The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker

The reason I chose to read this book was because of it's incredible cover.  It really is such an eye catching cover design.  The saying "never judge a book by its cover", got me this time. My daughter bought the hard copy of this book at a bookstore, and started reading it. She carried it from her place to mine when she came home to visit. I asked her if I could borrow it when she finished, but one day the book was available on BookBub's Ebook deals, and I just had to buy myself my own copy.

I read my kindle in bed as oppose to physical books because it's lighter, there's no blue light (like on a phone), and I don't need a book light to light up the pages. I have been devouring Dicker's story, before bed every night.  I found it first difficult to get into the story, as it seemed to bounce around a lot; in both time periods and characters lives. But I soon found myself addicted, lost in the story, unable to put it down.  It is a traditional "who dunnit" story but written in a detailed, intellectual way. There is so much excitement in this story: passion, murder, counterintelligence, and a race for power. I loved how Dicker dove deep into the socioeconomic status of his characters and how it affected their life experiences, shaping their identities. Again, never any spoilers on DRB Reviews, but you will love the plot twists! Each page was like opening a door to a new room you have never seen before.

It was a breath of fresh air to read a "new" author, an author I haven't read before. Dicker was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and I usually read American, Canadian, British and Australian authors. It was a nice change to read a book set in Switzerland. I am so pleased to have this book included on my "read" list this year, as it also checks off the box of reading a translation, a book "that is not originally written in English."