Voltaire's Calligrapher by Pablo de Santis

An elegant and atmospheric literary thriller that will delight fans of The Interpretation of Murder and The Shadow of the Wind

Eighteenth century France: the Age of Enlightenment.

Dalessius is 20 when he takes a job as the philosopher Voltaire's messenger and spy. Soon he's entangled in a web of secrets and intrigue, leading from the courts and scaffolds of Toulouse to Paris, and a mysterious fortified monastery where Abbot Mazy guards a horrific secret.

Assisted by an executioner and the beautiful, marble-like daughter of an automaton maker, Dalessius faces sinister clergymen, inventive henchmen and poisonous fish in his quest to uncover the truth behind the Abbot's machinations. It will take amazing courage on Dalessius's part - as well as Voltaire's unique cunning and wit - if they are to survive.

Pablo De Santis was born in Buenos Aires, studied Literature at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and subsequently worked as a journalist and comic-strip creator, becoming Editor-in-Chief of one of Argentina's leading comics magazines, Fierro. De Santis is also the author of a number of books for young adults. He lives in Buenos Aires.

'While the prose is richly reminiscent of Umberto Eco, the headlong pace of this dark fantasy-combining elements of mystery, historical fiction, horror and the splinter genre clockpunk-will let readers swallow the entrancing story in a single gulp' Kirkus Reviews

'A novel not to overlook ... It's hard not to make this novel sound cryptic, because it is, but in a wonderful way. It is packed with illusions (words are real, women not always), allusions and puns, all of which make sense when you're firmly in the grip of the story's thrilling denouement' St. Petersburg Times

'It's hard not to make this novel sound cryptic because it is, but in a wonderful way. The book is packed with illusions (words are real, women not always), allusions (if you're up on Enlightenment philosophy) and puns (if you love language), all of which make sense when you're firmly in the grip of the story's thrilling denouement' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Praise for The Paris Enigma:

'It had me purring with pleasure' Daily Telegraph

'A beguiling historical whodunit' New York Times

'Murder and mayhem... colourful characters and cases create a hazy atmosphere of intelligent escapism' Washington Post