The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris

Paris Bookshop Mystery #1

by Mark Pryor

Hugo 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 . . .

Genres: Mystery, France, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Paris

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 31, 2026

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

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting story! And, what a unique premise for a story too!

To be honest, this is the first I’ve read from this author, although, apparently, there’s a whole series surrounding these characters! 😮😮

Hugo, the MMC, has just retired from the FBI. He also held a job as the head of security for the US Embassy in Paris. Now, he just wants to fulfill his dream of owning his own bookstore! (Although, he has had a huge donation from a …ahem…friend… in order to open up said bookstore!)

But, before he even has a chance to ‘open the doors’, his old boss at the Embassy comes knocking and asks for a favor… off the books…

You see, a new elegant chocolatier has opened up, and now they have received a threat! Pay up, or your secret will be revealed! 😳😮

So, as Hugo begins investigating, with a few old friends, he finds that the building where the chocolatier is located has quite a history…. Going back many years… when it was a nunnery… and then later on, became an orphanage.
BUT, what they find out as they explore leaves them with their mouths hanging open!! And many more secrets than they bargained for…

Again, a fascinating story with a very old building with a long history, and then, another story within about opening a new venture… his bookshop!!

4 fascinating, intriguing, fast-paced, bookish stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

#TheMostMysteriousBookshopInParis by @MarkPryor and narrated nicely by @ToddMcLaren.

This one is being released TOMORROW, 3/31/26, so look 👀 for it on shelves then!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @TantorPublishing and @TantorAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️🩷

[Ryna ~ Echoing Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

See the review on Echoing Books!

First, I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This was a short and easy read. If I had the time, I could have read this in a few hours, but I like to listen to books while I’m at work and the Netgalley reading app has the option to read out loud, so I used that until I had a few breaks at work to read instead of listening.

This book started of first as a blackmail that Hugo needed to investigate. If you don’t know Hugo is the main character in this book that’s planning on opening a Mystery, Thriller and crime bookstore in Paris. He was once in law enforcement but now it looks like he is investigating freelance…. Like any other cozy mystery books. Now like I said it started off as blackmail that at first wasn’t seen as to serious but later escalated to a murder investigation. I liked reading the story in Hugo’s POV. The character development was good, and the flow of the story was so natural that I haven’t figured out who the murderer was until the end.

Though I did not know this book was a spin off series so all the recurring character that appeared made it harder for me to keep track on all the characters. Anyway, I still enjoyed this book and might even check out more of Mark Pryor’s books when my TBR pile for the next few months get smaller. This book gets a 3 start/heart rating for a good cozy mystery read. I also liked that the setting was in Paris. It is so rare that I read a book that is set in Paris, so it was a nice change for once.

[Casey Pond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main mystery was a little boring but the historical history was incredibly fascinating

[Dawn Michelle]

4.1.2026
DNF@10%
Kindle/NetGalley
NetGalley Audiobook [Todd McLaren]

1. I absolutely CANNOT with that narrator.

2. This is a new series featuring ALL the characters [and a few new ones] from a PREVIOUS SERIES of N I N E books. A little heads-up about this would have been greatly appreciated. Seriously.

3. Along with my confusion of everyone in the book "acting" like we should all know them well [see #2], I struggled because it was just so boring [the MMC was just so tepid]. I was not anticipating wanting to nap in the first 10% of the book and it was all I could do to not fall asleep. NO way am I going to read N I N E books with this boring MMC just to read this. Nope.

4. The narrator. I know that I am extremely choosy, but is it too much to ask for a narrator who can actually SPEAK French, considering that the book takes place in Paris? Apparently. I am not sure I would like/enjoy the narrator in any situation, but he really doesn't work here.

5. This book sounded so good and I was so looking forward to this read and I am just very, very, disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Pryor, Todd McLaren - Narrator, Kensington Publishing/Kensington, and Tantor Media/Tantor Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Cabaniss · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was…fine.

[Pat Chrivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the prior Hugo Marston series. This book was a welcome visit with characters I enjoyed in past novels. I hope that more Hugo Marston adventures will continue.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to talk about The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris like we’re sitting on your couch, half a bottle of wine in, because I have feelings. Conflicted ones. The kind where I’m like “I had fun” but also “you absolutely lied to me, sir.”

Because tell me why this book is titled like it’s about a quirky, possibly haunted, probably magical bookshop… and instead we spend 95% of our time in a chocolate factory with a murder problem. Not even Willy Wonka chaos, just… corporate chocolatier blackmail. I felt catfished in the most Parisian way possible.

So we’ve got Hugo, who is basically if a retired FBI profiler decided to cosplay as a cozy bookstore owner but couldn’t stop solving crimes because apparently peace and quiet is not in his brand. He’s opening this mystery bookshop in the Marais, which sounds like my personal heaven, and then immediately abandons it to go investigate a blackmail note at this fancy chocolate place called Eclat de Chocolat. The note is from someone calling themselves The Shadow, which is objectively dramatic and I respect the commitment to branding.

And listen, the setup is actually kind of delicious. A centuries old chateau that used to be a convent, wartime history, mysterious nun who disappears, secret tunnels, a graveyard out back… like yes, absolutely, give me gothic chocolate murder realness. At one point there’s even a snowstorm trapping people there, and I was like oh we’re doing full Agatha Christie cosplay now, okay, I see you.

But here’s where I start side eyeing. The mystery itself is solid enough to keep you listening, but it unfolds in this very calm, methodical, almost aggressively chill way. Hugo just kind of strolls through the investigation like he already knows he’s the smartest person in every room, and everyone else is like “yes king, absolutely, take your time.” Meanwhile I’m sitting there like can someone please challenge this man just once.

And the thing is, Hugo is interesting… but also a little exhausting. He has this habit of being like “I have a theory” and then refusing to elaborate, which is the narrative equivalent of someone texting “we need to talk” and then going offline. Sir. I need you to respect my anxiety.

Now, Camille Lerens, his police friend, deserved more. She’s compelling, she’s dealing with real workplace discrimination, and every time the story brushed up against that, I perked up like oh, here’s something with weight. But then the book would kind of… drift away from it before it could fully land, and I was left wanting just a little more depth, a little more follow through.

Also, can we talk about how this is technically the start of a “new” series but is absolutely carrying the emotional baggage of like nine previous books. Because I went in thinking fresh start, clean slate, and instead it felt like I showed up to a party where everyone already knows each other and I’m in the corner holding my drink like “who is Tom and why does everyone care.”

Now let’s get into the audiobook situation, because Todd McLaren… buddy… we need to chat. On one hand, I genuinely respect the range. Multiple accents, distinct voices, you can tell who’s speaking without checking, and that’s not easy. On the other hand, the pacing is so slow it felt like the book was being narrated by someone gently explaining a museum exhibit to me. I bumped up the speed and it still had this very old school audiobook vibe, like I accidentally time traveled to 2008. And one of the voices absolutely took me out because it sounded like Winnie the Pooh wandered into a murder investigation and honestly, that’s a crossover I was not emotionally prepared for.

And yet… I didn’t hate my time here. The Paris setting is doing a lot of heavy lifting, cafes, snowy streets, this eerie old chateau, and there’s something very comforting about the whole thing. It’s like a cozy mystery wearing a slightly more serious coat, sipping espresso, pretending it’s edgier than it is.

By the end, I was entertained, mildly frustrated, and still thinking about how I was promised a bookshop mystery and got a chocolate murder tour instead. Which honestly feels like a metaphor for life.

It’s a solid three stars, the kind where I’d recommend it with a shrug and a “just know what you’re walking into.”

Whodunity Award: For Gaslighting Me With That Bookshop Title While I Was Busy Mentally Decorating Shelves That Never Appeared

And a chaotic thank you to Tantor Media and NetGalley for the ALC, truly out here enabling my audiobook era where I judge fictional detectives while doing dishes like it’s my full time job.

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Craig Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris by Mark Pryor.

Welcome back, Hugo Marston. It’s been six long years since we last entered his world in the brilliant, 'The French Widow,' and now he returns—this time as a bookshop owner. But, as ever, old habits die hard.

Retired from the US Embassy, where he served as an FBI profiler and head of security, Hugo is finally living his dream: running an antiquarian bookshop (surely a dream many of us share). However, peace proves short-lived when a blackmailer known only as “The Shadow” targets a famous chocolatier, pulling Hugo back into action.

As if that weren’t enough, the case soon escalates into a double murder, alongside two intertwined mysteries—one central to the plot and another serving as an intriguing diversion.

Familiar faces return, including Camille Lerens, Claudia, Tom, and Ambassador J. Bradford Taylor. Pryor also introduces a compelling cast of new characters: Jules Moulin, Blake Holmes, and Sophia, the café owner next door to Hugo’s bookshop in the Marais district of Paris.

Together, they create a story that feels both welcoming to long-time readers and accessible to newcomers.

At this point, I may be past objectivity, having admired Mark Pryor’s work since he burst onto the scene with, 'The Bookseller' back in 2016. It remains a great starting point for the Hugo Marston series, though not essential—there are now ten novels to enjoy.

Pryor is very much a 21st-century writer, seamlessly incorporating neurodiversity and non-binary gender identities into his stories as a natural part of everyday life. These elements enrich his characters without distracting from the plot, allowing the narrative to remain the central focus.

His characters are vivid and fully realised—unless, of course, they find themselves on Pryor’s “hit list,” in which case their stories may be cut short. His use of Paris as a backdrop is similarly well judged: understated yet evocative, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the setting without overwhelming the narrative.

As always, Pryor delivers an engaging and cleverly constructed plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The novel is threaded with humour, particularly through the interactions of its recurring characters, adding warmth to the mystery.

One especially clever element is how Pryor connects this story to another protagonist from a different series also written by Mark. This is something I’ll leave readers to discover for themselves but, In short, it's a joy—just like The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris. Highly recommended.

Craig 🙂

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris is the first book in a new series by Mark Pryor, but the 10th outing featuring former FBI agent Hugo Marston. Released 26th March 2026 by Kensington, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

It's less of a procedural thriller and definitely doesn't have a cozy vibe (despite the Paris bookshop and a former "spook" turning in his badge and gun for the virtuous life of a bookseller). Hugo's not even unpacked and open for business before his former boss/handler calls on him to investigate and liase with an important wealthy American executive in an odd situation with his employer, an French chocolatier with international influence.

There's a lot of side distraction, between off-and-on blackmail and hidden secrets in the lives of the characters who work for the chocolate manufacturer as well as the physical location (a large chateau which has had a storied past as a convent and an orphanage in the past amongst other iterations).

For readers coming into this new series without prior familiarity with the characters in the earlier books, the interrelationships can be somewhat confusing, although with some patience, things do resolve themselves (mostly). It's a large cast of characters with murky motivations.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 22 minutes and is read by Todd McLaren. He does manage to distinguish the large cast of characters with a -wide- range of accents and ages/genders. Some of his interpretations are, honestly, quirky, but his competence with shifting accents at speed in dialogue is unquestionably skilled. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read.

Three stars. Denouement and resolution are ... surprising and odd. It's not about a bookshop or about Paris, not really.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
I’m going to be blunt… this one just wasn’t for me.

I went in expecting a cozy bookshop mystery (I mean, the title absolutely sells that vibe), but nope. The MMC buys a bookshop, and that’s about where that thread ends. It has basically nothing to do with the actual plot. Maybe that’ll come into play later since this is the start of a series, but right now, it felt misleading and disappointing.

The representation also didn’t land for me. It felt very performative, like boxes were being checked instead of characters being developed. The autistic character falls into the “knows everything, hyper-genius” stereotype, and while I always appreciate inclusion, leaning into clichés does more harm than good. The same goes for the trans representation; it’s there, but it lacks depth and authenticity.

And I’m just going to say it… the COVID mentions felt like lazy writing. It didn’t add anything meaningful and pulled me out of the story more than it grounded it.

Also worth noting: this is technically book one of a spin-off series, and you can feel it. There’s a lot of history with characters and settings that clearly come from earlier books. You can follow along, but I definitely felt like I was missing context that would’ve made me care more.

Now for the audio, narrated by Todd McLaren. This is very much a me thing, but the narration style didn’t work for me. It’s very slow—painfully so, and even speeding it up didn’t fix the overall vibe. It felt dated, almost like a throwback to audiobook styles from 10–15 years ago. And one of the character voices? I swear it sounded like Winnie the Pooh, which completely took me out 😅

That said, credit where it’s due. McLaren handled multiple voices and accents consistently, which is no small feat.

Overall, I think this police procedural will find its audience, especially with readers who enjoy a slower, more traditional style, but for me, it just didn’t click. I’d recommend this more to a 55+ mystery crowd than readers looking for a fast-paced or modern-feeling story.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Tantor Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Dee Furey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris by Mark Pryor is a good murder mystery that is only in the most tangential way about a bookshop, mysterious or otherwise. I had the advance listener copy narrated by Todd McLaren and he does a very good job on the audio narration and I had the e-arc and was able to read this book immersively. This is a book in a series featuring former FBI profiler, Hugo Marston. Now, this is the first book in the series that I've read, but it is not the first book in the series. You are given enough information that you do not need to start from book one. Now, as the story begins, we do get the bookstore information; Hugo has recently retired from working for the U.S. embassy in Paris as head of the security team, and he is opening a bookshop. He is just finishing interviewing an employee to hire when the ambassador reaches out to him to ask for his assistance. There has been a blackmail threat to a small high end chocolate company with an American executive who reached out to the ambassador for assistance. They want to keep it quiet to not spook clients. Now, the chocolate company is located in a chateau with some history, and there is an old cemetery adjacent to the chateau. The company has received a blackmail note from someone called 'The Shadow'. The Shadow is demanding half a million euros or the company's darkest secret will be told. A dead body is discovered not long thereafter, and the Paris police comes into the picture. The police office leading the investigation is Lt. Camille Lerens and she is a trans woman. This is significant to the story, because she faces significant hostility within the police force. Hugo and Camille respect each other and have worked together before and I enjoyed the mystery and the characters in the story. Only Hugo and Camille get significant time in this story, but I think with Hugo's new bookshop employee and his journalist girlfriend, we will see more side character development in future stories. This is a well told mystery that I really enjoyed listening to. Thank you so much Net Galley, Tantor Media and Kensington for my advance copies. This book releases on March 31, 2026.

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're opening a bookshop. You can't be anything but a good human being."

"It involves blackmail and chocolate. And potentially a new supervillain."

The above quotes are all you really need to know to enjoy the deliciously entertaining The Most Mysterious Bookshop In Paris, by renowned mystery author Mark Pryor.

Hugo Marston, retired FBI profiler and Head of Security for the U.S. Embassy in Paris, is living his dream of opening up a bookshop in Paris catering to mystery and thriller novels. He's hired the wonderful honestly direct, slightly on the spectrum, Blake Holmes to help run the store. I love their talks.

Just when Hugo thought he was done with security they pulled him back in. An influential American has called in a favor to his old boss at the embassy. Her specialty chocolate factory received a blackmail note threatening to reveal their "darkest secret" if they don't give the blackmailer, The Shadow, half a million Euros. His ex boss needs Hugo to discreetly handle it, but before he can, a dead body is found on the grounds of the chocolate emporium.

To add to the mystery the factory is housed in a 1700s chateau that served as a convent for Sister Evangeline and her order of brave nuns who rescued orphans during WWll. Sister Evangeline had many secrets that disappeared with her years ago. What's her role, if any, in this case?

Voice actor Todd McLaren is a master at accents and emotions. Whether American, French or other accents, he brought the mystery to life with humor, anger, sadness and a bit of romance. I easily see this as a Masterpiece PBS series.

The Most Mysterious Bookshop In Paris is book one in the Paris Bookshop Mystery series. Hugo's younger self has his own Hugo Marston series which you don't need to read to enjoy his bookshop life (but I'm reading it)!

I received a free copy of this book from Kensington Publishing and a free copy of the audiobook from Tantor Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

Former FBI agent and Embassy staffer Hugo as finally done it. He's resigned his role at the American embassy in Paris and is opening his own mystery bookshop. But just as he's about to open, his old boss has one final request. Check out a blackmail letter left in a gourmet chocolate shop, as requested by a fellow Texan and investor in the business. This is no ordinary factory; this is a former convent with a rich and strange history. But no sooner than Hugo can begin the case, another letter shows up, saying the blackmail was over...and then they find the body. Hugo is now enrobed in a murder mystery he cannot seem to figure out. Who would want to blackmail a chocolate company? What secrets could these walls possibly hold, and who is willing to kill to keep them?

I'm not sure if this is maybe part of a series, but I hope that it is and I just jumped into the middle of it. Because there was very little introduction to any of our main characters. So I'm going to assume there are more stories about Hugo out there. This book surprised me and I'm not sure that it did in a good way. The title is The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris...but the story is not about the bookshop. It's about a murder mystery at a chocolate shop. Once you get over that bait and switch, the story is okay. Felt like Hugo had a Benoit Blanc type of quality to him and I liked that. Hugo is a great character, as are his supporting cast. The character of Camille is awesome and kudos to the author for adding her into the story and also showing the struggles that she faces. The story is short (less than 300 pages) and I feel like we could have gotten a little more. It could have been more suspenseful or added in more detail. Overall it was okay. Honestly, Hugo's side quest into the mysterious cigarette case in his apartment was the best part of the story.

[EP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reader, beware. This book about the Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris is, in fact, not only not about a mysterious bookshop, it's not about a bookshop at all. Here's the background: the main character just bought a bookshop in Paris that sells mystery books. That's it!! I feel... deceived.

I also feel deceived because I hate reading a book in a series if I haven't read the ones prior. This book listing showed that it is the first of the Paris Bookshop Mysteries so (silly me) I assumed it was actually the first of a series. I didn't know this author had written an entire series about the main character already. It wouldn't really matter that much, I suppose, except that the main premise of the book is that Hugo Marston is awesome and famous and well-respected and everyone (except me) knows him, and most of the characters you meet are from the Hugo Marston series. So there's that. The plot is a little ridiculous too - all of the police defer to Hugo, unbelievably so, b/c he's so knowledgeable and smart (also... annoying). Also - I love a book with good rep, but the whole storyline about his trans detective friend felt inauthentic and performative :( The staged scene concluding that storyline was so abrupt and silly and confusing... what?? (What an ally he is! Hugo Marston, everyone!)

I can't believe this is the same author who wrote the Henri Lefort mysteries (which I LOVED!!!). And gotta be honest - to bring Henri and his relatives into this story felt a little cheap, like wow what a coincidence, look folks, it's Henri Lefort coming back to you! (replaying greatest hits already?)

It's not all bad. I enjoyed parts of the mystery. The mystery earns 2 stars.

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Pam Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Kay Richie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for access to this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Regarding "The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris," I am rather conflicted on my overall thoughts about this novel. As a disclaimer, I did not realize this book is part of a series featuring Hugo Marston until I started reading this book, so there may be further background information pertaining to him and his supporting cast I am not privy to and may have been expounded upon in previous novels.

Ultimately, I thought the story itself was interesting and a nice easy read. Who wouldn't want to read about a retired FBI agent living in Paris and opening a bookshop while solving a murder mystery at a chocolate factory? I think the author did a good job of making the culprit not as predictable as they tend to be in mystery novels. There were enough red herrings to make me second guess who the culprit was. It was easy to sit down and be consumed by the book.

However, there were definitely characterizations that made me wonder if this book had sensitivity readers, and if so, what conversations were had. Again, I'm not sure if Hugo and Camille's friendship is explained more in other parts of the series, but I viewed Camille mostly as a stepping stone to prop Hugo up as her savior, and not an ally. To me, she felt like a whimsy attempt to include a queer person of color into the story. Also, Joseph Molefe's character seemed to be the embodiment of every known stereotype pertaining to African immigrants (i.e. participating in illegal/sketchy businesses, living in slum neighborhoods, practicing "dark arts"). I was not thrilled with the depictions of the people of color in this book.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo a former FBI profiler is now looking forward to his latest venture, opening a bookstore in Paris which for him is a dream come true. He gets sidelined by his friend the US Ambassador in Paris to have a quick look, at a ransom note found at an exclusive chocolate factory. It is the history of its location that intrigues from the beginning. A former convent whose superior Sister Evangeline was famous. The chateau dates back to the 1700s and the present COO has no idea how to decipher the ransom note. A second ransom note follows, cancelling the demands.

When a body of an employee is found in the adjoining graveyard, also ancient and not used for centuries, the detection part gets heated and everyone becomes suspect. With a very small group of employees to work on, Hugo finds varied stories coming through and he and the local Detective Lerens who is Hugo’s friend have their work cut out for them. Their enquiries take them to not so salubrious areas of Paris, dealing with people who wish to divulge as little information as possible to the authorities. A second murder and disturbed graves, the discovery of a bag of partially charred bones, a secret tunnel and a secret chamber with the mummified remains of the famous Sister Evangeline unfolds a heart breaking story of centuries past. Frailties of human nature, the need to cover up scandals to save a reputation, bullying in the workplace, the difficulty of working being black and trans amongst closed minded colleagues, are all brought together in this story. The very modern chocolate production in a chateau from the 1700s alongside the ancient, forgotten graveside was interesting and descriptive. The setting in Paris is always a good one and this enhanced the whole story as well.

[Devi · Rating 3 out of 5]

📱📖 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.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book surprised me a bit, I really enjoyed it. A quick read with some fun sprinkled through.

Hugo 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 . . .

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[M.L. Sizemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin, I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this book. This was my first novel by Mark Pryor, and my introduction to Hugo Marston. I had no idea when I started the book that this was part of a series, but about halfway through I found myself hoping for more of Hugo, only to discover there’s a whole collection to go back and enjoy.
Set against the backdrop of a charming Paris bookstore, a dream for any book lover, the story begins as a cozy mystery but quickly deepens into something more layered and compelling. Hugo’s slow, methodical approach to solving the case feels grounded and believable, and his integrity makes him an especially likable protagonist. As a Texan myself, I also appreciated that, Pryor didn’t use the exaggerated Texan accent for Hugo you sometimes expect.

The audiobook narration added a lot to the experience, especially in capturing Hugo’s thoughtful, deliberate questioning and the story’s quieter humor, though some funny moments are easy to miss if you’re not listening closely. The audiobook narrator is really great. There are a few drawbacks: the pacing can feel a bit long (it’s a slow burn), some side plots distract from the main story, and occasionally the dialogue tries too hard to sound modern for example the saying “mad skills” made me cringe. Also, the female detective’s voice sometimes sounded too manly. I had to remind myself the character was female.

That said, the ending genuinely surprised me, and the dynamic between Hugo and Claudia, especially her teasing about “Bobby”, was a highlight. Their chemistry left me wanting more of their backstory. I appreciate the authors really thoughtful weaving of little pieces of side stories to create a bigger story. Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read that has me eager to start the series from the beginning.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 10th book by Pryor featuring Hugo Marston, former FBI profiler and head of security at the Paris U.S. Embassy, but promises to actually be the first in a new series as he embarks on a new career as the owner of a book store in Paris. As he prepares to open the book store, Hugo is approached by the U.S. Ambassador and asks him to help some friends, owners of a specialty chocolate company who have received a blackmail note but do not want it to be known publicly. Working with his friends from the Paris police, Camille Lerens and Jacques Moulin, they must navigate a case that really doesn’t make sense from the get-go. When one of the chocolatier’s employees is murdered, the case becomes much more complex. Why kill the employee, and why on the chocolate factory’s premises? A complex case that unwinds slowly until the end.

I have read several of the earlier Marston novels and was delighted to be selected to read the ARC of this novel courtesy of Kensington Books. Marston is a complex main character, cerebral to a fault, and certainly full of himself, but still an excellent main character. The story does move slowly for a while, but never made me want to stop turning the pages. Looking forward to more books in this new series.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MOST MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP IN PARIS, by Mark Pryor, is a real treat of a mystery set in Paris. Hugo Marston has retired from his security job with the American Embassy and is opening a bookstore focused on crime fiction. While setting up for his bookstore's grand opening, he is asked by the American Ambassador to investigate a blackmail at the Eclat du Chocolat, followed by a murder case that links to a 75-year-old mystery involving a convent/orphanage.

This was my first book in the Hugo Marston series. I found it to be a fun and cozy mystery with an engaging plot and great team dynamics. The storyline was straightforward, immersing you in Parisian life and its rich history, from a 1700 convent now a château to cafes, chocolates, and books. If you want a fun weekend, read this book!

Complementing the engaging narrative, audiobook narrator Todd McLaren delivers a stellar performance, bringing the story to life and transporting listeners to the heart of the mystery.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tantor Media | Tantor Audio, for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. And thank you, Mark Pryor, for the entertaining book. I will look for the earlier books of this series!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun ride this was! I had no idea this was a spin-off from prior Hugo Marston adventures. I will be looking for those books. As this book opens, we find Hugo changing careers. He had been the head of Security for the American Embassy in Paris and is now opening a mystery bookshop in the Marais District of Paris. The ambassador however is not quite ready to have him completely out of the picture. He has a special request, that Hugo meet with the American COO of a specialty chocolate maker whose company has received a blackmail note. As Hugo has just hired an associate to help in the bookshop and it is not open yet, he agrees to meet the man. One meeting leads to more than one murder investigation, 75 year old mysteries, blizzards to be survived and so much more. Hugo, Camille, Inspector Moulin and new employee Blake dig in to solve all of these and still open the bookshop on time.
I expect many more Hugo Marston adventures and I am excited to read all of them!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy of this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago, I read the first of Mark Pryor's Hugo Marston mysteries, The Bookseller, and although I did like the book's window into Parisian life and its strong mystery, the characters failed to "click" with me. I decided to give Hugo another chance in Pryor's The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris, the first in his new Paris Bookshop series.

Once again, I was transported to Paris. I enjoyed watching Hugo and his assistant, Blake Holmes, talk mysteries while getting the shop ready for business. I learned a great deal about the chocolate business, and the 18th-century chateau and former convent was the perfect location for Eclat de Chocolat. I even learned about what is entailed in being given a Royal Warrant.

The mystery is strong and kept me guessing, but-- once again-- the cast just didn't click with this character-driven reader. Why? It's a mystery to me because I do like Hugo Marston and his friends. It's like real life, I suppose. I've met many people that I've liked, yet had no desire to further an acquaintance with them.

However, don't let my lukewarm reaction keep you from giving this book a try. There's a lot to like about it, and it may just be your perfect cup of tea.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of a new series where a former FBI agent takes an early retirement to open a bookstore in Paris. He has an on-again-off-again relationship with a reporter, shows support for his friend and colleague in the French police force who is a trans and black woman, and accepts a “one time only” assignment from the US Ambassador to France to help with a special case at a famous chocolatier’s chateau. And he hired his first employee on the spot: a man with misophonia who also has excellent research skills and may be a little on the spectrum. If that’s not enough, throw in some immigration issues, COVID-related fallout, and bad actors who are white supremacists and transphobic. I think the author has covered a lot of special interest bases with this case!
All that is to say this is a multi-layered story with an interesting premise and an even more interesting conclusion. I would definitely read more in this series. The audiobook narration (with multiple accents and genders) is very good.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @TantorAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheMostMysteriousBookshopinParis for review purposes. Publication date: 31 March 2026.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Hugo Marston book. 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. A mystery at a chocolate factory, a nice change of pace. I had not realized it was part of a series, and I wasn’t at a disadvantage not having read others from the series, but I look forward to reading more of Hugo’s mysteries. 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. Hugo Marston is leaving his position as head of security at the US Embassy in Paris in order to open his own bookshop and lead a quieter life. However his former employer has one more job for him to do. Luckily he easily finds a reliable person to take care of the books while he returns to investigating. Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Mark Pryor for the opportunity.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris
Series: Paris Bookshop
Author: Mark Pryor
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Todd McLaren
Publisher: Tantor Media/Tantor Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 31, 2026
My Rating: 2.5 stars
Pages: 272

This is my first Mark Pryor so I completely missed reading the Hugo Marston mystery series, set in Paris, London, and Barcelona. This is Book #1 in the spin off series.
Hugo 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.

When this story started out it seeming like fun ~
I am a big audiobook fan, but I also love what I consider a ‘good’ narrator. Unfortunately, this wasn’t working for me. Since it was my first not sure if Todd McLaren was the narrator in the other stories, making him the voice of Hugo and therefore his voice and performance was expected by regulars.
I hung in there but it wasn’t as fun as I was hoping.

I want to thank NetGalley and Tantor Media/Tantor Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 31, 2026.