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The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26Hugo has led an exciting life as an FBI profiler and the United States embassy's head of security, but now he's ready to embrace a quieter existence as a bookseller in the Marais district of Paris. His former employer, however, has other plans for him. A prominent American citizen is the COO of a boutique chocolate emporium in Paris, where they've received a mysterious and threatening note. A blackmailer who goes by the name The Shadow wants half a million euros or else their "darkest secret will be revealed."
Eclat de Chocolat is housed in a chateau dating back to the 1700s. The building, which served as a convent in the first half of the twentieth century, where the angelic Sister Evangeline and her order of nuns helped countless orphans during World War II, has been beautifully converted into a chocolate factory. So what dark secrets could a chocolatier be hiding? The COO has no idea.
Involving his friend, Lieutenant Camille Lerens, Hugo begins to investigate. But soon a second note appears on the premises, canceling the blackmail threat. The same day, the body of an employee is found in an old graveyard behind the chocolatier. Now Hugo and Lerens have a murder on their hands, but is it connected to the blackmail attempt? As they dig for secrets and motives, it becomes clear The Shadow's grave work has just begun . . .
Eclat de Chocolat is housed in a chateau dating back to the 1700s. The building, which served as a convent in the first half of the twentieth century, where the angelic Sister Evangeline and her order of nuns helped countless orphans during World War II, has been beautifully converted into a chocolate factory. So what dark secrets could a chocolatier be hiding? The COO has no idea.
Involving his friend, Lieutenant Camille Lerens, Hugo begins to investigate. But soon a second note appears on the premises, canceling the blackmail threat. The same day, the body of an employee is found in an old graveyard behind the chocolatier. Now Hugo and Lerens have a murder on their hands, but is it connected to the blackmail attempt? As they dig for secrets and motives, it becomes clear The Shadow's grave work has just begun . . .
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Mark Pryor
33 books640 followersMark 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hugo Marston is back and starting a new job in Mark Pryor’s “The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris”. As fans of the series know, Hugo Marston was the head of security at the U.S. embassy in Paris, where he had nine previous adventures. He has finally retired from that role and is ready to realize his dream of owning a used bookstore, focusing on mysteries, both rare and everyday.
But even as he’s trying to get set up and started, the US Ambassador comes in and asks him for a favor, one that he wants to keep off the books. A specialty chocolatier in Paris has received a blackmail note, threatening to expose their secret. This comes at an awkward time as the publicity could have them lose their royal warrant, forego any expansion plans, and even possibly bankrupt the company. As Hugo agrees to take a look, it soon becomes evident that (supposedly) there are no secrets that would be worth half a million euros.
As Hugo starts to investigate with his police friend Lieutenant Camille Lerens, a second note is found, basically saying “never mind”. That would have probably ended the investigation, except that one of the chocolatier’s employees is found murdered. Now Hugo and Camille have to uncover a murderer who may or may not be tied to the blackmailer.
Or is the secret ties back to the history of the château? Back during the war it was a convent then an orphanage run by a saintly nun who disappeared mysteriously after the war. Hugo is going to have to do a lot of digging in the past to understand how it affects the present. All of the elements of a good classic mystery are here: Disturbed graves. Trapped in a sudden snowstorm. Mysterious tunnels. Hidden agendas. Can Hugio and Camille catch the killer before they strike again?
I am not sure why this is billed as the start of a new series, since all of the characters are a continuation from the previous nine books (although Tom does not really contribute to this story). And as such, this book suffers from some of the same flaws as the others (from my previous reviews): The short "interludes" from the Shadow were distracting and could have easily been edited out. And most worryingly, Hugo has gotten a bit more annoying than usual (and he could be annoying to begin with): he constantly flaunts the rules and procedures, just because (he thinks) he's the smartest person in the room. And everyone around him puts up with / encourages this behavior. And his smug "I'm not sharing my theory" behavior adds to the frustration. What’s new is that even though this is set in a bookshop we barely even see the store and it truly plays no part in the story, although I appreciate the tieback to Mr. Pryor’s Henri Lefort series.
But enjoy this series, look past the quibbles and enjoy Paris…
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Kensington Publishing, Kensington via NetGalley. Thank you!
But even as he’s trying to get set up and started, the US Ambassador comes in and asks him for a favor, one that he wants to keep off the books. A specialty chocolatier in Paris has received a blackmail note, threatening to expose their secret. This comes at an awkward time as the publicity could have them lose their royal warrant, forego any expansion plans, and even possibly bankrupt the company. As Hugo agrees to take a look, it soon becomes evident that (supposedly) there are no secrets that would be worth half a million euros.
As Hugo starts to investigate with his police friend Lieutenant Camille Lerens, a second note is found, basically saying “never mind”. That would have probably ended the investigation, except that one of the chocolatier’s employees is found murdered. Now Hugo and Camille have to uncover a murderer who may or may not be tied to the blackmailer.
Or is the secret ties back to the history of the château? Back during the war it was a convent then an orphanage run by a saintly nun who disappeared mysteriously after the war. Hugo is going to have to do a lot of digging in the past to understand how it affects the present. All of the elements of a good classic mystery are here: Disturbed graves. Trapped in a sudden snowstorm. Mysterious tunnels. Hidden agendas. Can Hugio and Camille catch the killer before they strike again?
I am not sure why this is billed as the start of a new series, since all of the characters are a continuation from the previous nine books (although Tom does not really contribute to this story). And as such, this book suffers from some of the same flaws as the others (from my previous reviews): The short "interludes" from the Shadow were distracting and could have easily been edited out. And most worryingly, Hugo has gotten a bit more annoying than usual (and he could be annoying to begin with): he constantly flaunts the rules and procedures, just because (he thinks) he's the smartest person in the room. And everyone around him puts up with / encourages this behavior. And his smug "I'm not sharing my theory" behavior adds to the frustration. What’s new is that even though this is set in a bookshop we barely even see the store and it truly plays no part in the story, although I appreciate the tieback to Mr. Pryor’s Henri Lefort series.
But enjoy this series, look past the quibbles and enjoy Paris…
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Kensington Publishing, Kensington via NetGalley. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris is part of Mark Pryor’s series featuring former FBI profiler Hugo Marston. It’s the first one I’ve read, but that did not prevent me from following the action and enjoying the mystery.
When the story begins, Hugo recently retired from the security team at the U.S. embassy in Paris and has decided to open a bookshop. Just as he’s getting set up, Hugo’s old boss at the embassy asks for a favor: he needs someone to investigate a blackmail threat made to a local high-end chocolate factory. The ambassador assigns a driver to take Hugo to Eclat du Chocolat to interview the staff, which consists of an American COO, an English CEO, and three French employees.
The company is housed in a chateau dating back to the 1700s with an adjacent cemetery and a rich history. During World War II, the building served as a convent and a refuge for orphans. The most famous leader of the convent/orphanage was the somewhat unconventional Sister Evangeline, who hosted a group of Buddhists shortly before she disappeared in the 1950s.
According to the blackmail note, signed by “The Shadow,” the company must cough up half a million euros or their “darkest secret will be revealed.” When Hugo interviews the staff, no one can offer any suggestions about who could be extorting them, nor what the big secret might be.
Hugo brings in the Paris police, led by his friend, Lieutenant Camille Lerens, and the two have a great working relationship. Just when they find a suspect, a second note appears, canceling the blackmail threat. Then the same day, one of the employees is found dead in the cemetery; the death appears to be a murder. One of the graves has been disturbed, so Hugo and Lerens wonder if there is a connection.
A heavy snowstorm disrupts the investigation and strands Hugo and Lerens overnight at Eclat du Chocolat. Alone in the building, they have the opportunity to search the premises more thoroughly, where they discover a secret tunnel. They also read up on the chateau’s history and end up finding clues that help them solve the current murder.
Having lived in France for a year, I enjoyed reading about the Parisian setting. The mystery was engaging and the characters well-developed. The author also included a bit of social commentary, as Lerens, who is Black and trans, experiences bullying and discrimination in the workplace.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read an advance copy.
When the story begins, Hugo recently retired from the security team at the U.S. embassy in Paris and has decided to open a bookshop. Just as he’s getting set up, Hugo’s old boss at the embassy asks for a favor: he needs someone to investigate a blackmail threat made to a local high-end chocolate factory. The ambassador assigns a driver to take Hugo to Eclat du Chocolat to interview the staff, which consists of an American COO, an English CEO, and three French employees.
The company is housed in a chateau dating back to the 1700s with an adjacent cemetery and a rich history. During World War II, the building served as a convent and a refuge for orphans. The most famous leader of the convent/orphanage was the somewhat unconventional Sister Evangeline, who hosted a group of Buddhists shortly before she disappeared in the 1950s.
According to the blackmail note, signed by “The Shadow,” the company must cough up half a million euros or their “darkest secret will be revealed.” When Hugo interviews the staff, no one can offer any suggestions about who could be extorting them, nor what the big secret might be.
Hugo brings in the Paris police, led by his friend, Lieutenant Camille Lerens, and the two have a great working relationship. Just when they find a suspect, a second note appears, canceling the blackmail threat. Then the same day, one of the employees is found dead in the cemetery; the death appears to be a murder. One of the graves has been disturbed, so Hugo and Lerens wonder if there is a connection.
A heavy snowstorm disrupts the investigation and strands Hugo and Lerens overnight at Eclat du Chocolat. Alone in the building, they have the opportunity to search the premises more thoroughly, where they discover a secret tunnel. They also read up on the chateau’s history and end up finding clues that help them solve the current murder.
Having lived in France for a year, I enjoyed reading about the Parisian setting. The mystery was engaging and the characters well-developed. The author also included a bit of social commentary, as Lerens, who is Black and trans, experiences bullying and discrimination in the workplace.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hugo Marston is back with Mark Pryor’s latest semi-cozy mystery set in Paris. Hugo, a former head of security for the US Embassy, has retired and is fulfilling his lifelong dream of opening a mystery book store. I have always loved mysteries revolving around book stores, so even though I am not a great fan of cozy mysteries, I wanted to read The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris.
I was disappointed, however, to find that almost none of the book pertains to the book store, but rather Hugo’s former boss pulls him back into investigating a blackmail scheme targeting a chocolatier friend of the boss. Eclat de Chocolat is housed in an old 1700 (former convent) chateau with all the stories, secret passage ways and secrets that you would expect.
But the story has it high points with a Paris setting, cafes galore, the historic chateau, snow storms and, every now and then, books. If you forgo the unlikeliness of the plot (because after all it is a cozy mystery) and the almost mystical hero-quality of Hugo (because after all it is a cozy mystery), you can find this novel peaceful and entertaining.
But I enjoy a story with a better mystery to solve – twists and turns, red herrings, surprising reveals – all would be welcome even in a cozy mystery and Pryor’s book had none of these. I know that there is a market for this type of quaint mystery story, but it is not for me. However, if that is your desire in a mystery novel, then I think you should check out Pryor’s books because the writing is straightforward and the story moves as it should.
My rating: 3 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris will be published on March 31, 2026.
I was disappointed, however, to find that almost none of the book pertains to the book store, but rather Hugo’s former boss pulls him back into investigating a blackmail scheme targeting a chocolatier friend of the boss. Eclat de Chocolat is housed in an old 1700 (former convent) chateau with all the stories, secret passage ways and secrets that you would expect.
But the story has it high points with a Paris setting, cafes galore, the historic chateau, snow storms and, every now and then, books. If you forgo the unlikeliness of the plot (because after all it is a cozy mystery) and the almost mystical hero-quality of Hugo (because after all it is a cozy mystery), you can find this novel peaceful and entertaining.
But I enjoy a story with a better mystery to solve – twists and turns, red herrings, surprising reveals – all would be welcome even in a cozy mystery and Pryor’s book had none of these. I know that there is a market for this type of quaint mystery story, but it is not for me. However, if that is your desire in a mystery novel, then I think you should check out Pryor’s books because the writing is straightforward and the story moves as it should.
My rating: 3 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris will be published on March 31, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kobo
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing
📅 ARC courtesy of NetGalley | To be published: March 31, 2026
It took me until the acknowledgments to realize The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris continues a long-running series. That revelation explained so much of my confusion. As a newcomer, I spent most of the book wondering how our freshly minted bookseller, Hugo, seemed to have endless high-level contacts across law enforcement and politics. The mystery of that, it turns out, was purely meta: I had started mid-series without knowing.
For a bookshop mystery, there’s surprisingly little time spent in the actual shop. Hugo hires an assistant and immediately hands him the keys before darting off into Parisian intrigue. That said, the mystery itself? Genuinely engaging. The blackmail angle, the chocolate factory with a layered historical past, and the eventual whodunit all worked for me. Once the investigation was in full swing,
What didn’t quite land for me were the emotional beats on either end of the story. Without the series’ backstory, I felt detached from the relationships and callbacks that longtime readers will likely savor. I can see how fans of Hugo’s previous outings would find this a smooth continuation. But as a standalone, it wobbles just a bit out of context. Unfortunately, both the prelude and the ending leaned heavily on series context, making them feel emotionally flat if you haven’t followed Hugo’s journey from the beginning. I closed the book satisfied with the mystery, but not particularly compelled to go backward or forward in the series.
Would I recommend it?
If you’re already familiar with Hugo Marston’s previous adventures, this one is a worthy addition, mysterious, atmospheric, and laced with chocolate and Parisian charm. But if you’re new like me, you might want to start earlier in the series to fully understand its cast of characters and connections.
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing
📅 ARC courtesy of NetGalley | To be published: March 31, 2026
It took me until the acknowledgments to realize The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris continues a long-running series. That revelation explained so much of my confusion. As a newcomer, I spent most of the book wondering how our freshly minted bookseller, Hugo, seemed to have endless high-level contacts across law enforcement and politics. The mystery of that, it turns out, was purely meta: I had started mid-series without knowing.
For a bookshop mystery, there’s surprisingly little time spent in the actual shop. Hugo hires an assistant and immediately hands him the keys before darting off into Parisian intrigue. That said, the mystery itself? Genuinely engaging. The blackmail angle, the chocolate factory with a layered historical past, and the eventual whodunit all worked for me. Once the investigation was in full swing,
What didn’t quite land for me were the emotional beats on either end of the story. Without the series’ backstory, I felt detached from the relationships and callbacks that longtime readers will likely savor. I can see how fans of Hugo’s previous outings would find this a smooth continuation. But as a standalone, it wobbles just a bit out of context. Unfortunately, both the prelude and the ending leaned heavily on series context, making them feel emotionally flat if you haven’t followed Hugo’s journey from the beginning. I closed the book satisfied with the mystery, but not particularly compelled to go backward or forward in the series.
Would I recommend it?
If you’re already familiar with Hugo Marston’s previous adventures, this one is a worthy addition, mysterious, atmospheric, and laced with chocolate and Parisian charm. But if you’re new like me, you might want to start earlier in the series to fully understand its cast of characters and connections.
January 29, 2026
3.5 stars
Paris, FBI, books, cafe, historic chateau, extreme religious rituals, snow, mysteries and murder, this book has all the good stuff!
We follow the story of Hugo who is an ex FBI profiler, who along with friends and colleagues, is searching for a blackmailer and a murderer, while he is also in the process of opening up a bookshop.
This book has great bones and a fine tale…although, not one tale but really three.
It revolves mainly around the mystery/murder and very little about the bookshop. It seems to be a part of a series, so I assume that will be continued into the next book.
One character was singled out, with mention of their skin colour and gender identity. It bugged me as it didn’t go further, seemed very hollow and didn’t get weaved into the story. Near the end, was a badly written incident relating to this, which was not cohesive to the story, was abrupt, didn’t do justice to the character and should really have just been omitted. To me it all seemed like an afterthought, edited in at the last minute.
Most murder mysteries have twists and turns, this one leads you down a chocolatey and snow laden path, with an abundance of intrigue that never gives up, to keep you hooked till the end. An end you would never guess!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
#TheMostMysteriousBookshopinParis #NetGalley
Paris, FBI, books, cafe, historic chateau, extreme religious rituals, snow, mysteries and murder, this book has all the good stuff!
We follow the story of Hugo who is an ex FBI profiler, who along with friends and colleagues, is searching for a blackmailer and a murderer, while he is also in the process of opening up a bookshop.
This book has great bones and a fine tale…although, not one tale but really three.
It revolves mainly around the mystery/murder and very little about the bookshop. It seems to be a part of a series, so I assume that will be continued into the next book.
One character was singled out, with mention of their skin colour and gender identity. It bugged me as it didn’t go further, seemed very hollow and didn’t get weaved into the story. Near the end, was a badly written incident relating to this, which was not cohesive to the story, was abrupt, didn’t do justice to the character and should really have just been omitted. To me it all seemed like an afterthought, edited in at the last minute.
Most murder mysteries have twists and turns, this one leads you down a chocolatey and snow laden path, with an abundance of intrigue that never gives up, to keep you hooked till the end. An end you would never guess!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
#TheMostMysteriousBookshopinParis #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I didn't realize going in that this seems to be a spinoff of another series, which I'm unfamiliar with. It wasn't a problem for the main plot but I may have gotten more invested in the characters had I read the previous books and known more backstory.
Lots of nice settings- Paris, a chocolate factory, cafe, and bookstore (although we don't see much of the shop, perhaps in future books?). There's quite a bit of different things going on. The factory holds numerous secrets. The bookshop introduces a subplot that I thought would be an ongoing mystery but wasn't, but did sprout another story that I imagine will continue.
Couple things that bugged me a little and a weird part that had nothing to do with the story. Otherwise a fairly interesting book, and I'd consider checking out the next in this series.
Lots of nice settings- Paris, a chocolate factory, cafe, and bookstore (although we don't see much of the shop, perhaps in future books?). There's quite a bit of different things going on. The factory holds numerous secrets. The bookshop introduces a subplot that I thought would be an ongoing mystery but wasn't, but did sprout another story that I imagine will continue.
Couple things that bugged me a little and a weird part that had nothing to do with the story. Otherwise a fairly interesting book, and I'd consider checking out the next in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Mark Pryor for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.
The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris is a phenomenal whodoneit. I feel that Mr. Mark is going to take us on an amazing journey with this series, and I'm here for it all. The character development and world building are chefs kiss🤌🤌. The turns and twists had me shook, when I thought I had it figured out, BOOM I was wrong. I can't hardly wait to see where Mr. Mark is taking us.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to y'all. Trust me on this one.
The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris is a phenomenal whodoneit. I feel that Mr. Mark is going to take us on an amazing journey with this series, and I'm here for it all. The character development and world building are chefs kiss🤌🤌. The turns and twists had me shook, when I thought I had it figured out, BOOM I was wrong. I can't hardly wait to see where Mr. Mark is taking us.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to y'all. Trust me on this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The latest in a long-running series, although the protagonist, Hugo Marston, is embarking on a new career as a bookstore owner. Recurring characters appear in the novel, which may make it difficult for new readers to the series to understand. The setting of Paris is charming with its cafes and the backdrop of a chocolate company. The mystery itself is fine, with Hugo and the police officers he works with making a number of leaps to make the solution fit. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hugo has retired from the FBI and embassy security, and is getting ready to open a bookshop in Paris. His old boss calls him back to help investigate a blackmail note at a chocolate factory, which quickly evolves into a murder mystery. The chocolate factory is housed in an old building with many secrets the team needs to uncover to solve this crime. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. Expected publishing in the US 3.31/2036.
January 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this! The characters were likeable, the plot kept me interested and there was a good twist that made me want to keep reading.
A few parts near the end felt a bit drawn out, some chapters and dialogue feeling slightly repetitive but it didn’t ruin the story for me. Overall it was an enjoyable murder mystery and an easy read.
A few parts near the end felt a bit drawn out, some chapters and dialogue feeling slightly repetitive but it didn’t ruin the story for me. Overall it was an enjoyable murder mystery and an easy read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Parisian who-done-it. Hugo is a retired head of security for the American Embassy in Paris France. While trying to open a bookstore in Paris, he gets asked to help solve what starts off as a blackmailing case, but quickly turns into a homicide. Leads and information lead the investigators in a multitude of directions. Add in interesting "side trips" of random historical tidbits (fictional to the story) and who knows where they'll end up. Definitely interested in reading more books with these characters.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love mysteries that revolve around bookshops. The Most Mysterious Bookshop In Paris is the first book in a series that I hope has many sequels. I haven’t read any of Mark Pryor’s books but will make a point of doing so.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
As Hugo sets about setting up his new venture, a bookstore in an old building in Paris, he is called upon to solve the mystery of a blackmail note sent to a premiere chocolate shop. The blackmail swiftly turns to murder and Hugo must help the Paris police solve all of the crimes before he can conscientiously return to his bookshop.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I could not put it down. There were just enough clues to peak your curiosity, then a surprise clue would send you another direction altogether. Marvelous book!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews