THE PARIS ENIGMA

TITLE: THE PARIS ENIGMA
AUTHOR: PABLO DE SANTIS
Pages: 324
Date: 04/06/2009
Grade: 3.5
Library

This is one of those stories which sounds to be a great and inspired idea when you read the blurb, and then fails to deliver on its promise. Not that it fell flat on its face or was a terrible book, but I can't help feeling that it could have been so much more.
The story is set in 1889. The twelve greatest detectives in the world have been in a sort of club for years, but now, for the first time, all of them are to meet in Paris at the World's Fair.
However, Renato Craig, the Argentinian detective can't go himself and sends Sigmundo Salvatrio, his would be assistant and narrator of the story.
Salvatrio arrives in Paris carrying to things belonging to Craig; a cane which is much more than it seems and a terrible secret.
Soon after the detective's gathering starts, one of them is murdered and a big investigation is set in motion, lead by Arzaky, who takes Salvatrio under his wing.
Of course it is the latter who manages to solve the riddle, more or less dissolving the group of twelve in the process.
The setting is interesting, the idea fascinating, but for me the story was uninspired and far from thrilling.