The Bookseller by Mark Pryor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For some reason I didn’t review this when I finished it.
I was introduced to Mark Pryor and Hugo Marston by reading the fifth book in the series, THE RELUCTANT MATADOR. It was nice to go back to see where it all started.
Pryor paints a nice picture of Paris and there is just enough French to lend a authentic take without leaving this poor reader (whose French barely exceeds please and thank you) in the dust. The characters are drawn with an authenticity that brings them alive without descending into stereotype (especially with a Texan and a maybe-CIA operative).
I like Hugo, but Tom brings a freshness to the story that is welcome – if a bit profane. =)
I also like that Pryor educates the reader on the aspects of Paris – such as the bouquinistes – without sounding like a college lecture.
I feel like I’m cheating, since I kinda-sorta know where these characters are going, but they are engaging, fun to be with, and it will be interesting to see how the author gets them (I have books 2 and 4 in my pile to be read).