What do you think?
Rate this book
Hollow Man #1
Hollow Man
Dominic is a prosecutor, a musician, and an Englishman living in Texas. He's also a psychopath. His main goal is to hide his condition and lead a seemingly normal life in hopes to pay off his debts and become a full-time musician in Austin's club scene. But on one lousy day his carefully-controlled world starts to shatter: he's demoted at work and accused of stealing a fellow musician's song.
He also meets a beautiful woman in a lime green dress--perhaps the biggest threat to his safety of all. At her urging, Dominic hatches a plan to steal a van he knows will be filled with cash. He picks two friends as accomplices, insisting on no guns and no violence. But a security guard catches them in the act and simple theft turns into capital murder.
Cracks start to show in the conspiracy and, with no allegiance to anyone but himself, Dominic has to decide whether to stick by his partners in crime, or let his true nature come out to play.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
He also meets a beautiful woman in a lime green dress--perhaps the biggest threat to his safety of all. At her urging, Dominic hatches a plan to steal a van he knows will be filled with cash. He picks two friends as accomplices, insisting on no guns and no violence. But a security guard catches them in the act and simple theft turns into capital murder.
Cracks start to show in the conspiracy and, with no allegiance to anyone but himself, Dominic has to decide whether to stick by his partners in crime, or let his true nature come out to play.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
271 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
146 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read
About the author
Mark Pryor
33 books633 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."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
March 22, 2021
3.7 stars. Domenic isn't your typical main character with charm and a big heart. No he's a psychopath, but also a musician and prosecute. One day when everything goes wrong, being accused of stealing another musician song Nd getting fired he gets offered to go along with a robbery. And if life wasn't messy before for Dominic...
Found the book very entertaining and while Dominic was far from a likeable character, I found him to be compelling to read about and I would definitely read more by Mark Pryor
Found the book very entertaining and while Dominic was far from a likeable character, I found him to be compelling to read about and I would definitely read more by Mark Pryor
July 28, 2015
Dominic is a sociopath who is having a really bad day: he learns of the death of his parents, gets a demotion, and is accused of stealing a fellow musician's song. On this awful day, he is presented with an opportunity to participate in a robbery...He uses his anti-empath skills to control the stakes in the game. Not only does Dominic manipulate those around him, he also does a great job of manipulating the reader!
I really enjoyed reading Hollow Man--if you like psychological thrillers and getting into a character's head, then this is the book for you!
I really enjoyed reading Hollow Man--if you like psychological thrillers and getting into a character's head, then this is the book for you!
September 30, 2015
Have read all of Mark Pryor's Hugo Marsden novels and really enjoyed them, a very well written series. I was looking forward to enjoying his stand alone but.....not so much. This book has been compared to Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, both of which I really abhorred. I thought perhaps I had a problem with "Girl" books, I now realize that maybe I don't enjoy "psychological thrillers".....they creep me out. I probably just need to stick to white bread boring "procedural murder mysteries".
June 10, 2016
What I liked about this book:
It was short. 268 pages. It was different. It was interesting. And it snuck up on me to be a pretty good book.
Dominic came to the states as a young boy from England with his parents. They knew he was different. They did what they could to help him. It didn’t work.
Grown up now, living in Austin Texas, Dominic receives a call from a solicitor in England. “Your parents have died,” informs the kindly gentleman. But Dominic, is devoid of emotion. Even this news cannot change the fabric of his being. Imagine a county prosecutor with no conscious. Dominic is a soulless monster who can only mimic empathy and is immune to fear. He gets even when he is wronged. His only outlet is his music. Writing songs, strumming his guitar calms the storm that churns within him.
When his repressed controlled life is suddenly presented with an adventure, the itch must be scratched. He simply cannot resist. At page 98 the crescendo begins.
The odd thing about this book is that it is as hollow as our main character, but it works. No particular character captivated my attention. I remained uninvolved in unfolding events while the author skillfully manipulated the story just enough to keep me guessing and keep me reading. So I think our writer has done an excellent job of presenting the flat line imbalance of the sociopathic personality while also revealing the brilliance that underlines it all. Frightening to be sure.
It was short. 268 pages. It was different. It was interesting. And it snuck up on me to be a pretty good book.
Dominic came to the states as a young boy from England with his parents. They knew he was different. They did what they could to help him. It didn’t work.
Grown up now, living in Austin Texas, Dominic receives a call from a solicitor in England. “Your parents have died,” informs the kindly gentleman. But Dominic, is devoid of emotion. Even this news cannot change the fabric of his being. Imagine a county prosecutor with no conscious. Dominic is a soulless monster who can only mimic empathy and is immune to fear. He gets even when he is wronged. His only outlet is his music. Writing songs, strumming his guitar calms the storm that churns within him.
When his repressed controlled life is suddenly presented with an adventure, the itch must be scratched. He simply cannot resist. At page 98 the crescendo begins.
The odd thing about this book is that it is as hollow as our main character, but it works. No particular character captivated my attention. I remained uninvolved in unfolding events while the author skillfully manipulated the story just enough to keep me guessing and keep me reading. So I think our writer has done an excellent job of presenting the flat line imbalance of the sociopathic personality while also revealing the brilliance that underlines it all. Frightening to be sure.
January 3, 2018
Thanks to Prometheus Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
We are introduced to Dominic. He's the perfect anti-hero lead character for a new twist on a crime series/thriller. HOLLOW MAN by Mark Pryor introduces us to Dominic - he's an Englishman living in Texas and he's a prosecutor, a musician, and a psychopath. He wants to live a seemingly normal life without that secret getting out.
Dominic is trying to lead a normal life. He just wants to pay off his debts and follow his true passion: becoming a full time musician. He has to carefully calculate all of his movements and reactions to appear like everyone else, but when he is demoted at work and is accused by a fellow musician of stealing his song, that foundation begins to chip away.
He crosses paths with a woman in a lime green dress and she changes his life. She convinces him to commit a theft of a van that contains more than enough money to solve his problems. He gathers a team to help him, but things go south fast. A simply robbery turned into murder. Will Dominic stick by his partners or let his true self through and cross them?
I will always love being able to dive into the mind of a psychopath. Dominic is such an intriguing character and I thought that Mark Pryor did a great job bringing him to life. I had read one other book by Pryor and I really enjoy his writing style. This is a crime series that I'm looking forward to continuing! With book two coming I'm excited to be able to dive right into it.
Overall, if you want a crime thriller/series with a different perspective, then HOLLOW MAN is one you should definitely check out!
I give this one 4/5 stars!
We are introduced to Dominic. He's the perfect anti-hero lead character for a new twist on a crime series/thriller. HOLLOW MAN by Mark Pryor introduces us to Dominic - he's an Englishman living in Texas and he's a prosecutor, a musician, and a psychopath. He wants to live a seemingly normal life without that secret getting out.
Dominic is trying to lead a normal life. He just wants to pay off his debts and follow his true passion: becoming a full time musician. He has to carefully calculate all of his movements and reactions to appear like everyone else, but when he is demoted at work and is accused by a fellow musician of stealing his song, that foundation begins to chip away.
He crosses paths with a woman in a lime green dress and she changes his life. She convinces him to commit a theft of a van that contains more than enough money to solve his problems. He gathers a team to help him, but things go south fast. A simply robbery turned into murder. Will Dominic stick by his partners or let his true self through and cross them?
I will always love being able to dive into the mind of a psychopath. Dominic is such an intriguing character and I thought that Mark Pryor did a great job bringing him to life. I had read one other book by Pryor and I really enjoy his writing style. This is a crime series that I'm looking forward to continuing! With book two coming I'm excited to be able to dive right into it.
Overall, if you want a crime thriller/series with a different perspective, then HOLLOW MAN is one you should definitely check out!
I give this one 4/5 stars!
Want to read
October 19, 2015A standalone from the author of the Hugo Marston series. We loved The Bookseller when the Mystery Book Group read it, and many have followed the series as it developed. Now something new to enjoy!
Had a little reading time so started Hollow Man. Oh my, but this has great possibilities. I was feeling the creepies in the first two chapters! :} Not claiming 'currently reading' as there is so much going on I have little time to read. Have to say, though, that the little I did read makes me want to spend more time with this book. Pryor can really create an atmosphere!!!!
Done with a number of books and want to finish this before it hits the stores...
Had a little reading time so started Hollow Man. Oh my, but this has great possibilities. I was feeling the creepies in the first two chapters! :} Not claiming 'currently reading' as there is so much going on I have little time to read. Have to say, though, that the little I did read makes me want to spend more time with this book. Pryor can really create an atmosphere!!!!
Done with a number of books and want to finish this before it hits the stores...
August 26, 2015
Fascinating! I didn't see the ending coming and I loved it.
December 29, 2018
I’m a sucker for any thriller that features a sociopath or psychopath. So, The Hollow Man appeared to be right up my alley. What a surprise this novel was! A very interesting and entertaining tale told from the first-person POV of Dominic, an admitted sociopath who like many socio/psychopaths can present a very normal face to the outside world. And, in this novel he does just that, working in the district attorney’s office in Austin, Texas and on the side, playing guitar in various bars and venues around Austin
In one day things go awry for Dom: he learns his parents have died in his native England, he is downgraded in his position at the DA’s office, and he loses his gig at a bar in Austin. So, he plans a heist.
So far so good. Like many heists (when you need to involve associates) this one runs into a couple of problems. At this point, I thought: Ho-Hum, this is a heist story, albeit an amusing one when things start going wrong. Then, suddenly, Wham! The story changes direction totally as the reader learns just how a sociopath like Dominic operates.
In one day things go awry for Dom: he learns his parents have died in his native England, he is downgraded in his position at the DA’s office, and he loses his gig at a bar in Austin. So, he plans a heist.
So far so good. Like many heists (when you need to involve associates) this one runs into a couple of problems. At this point, I thought: Ho-Hum, this is a heist story, albeit an amusing one when things start going wrong. Then, suddenly, Wham! The story changes direction totally as the reader learns just how a sociopath like Dominic operates.
November 28, 2015
Creepy-good crime noir! Mark Pryor spins a smart and suspenseful tale through his character’s twisted mind in Hollow Man.
“It’s like I’m hollow. I can hide that from most people, but some seem able to hear the emptiness.” Those are the words of psychopath Dominic, a prosecutor, musician and Englishman living in Austin, Texas.
Early in the story, Dominic learns that his parents have died and he’s been demoted in his job. On the same day, he’s accused of stealing a song from another singer-songwriter. The resulting changes cause Dominic to lose his carefully protected stability and one connection to humanity – his music.
When Gus, a friend and fellow lawyer, suggests a payroll heist from a client, Dominic takes interest. After Gus bails, Dominic enlists the assistance of Tristan Bell, his weirdo roommate, and Otto Bland, an ex-cop turned security guard, to carry out the caper. The ostensibly foolproof robbery derails and results in a double homicide while a mysterious seductress in a green dress adds spice and intrigue.
The book begins slowly, but Pryor’s design is evident in acquainting the reader with the way Dominic’s mind works. All the while, the author drops hints at incidents from Dominic’s childhood, and builds toward understanding of the character’s later actions. “There is no one on the planet more important than me,” Dominic reveals.
The psychopath’s strategy is to think of the crime as if later being prosecuted in a court of law. Next, he looks back to what the evidence might indicate, then tries not to leave that evidence. Clues and red herrings are intelligent and cleverly placed. “The perfect crime is where no one knows a crime’s been committed.”
The author is particularly adept in this, and his other books, at building tension in the novel and racing to the finish line. The fast paced ending in Hollow Man is an exhilarating example of this strength.
Mark Pryor is an assistant district attorney for Travis County in Austin. He recently published The Reluctant Matador, his fifth novel in the Hugo Marston series. Hollow Man is his first stand alone thriller.
“It’s like I’m hollow. I can hide that from most people, but some seem able to hear the emptiness.” Those are the words of psychopath Dominic, a prosecutor, musician and Englishman living in Austin, Texas.
Early in the story, Dominic learns that his parents have died and he’s been demoted in his job. On the same day, he’s accused of stealing a song from another singer-songwriter. The resulting changes cause Dominic to lose his carefully protected stability and one connection to humanity – his music.
When Gus, a friend and fellow lawyer, suggests a payroll heist from a client, Dominic takes interest. After Gus bails, Dominic enlists the assistance of Tristan Bell, his weirdo roommate, and Otto Bland, an ex-cop turned security guard, to carry out the caper. The ostensibly foolproof robbery derails and results in a double homicide while a mysterious seductress in a green dress adds spice and intrigue.
The book begins slowly, but Pryor’s design is evident in acquainting the reader with the way Dominic’s mind works. All the while, the author drops hints at incidents from Dominic’s childhood, and builds toward understanding of the character’s later actions. “There is no one on the planet more important than me,” Dominic reveals.
The psychopath’s strategy is to think of the crime as if later being prosecuted in a court of law. Next, he looks back to what the evidence might indicate, then tries not to leave that evidence. Clues and red herrings are intelligent and cleverly placed. “The perfect crime is where no one knows a crime’s been committed.”
The author is particularly adept in this, and his other books, at building tension in the novel and racing to the finish line. The fast paced ending in Hollow Man is an exhilarating example of this strength.
Mark Pryor is an assistant district attorney for Travis County in Austin. He recently published The Reluctant Matador, his fifth novel in the Hugo Marston series. Hollow Man is his first stand alone thriller.
January 13, 2018
Thank you to Seventh Street Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Dominic is a dynamic man: he is a prosecutor, a musician on the side, he's English and he's a psychopath. He lacks the emotions that other people have, but has worked hard meld himself into society. In Hollow Man, Dominic is faced with a necessary shift at work, however it ends up being a demotion for him. Then he finds out that the club he plays music at part-time will no longer allow him because another artist claims he stole one of their songs. Now with a lower salary and no side-gig, Dominic starts to worry about money. Along with a few other outcast characters, Dominic creates a plan to rob a landlord who he has found out deals in cash. What is meant to be a simple heist turns into murder and no money.
It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, it turned out to be a fun little heist novel. There is some humor that I enjoyed, and definitely some Dexter vibes. I knew there would be some secret twists revealed at the end and I was not disappointed. The character Dominic also took a while to grow on me. A lot of his inner dialogue was in response to his lack of emotions in situations, always explaining that he didn't feel what others around him were feeling because he was a psychopath. Repeating that over and over did not help develop the character in a natural way. But just like the plot picked up, so did his development. As things with the "plan" started happening, Dominic's reactions to things came more naturally. Overall, I rate this one 3.5/5 stars and am looking forward to the new sequel, titled simply: Dominic.
Dominic is a dynamic man: he is a prosecutor, a musician on the side, he's English and he's a psychopath. He lacks the emotions that other people have, but has worked hard meld himself into society. In Hollow Man, Dominic is faced with a necessary shift at work, however it ends up being a demotion for him. Then he finds out that the club he plays music at part-time will no longer allow him because another artist claims he stole one of their songs. Now with a lower salary and no side-gig, Dominic starts to worry about money. Along with a few other outcast characters, Dominic creates a plan to rob a landlord who he has found out deals in cash. What is meant to be a simple heist turns into murder and no money.
It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, it turned out to be a fun little heist novel. There is some humor that I enjoyed, and definitely some Dexter vibes. I knew there would be some secret twists revealed at the end and I was not disappointed. The character Dominic also took a while to grow on me. A lot of his inner dialogue was in response to his lack of emotions in situations, always explaining that he didn't feel what others around him were feeling because he was a psychopath. Repeating that over and over did not help develop the character in a natural way. But just like the plot picked up, so did his development. As things with the "plan" started happening, Dominic's reactions to things came more naturally. Overall, I rate this one 3.5/5 stars and am looking forward to the new sequel, titled simply: Dominic.
February 24, 2018
Review of Advance Reading Copy
In Austin, Texas, British émigré Dominic works for the district attorney’s office. His outlet, if you will, is playing his guitar in the local clubs.
On this day, Fate has conspired against Dominic: first, an unexpected and unwanted transfer to a position that will earn him a lower salary; then, an accusation of stealing someone else’s music bars him from playing in any of the local clubs.
He meets an enigmatic woman, and becomes involved in a robbery plot with the possibility of a very large payday. But, as always, Dominic is constantly keeping his true nature under wraps.
Dominic is a sociopath.
Even though readers will find it particularly difficult to empathize with Dominic, the characters peopling this tale are well-developed and interesting; Dominic will dare readers to commiserate with him. The plot, centered on what Dominic will choose to do when things go awry, offers some unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers off-balance and setting the stage for the final Machiavellian dénouement.
Although some readers will find the coarse language off-putting, this is, nonetheless, a dark, gritty, and cunning tale that many will find difficult to set aside before turning the final page.
Recommended.
In Austin, Texas, British émigré Dominic works for the district attorney’s office. His outlet, if you will, is playing his guitar in the local clubs.
On this day, Fate has conspired against Dominic: first, an unexpected and unwanted transfer to a position that will earn him a lower salary; then, an accusation of stealing someone else’s music bars him from playing in any of the local clubs.
He meets an enigmatic woman, and becomes involved in a robbery plot with the possibility of a very large payday. But, as always, Dominic is constantly keeping his true nature under wraps.
Dominic is a sociopath.
Even though readers will find it particularly difficult to empathize with Dominic, the characters peopling this tale are well-developed and interesting; Dominic will dare readers to commiserate with him. The plot, centered on what Dominic will choose to do when things go awry, offers some unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers off-balance and setting the stage for the final Machiavellian dénouement.
Although some readers will find the coarse language off-putting, this is, nonetheless, a dark, gritty, and cunning tale that many will find difficult to set aside before turning the final page.
Recommended.
April 3, 2016
Dominic is a DA in Austin, Texas - and as he declares from the start, a psychopath. He experiences a day from hell. A British barrister calls to tell him that his parents have died - and that their farm and acreage is in heavy debt. At his job, his DA position - that he enjoys - is lost - as he is assigned to juvenile court - part of the system's expected rotation through units. Dominic is a musician - playing for opening acts in the Autstin music scene. Then, a club owner fires him because another musician claimed that Dominic stole one of his songs.
But, as a psychopath, Dom "feels" nothing. A chance at some quick money leads him to undertake a robbery - with a former cop and his geek, introverted room mate. Things go terribly wrong - and 2 people are murdered. As a DA, Dom knows what the detectives are going to look for in evidence, what behavior is expected from the accused - and how to lie.
I found the book to be a fun read - with enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. It was impressive how Mark Pryor pulled all the threads together - slowly revealing the true nature of Dominic.
But, as a psychopath, Dom "feels" nothing. A chance at some quick money leads him to undertake a robbery - with a former cop and his geek, introverted room mate. Things go terribly wrong - and 2 people are murdered. As a DA, Dom knows what the detectives are going to look for in evidence, what behavior is expected from the accused - and how to lie.
I found the book to be a fun read - with enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. It was impressive how Mark Pryor pulled all the threads together - slowly revealing the true nature of Dominic.
June 7, 2016
More like 3.5 stars.
This thriller novel was suspenseful, fast paced, and freshly unique. Pryor created such a well thought out story with out of nowhere twists and turns that had me guessing the whole time. Although its start was a bit slow and dull, its ending was perfect and tied the story together in a nice bow (See what I did there?). A little vulgar for my taste but overall a great murder mystery that will have you gasping for breathe until the very last words.
This thriller novel was suspenseful, fast paced, and freshly unique. Pryor created such a well thought out story with out of nowhere twists and turns that had me guessing the whole time. Although its start was a bit slow and dull, its ending was perfect and tied the story together in a nice bow (See what I did there?). A little vulgar for my taste but overall a great murder mystery that will have you gasping for breathe until the very last words.
October 11, 2023
FS: “My parents' lawyer called with the news as I climbed out of my car, our conversation a hesitant hopscotch of words until we caught up to the slight delay that comes with international calls.“
LS: “And that lesson, I'm very well aware, applies as much to me as it does to anyone else.”
Chapters: 34
Library/Paperback
LS: “And that lesson, I'm very well aware, applies as much to me as it does to anyone else.”
Chapters: 34
Library/Paperback
July 15, 2015
Loved this book. First time I have read any work from Mark Pryor and will definitely look for more from him.
I was lucky to receive an Advance Reading Copy and enjoyed every moment of this book.
Great at setting the atmosphere and I hope there will be more to come in this series.
I was lucky to receive an Advance Reading Copy and enjoyed every moment of this book.
Great at setting the atmosphere and I hope there will be more to come in this series.
August 6, 2015
Interesting premise, a person you should by rights not like but he grows on you. The man likes to twist things around to his way of thinking. Great plot, totally different from what I expected. Excellent read for the fall.
December 6, 2017
This book was just “meh” for me. It was an easy read but the plot wasn’t as engaging as I thought it would be.
The writing wasn’t an issue...I just wish there was more to all of the characters. They were too unlikeable.
For a mystery/suspense novel, it was WAY too predictable.
The writing wasn’t an issue...I just wish there was more to all of the characters. They were too unlikeable.
For a mystery/suspense novel, it was WAY too predictable.
August 26, 2016
I love Pryor's other books and was excited to see this book of his I had not read. Unfortunately, it just was not my cup of tea...good plot, but could not find a character to hang on to.
October 3, 2015
Started a bit slowly but I loved that it was set in Austin and even featured Saxon Pub which they cleverly changed to Norman Pub. A very slick whodunit. Might check out Mark Pryor's other books.
August 16, 2017
I love this author's books...fantastic writing! I couldn't put it down and didn't until it was finished late last night. A psychological portrait that is dark, sneaky and definately twisted. It's set in Texas, and the main character, Dominic is a prosecutor, a musician, and an Englishman. He's also a psychopath. (from the back cover).
From Amazon:
Dominic is a prosecutor, a musician, and an Englishman living in Texas. He's also a psychopath.
His main goal is to hide his condition and lead a seemingly normal life in hopes to pay off his debts and become a full-time musician in Austin's club scene. But on one lousy day his carefully-controlled world starts to shatter: he's demoted at work and accused of stealing a fellow musician's song.
He also meets a beautiful woman in a lime green dress--perhaps the biggest threat to his safety of all. At her urging, Dominic hatches a plan to steal a van he knows will be filled with cash. He picks two friends as accomplices, insisting on no guns and no violence. But a security guard catches them in the act and simple theft turns into capital murder.
Cracks start to show in the conspiracy and, with no allegiance to anyone but himself, Dominic has to decide whether to stick by his partners in crime, or let his true nature come out to play.
From Amazon:
Dominic is a prosecutor, a musician, and an Englishman living in Texas. He's also a psychopath.
His main goal is to hide his condition and lead a seemingly normal life in hopes to pay off his debts and become a full-time musician in Austin's club scene. But on one lousy day his carefully-controlled world starts to shatter: he's demoted at work and accused of stealing a fellow musician's song.
He also meets a beautiful woman in a lime green dress--perhaps the biggest threat to his safety of all. At her urging, Dominic hatches a plan to steal a van he knows will be filled with cash. He picks two friends as accomplices, insisting on no guns and no violence. But a security guard catches them in the act and simple theft turns into capital murder.
Cracks start to show in the conspiracy and, with no allegiance to anyone but himself, Dominic has to decide whether to stick by his partners in crime, or let his true nature come out to play.
January 18, 2018
A very unexpected read. You know who the bad guy is at the outset - an admitted psychopath/sociopath who has learned to "control" himself and utilize his special skills to get through life without most people suspecting him or what he is. A psychopathic music loving, guitar playing DA? What harm could be possibly do?
You just dont know how manipulative and bad he is. In fact, you cruise along kind of liking him. I think at our core a lot of us are/would like to be a little bit like him. You wont figure out the things he's really capable of until you're 80% into the story. The author never tips his hand. The various feigns are handled masterfully.
This was good enough that I immediately scheduled three other books by the author to read - one a follow up to this particular story.
While a fairly shot read it was a most rewarding read.
You just dont know how manipulative and bad he is. In fact, you cruise along kind of liking him. I think at our core a lot of us are/would like to be a little bit like him. You wont figure out the things he's really capable of until you're 80% into the story. The author never tips his hand. The various feigns are handled masterfully.
This was good enough that I immediately scheduled three other books by the author to read - one a follow up to this particular story.
While a fairly shot read it was a most rewarding read.
March 5, 2018
I've read a few of Mark Prior's novels and enjoyed them so much. This one I had a hard time getting into it. I kept putting it down. But because I trust Mark can write a good story I picked it up again time and time again. I finally figured out that I hated the main character the lawyer who is the Hollow Man. I didn't like him and didn't care about what he thought or did. About three-quarters of the way through the book I realized that I could no longer put the book down and I finished it within hours. The action picked up and through a series of unfortunate events lots of characters are affected. I ended the book hating the main character even more, but also appreciated his devious, conniving and clever bent.
January 28, 2018
Psychopath, Dominic, is an Englishman, re-located to Austin, Texas, as a prosecutor. His involvement in a robbery instigated by a fellow-musician friend, who soon chickens out, leads to a couple of dead bodies and his two accomplices and others may have to be sacrificed for Dominic’s freedom. His self-acknowledged lack of empathy is interestingly evident and the story really hums along obscuring a few inelegant aspects of the plot. His gradually unveiled past life fits his condition and the resolution is satisfying.
July 22, 2018
Just couldn't get into this storyline ...interesting concept about getting into the mind of a psychopath ....but it didn't draw me in like I thought it would . Probably more of it not being my style then the quality of the book so I can't completely knock it .....like i said the idea makes a great premise for a novel.Wish I could have liked it more ....but if you are looking for a different point of view than a hero's .....than this is a good choice. I've never read this point of view before so it was a change from the usual
September 15, 2021
I read this book with anticipation it would be something different than what it was. The writing did not bring the characters to life (or perhaps I should say 'death' due to the nature of the main character). I generally like psychotic killers - but despite his other interests, there wasn't enough 'life' in it (no pun intended) Twists and turns were good, but as mentioned - presentation was lacking - for me. I have no doubt that it will satisfy many a reader - just not this one.
January 7, 2024
I love everything that Mark has written that I have read so far. Otherwise I probably would have abandoned this early on. I persevered and did finally GET the premise enough to need to find out how it ended.
This is an interesting look into the thoughts of a psychopath. In addition to how they deal with every day events, but also when things go wrong.
I was able to guess some of the outcome but was surprised at other details.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
This is an interesting look into the thoughts of a psychopath. In addition to how they deal with every day events, but also when things go wrong.
I was able to guess some of the outcome but was surprised at other details.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
September 9, 2017
Well written with good character development. Fun read, slow initially, then quick almost like a movie. Interesting psychopath, I could relate to on some non-criminal levels (LOL).
Not a Michael Connelly type mystery, rather a recollection with some humor. I really cannot say anything else without spoiling the read, but they require twenty words. So, there, done my part.
Not a Michael Connelly type mystery, rather a recollection with some humor. I really cannot say anything else without spoiling the read, but they require twenty words. So, there, done my part.
December 12, 2017
Uhhh... this book was not very good. There were absolutely no characters to root for. I didn’t really see the point of the story - not to trust a psychopath? A sociopath? Or whatever he identifies as.
I don’t know. I honestly didn’t care what happened to the main characters and his buddies with the capitol murder.
I don’t know. I honestly didn’t care what happened to the main characters and his buddies with the capitol murder.
February 7, 2018
told from the point of view of a psychopath who studies the emotions of others so that he can emulate them when needed. he is a prosecutor in Austin, texas and engineers a heist with 2 other people. it was to be simple, but nothing is simple and in texas murder is the death penalty. you have to read this book to see who the guilty party is.
May 2, 2018
I've been immersing myself in Mark Pryor's Hugo Marston series and was interested to see what else he could do. This book, whilst mystery in style, had a main character who did not endear himself to me at all, and at times I thought of ditching it but I'm glad I persevered. Not a great book, but an interesting read about a personality not always easily described in novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews