever-fun and loved the setting at the Paris world's fair "

" Fun, kind-of thinky, very atmospheric (there's absinthe!) but also mostly aimed at lovers of detective fiction. "

" Pensé que iba a estar mejor... el enigma está bueno pero medio rebuscado taaantos personajes que aparecen. El lugar y momento donde transcurren los hechos me parecieron muy interesantes. "

" Not my cup of tea. I read this for a book review I am attending. The vignettes detailing the detectives past triumphs were the most interesting facets of the book. On the whole, I thought the storyline was weak. "

" Quirky but with a solution that I guessed early on. Agatha Christie he ain't. "

" I liked this book more than I expected to. I thought there were some flashes of brilliance, but unfortunately, they were just brief flashes. "

" Interesting in that it's a very literary-styled mystery novel....fun to have it set at the World's Fair in Paris. Didn't tie up well enough at the end for my liking. "

" A well-written and enjoyable mystery, set in Paris at the time of the World's Fair. "