The Paris Librarian

A library in Paris – what more could a book worm like me with an unequivocal love of all things French want in a story? So when I first saw “The Paris Librarian,” I couldn’t resist the opportunity to read and review Mark Pryor’s latest novel.

“The Paris Librarian” follows Hugo Marston, a former FBI agent turned U.S. Security Ambassador living in Paris with his friend and colleague Tom Green. When Hugo’s friend and head librarian, Paul Rogers, dies of seemingly natural causes, Hugo isn’t convinced and embarks on a quest to find out what is really going on. With murders adding up at every turn and old rumors from the 1940s consistently popping up, Hugo has to discern fact from speculation before he becomes the next show more target.

The book was well-written and compelling, with twists at every turn to keep the reader guessing. There was a relatively small cast of characters, but I particularly liked how each one was slowly introduced into the narrative. This was actually the first time I’ve ever guessed the culprit right off the bat and been correct, but because of how the story continued to introduce and dispute theories, the entertaining plot kept me trailing Hugo and wanting him to solve the mystery rather than focusing on it myself.

Hugo’s late wife was referred to a few times throughout the book and I wish that piece of the puzzle had been fleshed out a bit more. Also, I was so excited to read “The Paris Librarian” that I didn’t realize it was the sixth novel featuring protagonist Hugo Marston. Now I have to go back to the beginning and start the series with “The Bookseller!” show less

Its fun to find a new author, new to me anyway, that has a compelling character like Hugo Marston. I really liked him; he was a mixture of the guy next door and Sherlock Holmes. The Paris Librarian is the newest one in this mystery series, even so it can be read by itself, and now I have to go find the first ones –so sad—more books for me.

The novel is about the mysterious death of Paul Rogers, who was a friend of Hugo Marston. Paul died in a locked room in the basement of the American Library in Paris. Although it looks like he died of natural causes, Hugo’s honed senses, from heading up security investigations for the US Embassy and some early years in the FBI, are telling him that there might be more to the story. Then other show more people die and Hugo is sure something is not right. Were their deaths related to a beautiful secretive aging American Film Star, Isabelle Severin, who is rumored to have killed an SS officer during the war? Especially since her private papers had recently been donated to the Library, and there are some people who want access to the information they hold. As much as Hugo would like to chalk it up to coincidence and walk away, he just can’t let it go, and I couldn’t either. This is a good book to take on vacation, or to read over a long weekend. My only caution is that there is a little talk about sexual content from a previous investigation in Chapter 2, and suggestive flirtations: mild spice. The sprinklings of French made me want to brush up on the language, and grab my passport. 5 stars. show less

And after the prequel set in London and the previous volume in the series set in Barcelona, we are finally back to Paris. Hugo Marston is an interesting man anywhere but Paris is what draws you into this series - he is the partner of Hugo and these novels are as much about him as they are about the city.

This one mixes both of his passions again - books and murder. A man dies in a locked room and noone thinks of it as a murder - except that Hugo has a feeling. He manages to convince Lieutenant Camille Lerens that something does not sound right and when more bodies start dropping, it starts looking as if Hugo is right. Add one of the most beautiful actresses in the world (now in her nineties), a cache of papers, Merlyn and her friend show more Miki who are visiting from London, Tom Green, still sleeping in Hugo's spare bedroom, and a library and the initial cast is assembled. And for a very long time, it looks like people are just dying - not being murdered. Until Hugo makes the connection between some small things and an old crime gets resolved, allowing a few new ones to be solved as well.

It was a good book but the killer was clear from the very beginning - as was the way the murder happened. It usually takes Hugo awhile to figure out what is happening but this time he took way too long to be believable (but then it may have been clear because a lot of other mysteries had used the way before). Tom's involvement felt almost as the way to go around impossible situations and the red herrings were falling apart while being constructed. On the other hand, I did not expect that final twist - even though the leads for it are all over the text - and the reason for why the killer did what he did was revealed late in the book. If you look at the novel not as looking for a murderer but as an exploration of why he killed the novel stands a lot better. But it was not constructed this way. And Pryor set the scene for something from Tom's past to come back in them future so we will see where that leads.

Despite being relatively weak as a mystery, the novel was still enjoyable - and we even get to meet another policeman that may end up part of the permanent cast but we will see what happens. If you had never read Pryor before, do not start with this book but if you like the series, don't skip it. show less

This is a variation on the "locked room" mystery genre. When the head of the American Library in Paris ends up dead in a locked room where he had been working alone, Hugo Marston, the Regional Security Officer for the American embassy smells a rat.

Often entertaining, the book nevertheless bogs down a bit as characters from earlier in the Marston series put in appearances and must have their moments. Although I fingered the correct suspect pretty early on, the method for the first murder seems a little esoteric to be fair to the average reader.

Nonetheless, if you'd like to spend a little time in Paris, eating croissants, sipping coffee, and tracking down a killer, the book is good fun.

IF you are looking for an action packed novel i'd suggest you keep on looking. HOWEVER if you are looking for an extremely well-written book with great characters, involving history AND mystery? STOP right here and pick up a copy of the Paris Librarian.
i do wish that i'd read the previous Hugo Marston novels, nonetheless, I quickly became absorbed in the engrossing storyline. Others have given a synopsis so suffice it to say that this author has me hooked!

I enjoyed reading this book. It is #6 in the Hugo Marston series and a good place to start. Characters are well developed and the cast is socially inclusive. I found it an improvement from the first in the series which is quite welcome. Past and future plot points are introduced, in a way that is not distracting, but rather encourages one to read the previous books in the series.

I love Pryors characters, Tom especially. This mystery had me so sure "who dunnit" from the beginning, as usual with Pryor, I was wrong. I so enjoyed discovering with Claudia, Larens, and Tom how Hugo figured it all out. A really good read, as always.