The Club Dumas in What's the Name of That Book???

Aug 18, 2013 Erin rated it really liked it

I am always looking for the next great puzzle/game mystery/quest novel, the next The Westing Game the next book Ready Player One, even the next The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown isn't the world's best writer, but the plotting and puzzle in the book was fantastic). This book was recommended as similar to those, and as it was written prior to the publication of Brown's book, I figured it wouldn't be one of the many rip-offs published in its wake. And it definitely isn't - Perez-Reverte has written a hig I am always looking for the next great puzzle/game mystery/quest novel, the next The Westing Game the next book Ready Player One, even the next The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown isn't the world's best writer, but the plotting and puzzle in the book was fantastic). This book was recommended as similar to those, and as it was written prior to the publication of Brown's book, I figured it wouldn't be one of the many rip-offs published in its wake. And it definitely isn't - Perez-Reverte has written a highly literate mystery, which is really two mysteries in one (and it's difficult to say more than that without giving anything away).

The strengths - nothing like a book lover's mystery book, although I'm sure I would have gotten more out of it had I read The Three Musketeers, however it is one of those books that is so much a part of popular culture that I know more about it than I thought. And Dumas's best known book isn't the only book referenced throughout the text, so there's probably something for every reader here. However, the book had serious flaws for me, and is probably a 3.5, rounded up because...well, because I appreciated the effort. So, the weaknesses - the characters were all very one-dimensional and the women - wow! Only small variations on your standard Madonna/whore choices and, naturally, beautiful, brilliant young women are perfectly willing to sleep with sketchy middle-aged men.

My biggest complaint, though, was that the book seemed such a lost opportunity to be what _I_ was looking for, that is, a great clue-driven mystery (and I realize that my desires don't necessarily match up with the author's). (view spoiler)

So, good, but not great.

ETA: 9/24/13 - happened to come across the movie adaptation, "The Ninth Gate" on television. I feel certain I saw it, but have no recollection of it at all. Anyway, watching it right now, and I remember that I meant to mention....what's with all the smoking around these priceless books? It was evident in both the book and movie. So odd. ...more

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Oct 07, 2009 ScottK rated it it was ok · review of another edition

2.5 really. A good friend(Hey Charity),recommended this book to me and I got all excited, as I love Dumas no end. But then,I read the description page and thought to myself "this seems very familiar". After doing a bit of research, through a friend in Portland, who is "holding" some of my old books until my return (hurry up Spring). I have indeed read this book. It is in a box in Oregon and my friend said it looked read. Apparently, it made no impression on me in the slightest. As amatter of fac ...more

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Aug 18, 2007 Greta rated it really liked it

Shelves: recommendations, descent-literature, mystery

Great intellectual beach read mystery full of gothic twists. Book contains many puzzles include book within a book (within a book). Book has multiple layers of meanings that may be missed by some readers. Requires intellectual sorting through and puzzling. You have to work for it to get the intracacies of the book...those that are annoyed with ambigous scenerios (that need be analyzed and teased through) may be disappointed. Book in itself seems like a puzzle..you have to piece together the endi ...more

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Apr 12, 2008 Jackie "the Librarian" rated it it was ok

Shelves: thriller, mysteries, gothic, adultfiction

One of those cryptic mysteries with secret societies and a trail of antiquities and puzzles. In this case, it involves Dumas and his book The Three Musketeers, and it starts off very promisingly, with a pleasantly murky Parisian setting.

But it's a wild goose chase. The two related stories turn out NOT to be connected, leaving this reader a bit irate. If you like mysterious settings and characters, you may enjoy this book, but for me, this puzzle is missing a few essential pieces. ...more

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Sep 11, 2007 Maria rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery

Can't remember anything about this, but I retain the following impressions:

1. The execution was not nearly as good as the idea
2. It's got some vaguely icky sex scenes

Too bad. I love Dumas. ...more

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