The Paris Enigma

by: Pablo De Santis; Translated by Mara Lethem

Published by: Harper Collins

Reviewed by Patty Inglish

The Paris Enigma is refreshing and engaging, because it targets the beginnings of modern crime detection in the 19th century from a different angle–and because it features South American detectives. This is a different era and character set than presented in usual modern crime fiction. Adding to this, the story includes a dozen successful detectives and their crime publications, along with their sidekicks and fantastic stories.

These investigators and assistants represent countries around the world, meeting at the opening of the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. It is all rather like visiting a superheroes’ swapmeet to witness the interwoven exploits of each of the twenty-four individuals along with their arguments and frequent conflicts.

Sigmundo Salvatrio as narrator is also the son of a cobbler in this novel. As a youth, he enjoys current detective stories that are similar to the dime novels of the era in the US. By chance, he spots an advertisement in a Buenos Aires newspaper that calls for students to enroll in a new course to study crime detection from a globally known expert. Sigmundo decides to answer the call with intriguing and even frightening results.

The language style and imagery used in this story are as exiting as the major storyline and subplots, because they stem from a different sort of voice. It is more cosmopolitan and filled with a fresher sense of humor when compared to American and British crime fiction.

Some elements of folklore and the metaphysical insert themselves into The Paris Enigma. This recalls the fact that in the early 1890s, “foreign” cultures were largely viewed as strange and mystic – particularly India and the Orient, represented by detectives’ assistants in the story. Magicians were quite famous as entertainers during this time. They appear in this story as well, heightening the feeling of mysticism and suspense with their illusions as well as their truths.

Sigmundo Salvatrio and the Twelve Detectives would make a good character set for an entire series of novels. Readers from high school through adult that enjoy solving mysteries and reading a fresh style will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Armchair Interviews says: A true 5-star work of fiction about crime.