I really liked this slow burn detective novel. The mystery itself was somewhat predictable; however, the setting of 1940s Paris as the Germans were creeping their way in really ratcheted up the tension and almost became a character in itself. World War I veteran, detective Henri Lefort, is assigned a murder case of a young Nazi killed in the Louvre Museum. However, he is barred from the crime scene, given a list of six suspects to choose from, and told that he must solve it in five days or the consequences will be dire for him. Lefort was a fabulously developed character – a man suffering with trauma from the first war and trying to come to terms with the present reality of the Germans in Paris. Really hoping this turns into a series! Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

Mark Pryor has another winner on his hands! Pryor produces well-written stories that just happen to be mysteries. This is the first in a new series set in WWII Paris just a month after the Nazi's have taken over. Henri Lefort, a police detective, is tasked with finding who killed a German major in the Louvre in five days with the SS looking over his shoulder and promising dire things if they don't like his results all while keeping his own incendiary secrets. The atmosphere of a newly conquered Paris struggling to survive their vicious overlords and come to terms with the new reality is a pulsing heartbeat and adds a tension to the story. The characters are complex with a deft blending of real historical people in a storyline that is believable and plenty of action that keeps the plot moving along at a good pace and twists that will keep you guessing.

I highly recommend this and his other mystery series Hugo Marsten, set in modern day Paris. I received a free ARC in return for an honest opinion.

I cannot stop thinking about Mark Pryor’s Die Around Sundown! This is the first book in a new series set in Paris following Detective Henri LeFort. Henri has been a policeman for fifteen years. Before, he served in the 1914 war. When the book opens, he is called to the apartment of Princess Marie Bonaparte to investigate a robbery. We find out that she studied with Sigmund Freud. The next day Henri finds out that he is being transferred to the Murder division. He is called into Chief Louis Proux’s office where there are two German Officers. The Germans marched into Paris in early June, 1940. There has been a murder of a German officer Walter Fischer at the Louvre, and Henri is to be the lead investigator. There are some conditions put forth by the Germans. He has one week to solve the murder, he cannot enter the murder scene at the Louvre, and he is given a list of five suspects.

We meet lots of characters, and the book has several flashback chapters to his time in WWI. I would strongly suggest keeping a character sheet! There are several twists that I did not see coming until they happened. I am now definitely a fan of this series, and cannot wait for the next book. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Mark Pryor is one of my favorite authors. I devoured the France-based Hugo Marston series and was grateful to review his newest book. “Die Around Sundown,” was based in 1940’s wartime in France. I’ve read many WWII books and enjoy learning the history of time-period. My father was in the US Navy in WWII as a medic, but he unfortunately died prior to passing on his stories.

In this novel, the main character, Henri Lefort, was a French police detective who was assigned the murder case of a high-ranking German soldier. Trying not to step on powerful toes, Henri maneuvered both the French and German systems in search of clues. The German’s provided Henri with a list of possible suspects and one week to pinpoint the guilty party. There were many twists and turns, but concrete clues were hard to come by. During the journey, Henri was introduced to several renown personalities in history, namely Marie Bonaparte and Pablo Picasso. Despite the interesting plot and the colorful cast, I had difficulty forming attachments to the characters until deep into the second half of the book. The last few chapters did provide some interesting and unforeseen surprises, but I would have preferred more excitement throughout. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical war-time fiction or mysteries.

Thank you to Author Mark Pryor, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advanced reader’s copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

I quite literally read this in one day, that’s how good it is. It’s historical fiction and a detective novel rolled into one. I loved the main character, Paris detective Henri Lefort. It’s July 1940 and Germany has recently occupied Paris. Lefort is given a seemingly impossible task: figure out who killed a German officer at the Louvre, and do it in five days. Or else! Although the main action takes place during WW2, we get a lot of Henri’s backstory during WW1. Along with completely fictional characters, we get some real people too, such as the great Pablo Picasso and Princess Marie Bonaparte. Be prepared for a number of twists! I do hope this becomes a series. Don’t miss this book.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient and a major reason I finished it so fast. The audiobook is beautifully narrated by P.J. Ochlan.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to St Martins Press/Minotaur Books for the chance to read and review this book prior to release.

I went into this one pretty blind and it caught my attention right away! The main character was fun and had a lot of good one-liners that made me laugh, a very unique sense of humor for sure.

I loved that the author included some famous people in the story such as Picasso and Freud! It made it a little more interesting!

The pace was pretty consistent and there were a couple surprises I didn't expect at all!

This book will be available for sale on August 16th!

Die Around Sundown is the first book in Mark Pryor's historical mystery series Henri Lefort. I love discovering new-to-me authors, and this time I actually discovered one at the beginning of a series! I'm usually not that lucky. Set in German-occupied Paris, France in 1940, this is a mystery wrapped up in misery, heartache, humor and the strength of the human spirit in a time of war. Henri Lefort is definitely a hero to cheer for.

Inspector Henri Lefort, like most Parisians, hates that the Germans (or cabbage munchers, as he prefers to call them) are occupying his town. Things are tense and becoming more dangerous; homes are being taken over, vehicles commandeered, Jewish citizens are increasingly in fear for their lives, and sometimes soldiers simply shoot people in the streets. It is in this atmosphere that Henri is ordered to investigate the death of a German major who was murdered in the Louvre Museum. He is given only five days to solve the crime, and if he doesn't, well...Henri's life is forfeit. With that hanging over his head, his investigation is blocked from the start, as he is not permitted to inspect the crime scene. He is given a list of suspects who are involved in the art world, including Pablo Picasso; they all seem to know more than they are willing to discuss. Not only is Henri expected to solve the murder to save his life, but he is also being helped by a psychoanalyst in order to save his soul.

This was an explosive start to a new series. I was sucked into the story and it wouldn't let me go; Henri demanded that I follow him until his story was complete. Henri Lefort was a compelling character, and was actually quite unique. He suffered from misphonia, which I had never even heard of before. According to WebMD, that is a strong dislike or hatred of specific sounds; it is also known as Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome. For example, Henri could not stand to listen to anyone chew. No one could chew gum or eat celery or carrots around him. Also, he couldn't stand repetitive tapping of a finger, etc. He also had a troubled past and horrid memories of his service in the Great War. He was being treated by a psychoanalyst who was attempting to help Henri deal with his past. He was a good inspector, and I adored his sarcasm that often got him in trouble. I loved his relationship with Nicola, his secretary and housemate; they were very caring and teased each other. The mystery was exciting, and I liked the inclusion of Pablo Picasso as one of the suspects. Though the mystery part of the book was well done, it was Henri's story about his past that kept me glued to my Kindle. I became so invested in his life story that I had to rush through the pages to discover his secrets. His psychoanalyst was Marie "Mimi" Bonaparte, an actual French author and psychoanalyst who was closely linked with Sigmund Freud. (Look her up. Her life is fascinating!) Henri was reluctant to reveal his hidden past, so Mimi bribed him with expensive wine so he would talk to her. I determined who the murderer was early on; however, I was totally gobsmacked when Henri's secrets were brought to life. Just...WOW. I hope Mr. Pryor is busy scribbling away on Henri's next story, because am already craving book two!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

After saving the life of Princess Marie Bonaparte, Detective Henri Lefort receives recognition for his actions. No good deed goes unpunished however. When his superior is asked for his best detective he praises Lefort. Now he has been transferred to murder investigations. A German officer has been murdered in the Louvre. Lefort now has one week to solve the murder before Hitler’s next visit to Paris. He is not allowed to view the crime scene. The murder weapon, described as an ice pick, has already been disposed of. He is allowed to view the body, which has been removed from the museum, and he is given a list of suspects. Officer Ludwig Vogel would be only too happy to question his efforts back at headquarters if he does not solve this murder.

Lefort is not allowed to involve any of the other detectives in the investigation. His only help comes from his secretary Nicola. In searching the body, they find a sketch from Picasso hidden in his jacket. Lefort’s investigation reveals a connection between the artist and the list of suspects, who are all tied to the Louvre. The victim was responsible for sorting the art and arranging its’ shipment to Germany. Each of the suspects had an interest in preserving the collection but there is no actual evidence connecting them to the crime.

Marie Bonaparte worked for a time with Freud. Now she would like to study Lefort, who has an aversion to certain sounds. As he works with her, he reveals a secret from his past that could destroy both him and Nicola, who has a close personal tie to him. Lefort’s investigation reveals one side of him that is honest and determined to find the actual killer, despite threats from Vogel. There is also the Lefort who is hiding a heartbreaking secret that goes back to WWI. As he gradually reveals his secret to Marie during their sessions, you begin to understand his caution. In a final confrontation his entire life could come crashing down. With the restrictions placed on the investigation and an unexpected twist at the conclusion, Mark Pryor’s Die Around Sundown is an excellent historical mystery. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

Die Around Sundown is the first in a new mystery series about Henri Lefort, a French detective in German-occupied Paris. After impressing Princess Mimi Bonaparte during a burglary investigation, Lefort is promoted to the murder division. Unfortunately, his first assignment is to find out who killed a German officer inside the Louvre. An unreasonable German commander gives him a list of suspects but forbids him from entering the museum to investigate. The commander will have Lefort executed around sundown if the crime is not solved within five days.

The author, Mark Pryor, uses a clever plot device to introduce us to Lefort’s back story. After her spacious home is taken over by the Nazis, Mimi Bonaparte moves into an empty apartment just below Lefort. Having trained under Sigmund Freud, Mimi convinces the detective to undergo psychoanalysis. During the sessions, Lefort tells of his time as a World War I soldier and gradually reveals his past.

Lefort is witty, clever, and uncompromising. He has a unique connection to his very smart assistant, Nicola. Her knowledge of the art world helps him crack the case so he can live another day. As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed the setting of 1940 Paris.

4-plus stars. I am looking forward to reading this series. Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced reader copy. This novel will be released on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GIVEAWAY!!

To celebrate Pub Day on August 16, 2022, we are giving away a copy of Die Around Sundown! See details below :)

What a captivating, interesting historical fiction mystery. The plot is so unique and the characters dynamic. I honestly was sad to see this end! I look forward to more books from Pryor in the Henri Lefort series!

Henri Lefort has 5 days to solve the murder of a German official that occured in the Louvre Museum. He does not have access to the crime scene, but instead is given a list of suspects by the Nazi Party. Will he succeed in uncovering the details of the murder, including the murderer? And can he keep his own life and secrets safe while he does it?

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced reader copies!

Die Around Sundown
By Mark Pryor
Minotaur Books, 16 August 2022

Mark Pryor's Die Around Sundown is the first entry in an exciting mystery series set in Paris during World War II, where a detective is forced to solve a murder while protecting his own secrets.


If you’ve never read any of the Hugo Marston series of mysteries by Mark Pryor, you’re definitely missing out. Though this latest book by Pryor is also set in Paris, it takes us from the present back to World War II.

Detective Henri Lefort lives is Paris during the German occupation. He is a jaded, secretive man, a veteran of WWI. German authorities have given Lefort only five days to solve a murder, and he is well aware of what awaits him if he fails. In fact, he is convinced they want him to fail. Can he outsmart the occupiers and actually solve the crime? Or will the five-day deadline lead to his own demise?

Lefort is an interesting character and this new series is every bit as engaging as the Marston books. I highly recommend this new book by Mark Pryor, and I look forward to more installments in this series.


Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Henri’s wit and am excited that he will continue in a series. It was a great historical mystery.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Told with a dual timeline, Die Around Sundown takes readers along for the ride with Henri Lefort as the Germans have selected him to investigate the murder of one of their own. The catch? He doesn't get to see the murder scene, has been given a list of suspects, and gets to see the body after the attending doctor has seen it. The flashbacks help the readers learn about Henri's experiences with the previous war and how they shaped him into the person he is today.

Henri Lefort struggles with loud sounds. Chewing gum? He despises it and anyone who chews it! Eating carrots or celery? Not while he's in the room. Even tapping one's nails on a glass is enough to bother him. As we learn more about his backstory, we start understanding why he has this issue.

The cast of characters in the book is fantastic. The main characters you see are Henri and Nicola, who works on the administrative team for the police force. It turns out she also lives with Henri. She has quite of bit of spunk, and I can't wait to learn more about her as the series progresses. Another wonderful character is Mimi Bonaparte! She is a force to reckon with and deserves a book of her own.

I have never read any book by Mark Pryor before reading Die Around Sundown. As such, I was unsure what to expect. But I have to say this book has blown me away. I struggled to put it down; I was so invested in learning about Henri. Please tell me I will not have to wait long to see him again!

How do you solve a murder if you can't see the murder scene? Why by picking one of the five suspects on the list handed to you by the Nazis, of course. Well, not of course for Inspector Henri Lefort, who is among the many unhappy people dealing with the recent occupation of Paris. He's an expert on robberies so the Germans decide he's the person to finger the villain who murdered the German cataloging the treasure of the Louvre. And he's got to do it in 5 days. The only person he has to help is Nicola, who is aces. He's also got Princess Bonaparte- Mimi- a psychoanalyst he met when he solved a robbery at her home, which has since been confiscated by the Nazis. It's a unique procedural, with cameos from artists of the period and interesting atmospherics. leFort is an intriguing character, with a back story that includes WWI service. It's the first in a series so it might feel not fully fleshed out in spots but that's good because there's a lot to mine here. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

How could I be fooled by such an unprepossessing title!

This was anything but! Paris when the Germans marched in! (The Germans wore grey. She wore blue!) Inspector Henri Lefort had been in the French army in the first war, this time round he’s a French detective who’s been given a task by the Germans to find a killer in a five days! No going to the place where the body was found (the louvre btw), and—a list of the suspects all neatly typed! What fresh hell is this? Solve a murder without investigating?
We go from a murder, to the saving of paintings from rapacious German hands, to the startling revelations of events that happened in the last war, and oh! more bodies littering the scene.
Told in the world weary tones of a gumshoe detective, or just someone disgusted by it all happening again, with nary a shot fired—as Paris rolled over. Small signs of rebellion are a score for all.
Indeed if this was a film Humphrey Bogart would not be out of place as the lead.
Still the ending was to die for! Oh, I’m sorry, someone did!
A clear eyed look at murder in times of war and the invading army from a somewhat Graham Kerr-ish perspective. I loved it.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in German-occupied Paris.

The author is a master at character development, and they don’t get much better than Inspector Henri Lefort. He has a complex backstory and is just trying to do the best detective job he can. Henri has his work cut out for him when a German officer is murdered at the Louvre Museum.

But wait, that’s not all! Henri has many layers and his story is more compelling than the murder! Die Before Sundown is a mystery within a mystery, very cleverly told.

Another fascinating character, Princess Marie Bonaparte, was a pleasant surprise. I was so intrigued I had to google her to get the full story. It’s not every day I run across a relative of Napoleon and a colleague of Sigmund Freud in the pages of a historical mystery.

The characters, the snappy dialogue, and the historical setting all combine to make this a five star read for me.

I am so happy to hear this will be a series because I want to hear more from Inspector Henri Lefort!

A really interesting book. Reminded me of of a thriller from a 50’s movies, with the veteran detective trying to stay one step ahead of the Nazi’s attempt to discover who killed a Nazi General in the Louvre, within the deadline he was given. His own life is on the line if he doesn’t meet that deadline, as one obstacle after another, makes solving the case a challenge.
A new author for me, I enjoyed the character, all interesting, with some familiar names included in the suspects. Obviously a talented storyteller, I’ll look forward to more of his tales.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and #MinotauerBooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own. A solid four stars!

Die Around Sundown is a mysterious historical fiction set in 1940 Paris. A French police officer is given one week to solve a murder or he will be blamed by the invading Germans and executed. The story goes between the 1940s to the policeman’s story of his time in Workd War 1.

The story just moved a little slow for me and the weaving of the past story, while interesting, seemed a little forced. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my favorite.

I read that this is the first in a new series for the author, and I like the detective and will look forward to the next story. The setting is Paris, just after the German occupation. Henri is a French police detective tasked with solving a murder of a German officer in five days. A fast-paced and interesting mystery with a great line-up of supporting characters.

A police procedural set in Paris in July of 1940, just three weeks after Nazis seized control of the city. French Police Officer Henri Lefort is promoted to the homicide division just in time to be assigned to a difficult case--the murder of a German officer who was working in the Louvre, choosing artwork to be shipped to Germany. Lefort will be the sole investigator on the case and is given an ultimatum of just one week to find the killer. If he fails, he will be executed. Oh, the pressure!

Henri is a bit of a wise guy with some psychological issues stemming from his experiences in WWI. He meets Marie Bonaparte, a psychoanalyst who worked with Freud, who offers to help him overcome his misophonia. Through his sessions with her, we learn some of his past and his closely-held secrets.

Great title! During WWI, Henri noticed that sundown was a particularly dangerous time for soldiers when exhaustion made them more vulnerable to stray bullets and random assaults. Now he realizes this is happening again, with Nazi patrols shooting citizens on sight when they are out and about near curfew. Troublesome times!

I thought this book was uniquely plotted and very much enjoyed the historical wartime setting. Henri is an interesting new protagonist--I hope to see much more of him to come!

I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.