Cover Image: The Enigma of Room 622

The Enigma of Room 622

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Member Reviews

Thank you very much @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker. This is a mystery based in Switzerland and i think possibly translated. It’s about the murder of a banker in a hotel room, and the people who try to solve the mystery many years later. I tried several times to read this but just could not get into it. There is a lot of detail and i didn’t like any of the characters. #netgalley #bookstagram

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Although there were some high points in this novel, I got bogged down with the time shifts as the author switched back and forth from the present day of the story to the past when the crime occurred. The characters were also not very believable, and it was hard to empathize with them.

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The Enigma of Room 622 is a completely captivating and enthralling mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. This is BY FAR my favourite mystery read, to date. I seriously could not believe how intricate and masterfully plotted the entirety of this book is. It's a long book, but I honestly believe every page is needed so that the author can properly lay out the story and set the stage for all of the twists to come. I think a longer book is also important if you want to read something that you can't possibly figure out within the first few pages. I especially love how EVERYTHING in the story is connected and how the twsists that are revealed towards the end had me re-thinking the ENTIRE book--that is what I believe to be one of the most important elements of a good story and, in particular, a good mystery.

Overall, this was an incredible murder mystery that incudes many things that I love in a book:
Complex, flawed, and even, unlikeable characters
Hotel location (set in the Swiss Alps which makes it even better)
Cleverly plotted (everything has a purpose)
Wonderfully written, despite being a translated novel (originally written in French)
Bonus: Excellently narrated by someone whose voice was full of life and who was able to keep track of the different voices for the different roles.

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"The Enigma of Room 622" by Joël Dicker is a captivating mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious Swiss hotel, Dicker masterfully crafts a complex web of secrets, lies, and intrigue that unfolds with each turn of the page. As Detective Laurent Salignac investigates the enigmatic death of a hotel guest, he uncovers a tangled web of deception that reaches into the highest echelons of society. With its richly drawn characters and skillfully plotted twists, "The Enigma of Room 622" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Dicker's masterful storytelling and keen attention to detail make this novel a must-read for fans of suspense and mystery.

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over long and indulgent but. what works is very good. these european mystery thrillers are always instructive and interesting. the swiss, the norwegians, the swedes etc. they've got interesting structure and style in my opinion

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A really great mystery. I throughly enjoyed it. The twists towards the end leaving me questioning what more could happen before it got all wrapped up.

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The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to like this book more than I did! I found the plot and characters to be intriguing, but the middle of the book felt too drawn out and I was finding myself skimming some pages. I liked it enough to try another book by this author, but it wasn’t one of my favorites for the year. Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book.

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One of the best mystery books I have read in recent years. This book was on the long side, nearly 600 pages, and I tend to struggle with mystery books that last long long winded mystery books becuase I feel that it is a fools errand to keep a reader engaged in the same mystery for more than 350 pages. I must admit, that for the majority of this novel I was indeed engaged and drawn into the mystery. Every time I thought I knew something or had unraveled the mystery the book sent me another twist.

The translation felt choppy and lacked flow. There were moments where the dialogue felt unnatural. I overlooked this in hopes it was just the translation and not the original writing. The one large redeeming feature of this book that had be fascinated is how the author wrote this book in two separate parts: the fact and the fiction. The fact is centered around author Joël Dicker, who lives in Geneva (which is true of the real author as well) who attempts to uncover a mystery. The fiction is centered around this story that is being told about Geneva bankers, espionage, betrayal, lies, cheating, and more. Together they made the story feel as though it was both "based on a true story" and "fantasized reality."

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While this book started off a bit slow-paced, it gradually ramped up the action and left me on the edge of my seat! The mystery was intricately plotted and featured many twists and turns I couldn't see coming. In terms of the writing style, it matched perfectly with the overall vibe of the plot and grabbed my attention right away. We also follow a wide range of characters that we get to see grow and contribute to the story. It was exciting to learn the many secrets of each character and depending on what section you were reading, you could easily switch from rooting for them to hoping they'd be caught based on what was revealed. All of the characters felt lifelike and could have been based on real people. I really enjoyed trying to piece together the murder and the many other mysteries within this book, I couldn't get enough! I also listened to the audiobook and definitely recommend giving it a listen. The narrator did a fantastic job of giving personality and life to the story!

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Thanks to NetGalley and all for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

This was a crazy ride of a story! So many things going on and layers of plot. I loved every minute of it!

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This is not my usual genre but I found myself enjoying this mystery. I don't really enjoy most mysteries because they seem so obvious to me but this one kept me guessing and reading. Delightful!

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Well, I did really enjoy this book. It definitely took me a lot longer to read than I had hoped I think that there are some parts that could have been omitted. However, overall I was very captivated throughout the entirety of the book.

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I read this book because of early hype. At first, I thought it would be dry and not at all my thing. But this is a slow burn and you suddenly find yourself fully engulfed. So many twists and red herrings…you’ll think you’ve figured it out…but you’ll most likely be wrong.

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What a twisted ride! I’ll admit I thought this was definitely too long and at times confusing, but I couldn’t stop picking up this. novel. The way the author masterminded this whole story is quite the feat. Definitely worth the effort by the end.

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The longer I think about The Enigma of Room 622, the better I think the book was.

While I was in the depths of reading it, I had some trouble following, and working out who was important or wasn’t, which was frustrating at the time. Looking back, the details were woven together masterfully in ways I haven’t seen before.

I loved the setting, in a hotel in Geneva, and the story within a story aspect.

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I was so excited about this book by the premise. This book did feel really long, and it did take me some time to find my groove, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Joel, a writer looking for a retreat from a spurned lover, and also while dealing with the death of his close friend/publisher, takes a vacation in the Alps at a world-renowned hotel. Once he arrives to his room, however, he notices that room 622 is not there...the room numbers go from 621B to 623. Now that his curiosity is peaked, Joel begins to investigate the murder that happened in room 622 and the events leading up to and surrounding the tragedy.

I really loved the way this book was written. The author took his time telling the story and setting the stage for all of the twists and turns that would unfold throughout the plot. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters this way...all of them were extremely complex and flawed. It was marvelous to read. Just as one major point would unfold, there would be hidden layers underneath. Ultimately, the question "How far would you go for love?" is the point of the novel.

As a big mystery reader, I can honestly say that this book is different from many other mysteries I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be adding it to my own collection. Marvelous, marvelous book!!

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This book was not for me. I got 20% in and realized I was very bored. I do not think I am the correct audience. There were a lot of characters that confused me, and I had a hard time following the narrative.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy. Thoughts are my own.

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This was a DNF for me! It started of okay and I was intrigued but after a few chapters it just went downhill and I completely lost interest.

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This was a really interesting cozy mystery. I love hotel settings and I love cozy mysteries - so this was right up my alley! Very reminiscent of The Maid!

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I found this excessively dry--which may be due to the fact that it's in translation. Lots of other thrillers like this out there that are better.

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