The Button Man

Hugo Marston #4

by Mark Pryor

In this prequel to The Bookseller, former FBI profiler Hugo Marston has just become head of security at the US Embassy in London. He’s asked to protect a famous movie-star couple, Dayton Harper and Ginny Ferro, who, while filming a movie in rural England, killed a local man in a hit and run.  

The task turns from routine to disastrous almost immediately. Before Hugo even meets them, he finds out that Ferro has disappeared, and her body has been found hanging from an oak tree in a London cemetery. Hours later a distraught Harper gives Hugo the slip, and Hugo has no idea where he’s run off to. 

Taking cues from a secretive young lady named Merlyn, and with a Member of Parliament along for the chase, Hugo’s search leads to a quaint English village. There, instead of finding Harper, more bodies turn up. Teaming with local detectives and then venturing dangerously out on his own, Hugo struggles to find connections between the victims. Is this the work of a serial killer—or something else entirely? Knowing he’s being tailed, the killer prepares for the final, public act of his murderous plan, and Hugo arrives just in time to play his part. . . . 

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Historical Fiction, France, Suspense

273 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

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

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author should have trashed this book. Reading the description of it that is also faulty, so if you wish to enjoy the Hugo Marston series SKIP this book. It is a hot mess.
The other books I have read in the series have all been enjoyable reads. This should not be designated as #4 in the series as it was possibly a prequel.
Just avoid. Maybe one could chalk it up to the author wishing to play with a serial killer theme.


Loan from Friend, thank goodness!

[Diane Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this prequel, since I already read The Bookseller. But this prequel doesnt really answer a lot of the questions about Marston as he is in the 'first' book. So I'm thinking maybe a 2nd prequel?

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugo Marston becomes involved in finding a killer while working in London. This was a prequel to the series, prior to his posting to Paris, though there are the hints of the life ahead for him. In the current investigation, Hugo finds the victims, or at least some of them, may have been involved in some kinky sex games, and a journalist whose father was an executioner is following Hugo to learn what he is doing.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read, movingly dark and poignant at points. I might not have picked it up on my own but was given an ARC at one of the book conventions I attended and didn't regret it. I appreciated the blend of British and American culture and would not hesitate to read the others in this series as it is a good commute book. The one thing I noticed was that Hugo, the protagonist, really didn't actually do much other than run around. It seemed as if the case could have played itself out whether or not he followed up on it, which was rather odd. It was a good thing the case itself was interesting.

Also, this being an ARC I can't say whether or not the back cover blurb is the same on the regular copies, but it definitely gave away far too much. It caused me to more expect things to happen than to be surprised by them.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What was I thinking, picking this up at the library? I read The Bookseller a few years ago and found it ok. Maybe I thought a prequel to that book would help me understand the main character better and like him more? If so, that didn't happen. I like Hugo less after reading this book.

The mystery was lame and far fetched. The love interest drove me nuts. Just stop, for God's sake, stop. Her character was completely redundant and added nothing to the plot. Just a creepy middle aged man's fantasy. A beautiful half Asian 25 year old into kinky bondage & domination - but still a virgin!. Oooh, the best of both worlds lol.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful mystery, that has some of the taste of place, characters and plot reminiscent of classic British mysteries...which make them a great read. An ex FBI agent, Mark Pryor, now working as security for the U.S. Embassy in London. After two American actors, a husband wife team filming in a small countryside village kill a local man in a hit and run. The Ambassador assigns Mark to keep them on Embassy grounds as soon as they are released on bail. He doesn't really get a chance, because the wife is released early in a paperwork snafu and is found dead. From there the body count starts mounting and there is nothing to tie any of the deaths together.
Mark teams up with a mysterious young woman, Merlyn, and a wonderful Scotland Yard Inspector and a British Lord to try an figure out what is going on. Well crafted and totally engaging.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim to get free shipping from a national bookseller. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. The action moved quickly and I finished the book relatively quickly. Of course part of that was due to the fact that the book is less than 300 pages. Still, the book did keep me engaged in reading it.

Hugh Marston is a former FBI profiler who has become a security chief at the American embassy in London. His first assignment is to babysit two Hollywood stars who have run over a farmer while driving in the English countryside. Events unfold too quickly for me to go much further than that with the plot.

Characters were portrayed realistically and for the most part were likable. Marston, an assistant, a British police investigator and a delightful young woman named Merlyn are the main protagonists. This book is a 'prequel', and I have ordered the first book in this series hoping it is as good as this one.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise to find book four is primarily set in London not Paris.

I thoroughly enjoyed this plot and the opening and closing scenes bookended nicely.

Hugo is trying to protect an American celebrity after a hit and run accident. He unwisely takes him outside of the embassy grounds, loses him and then must try to get him back.

This is actually a prequel to the series and you do not have to have read the first three books to love this one.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

…button man: someone who does the dirty work for the (mob) boss man, up to and including killing…

I didn’t like this book as much as the others I’ve read in the series and I don’t think it was as well written. It was still interesting to see Hugo Marston before Paris, although it seemed only a brief and superficial glimpse. And the mystery was – mysterious so there’s that. 😊

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Button Man by Mark Pryor
3.5★'s
Hugo Marston series book #4

From The Book:
Former FBI profiler Hugo Marston has just become head of security at the US Embassy in London. He’s asked to protect a famous movie-star couple, Dayton Harper and Ginny Ferro, who, while filming a movie in rural England, killed a local man in a hit and run. The task turns from routine to disastrous almost immediately. Before Hugo even meets them, he finds out that Ferro has disappeared, and her body has been found hanging from an oak tree in a London cemetery. Hours later a distraught Harper gives Hugo the slip, and Hugo has no idea where he’s run off to. Taking cues from a secretive young lady named Merlyn, and with a Member of Parliament along for the chase, Hugo’s search leads to a quaint English village. There, instead of finding Harper, more bodies turn up. Teaming with local detectives and then venturing dangerously out on his own, Hugo struggles to find connections between the victims. Is this the work of a serial killer—or something else entirely? Knowing he’s being tailed, the killer prepares for the final, public act of his murderous plan, and Hugo arrives just in time to play his part.

My Thoughts
This was the first book by Mark Pryor and the first in this series that I had read. The writing style flowed very well and was very easy reading. The premise of the story was also very good...a body hanging in the graveyard and plenty of suspects. The main problem I had with the story was that the lead character...a former member of the FBI and the head of the American Embassy security...would lose the man he was supposed to be protecting in the first place...and then chase him all over London and the outlying villages with the aid of people that he knew absolutely nothing about other than what they had told him. That just didn't seem believable and it bothered me throughout the entire book. I do plan on reading others in this series as I found that Hugo is a very likable character on the whole.

Anyone looking for a murder mystery to enjoy without the blood and guts will find this series fits the bill perfectly.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Mark Pryor that I’ve read, and I was impressed by the style and smooth characterization of the book. The main protagonist is a member of the US Embassy in London named Hugh Marston. He had been a member of the FBI but was brought to London to be the head of security at the embassy. He was personally tasked at keeping the Ambassador safe and out of trouble.
A famous American actor and his wife are involved in a drunk driving homicide. Marston is asked to protect them from a very angry English public. But while the husband is in jail, he wife is free on bail. In the morning the wife is found hanging from a tree limb in a local cemetery. It’s ruled a suicide but Marston’s instincts say that it’s more than meets the eye.

While trying to track down the wife’s killer, Marston gets involved with the local police, an English MP (whose former MI-5), and a unusual young woman. The young woman is called Merlyn who is knowledgeable about the seamy-sexual side of London. During their travels they end up visiting a private mansion for the leather and flogging types.

When the actor is released from jail, he gives Marston the slip and ends up going to visit the father of the man he killed. When Marston shows up at the father’s house, he finds him dying from a bullet wound he says that the actor shot him. Now Marston has a bigger reason to find the errant actor. When other people who are involved with the case begin turning up dead, Marston is sure there is a serial killer on the loose.

But the one thing they can’t figure out is how the different people are connected to each other. Also unlike most serial killers, this on doesn’t have a single murder MO nor does he sexually abuse any of his victims. All this leads Marston (with the help of some of London’s finest) on a merry chase until they finally figure out who the killer is and why he’s committing the murders.

Nicely done with no red herrings or unusual turns that murky the waters.

Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by this new-to-me author. I've read four now, and they were all outstanding!
Great edge of your seat plot, and interesting characters bring the story altogether in one heart-stopping book. Loved it and a huge fan now and forever.

From Amazon:
In this prequel to The Bookseller, former FBI profiler Hugo Marston has just become head of security at the US Embassy in London. He’s asked to protect a famous movie-star couple, Dayton Harper and Ginny Ferro, who, while filming a movie in rural England, killed a local man in a hit and run.

The task turns from routine to disastrous almost immediately. Before Hugo even meets them, he finds out that Ferro has disappeared, and her body has been found hanging from an oak tree in a London cemetery. Hours later a distraught Harper gives Hugo the slip, and Hugo has no idea where he’s run off to.

Taking cues from a secretive young lady named Merlyn, and with a Member of Parliament along for the chase, Hugo’s search leads to a quaint English village. There, instead of finding Harper, more bodies turn up. Teaming with local detectives and then venturing dangerously out on his own, Hugo struggles to find connections between the victims. Is this the work of a serial killer—or something else entirely? Knowing he’s being tailed, the killer prepares for the final, public act of his murderous plan, and Hugo arrives just in time to play his part. . . .

[M. Sprouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Pryor is certainly an engaging writer. I thought, "The Bookseller" and "The Crypt Thief" were top notch. This book has its moments, but I found it to be the weaker of the first four in the series. Early on I had trouble getting into the story and for a relatively short book, it took me a while to read it. I feel the author wasted the first third of the book on the chase of the actor and other unrelated an uninteresting diversions.

Hugo character was very likeable, if not impotent in this book. Merlyn was very intriguing, if Pryor includes her in the next book. Much of Hugo's involvement as an American attached to the U.S. embassy was far fetched and pure fantasy. It reminded me of the movie "Se7en" were Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman really don't have an impact, doing nothing to stop the killer. Hugo was like that in this novel, more of just a lens to see the action. Overall I liked it, just can't give it a strong recommendation.

[Sam Andersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 Stars : This was fourth in his series, so read it 4Th. However, it was flashback of sorts in that it “installed” itself as a prequel to the first book. It felt like a deep loss as the relationships developed in books 1-3 hadn’t occurred yet. It was an unraveling of sorts and this made me sad. Also, the plot in this book wasn’t to the quality of the other books and it just didn’t do it for me. Aside from the further developing of the Character Merlyn, I’m not sure of the point. Was it really the first he wrote but had initially shelved it?

Anyway, still a quality book, but definitely wasn’t my favorite.

[Rusty Dalferes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another satisfying, if not spectacular, mystery book. I actually read this one thinking it was #3 in the series after reading #1 and #2, only to discover after reading the final page that it's actually #4 - I was gifted with a number of books in the series, but not all of them, so was trying to read them in order, and apparently failed - which doesn't seem to matter since it's a prequel to the events of #1. I give it a moderate recommendation for fans of murder mysteries with an international setting.

The Button Man follows Hugo Martson in 2008 as the head of security at the US embassy in London, years prior to the events of The Bookseller (#1 in the series) which found him in a similar role at the embassy in Paris. Hugo is spending his free time trying to solve a century-old murder that may or may not be tied to the Jack the Ripper crimes, when he finds a body hanging from a noose on a tree in a graveyard near the old crime scene. That death is connected to another high-profile case of an alleged drunk-driving homicide caused by a notable American actor. Hugo is charged with retrieving the accused actor from jail, keeping him on the embassy grounds until the jurisdictional situation can be resolved, and keeping him safe from both the vicious British tabloid press and potential citizenry motivated by revenge. In order to facilitate interactions with the British authorities, Hugo is partnered with Graham Stopford-Pendrith, a lord with an elected position in the House of Commons. The actor is himself killed after escaping Hugo's custody while being pursued by reporters, and other deaths occur, sparking an investigation that takes Hugo into small villages outside of London, with Pendrith in tow. The two meet up with a helpful goth hotel worker, the local county constabulary, and an aging reporter to solve the connections among all the recent deaths.

I actually found the plot to be mostly interesting and compelling. It delved into a number of societal issues, and presented a number of possible alternative theories to the crimes, including politics, sexual mores, urge to exact revenge for familial harm, and basic serial-killer-ish desire to inflict harm for no particular purpose whatsoever. Where I thought the plot failed to hit the mark is, as I've noted in previous reviews of the first two in this series, the tendency to highlight the main character's experience with investigative methods and crime scene integrity, yet immediately contradict all of that experience by doing something totally antithetical to those principles. Hugo has the accused actor on embassy grounds for only a couple of hours before giving into the actor's need to get out to see the city, which is a HORRIBLE decision for an embassy security official to make when dealing with an accused American in a foreign country. Marston, an unarmed American security agent in London (and briefly in this novel in Paris), often pursues suspects alone with no official backup. He meets with suspects and lets them go, believing in their promises to "meet him in an hour," which, of course, does not happen and leads to another death, but conveniently allows the author to show Hugo wandering around Paris and having the first meeting with Max, the "bouquiniste" at the heart of the first novel in the series to ... I don't know, to connect somehow the "prequel" with the main series? (Honestly, the entire section in Paris seemed shoe-horned in solely to provide this "prequel" connection.) The death that ensues from this ill-advised jaunt of tourism in the middle of a pressing investigation is discovered by Hugo, who is touted earlier as being trained in the art of not disturbing crime scenes, who immediately ... you guessed it, disturbs the crime scene. The trained investigator who knows he is close on the heels of his main suspect while heading back to London from Paris literally falls asleep in one scene without confirming that the criminal is not on his same mode of transport, which, of course, leads to the criminal robbing Hugo of his investigative notes and getting away. Again, these strike me as things that would not normally happen to an experienced law enforcement officer, and should definitely not happen to someone who specifically cautions against doing those very same things earlier in the book. The plot is otherwise solid and hits milestones and action periods with regularity, but doesn't present anything terribly original from a mystery point of view, and experienced readers of detective fiction and crime stories might shudder a time or two during this novel at the head-slap-inducing things that Hugo does.

As for the mechanics, the book is generally well-written from a grammar and syntax perspective, other than the glaring overuse of "try and" instead of "try to" (e.g., "try and get a look"), which I know is common colloquial use, but can still be grating when written in narrative -- replace "try" with "attempt," and the conceit fails (no one would say "attempt and get a look"), so I just find the "try and" tendency annoying. But I also realize I'm overly critical of these kinds of things, so in general I can't take away anything from Pryor for his editorial process.

As noted in previous reviews of this series, I find this to be a solid series akin to a decent police procedural TV show -- familiarly pleasant plots and characters, but nothing earth-shattering in its originality. I'd give it a moderate recommendation for fans of straight-up murder mysteries.

Thanks to Seventh Street Books (and my Queen of the Book Fairies) for providing me with a copy of this book.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood movie star couple in London to film their next movie, kills a local man in a hit and run accident. Hugh is assigned to babysit the husband, Dayton, until charges are brought against him in court. Dayton’s wife, Ginny, is released from jail and later that day found murdered. Dayton eludes Hugh and he,too, is found murdered. In Hugh’s search for Dayton, he meets Merlyn who helps him in his quest to find the murderer. A few more murders and some twists and turns and Hugh eventually gets the murderer. Fast paced and a definite page turner!

[Martina]

I really love this series. Our Mystery Book Group read the first, The Bookseller, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I have followed the series as The Crypt Thief and The Blood Promise came out and am looking forward to reading this 'prequel' with Hugo in London. The book group members are awaiting publication in September with great eagerness.

[Judy Nappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent prequel to his first book, The Bookseller. Lots of plot twists and turns, and some great supporting characters - welcome to Merlyn! One of my new favourite murder/mystery writers. I'm patiently waiting on the next book of Hugo...definitely worth reading!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because it's a prequel (though written midseries), I expected this to be a weaker link in the Hugo Marston canon, but it actually turned out to be one of the best, if not THE best of the lot.

[Lorne Strachan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Hugo Marston series by Mark Pryor but it’s my first. It is described as a ‘prequel’ to ‘The Bookseller’, which is officially #1 of the series, most of which seems to be set in Paris. However, ‘The Button Man’ is set in London, where Marston, a former FBI profiler, is head of security at the US Embassy in London. Initially there doesn’t appear to be anything terribly serious going on. Marston is told he needs to babysit a famous movie-star couple who are in rural England filming a movie. Dayton Harper and his wife Ginny Ferro had been in prison after Dayton is arrested for the deadly hit-and-run of a farmer. Ginny is released first and mistakenly sent back to London unescorted. Harper is released into Marston’s custody at the US Embassy.

Things don’t go well. On an otherwise pleasant walk Marston finds a body hanging from a tree while taking a shortcut through Whitechapel cemetery, which is an area of interest for him as his hobby is looking into old, unsolved murders, including ones that might be the “Ripper’s”. Although he doesn’t realize it at the time, the body turns out to be Ginny’s. Meanwhile, Harper claims to be going stir crazy in the embassy, grieving after learning of his wife’s death. Marston reluctantly allows a driving tour through London in the US embassy car with diplomatic plates but Harper goes on the run when journalists box in the car in search of a juicy story. Marston and his helper, a Lord and English MP pursue this mystery together. Their search takes them to Merlyn, a young woman working in several hotel venues who knows more than she should. She helps them point them towards a quaint English village where more mysteries and bodies turn up in a place protecting a secret group of S&M aficionados.

The narrative does a good job of describing the British countryside but it takes a back seat to a murky soup of diplomatic trickery, murder investigation, espionage, with a dollop of old unsolved murders. As Marston continues to search for the American actor, he has lots of time to ruminate on the current state of affairs in society, England’s lack of a death penalty, the possible redemption of criminals who have served their time, and the extreme susceptibility to exposure and blackmail of those members of society who lead lifestyles considered taboo. In general, however, Marston pursues his target with vigor, leading to quite a few thrilling chase sequences. Pryor carefully structures the narrative to include as much conversation as action but most of it obeys the old writing adage to, either move the plot forward, or develop characters or both. This is an enjoyable read (or listen) and conveys a captivating weight of history and a certain spookiness that’s quite appealing.

On the down side, there are some weaknesses. For one, it’s difficult to accept that the British police would accept the active role a security man from the US embassy when it comes to investigating crimes committed by English people in England. Hugo himself is not really credible; in fact he’s frequently quite irritating as he outsmarts everyone else. Perhaps because of the narrator’s voice, I was reminded of Tom Hanks in the Dan Brown movies, constantly explaining things so reader/viewer/listener can’t miss how clever the author is. A cynical comment, to be sure but it is a weakness when a character has to explain what’s happening instead of letting the writing do it. Sometimes it is necessary but it’s usually a weakness.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Hugo Marston mystery I've read and I thought it stood well on its own, even if it's marketed as a prequel.

I'm attempting to write a mystery/suspense novel and took a lot of things away from this book:
- I wasn't a fan of the opening of this book; it felt like another book was being set up and I wasn't sure that Marston's interest in a long-ago crime that may or may not have been related to Jack the Ripper paid off.
- I really enjoyed the ways Pryor kept the tension between the Americans and the Brits. It felt quite authentic that there would be moments of genuine cooperation and moments of breakdown, where styles would differ or where toes would be tread upon.
- I wanted Merlyn to have been used more as a red herring. What was her real purpose in the book? Was she there to just conveniently explain the people and place to Marston? Why did it never occur to Marston that she might be more than she seemed? She was everywhere the murders were happening, she was connected to so many of the victims and she had access and opportunity. I wish more had been made of this; the journalist just seemed so out of the blue.

The plot didn't entirely come together for me. Two American movie stars are arrested after committing a hit and run against a farmer. We're meant to believe (in this celebrity obsessed culture) that Britons were baying for their blood because they sped off after killing the farmer. Marston gets involved, as he's got to ensure their safety until they're somehow they're spirited off to America. This confused me - why wouldn't they face the consequences right there, where the crime had been committed? Anyway, one is released and then found dead in a cemetery, swinging from a noose, no less. The husband, distraught, runs away from our intrepid gumshoe, hightails it to a kinky sex den and then winds up dead. Along the way, Marston picks up a parliamentarian with a military background and an interest in springing elderly convicts from prison. A journalist who covers celebrities joins the mix, ostensibly to get an exclusive with the movie stars. Somehow we end up with a situation where people are turning up dead, Marston's chasing the killer with an amateur dominatrix in tow, as well as the parliamentarian. The journalist turns out to be the deranged son of an executioner, who never received his pension. A mental breakdown (after a lottery win, natch) has him acting as an execution, picking off people who would otherwise drain the public purse. And the parliamentarian is in cahoots with him. The body count includes two celebrities, a parliamentarian, a priest and the twin of a recently released female killer. Somehow.

There was just a lot going on here that didn't feel like it was sufficiently holding together.

That said, the writing was brisk, there were moments of levity and Marston is a character I'd happily follow in the future.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a prequel to those in Paris. Here Hugo has just become security officer at the Embassy in London. In the first chapter, Hugo is looking at the scene of a murder of a woman in the time of the Ripper. After viewing the crime scene, he walks through an old cemetary. As he is about to leave, he finds someone hanging by a noose from a tree. A well known actor and his wife are being released from prison after killing a man driving drunk. Hugo is to babysit for Dayton Harper. When he picks up Dayton at the prison, he finds that his wife was released earlier and no one knows where she is. Hugo brings Dayton to his apartment. Soon the embassy calls and tells them the person hanging is Dayton's wife. Then, Pendrith, a British Lord arrives. When they all go for a ride in the embassy care, the traffic causes them to stop, and Dayton gets out and runs off. When trying to find Dayton at the hotel where he had been, they find a hotel worker, Merlyn, who knows Dayton and his wife and befriends Hugo and Pendrith. Then begins a long trip trying to find Dayton, bringing in local police, not being sure who to trust, and eventually finding Dayton dead in a cemetary. This begins even more twists and turns in the plot to where it isn't clear who is good and who is bad. We gradually find out about the motives and personalities, but the real culprit is found too late.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a prequel from when Hugo works at the British Embassy about 10 years before the current books. We meet some characters we will see in later books.

The killer is revealed in the middle-late in the book, but there is time trying to stop him and find him before he keeps killing. The killer turns out to be the son of the last public executioner in England. He was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps and is obsessed with finding “justice” by hanging people who he considers guilty of murder.

He ends up learning about the world of sub/dom relationships by way of his new friend, Merlyn, who takes him to a secret club where some of the murder victims went for parties.

He ends up meeting with the murderer in Madame Toussauds wax museum where the murderer’s father has a statue as the last executioner. Hugo tried to talk him out of killing himself, but he hangs himself in the Hall of Horrors.

Since the story takes place in England, there are different characters, but Hugo is still Hugo.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still trying to decide how I feel about the Hugo Marston series. I like the character Hugo Marston, who is a Texas cowboy in London in this novel. By "cowboy" I mean he works largely as a loner, and even when he cooperates with others, he doesn't always tell them everything he knows or suspects. He also wears cowboy boots. Reading this book, I thought that one of Hugo's strengths according to the Clifton StrengthFinder, must be "Context," because he always learns as much about the past histories of suspects and victims in order to figure out what happened. Pryor's novels are good thrillers. I find them hard to put down. But in the end, I often feel a little let down--I think because the stories lack emotional depth despite the loss of human lives. In this novel, there are five murders (I think I counted them all), but in the end, Hugo and company enjoy a couple of pints in the local pub, and that's that.

[Viccy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugo Marston, former CIA profiler, is now working security for the US Ambassador in London. He is asked to provide security for a high-profile Hollywood couple in town for a movie shoot, after Dayton Harper kills a young man in a drunk driving accident. Unfortunately, Ginny Ferro is found dead, hanging from a tree in an old London graveyard. Suicide is suspected, but Marston does not believe it. Then Dayton does a runner and Marston has to track him down. Things go just as badly for Harper and he is found dead after the father of the dead man is murdered as well. Marston figures out that someone is trying to bring back the death penalty in England. A very twisty plot that got too complicated for my taste, but that does not mean you would not enjoy it.

[Jen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to The Bookseller where Hugo is stationed at the US Embassy in London. He is assigned to protect a famous US movie star couple who, while filming in rural England, kill a local man in a hit and run accident, and have been charged by police. One is mistakenly released early and found hanging in a small cemetery in London - suicide or murder? Hugo chases down clues, often frustratingly making little headway, including a trip to Paris where he first meets the bookseller, Max, from the first book in this series. There are plot twists aplenty and the story is very well written. Hugo a tall, intelligent, book-loving, cowboy boot-wearing Texan is a likeable protagonist.

[Jon McClintock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best

"The Button Man" is a prequel to the first two stories of the Hugo Marston novels. Without revealing any plot details that would be spoilers: Hugo has unbelievable, and I mean hard to believe, access to a lot of things in places where, in reality, it wouldn't happen that way.

As a fan of the genre, I know how to give a little license. But this turns into a kind of Keystone cops chase with the sub-theme that is believable… But eventually unrelated. I encourage you to read it, but if you have read his previous two works I think you'll agree with me.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love This Series

This is one of my favorite series. While this is prequel, I’ve actually read subsequent ones. I plan to reread in sequence.

Hugo Marston is a very appealing character. Although American, he reminds me of a number of British MI5 characters. His interaction with other law enforcement personnel always provides interesting people and events. While this story takes place in England, it sets the stage for his future in Paris.
Pryor’s writing is understated, concise and the plot is never static.

[Not Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my god, this is an awful book. I'm going to finish it just out of spite. Full of tropes and cliches, the story meanders through typically foggy London to the quaint countryside, to sex clubs, to completely 'what-you-would-expect' Paris. The protagonist has got to be the most hapless security man ever, immediately using poor judgement to lose the very person he was to guard and through mishap after error, leaves (so far) four bodies in his wake. Ye gods - this has put me off Mark Pryor for life.

[Brian Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character in this title stinks at his job which was a surprise as I remember him cleverly investigating crimes against Americans in Europe in other titles. Otherwise, the plot moves quickly and kept my interest in spite of my disappointment with Hugo being led to the murderer by deliberate action of the murderer. Pryor embedded a political statement about capital punishment in the story although the case for it was poorly presented. Titles in this series including The Bookseller and/or The Crypt Thief are much more rewarding reads than this title.