Allmen and the Dragonflies

The Allmen Series, Book 1

By: Martin Suter, Steph Morris - translator

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a thrilling art-heist escapade that evokes a world of European high culture and luxury, while plumbing the vicissitudes of less exalted human foibles and obsessions.

Johann Friedrich von Allmen, a bon vivant of dandified refinement, has exhausted his family fortune. Forced to downscale, Allmen inhabits the garden house of his former Zurich estate, attended by his Guatemalan butler Carlos. When not reading novels by Balzac and Somerset Maugham, he plays jazz on a Bechstein baby grand. Allmen's fortunes take a sharp turn when he meets Jojo, a stunning blonde whose lakeside villa contains five Art Nouveau bowls created by renowned French artist Emile Galle and decorated with a dragonfly motif. Allmen, seeking to pay off mounting debts, absconds with the priceless bowls and embarks on a high-risk, potentially violent bid to cash them in.

This is the first audiobook in a series of humorous, fast-paced detective novels devoted to Allmen - a memorable gentleman-thief who, with his trusted sidekick Carlos, creates an investigative firm to recover missing precious objects.

©2018 Martin Suter (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A Lifestyle Can get To be Troublesome

I did enjoy this book enough to want to know what happens—the events were straight forward and interesting enough with only the perhaps one (maybe 2 interesting twists); not a page turner but just enough who-dunnit interest. I may look for a second read with this character if one exists but not quite with the same enthusiasm I’ve had with others of its ilk. The main and supporting characters could have been developed further, as well as the murdered person’s history to lend more authenticity to the whys and hows of that particular person’s business dealings

More Allmen, please. And more Grover Gardner, too.

It’s always fun to watch a character skirt that fine line between attenuated survival and utter disaster. At least, it is when the author keeps the writing wry. This Martin Suter does and, without too much sex, violence, or foul language, gives us an engaging, entertaining story.

As with his recordings of Ross Macdonald and Andrea Camilleri, Grover Gardner hands in his usual straightforward (yet somehow nuanced) performance. Hope to see more translations available soon, all with Mr. Gardner at the mic.

well performed droll humor

very nicely done story about a rascal. has lots of
clever twists and turns. enjoy.

Slow start-(?) PRESS THROUGH!

Such a fun story- a perfect weekend listen when you need a luxurious listen in between favorites!

An entertaining quick listen

An enjoyable wander through the life of a trust fund, baby, who has run out of his inheritance later in life. The ethics he compromises, and his perceived wins, enhances the short history. highly recommend for laid-back weekend

Origen story

This is not a dark or violent mystery. It feels almost light hearted (in spite of the muder).
For such a short book the author spends a lot of time developing his main character, Allmen. For me, it worked; it was light hearted escape even if not exactly believable.
I actually gave the book a chance because I noticed it was a translation (author is Swiss). The setting and the main character are "exotic," from my perspective, which adds a little charm to the experience of hearing the story.