The mystery itself is intriguing enough, with a cold case murder in a fancy Swiss hotel. Dicker keeps you guessing, jumping back and forth in time and introducing a cast of characters with their own hidden agendas. But the whole thing felt a bit... convoluted at times. There were moments where I felt like I was getting lost in the details.

And then there's the whole meta thing with Dicker inserting himself into the story. It's a bold move, and it kind of works, but it also feels a bit gimmicky.

Simply put ... Disappointing ... The storyline had potential, but it didn't live up to its potential in any way, shape or form,

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.

I seriously LOVED the chosen voice for this book and I already can't wait to re-listen to it.

A crime novel full of twists and turn with an old fashioned kind of feel to it.
The characters were very intriguing and would love to read more about them.
My issues were that the timelines felt confusing and it's a 600 page book that could have been made to 400 pages.

I have taken way too long reading this amazing book and I wish I would just have got myself in the case much earlier. This author is very impressive and writes in a genre all his own. This one did not have as an enticing premise as his other titles, but the same clever setup. Recommended.

Started it but found it majorly confusing to follow. Too many things going on and the narrator isn't the best

Won't be going back

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.

This was very unlike anything I've read before and it was an enjoyable listen. Very twisty and fun. Good narrator.

this book had so many unnecessary twists and turns.

for most of them, i really couldn't care.

the writing felt really boring as well.

i couldn't get invested in the characters because they just didn't interest me at all.

I found this a tough read, and whilst I refused to give up, honestly I think there were many pages I skimmed and didn’t take in. I found the writing difficult to follow (some down to the translation maybe), the storyline confusing and characters hard to grow attached to. There was without a doubt some clever ideas and the concept seemed great, but this book wasn’t for me, and from other reviews I’ve seen it appears others felt similarly, I have see very good reviews for some of Joëls other books so I will give them a try in the hope this was just a one off experience.

I don’t know if it was an issue with the translation or if it was meant to be so but the book felt very funny even when discussing seemingly serious issues. The characters all felt sort of caricaturish and the twists and turns were so bizarre. But I did find myself thoroughly entertained and kept guessing till the end. So I would definitely recommend it to those who love to read a mystery that keeps one entertained but sometimes strays outside the boundary of believable.
Rating : 3.5 stars

The non-linear narrative of this novel is somewhat dizzying at first, and aptly fits the description of a Russian Doll - we have at least 3 storylines, all happening years apart, and all being narrated to us simultaneously. This creates a structure that is not the easiest to follow, however I do think it is done well, and on the whole it lends itself to the overriding theme of storytelling. Joel Dicker himself is a main character in the novel, and it is initially presented as a tribute to his recently deceased publicist, Bernard, so it is not surprising that themes of narration are woven into the story in these ways.
Because of this structure, there are scenes that are narrated more than once, but from different perspectives, with different things being revealed each time. While this can be an interesting technique, and definitely fits the murder mystery style, it does create a somewhat convoluted and overly dense novel, that in my opinion could have benefited from a few more edits. I can definitely understand other readers' opinions that by the reveal of the big twist, one has lost interest. I also find that this twist is quite unbelievable, despite being entertaining at the same time.
Without too many spoilers, the structure of Lev and Anastasia's relationship is not as strong as it could be. At first, I am invested in them, but by the end I feel like they have been on/off again so many times that I really couldn't care less. And the fact that they do end up together feels very rushed.
Given all of that, I still give this book 4 stars, as I believe it is very well written (and well translated), and is rich in detail (almost too much!)

I've become such a huge fan of Joel Dicker's writing and I'm so pleased to say that this novel lived up to all my (very high) expectations! It follows a writer working on his new book, and also him and a new acquaintance trying to solve the mystery of room 622. I loved how the mystery is slowly revealed and unravelled, it was utterly engrossing and I didn't want to stop listening for a moment! The narrator was great on the audiobook and really embodied the main character. You do need to suspend disbelief during parts of this novel but I didn't mind that at all because it's all part of the fun on this author's writing style. I found this a novel that kept me on my toes, it's impossible to work out what's happened but the reveals when they come are so satisfying. I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

Wow! This was a fantastic book!

I was intrigued by the premise when I read the blurb, and couldn't wait to get started on this book, which digs us deeper and deeper into the mystery of whose body was discovered in the hotel, how did they die, etc.

The characters, while a little unbelievable, were written in great detail and i enjoyed the story flicking back and forth between their differing perspectives, as well as the multiple timelines as well.

Right through the book, there are reveals, but the next chapter then turns everything we have learned on its head. Definitely gripping right to the last page!

The narration on this book was wonderful. The narrator had such a rich voice and portrayed the different characters so well throughout the story.

★★★★☆

Author Joël Dicker finds himself unwillingly unravelling the mystery behind the curiously missing Room 622 at the Hôtel de ­Verbier in the Swiss Alps, where he is attempting to recover from a breakup and the recent death of his long-time friend and publisher Bernard de Fallois. Joël and his ‘assistant’ Scarlett uncover a complicated sequence of events that begins at the Ebezner Bank, the largest private bank in Switzerland, and ends in a murder at Verbier.

The book jumps around multiple points in the timeline (which is a little jarring occasionally) weaving an extremely detailed picture of the events that culminated in the murder: Macaire Ebezner’s fight to claim the presidency of the bank, the affair that consumes the mysterious Lev Levovitch, the shady workings of the government agency P-30, Sinior Tarnogol’s underhanded dealings, and…

To be fair, there are a few too many plot elements in the 600 odd pages of this book, some of which are confusing and almost farfetched until you start to slot the whole puzzle together. Though it does get a bit hard to keep track, the events are engaging, and you're drawn into the action. Definitely a Russian doll of mystery, as the blurb promises. The only lacklustre parts of the book are the sections on Joël and Scarlett solving the mystery. Joël Dicker as a character in his book does not inspire any feeling.

The true genius though is Chris Harper, the narrator of the audiobook. This is only the second audiobook I’ve ever picked up, but I have to say he did an excellent job. The first two hours or so were slow and boring, and it is solely his narrative quality that pushed me to stick with the book. 

My most significant takeaway is that if I had read The Enigma of Room 622 as an eBook or a paperback, I am positive I would not have been as impressed with it. I would have probably sped through the book, the twists and revelations making only a faint impression on me. However, I listened to the audiobook in snatches over a period of a few weeks, and it slowly started to feel like a friend was telling me a story. Because the audiobook forces you to go slow, I was genuinely invested in the characters and consequently enjoyed the story better. I still recall certain moments when I reacted audibly to the story, and that’s purely thanks to the narration. My partner was highly amused when I paused midway rinsing a dish and let out a very loud “WHAT!” two-thirds of the way into the book.

This book is for those who love a good mystery with twists upon twists upon twists or who enjoy rereading a book in hopes of spotting all the clues the author left hinting at the ending. And of course, I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook for a better experience. 

Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Audio, and MacLehose Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this audiobook.
The story floats between the main character and a story that he is uncovering as the book progresses. There are so many twists and turns and unexpected storylines. It was atmospheric and I often listened to this while driving in the rain at night which I feel definitely suited the story.
It is a long book, so you have to invest the time. However there were gaps in between me listening and I was able to pick up the storyline quite quickly.
I liked the narrator, his delivery was clear.
This is not really a genre I would select, and feel as though I only stuck with it because it was an audio book. I would probably have DNFd it as a paper copy.
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters- the main character came across arrogantly, and the writing felt a little misogynistic.
This book is an investment of your time and I would recommend that you consider whether you enjoy a James Bond style of story before you start. As an audio book this was in excess of 16 hours.

Honestly I never listening or read a book like this where the author writes himself into the plot! And in my humble opinion he has done this well!!! What is nore is the brilliant narration by Chris Harper!

Thanks #Netgalley #Quercus Audio, MacLehose Press for this audio copy

Captivating. I started listening to this book by myself, but O realised my 13 year old son who is an aspiring writer might also like this. We both loved this book. So many twists and turns!

The Enigma of Room 622 started with a promise but ended with a disappointment. The premise was intriguing and mysterious, however there was too much going on, and the plot became implausible as the story unfolded. I listened to the audio version and the narration was great and made the book more enjoyable.

I absolutely loved this! I didn't see the twists coming and I was hooked from the first few pages. Such intrigue and atmosphere, I really was wrapped up in it and the narration was perfect. The only thing that stopped this from being a full 5 stars was the characterisation of the females and the fact it was a little overlong. I'd definitely like to read more by this author in future.