The Bookseller

Hugo Marston #1

by Mark Pryor

Who is killing the celebrated bouquinistes of Paris? Max—an elderly Paris bookstall owner—is abducted at gunpoint. His friend, Hugo Marston, head of security at the US embassy, looks on helplessly, powerless to do anything to stop the kidnapper. Marston launches a search, enlisting the help of semiretired CIA agent Tom Green. Their investigation reveals that Max was a Holocaust survivor and later became a Nazi hunter. Is his disappearance somehow tied to his grim history, or even to the mysterious old books he sold? On the streets of Paris, tensions are rising as rival drug gangs engage in violent turf wars. Before long, other booksellers start to disappear, their bodies found floating in the Seine. Though the police are not interested in his opinion, Marston is convinced the hostilities have something to do with the murders of these bouquinistes. Then he himself becomes a target of the unknown assassins. With Tom by his side, Marston finally puts the pieces of the puzzle together, connecting the past with the present and leading the two men, quite literally, to the enemy's lair. Just as the killer intended. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, France, Thriller, Books About Books, Mystery Thriller, Crime

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Mark Pryor is a former newspaper reporter from England. He moved to the US in 1995 and subsequently spent 16 years working as a prosecutor with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, in Austin, Texas. He is now a partner at the law firm of Cofer & Connelly, in Austin.

His upcoming book DIE AROUND SUNDOWN is the first in a new series of historical mysteries set in Paris during WW2. It will be published August 16, 2022, by St. Martin's/Minotaur.

Mark is also the author of the Hugo Marston mystery series, set in Paris, London, and Barcelona. The first in the series, THE BOOKSELLER, was a Library Journal Debut of the Month, and called "unputdownable" by Oprah.com, and the series has been featured in the New York Times. Mark also wrote the psychological thrillers, HOLLOW MAN, and its sequel, DOMINIC. As a prosecutor, he has appeared on CBS News's 48 Hours and Discovery Channel's Discovery ID: Cold Blood.

Of his books, reviewers said:

"[G]ood character development, increasing levels of action and suspense, a complex and deranged antagonist, and--once again--appealing Paris settings. The Hugo Marston series now belongs on every espionage fan's watch list."
--Booklist

"Haunting imagery in Père La Chaise cemetery sets the stage for Pryor's chilling sophomore entry, and the City of Light becomes a backdrop for Marston's adventures. The clever antagonist leads him on a merry chase that will keep the reader entertained throughout."
--RT Book Reviews

"Two young lovers make the fatal mistake of sneaking into Paris's Père Lachaise Cemetery the same night as a bone-stealing psychopath in Pryor's propulsive second novel starring affable former FBI profiler Hugo Marston.... The engaging characters sweep readers into a suspenseful chase from Pigalle to the Pyrenées."
--Publishers Weekly

The third Hugo Marston novel, THE BLOOD PROMISE, was released in January 2014. It may be his best yet...

"Mark Pryor is one of the smartest new writers on the block. His new novel is a doozy."
--Philip Kerr, author of A Man Without Breath, a Bernie Gunther novel

"Pryor seems to have hit his stride in this series, as he adroitly juxtaposes the light banter between Marston and Green with some scenes of intense emotion.... And, all the while, the suspense ramps up. Top-notch mystery in a skillfully delineated Parisian setting."
--Booklist

Mark is also the author of the true crime book, AS SHE LAY SLEEPING, which is the account of a "cold" murder case he prosecuted. Published in January 2013, Publisher's Weekly gave it a starred review and called it "compelling" and "riveting."

Reviews

[Steven Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been attracted to any mystery that has “books” in their title, or involved a plot centered on some aspect of dealing with books. When I learned of Mark Pryor’s novel, THE BOOKSELLER I was extremely curious. With a former FBI profiler named Hugo Marston working as the head of security at the American embassy in Paris, Pryor has created a strong character and a wonderful story line in his first novel. From the outset, when a Parisian bookseller, named Max Koche is abducted from his kiosk on the Seine River after selling two rare books to Marston, I was hooked. The plot is very suspenseful and mystery addicts will be extremely satisfied with Pryor’s effort as a French detective is summoned to investigate the bookseller’s disappearance and seems quite uninterested in pursuing the case.

What drives Marston to distraction was the police’s refusal to investigate Max’s kidnapping which occurred right in front of him, claiming that Max went with his captors willingly. Marston researches the French criminal data base and learns that Jean Chabot, who claims that Max’s kiosk belonged to him, had a long criminal record. Marston will turn to a former FBI colleague and now a part time CIA operative, Tom Green for assistance. The banter between the two is humorous and entertaining as the two try to figure out what really happened. They learn that Max was really Maximillian Ivan Koche who spent part of World War II in a French internment camp in the southern part of the country controlled by the Vichy government. His family had been sent to Dachau in July, 1944 and were liberated in 1945. After the war Max would work with Nazi hunter, Serge Klarsfeld and assisted in the seizure of former Gestapo Chief Kurt Lischka in 1971. Further, he was involved in the capture of Klaus Barbie, the “butcher of Lyon,” and Jean Leguay, a high Vichy government official. For the remainder of his career Max focused on “outing” former Vichy collaborators. Once Marston learns Max’s background his approach to his investigation changes and the novel gathers momentum.

Pryor introduces a number of interesting characters. Claudia Roux, a French journalist and police reporter for Le Monde. Count Gerard de Roussillon, Claudia’s father, a member of the French aristocracy with many secrets. Bruno Gravois, who was in charge of the kiosks along the Seine River for the Chambre and Office of Tourisme, a shady character who secretly tries to gain control of all the Kiosks along the Seine. The police provide a number of important characters, particularly Capitaine Garcia, who finally agrees that something untoward has happened as a number of kiosk sellers turn up dead floating in the Seine. Pryor builds his plot around the idea that during World War II, the French Resistance passed messages by code hidden in certain books. For Max locating those books, which contained the names of French collaborators was an obsession as he focused on making those names public to bring shame and justice for their treason during the war. Pryor then introduces the possibility that events center on a Romanian organized drug ring, but how is that related to booksellers?

Pryor has constructed a very tight story whose dialogue leads the reader to imagine what is really occurring. The plot shifts seamlessly numerous times and character development is very strong as one tries to figure out which individuals Marston can actually trust; government officials, the police, or members of the kiosk association, the Syndicat Des Bouquinistes de Paris. As the novel unfolds the reader is drawn further and further into the story, and their curiosity builds as Marston and Green grow more frustrated. If you are looking for a quick and engrossing mystery with a tour of Paris and a surprising ending then THE BOOKSELLER is for you. Pryor has written five other novels, the most recent of which is THE PARIS LIBRARIAN, all of which have sparked my interest.

[Lyubov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Много се колебах дали да дам 3 или 4 звезди, но 4-те са запазени за наистина стойностни четива, така че реалната ми оценка е по-скоро 3.5. Има ли изобщо начин за рейтване с половинки в GoodReads?

"Убийства край Сена" (неособено сполучливо българско заглавие) е изключително приятен крими трилър за букинисти. Действието се развива бързо и стегнато, Париж присъства като плътна и чудесна атмосфера без да е натрапчив или сладникав, а френските изрази, изпъстрящи диалога, са допълнителен бонус за мен, за да си упражнявам езика. Главният герой е много симпатичен и е шеф на охраната на американското посолство в Париж. Дойде ми като глътка свеж въздух сред обичайните впиянчени и надрусани детективи, така характерни за скандинавската криминална вълна, която от известно време залива нашия пазар.

Допадна ми и лекото надникване в света на антикварните книги, макар че бих искала то да беше по-задълбочено. Хубаво е да четеш за първото издание на "Един сезон в ада" на Рембо и изведнъж то да се окаже посветено на неговия близък другар Пол Верлен.

Имам някои дребни забележки към превода и коректорската работа, но те определено не бяха толкова много, че да развалят удоволствието от четивото. Силно се надявам поредицата да продължи да бъде издавана у нас.

Ако търсите леко, но приятно четиво, което да прочисти мисълта ви от сериозна литература, романът "Убийства край Сена" е идеален за целта. Действа като вдъхването на кафе между два тежки парфюма - едновременно доставя удоволствие на сетивата и подготвя мозъка за следващата неизбежна доза висока литература.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe? A 3.5 I can't decide
There is a great rapport between the two sleuths and a needed lady punch as well as a not well-guessed unveiling. But there is more investigation than action and I'm a fan of action; I love that sort of depiction. But I was drawn by the aspect of this French phenomenon of the bouqiniste; I've never heard of this and now I must go to Paris on vacation just to purchase books no other reason haha

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the back blurb of The Bookseller and the description of the main character, Hugo Marston, as head of security at the US embassy in Paris, I feared the book might be an espionage action book. I'm not particularly fond of that type of book. However, the additional statements about disappearing booksellers and WWII Nazi collaboration connections peaked my interest. I'm so glad that they did. This debut book by Mark Pryor is a well-honed mystery story with multiple layers of intrigue. Although the story is wonderfully complex, it is at no time confusing or cumbersome. Marston fully develops his characters and presents the engaging Paris setting without onerous distension. He knows what it takes to get the job done without overdoing.

The novel begins with Hugo Marston bemoaning the fact that he is on a forced vacation from his embassy job, as idleness is not his natural state. While stopping to visit his favorite bookseller, or bouquiniste, along the Seine River, Hugo witnesses the older man's abduction at gun point. Hugo is determined to discover what happened to Max and why. As bouquinistes begin turning up dead in the river, Hugo uses his embassy resources and his ex-FBI experience to unravel a devious plot full of ghosts and murder. Aiding him in his endeavors is his friend Tom, who is a semi-retired CIA agent, visiting him in Paris. One of the books that Hugo bought from Max the last day he saw him leads Hugo to one of the most influential families in Paris and figures into Max's mysterious disappearance, too. His chance meeting with Claudia, a police reporter for Le Monde, both complicates and improves his life. She, too, will be involved in Hugo's investigation of the bouquiniste problem and its connections to the past.

Marston has written a fast, smooth moving tale that is an excellent start to the series. I'm looking forward to the next installment, The Crypt Thief.

[Isa | Mil Histórias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro foi uma simpática e bonita oferta da minha amiga Cláudia, do Encruzilhadas Literárias. A Cláudia sabendo o meu gosto por livros que falem sobre livros achou que este livro me iria agradar. E, surpreendentemente, agradou, mas já lá vamos. Para já queria agradecer à Cláudia este novo "amigo".

Parti para esta leitura sem conhecer nada da história, nem do que se tratava. E fiquei com a ideia que se iria tratar de um livro sobre o Holocausto, muito pertinente para o "Leituras do Holocausto". Mas não foi bem assim. A personagem que dá nome ao livro foi, de facto, um sobrevivente do Holocausto. Mas não há mais desenvolvimentos sobre esse passado. É apenas um facto que o autor adicionou à história.

Foi uma leitura bastante rápida. Um autor conseguiu criar uma história com o ritmo suficiente para o leitor não perder interesse na história. Pois a história vai-se perdendo ao longo da narrativa. Promete muito, mas nada de significativo. E acrescento até alguma desilusão da minha parte relativamente à questão do Holocausto. Fiquei com a noção que iria ter mais desenvolvimentos sobre o passado da personagem que dá nome ao livro. Gostaria de ter conhecido um pouco mais este Livreiro, da sua história, da sua vivência. Contudo, é um livro com bastante ritmo, em que nunca nos aborrecemos. Mas como já referi, senti que o autor "camuflou" a história através do ritmo.

Recordei, mais uma vez, Paris e os tão típicos alfarrabistas - os chamados boquinistes - na margem do rio Sena, onde tantas vezes me "perdi". Embora, e como o próprio autor refere no início do livro, não houve um rigor na geografia da cidade de Paris. O autor decidiu criar e/ou alterar certos locais da cidade conforme a narrativa do livro. Se por um lado não vejo qualquer problema tratando-se de uma história de ficção, por outro atribuo alguma arrogância ao autor por este facto. Não só pela falta de rigor atribuída à história, mas também devido ao facto de conhecer a cidade de Paris bastante bem e ter detectado algumas incoerências. Mas isto é o meu sentimento, pois Paris é e será sempre Paris. Mas não posso deixar de referir que o autor conseguiu captar muito o espírito da cidade. Romântica, emblemática, carismática, muito ao estilo parisiense.

Não deixem de ler. Boas leituras.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine read. Hugo Marston is an ex FBI agent, now living in Paris as chief of security for the U.S. Embassy. Recently divorced from his second wife (his first wife was killed in a car crash) he shared a love of rare books with her and had developed a friendship with Max, owner of one of the bouquiniste, along the Seine.

He returns one afternoon after having bought a couple of first editions and witnesses Max being forced, at the point of a gun, on the a boat. When interviewed by the police, some of the bystanders insist that Max had gone willingly. The next day Max's stall has been taken over by someone who claims not to know Max. Hugo, having a couple weeks off, and an ex-cop, decides to check things out. He is soon joined by his old friend, Tom, a semi-retired CIA operative.

What makes this book special is less the mystery, although that's good, too, but rather the surroundings, the flavor of Paris and the little historical bits that some readers objected to, those who must have at least twelve gunshots on each page. I love informative paragraphs like

The term bouquinistes came from the Dutch word boeckin, meaning “small book.” Made sense. The first sellers, he read, used wheelbarrows to transport and sell their goods, and fastened trays to the parapets of the bridges with thin leather straps. After the French Revolution, business boomed when entire libraries were “liberated” from nobles and wound up for sale cheap on the banks of the Seine. In 1891, bouquinistes received permission to permanently attach their boxes to the quaysides. Hugo was struck by the line: “Today, the waiting list to become one of Paris's 250 bouquinistes is eight years.”

But what are we to make of Claudia and her gay father, a rich count, who, when he learns Hugo and Claudia are seeing each other tries to set him up with one of his attractive American employees? And what was his relationship to Gervais the chief of the bouquiniste union, the SBP? In the end, the book is a nice melange of spies, WW II collaborators, drug smugglers, murder, bad cops, microdots, a Holmesian suicide, and a shoot-out.

I downgraded it a bit because Gervois just didn’t seem that believable to me.

[Jamie Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some things never go out of fashion. You've got martinis, little black dresses, Paris - or solidly-plotted, old school, murder mysteries set in Paris, for that matter. Author, Mark Pryor, has struck a sweet spot in the genre; achieved a black-tie comfort food, if you will, with the first Hugo Martson novel,THE BOOKSELLER. This whodunit and whydunit is staple locale mystery fare and all the expected boxes are ticked, but with one of those really smooth, gel-ink, fancypants pens.

Hugo Marston is our hub. With his US embassy connections, FBI training, and ever-ready smirk, his life is, more or less, the one we'd like to have if only we were slightly fitter. When a friendly acquaintance is kidnapped right before his eyes, we follow Hugo into the world of the bouquinistes, the booksellers whose stalls ride the hem of Seine to the delight of tourists and also the book lovers who call Paris home. When the history of the bouquinistes collides with the agendas of some criminals with more contemporary to-do lists, the fate of a Nazi-hunter becomes the fulcrum for the US Embassy to team up, not always comfortably, with the French police to discover why booksellers are vanishing from their treasured posts.

There's a beautiful journalist and a rumpled, foul-mouthed sidekick and, of course, there is Paris to round out the cast and fill in the action, of which there is plenty. THE BOOKSELLER is an excellent choice for someone who has been hankering for a good old-fashioned read - the hero is smart and bold, the heroine sparks attraction and some trouble, and the crime has tendrils that draw the past into the present.

THE BOOKSELLER earned a favorable nod over at OPRAH.com and was Library Journal's Debut of the Month in November, so you don't have to take only my word for it.

Just do it. You know you want to. And you're welcome.

[Steph (loves water) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was...meh. I kept it on the to read list because I love books about books. I was kind of hoping for another Shadow of the Wind, but that is shooting far too high. This first time offering by Mark Pryor was just OK. Typos annoy me, so deduct one star for that.

Also it was a bit farfetched, with two has-been Feds chasing down a drug kingpin. Tuxedos and cowboy boots? Seriously?

I think I'll give the rest of the series a pass.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery, interesting characters and setting. Looking forward to more of these.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more 2 1/2 stars, maybe 2.75. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other for this book. I'm feeling very middle-of-the-road. The description of the book - a Paris locale, rare books, Nazis, a mystery - is right up my alley. However, the execution does not live up to the promise.

Oh, it's not a bad book, but not one I'm gushing about either. I imagine I'll read the next in the series just to see if the main character grows on me. He kind of bothered me in this book. As a Texan, I am always loath to read about a book character from Texas who wears cowboy boots. Sigh. It's such a lazy trait to give the character. I very rarely spy someone walking around town wearing cowboy boots or a cowboy hat. And we don't ride our horses to work.

I also was not a fan of the romance. It reminded me of too many mainstream Hollywood movies. Average mid forties male lead who gets together with a stunning woman in her late twenties. Sigh. Can't she be his own age? Or older? Why not be having an affair with his secretary who is in her mid fifties? Or how about even not have a romance at all. Why must there ALWAYS be a romance in a mystery novel? Their whole relationship made me go "meh".

Still, I loved the setting and I thought the mystery was a solid one. I figured it out, but not immediately.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a Paris bookstall owner is abducted. Hugo Marston, head of security at the US embassy, looks on helplessly. Then it happens again.

[Verushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is this about?: A thoroughly enjoyable action thriller set in Paris, involving books, Nazis and Nazi hunters.

What else is this about?: This is an introduction to Hugo Marston, the central character in a series by author Marky Pryor. He’s the chief of security at the US Embassy in Paris, be still my heart.

Paris. Books and murder mystery — that right there are three of my favourite things and since finding out about the Hugo Marston series and recommending The Paris Librarian, I had to find out more.

This is what you need to know: Hugo Marston is the chief of security in Paris at the embassy. Book 1 quickly establishes that Hugo’s second marriage is ending, ensuring that readers are aware he’s cautious about entanglements. They also know he’s a bit of a book nerd, courtesy of trying to impress his wife, the one he’s divorcing. To that end, he’s made friends with Max, a bouquiniste selling his books along the Seine.

And, one day, he sees Max being kidnapped. Immediately Hugo starts investigating, finding out more and more about Max as he does — namely, that he was a successful Nazi hunter, before become disillusioned with the law. Then he turned his attention to finding Nazi collaborators, and this is what The Bookseller is about and before it takes a turn somewhere else entirely.

Pryor has written a straightforward but absolutely enjoyable first book in this series, building this wonderful Parisian world in which Hugo inhabits. We are introduced to his work, to his colourful co-workers, who mercifully can work with him and still give good snark, without coming across like wallpaper. As the plot develops, we see the reach and limitations of his position in a foreign country as he desperately searches for Max.

There’s romance — with a French woman, who happens to have the most over-protective gay father in the world. Some elements are a little too pat here, but you know what in the grand scheme of the goodness in this book, they’re barely a blip. Claudia is confident and determined to do her work as a journalist and do her work well, no matter her background, which is one of the more interesting surprises.

Our hero detective is not complete without his BFF Watson, the gregarious and sometimes annoying Tom, who helps where he can. I don’t know how much of a role Tom plays in the rest of the series, but in this I am curious about how eager he is for action, without thinking about his own safety. It’s just a sense I have from him in this book, which could be entirely off the mark in reality.

The plot is complicated, filled with twists and turns, but not in the OMG, this is a TWIST way. Which to be honest, made it all the more enjoyable.

And last, Paris! Be still my heart because Mark Pryor has given me a way to enjoy the beauty of Paris within the pages of his book.

I picked up this book because the idea of exploring Paris through a good murder mystery series was too goof to resist and thankfully, Hugo Marston and Mark Pryor delivers in spades.

[Claudia Lé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iniciei a leitura deste livro com grande entusiasmo, ultimamente tenho andado com vontade de ler policiais, talvez porque o cinzento deste Inverno que parece nunca mais terminar (sim eu sei que a Primavera já chegou... mas não parece, pelo menos aqui por Óbidos) e um bom policial faz-nos esquecer o Verão que ainda tarda e enrolamos-nos com mais vontade no sofá. Posto isto aqui vai a minha opinião. Mark Pryor tem uma escrita bastante fluída os personagens são bem estruturados especialmente o velho Max apesar da sua breve aparição. Adorei as descrições dos bouquinistes - os livreiros com bancas de livros à beira do Sena. Logo no primeiro capítulo sonhei passear ao longo do Sena só para poder admirar estas bancas, bem mais interessantes que as tradicionais bancas de souvenirs.
A acção desenrola-se rápidamente no decorrer dos primeiros capítulos, no entanto ao longo do livro é mais moderada. Talvez induzida pela capa, esperei que o livro tivesse mais a ver com o Nazismo, no entanto existe apenas a referência mas pouco mais. O romance entre as duas personagens principais Hugo e Claudia (sim adorei ver o meu nome escrito num policial, venham mais) é morno. O pai dela seria uma personagem a explorar de forma mais intensa e o mesmo se passa... infelizmente com quase todas as personagens. Não concordo com a indicação «de ritmo acelerado e empolgante » no entanto é bastante visível que o autor efectuou uma extensa pesquisa relativamente à questão dos livros raros e à própria história dos bouquinistes.
Relativamente ao «vilão» aqui tenho de dar a mão à palmatória, o autor esteve muito bem, dificilmente lá chegava uma vez que ao longo da leitura deste livro não estamos constantemente a ser induzidos ao erro como muitos autores o fazem de forma propositada.
Como conclusão poderei afirmar que este livro proporciona uma leitura agradável, ficamos com alguns conhecimentos de história que para nós, amantes de livros, torna-se interessante, próximos livros do autor serão de considerar embora na minha modesta opinião, falte um pouco de mais acção.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Hugo Marston, head of security for US Embassy
SETTING: Paris
SERIES: #1 of 1
RATING: 4.25

Texan Hugo Marston is the head of security at the US Embassy in Paris. One of his passions is book collecting, and he indulges himself in buying some first editions from his friend Max, an elderly bookstall owner. Max is one of a number of booksellers who have shops along the Seine. The government controls the allocation of those shops, and they are often occupied for many years by the same individual.

Shortly after Marston’s purchase, he sees Max being dragged from his bookstall at gunpoint. He is unsuccessful at interceding and Max is thrown into a boat. He reports the incident to the police, but they seem uninterested in investigating. Curiously, there is no one willing to report that they witnessed the abduction.

Against the advice of his employers, Hugo looks into things on his own. Meanwhile, other booksellers start to disappear. Working with a former CIA agent, Tom Green, they put together the pieces of a puzzle with a surprising answer. Marston finds that Max was a Nazi collaborator – could that have made him a target? Or is someone after a very valuable book? Or, more pedestrian, do the disappearances have anything to do with drug smuggling?

Hugo is a likable character, combining intelligence and good old-fashioned stubbornness in his pursuit of the truth. The other characters are similarly well drawn, although I did tire a bit of Tom Green’s potty mouth—it seemed forced to me. However, he is an excellent partner to Marston. Red herrings abound, and there is no shortage of action. And there’s a sexy, wealthy reporter who fills the romance slot. Where Pryor really excels is in his depiction of Paris in the winter. In addition, it was fascinating to learn about how the bookseller system worked.

THE BOOKSELLER is Mark Pryor’s first mystery novel and the first in the Hugo Marston series.

[Judy Nappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that won't let me put them down and The Bookseller is definitely one of these books. From the first page, main character Hugo Marston had me captivated! Great supporting characters and a smooth plot. A murder/mystery thriller,this book has it all! Lots of suspense and plot twists, it keeps you turning the pages until the end! Looking forward to the next two Hugo books and hoping for many more. Thank you, Mark Pryor, for an excellent read!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is addictive. The Paris setting is unsentimentally handled, characters are engaging, you want more. I read this after reading The Paris Librarian which I liked a bit more. But the bouquiniste angle really pulled me into this, plus it was fun finding out about Claudia...

[Nicoletta Furnari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo Marston è un ex agente dell’FBI, attualmente capo della sicurezza all’ambasciata americana di Parigi che, alla vigilia delle tanto meritate ferie, si ritrova ad acquistare un raro libro al banco del suo amico Max, un anziano bouquiniste. Assistere direttamente al suo rapimento lo sconvolge e lo spinge a trascorrere le sue vacanze con l’unico intento di rintracciarlo al più presto, sano e salvo. Peccato che si ritroverà ad affrontare una faccenda molto più complicata ed estesa di quanto abbia mai potuto immaginare, e sarà proprio il libro a condurlo, inaspettatamente, sulla strada giusta.
“IL LIBRAIO DI PARIGI” è un ibrido tra un thriller e un giallo, con un ritmo narrativo non particolarmente adrenalinico ma con numerose scene d’azione ed un intrigante percorso di indagine che, fino alla fine, non preannuncia nulla, mettendo in atto, anzi, vari depistaggi. Ne ho apprezzato sia la vicenda, sia il fatto che Mark Pryor abbia dato spazio ad evocative descrizioni di diversi scorci della capitale francese, corredati da interessanti informazioni storiche e turistiche. Per me è stato come tornare indietro nel tempo di qualche mese quando, proprio lo scorso luglio, con figli e marito ho trascorso due splendide settimane nella Ville Lumière.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had previously completed the 2nd book in Mark Pryor's Hugo Marston mystery series, that being The Crypt Thief. I'm glad to have now read the first book in the series, The Bookseller. It was an entertaining mystery / thriller.

Marston is an ex-FBI agent who now works as Head of Security at the US Embassy in Paris. He enjoys his life in Paris and also his job. This first story starts off with the disappearance of a bookseller at gunpoint, a friend of Hugo's, right in front of Hugo's eyes. Hugo has difficulty persuading the police that this happened as his story is contradicted by two other witnesses. Thus starts this first story by Pryor.

The bookseller is one of many owners of bookstalls throughout Paris, places that have been there for years. They are known as Bouquinistes and they sell used and antiquarian books at locations along the Seine. As Hugo investigates his friend's disappearance, he becomes aware of the drug trade, Nazi hunters, etc and must sort through these differing clues to find his friend. He is assisted by a lovely French reporter and an old friend who used to work in the CIA.

It's an excellent introduction to the series. The city of Paris is an excellent locale in which to situate the stories. The characters, Hugo, his secretary Emma, his friend Tom and all of the others work well together to create a very readable story. At times it's a bit pat I think but it doesn't really matter. The story is a page turner. There is sufficient action to hold you attention. It's tense when it needs to be and it's also about old books, nothing wrong with that. It's worth trying and I think if you do, you'll want to continue to explore Paris with Hugo. (4 stars)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a series of what currently looks to be 9 books featuring Hugo Marston, security head of the US embassy in Paris and a Texan in cowboy boots who speaks French very well as he is often told. A friend was kind enough to loan me this book and I do appreciate that. The introduction to the character is a bit rocky, and I thought to myself there was no way this goofus was going to be successful in finding his bookseller friend who goes missing. He had been friends with Max for a number of years, one of those entrepreneurs who line the Seine with their wares for sale. Hugo does not get the cooperation of the gendarme in searching for his friend. When another bookseller is found floating in the Seine at least one policeman is willing to listen to Hugo and take the problem seriously.

The investigation gets underway when Hugo's CIA friend comes over for a visit as Hugo is supposed to be on a 2-week vacation. There are a number of plot threads of interest including the uncovering of a Nazi collaborator, valuable books key to the investigation Hugo had purchased from Max, a drug ring taking over the bookseller's businesses, romance and all the attractions of that beautiful city where the action takes place.

It's a good start to a series worth looking for. First book from 2012.

[Stephen Mettee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Not breathtaking in any way. I would have liked to care for the characters more. I started reading it just before I went to Paris where it takes place. The author gives you a good feeling for the City of Love (Some say the City of Light, but they haven't been there with the lovely Julie.) often naming a street he's on or an area he's visiting. Best if you can read this in Paris.

[Joana’s World · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quando comecei a ler este livro esperava uma coisa completamente diferente do que li. Não foi mau, a historia decorre em Paris e fala de livros proibidos. No entanto, houve muito que faltou.

[Diane Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very good for book one of a series. Set in Paris, Hugo Marston is trying to find his friend, a bookseller who has gone missing. Add secrets in old books, international drug running, a tough newspaper reporter, a friend who works for the CIA and you have the makings of a good read

[Candace]

This was one I should not have done in audio. It ended today and I was totally shocked as I had missed some important parts of the mystery that I’m sure were in there somewhere…. I will refrain from rating. It is interesting because it is about some characters who are bouquinistes, bookstall owners in Paris. Why are they being targeted? Are the books involved? Oooh, I hope there is a secret code. I have no idea if there is or not. And I listened to the whole thing. :-(

But I bought the paperback used and maybe I will read it someday- no rush. Unless you tell me there is a secret code.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant about this, as I have pretty much crossed anything with Nazis in it off my list, because I feel like I have been beyond saturated where that plot device is concerned. However, this had several other things that I normally enjoy so I figured I would give it a try. Unfortunately, it did not work for me and I did not finish this book.

I feel I should first note that I listened to this in audiobook format, and the narrator's voice just did not fit with who my mind told me Hugo as a character should have been and what he would sound like. I am aware that this is an entirely subjective judgement, and more about me than either the book or the narrator. Unfortunately, the disconnect between voice and character in my head continuously distracted me from the story which was one problem for me.

I also felt like the story developed very, V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y. I made it as far as the end of chapter 10 and with the exception of the initial abduction [that's not a spoiler, it's right in the blurb] of Hugo's bookseller acquaintance it felt like there was little more than descriptions. Descriptions of Paris streets, Paris apartments, Paris people, etc. While I enjoy visiting Paris by book as much as the next person, that was not what I was after in picking up this book. I was expecting chases, and fights, and drama and intrigue. There were brief moments of these in the part of the book I read, but overall, I found myself drifting away from the story and having to focus really hard to stay with what was going on. For me, that means the book just isn't right for me.

This will be going back to the library, so someone else can read it. Hopefully someone it will be a better fit for.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books, secrecy, and intrigue are good, but setting this book in Paris propels a male version of a Harlequin romance, a James Bond-ian fantasy with all the secret embellishments that we dudes harbor deep in our absurd little psyches. Exhibit 1: Skills: Hugo Marston is former FBI and now chief of U.S. consular security in Paris. Exhibit 2: Looks: He’s impossibly handsome, comparing favorably to Cary Grant. Exhibit 3: Sympathy/pity: a widower just shafted by his second wife, Hugo has nothing to lose and is ready to take some risks. Exhibit 4: Ka-ching: he pays a thousand Euros for a couple of books from a street vendor. Case closed. Also—there’s book porn: “It was bound in full maroon Morocco leather, banded, and lettered in gilt with marbled endpapers, and …the original cloth backstrip”[1]. When Hugo witnesses the very weird, probable kidnapping of his bookseller friend, and when he can’t get the French authorities interested, he’s driven[2] to crack the case and win the day. Though realistic, the dialog can feel forced. The level of detail paints a vivid picture.

[1] I know you want to hear about any deckled edges but I promised Mr. Pryor I wouldn’t spoil the surprise.

[2] You might wonder what drives Hugo Marston? Well it’s: “…adventure, the curiosity to explore a place or thing in person, to lay hands on it, and see it with his own eyes rather than just read about it, that was what drove Hugo Marston”

Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Maria João Fernandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não me lembro da última vez que demorei tanto tempo a ler um livro, mas confesso que a culpa é minha e não do autor ou da sua história. Aliás, o facto de ter lido o livro aos bocadinhos, com longos intervalos, demonstra como a história é interessante, pois se não fosse, ao retomar a leitura já teria esquecido tudo o que tinha lido anteriormente!

Esta é uma história que incluí vários temas: livros, livreiros, coleccionadores, holocausto e tráfico de droga. Na forma como eles se relacionam é onde está toda a narrativa. Hugo, chefe da segurança da embaixada americana pede ajuda ao seu amigo Tom, ex-agente da CIA para descobrir o que aconteceu ao seu amigo Max, o livreiro, que foi raptado à sua frente.

Numa mensagem mais discreta, ainda que possa ser apenas do meu entendimento e não a intenção do autor, todos nos movemos por aqueles e aquilo que nos é importante, sejam os nossos actos bons ou maus. Por isso devemos manter-nos afastados de julgamentos.

" (...) ele é, não sei, porventura uma espécie em extinção. Um ser único. Entendo o que quero dizer?"

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to a series, set in Paris, and with a main character who is the head of security at the U.S. Embassy there. Good character development, and an intriguing story make me anxious to continue this series.

[Kalyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best detective novels I have come across in the past couple of years. This was engaging from the first to the last page, I will definitely be continuing on with this series!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute page turner and I love Hugo! Fun history of the booksellers along the Seine in Paris. Definitely dreaming of going there now!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reader is a sucker for regional mysteries and Paris being one of my favorite cities I thought I would try this series. The crime being investigated is interesting. A bookseller or bouquiniste on the banks of the Seine goes missing. Hugo Marston, head of security for the American embassy in Paris, is friends with this particular bookseller and witnesses what appears to be his abduction. Mr. Marston, a former FBI profiler, takes on his own investigation to track down his missing friend. There are a number of interesting plot twists as we learn more about the back story of this bookseller. That said, I found it difficult to warm up to the Hugo Marston character. I think one of the reasons was I felt that, at times, I was being "mansplained" to. Overall, the writing could have been a bit more subtle. Too many times it seemed like the obvious was being stated. I finished this one but I doubt I will be continuing on with this series.