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The Book Artist (Hugo Marston) Paperback – February 5, 2019
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSeventh Street Books
- Publication dateFebruary 5, 2019
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.68 x 8.25 inches
- ISBN-101633884880
- ISBN-13978-1633884885
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Hugo Marston held the door open for the young woman as she came into the foyer of the apartment building, bundled up as she was against the rain and cold. A shopping bag dangled from one of her wrists, and she held a small, white dog in the crook of her other arm.
“Bonsoir, Mademoiselle Errico,” he said, standing aside so she could get out of the cold and all the way into the lobby of their apart-ment building.
“Oh, Monsieur Marston,” she blushed. “And good evening to you, too.”
Hugo gave her a smile and ducked out onto Rue Jacob. He was normally the friendly sort, especially with people in his building, but Miss Errico was new there and had delayed Hugo with her chatter on too many occasions for him to misread the signals. As pretty as she was, chatty, dog-carrying twenty-five-year-olds were not on his radar.
He pulled his coat around him as the chill seeped in, and his fedora kept the light rain out of his eyes as he made his way toward the River Seine. His path was illuminated by the glow from the store fronts, and occasional streetlamps overhead.
Perfect weather for reading by the fire, he thought, as he turned onto Rue des Saints-Pères.
No chance. Tonight was the US Embassy’s Christmas party, and senior staff were required to be on hand no matter what. Hugo had asked if the flu might exempt him from attending, and he’d been told by a frowning Ambassador J. Bradford Taylor, “Death might exempt you. Absolutely nothing short of that.”
Truthfully, it was one of those events that Hugo loved to hate. For a people-watcher like him, a former FBI profiler no less, it was like a biologist watching a herd’s annual migration or, in quite a few instances, a yearly and elaborate mating ritual.
At such events, Hugo played a game with himself, guessing who was who by how they behaved. Some were employees of the embassy; those he didn’t know personally, he identified by the way they sipped carefully at their drinks so as not to imbibe too much, by how attentive they were to their spouses, and how jovial they were with their colleagues. But mostly he recognized them by the way they kept one eye on outside guests. Hugo saw it in their expressions and knew that the diplomatic DNA in their blood mandated it.
At least Claudia would be there. Journalist, French nobility, beautiful, funny, and sexy. Also harder to pin down than a black belt in judo, at least when it came to dating. It was as if she were from another generation, one so much younger, where relationships were flexible and uncategorized. He was hoping to talk to her tonight in a quiet corner, to try and gauge a little bit better where they stood. He’d told her so over the phone that morning, and she’d laughed her gentle, sexy laugh, that was made all the more husky by the cold she was fighting.
“Oh, Hugo, I love the old-fashioned man that lives inside you.”
“It’s not old-fashioned,” he’d protested. “I just want to know where I stand.”
“Six foot two and dashingly handsome,” she purred back. “And I can’t wait to see the most gorgeous man in my life tonight.”
That was something at least, quite a compliment from a woman who’d been designated as one of Paris’s most eligible women for several years running.
Hugo turned onto Quai Voltaire, where the wind was oddly calmer but the cold more biting, and he pictured his loyal colleagues looking out at the guests who enjoyed the party the most—the expat business community, which was always well-represented and never afraid to cut a little loose. That was one of the reasons Hugo was there. He was head of security and carried a gun everywhere he went, but sometimes his role was more hands-on, literally, like steering the grabby CEO away from the young diplomat’s wife, or leading the inebriated heiress to a comfy couch.
He started across Pont du Carrousel but stopped halfway to look down at the waters of the Seine. She was his reason to pause in the middle of any walk, and no matter how many times he gazed at her, she came with a sense of uncertainty because the River Seine always changed. She ran through the heart of Paris, a looping, swirling artery that pulsed into and out of the city day and night, moody and unpredictable.
Tonight she seemed angry, or maybe just impatient. Her waters were brown and churned between the concrete banks, small but furious swells chasing each other down, smothering those in front, hunting farther, dragging down braches and other debris and sweeping them under the bridge, out of view beneath his feet.
Hugo straightened as his phone rang.
“Hello? Tom? Where are you?” he asked.
Tom Green. Former CIA spook, ex-FBI, current womanizer, sometime-drunk, foul-mouthed, but always, always disrespectful of authority. Also, Hugo’s best friend for the past couple of decades.
“Amsterdam. This place is fucking nuts; you should come out here.”
.....................................................................
Quite apart from socializing being one of his main roles as US ambassador to France, that sort of thing came naturally to J. Bradford Taylor. The man was as ordinary-looking as anyone you could meet, but he was a true extrovert, and with a steel trap for a memory. Hugo had seen him dredge up the name of someone he’d met just once, two years previously. This was possibly a function of Taylor’s previous life with the CIA’s clandestine operations, but also a natural gift.
Hugo chuckled. “Never fear; I’ll be there. I’m just running a few minutes late. Oh, and then Tom phoned me to slow me down.” ...
The ambassador cleared his throat. “Would you like to explain what Tom is doing in Amsterdam?”
Drugs and hookers would be my guess.”
“We have those here.”
“Yeah, but that place is famous for them. And you know Tom—he likes variety.”
“Hugo, he tore up some guy’s hotel room.”
“Oh, he did?” Hugo said, surprised.
“He did,” the ambassador said.
“I just got off the phone with him, and he mentioned . . . finding someone and checking out his room. He didn’t describe it the way you did, though.”
“Well, he wouldn’t, would he?” Taylor said, sounding frustrated.
“How did you hear about this?” Hugo asked.
“Let’s just say that when a former CIA operative goes off the reservation, other former CIA operatives are usually the first to find out.”
“Then there’s probably little I can tell you that you don’t already know.”
“I know what’s in the file. And we both know those things contain what their authors want them to contain.”
Hugo paused for a moment. “You know, boss, there’s a reason we have this don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy. It’s good for both of us.”
“It is until I start getting dragged into your mess,” Taylor said. Then his voice softened. “Look, I’m not just your boss; I’m also your friend. Just tell me what I need to know to help you, to help Tom. I don’t want something exploding in my backyard and have no idea what it is or what I’m supposed to do. No judgment, I promise, I just want to be able to help if that time comes.”
Hugo spotted a break in the traffic, and he trotted across the street. A breath of chilly wind wrapped itself around his throat, then slipped off and away like an icy scarf.
“OK,” he said. “We could probably use a little help with this one. Let me find a taxi and I’ll get back to you.”
Product details
- Publisher : Seventh Street Books (February 5, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1633884880
- ISBN-13 : 978-1633884885
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.68 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #184,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,335 in International Mystery & Crime (Books)
- #4,473 in Murder Thrillers
- #15,196 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Mark Pryor is the author of the eight (soon to be nine!) Hugo Marston mystery novels, six of which are set in Paris, France, but also feature London and Barcelona. The books have been translated into eight languages and the film and television rights were recently optioned to Like Entertainment, with a view to putting Hugo on the screen!
Mark also authored two psychological thrillers set in Austin, Texas, where he lives. HOLLOW MAN and its sequel, DOMINIC, received high praise from reviewers:
"[Hollow Man's] Dominic is not your grandmother’s psychopath. . . . This noirish twisty tale will appeal to those who enjoy Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter series, Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, and Pryor’s own Sherlockian international thriller series starring Hugo Marston."
—BOOKLIST, STARRED REVIEW
“Devilishly clever… As the mishaps escalate for the conspirators, so does the suspense, culminating in a denouement worthy of the neo-noir film classic The Usual Suspects.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED REVIEW
“Pryor’s exquisite stand-alone is a gem. . . .”
―RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 ½ stars (Fantastic—Keeper)
“Pryor’s skillful narrative crystallizes in the best possible way, in the novel’s last sentence. Pryor… can write realistically about the mind of a psychopath. Maybe that is useful for an assistant district attorney. It certainly is for a murder mystery writer.”
―San Antonio Express-News
“Dominic goes into action, pulling several diabolical tricks that solve the murders, simultaneously confirming Dominic’s own status as a psychopath in a clever book that has a significant number of puzzles and an equal list of tantalizing answers.”
―Toronto Star
A former newspaper reporter from England, and now an assistant district attorney with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, in Austin, Texas, he is the creator of the nationally-recognized true-crime blog D.A. Confidential. He has appeared on CBS News's 48 Hours and Discovery Channel's Discovery ID: Cold Blood.
THE BOOKSELLER was his first Hugo Marston novel and upon release was Library Journal's Debut of the Month with a starred review. RT Book Reviews called it "a fantastic debut!" and gave it 4 and 1/2 stars, and Oprah.com listed it as an "unputdownable mystery."
His second in the series, THE CRYPT THIEF, was released in May of 2013 and 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."
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book from beginning to end. They find the plot intriguing and well-thought-out. The characters are clear, with a fantastic hero and ethical counterpart. Readers praise the writing quality as excellent, deft, and exquisite. They appreciate the Paris setting and author's love for Paris and Amsterdam.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story intriguing and entertaining, with a wonderful series that gets better as the series progresses. The books are described as a great read for a quiet evening.
"...Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I like Hugo as a character and I love Paris as the setting...." Read more
"This is one of my favorite books in the series, primarily because I've come away from it realizng that the author does one thing VERY well...." Read more
"...Love the entire series - every Hugo Marston book has been a joy to read - sorry when they end." Read more
"...Such a great traditional mystery, and an absolute pleasure to read." Read more
Customers enjoy the intriguing plot and characters of the book series. They find the story well-written, with twists and turns that keep readers engaged. The series is described as a traditional mystery with a source of surprises.
"...I agree that this is not a complex story, and that you will not find it hard to predict the motives and outcomes...." Read more
"Enthralling, well thought out mystery series set in the always alluring and beautiful Paris...." Read more
"Just finished and loved the latest Hugo Marston mystery, THE BOOK ARTIST...." Read more
"...It's a real page turner. I appreciate Mr. Pryor's intelligent writing and the Paris and Amsterdam scenes took me back. I recommend it." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters fantastic and clear, even the new ones. The author creates an ethical hero and a good counterpart in the series.
"...Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I like Hugo as a character and I love Paris as the setting...." Read more
"...book, and some are making a return performance, even the NEW characters are crystal clear...." Read more
"...Mark Pryor is a extremely deft mystery writer - creating a fantastic character -- adding details and intrigue only an insider with law enforcement..." Read more
"...Taut and deft with beautiful descriptions of Paris and compelling characters. Such a great traditional mystery, and an absolute pleasure to read." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find the plot wonderful and the author a skilled mystery writer, creating fantastic characters.
"...I like Hugo as a character and I love Paris as the setting. The writing is good, the pacing is reasonable, and the pages turn quickly...." Read more
"...because I've come away from it realizng that the author does one thing VERY well. He masterfully draws his characters...." Read more
"...Mark Pryor is a extremely deft mystery writer - creating a fantastic character -- adding details and intrigue only an insider with law enforcement..." Read more
"...editing that is jarring, inconsistent with previous books, and not very professional...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's Paris setting. They appreciate the author's love for Paris and the vivid descriptions of the city. The scenes in Paris and Amsterdam evoke memories for them.
"...The very best thing about this series is the Paris setting. The reader is transported to the streets and neighborhoods of Paris...." Read more
"...well thought out mystery series set in the always alluring and beautiful Paris...." Read more
"...Taut and deft with beautiful descriptions of Paris and compelling characters. Such a great traditional mystery, and an absolute pleasure to read." Read more
"...I appreciate Mr. Pryor's intelligent writing and the Paris and Amsterdam scenes took me back. I recommend it." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019This book is the eighth in a series featuring Hugo Marston, head of security at the American Embassy in Paris. The very best thing about this series is the Paris setting. The reader is transported to the streets and neighborhoods of Paris. The descriptions of Paris will truly make you feel as if you are there. Hugo’s position with the Embassy also adds interest to the series. He has no official law enforcement authority in France, so the author must find a way to get Hugo involved in the investigations and create some working relationship with French authorities. Often, as in this case, Hugo is involved, because Americans are involved. There are two main plotlines in this novel. The murder mystery revolves around the death of a beautiful, young American artist at the opening of an exhibition at the Dali Museum. Hugo is the hunter in this portion of the plot. In the second plotline, that is woven throughout, Hugo is the hunted, as a bad guy from his past is seeking revenge. I agree that this is not a complex story, and that you will not find it hard to predict the motives and outcomes. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I like Hugo as a character and I love Paris as the setting. The writing is good, the pacing is reasonable, and the pages turn quickly. The story could stand alone, but you will enjoy it more if you have read other books in the series. Mark Pryor is one of the mystery authors that we follow and pre-order. For other series set in France we like Martin Walker, Cay Rademacher, Jean-Luc Bannalec, and Cara Black. For other mystery series that are good enough to pre-order and anticipate, we like Louise Penny (Armand Gamache novels set in Canada), Elly Griffiths (Ruth Galloway, set in England), Anne Cleeves (both her Shetland Island series and Vera Stanhope series set in Northumberland), Paul Doiron (Mike Bowditch books set in Maine), Charles Todd (Bess Crawford mysteries set in France and England around WWI), and Robert Galbreath aka J.K. Rowling (Cormorran Strike).
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019This is one of my favorite books in the series, primarily because I've come away from it realizng that the author does one thing VERY well.
He masterfully draws his characters. Even though there are at least a dozen characters in this book, and some are making a return performance, even the NEW characters are crystal clear. It's hard to juggle this many characters, making them believable while still making them distinct. But Pryor does that, in spades.
The plot might be a little thin, and I'm not a fan of having two plots going simultaneously. But I can overlook those quibbles since Pryor pays such close attention to crafting his cast.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019Enthralling, well thought out mystery series set in the always alluring and beautiful Paris. Mark Pryor is a extremely deft mystery writer - creating a fantastic character -- adding details and intrigue only an insider with law enforcement would know. Love the entire series - every Hugo Marston book has been a joy to read - sorry when they end.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2019Just finished and loved the latest Hugo Marston mystery, THE BOOK ARTIST. Taut and deft with beautiful descriptions of Paris and compelling characters. Such a great traditional mystery, and an absolute pleasure to read.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2019I really enjoy the Hugo Marston series and its cast of regular characters. I consumed The Book Artist one sitting. I'm left wondering if perhaps then Kindle edition is missing some content or if something happened during editing. The first reading of chapters 17 through 20 left me with a reaction of, "wait...whaaat...how'd that happen?" In my mind chapter 18 happened before chapter 17. I am accustomed to the author dropping bread crumbs along the way (e.g. Alia's tenant at her London flat named John Smith). I'm also accustomed to Hugo doing things or arriving at conclusions without letting the reader in on the secret but the chapter 20 reveal was a jump the shark event for me. My questions appear below the spoiler alert.
**************SPOILER ALERT************
The notion that Tom Green would be killed was akin to a Game of Thrones death. That's how I felt way back in The Blood Promise when Raul Garcia was killed. When chapter 17 had Emma informing the Ambassador that Tom is dead, I had my "wait a minute...not another GoT killing" reaction. Then I began wonder if the Kindle edition was knackered when chapter 18 describes Tom's "death" which I would have expected before we have the scene between Emma and the Ambassador. Finally my "whaaat...how'd that happen?" moment was the reveal that Tom was alive and undercover at his own funeral.
Did Tom wake up in the alley, text or phone Hugo and simply walk away? Why was he wearing a ballistic vest, I don't recall off the top of my head he typically took that precaution.
How/why didn't the Ambassador or Hugo share the big secret with Emma? I'm not buying, "so she would be believable at the funeral," as an answer.
How/when did they coordinate with the Brigade Criminelle to provide undercover at Tom's funeral?
These holes in the narrative are simply HUGE in my estimation, thus my speculation the Kindle edition is knackered.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019I love the Hugo Marston series and this one did not disappoint. It's a real page turner. I appreciate Mr. Pryor's intelligent writing and the Paris and Amsterdam scenes took me back. I recommend it.
Top reviews from other countries
-
MaReginaReviewed in Brazil on August 12, 2019
3.0 out of 5 stars dá para passar o tempo
havia lido uma crítica super elogiosa mas achei a trama fraca
- ZaneReviewed in Canada on June 21, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Love his books
I love all the Hugo marston books, very well written and keeps me reading, I would love to see more.
- PigletReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down
Brilliant book. Everyone should read this series.
- PJSReviewed in Australia on February 14, 2019
3.0 out of 5 stars Yeah, but no
Some other reviews called it a travel guide with an occasional plot line. That’s a pretty fair description but a bit harsh. I skipped over some of the travelogue and tried to keep with the plot. Quite an enjoyable but non-taxing read. A re-emergent issue from Hugo and Toms past is interesting, possibly more than the main plot. Some clever DNA work and a set-up that is not without cost. Oh, the whole Hugo and Claudia “thing” meanders along without really being anything definitive nor clear to a permanent outcome. I suspect the author doesn’t want to “solve” that dilemma for fear of reducing one of the recurring storyline’s from future novels. Well I say get it done and structure some good crime stories instead.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on March 13, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting storyline
Simplistic easy to read, great characters.