The reappearance of M in a more sombre 'black-and-white' persona without his former reliance on vivid colours (notably pink) and wild distinctive haircut caused considerable media attention.

The music remained an idiosyncratic mix but was declared by critics to be 'innovative'[1] with 'more sensual' lyrics[2] that overall represented a 'successful metamorphosis'[3] for the artist.

However, other critics saw the project as falling flat and Telerama considered that only Délivre and L'élixir really broke the funky monotony of the work.

[4] Commercially successful in France Mister Mystère sold 51,000 copies[5] in the first week of release, out-selling rival albums One Love by David Guetta and Volume 10 by Marc Lavoine.

[6] The team with whom Chedid created and recorded the album included Brigitte Fontaine, author Georges Kretek, filmmaker Guillaume Canet and much of his own family including father Louis (mixing, lyricist on "Hold-Up"), brother Joseph (drums), sister Anna (chorus) and another sister Émilie who helped with the production of the accompanying DVD.