I really enjoyed this mystery thriller. It is a solid work of historical fiction.the mystery keeps you guessing to the end and with two separate stories from to separate times even after the main story wraps up you have an additional mystery to unravel.

I really enjoyed this book although I wasn't sure at the start. But after a couple of chapters I wanted to know what the twist was. It's not a "who done it" as the killer was obvious from the start but it was a enjoyable, suspenseful read with a lovely twist. I loved how the author brought out the fact that those wounded by war arent always carrying visible scars.



There are a couple of issues that the author may want to correct. The SS didn't wear black uniforms in Paris in the 1940's (they were retired by Himmler himself as I was told) and the ordinary French citizens weren't allowed to eat fresh baguettes but day old bread. Unless they were collaborators etc. The Jews weren't rounded up and transported until later in the war. (the first rafle was in May 1941 (generally Polish and Czech men so called Green ticket roundup.)

Despite some minor issues on the research, the story is well worth reading. I would read more from this author, Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this book. The review on amazon won't contain the above research information, purely for the author if he reads this. :-)

Unique and engaging. I read a lot of Historical Fiction. This is my first where the main character is a French Policemen who fought in WWI and is horrified by the German occupation of his beloved Paris in 1940. Henri also is hyper sensitive to noises such as carrot/celery crunching and gum chewing which makes personal relationships difficult. I cheered when Henri had the opportunity to resist his Nazi Occupiers. Must novels show French policemen as willing Nazi collaborators. This does not. Henri works in the robbery while aspiring to a promotion to murder division. He gets his chance after coming to the attention of top Nazi brass. He has one week to solve a murder of a Nazi Officer who was “cataloging” art at the Louve, or else. This mystery offers many twists and turns while he grapples with serious personal issues from his troubled past. There is so much to recommend this book including the participation of real life historical characters Princess Marie Bonaparte and Picasso. Here’s to hoping this is the beginning of a new series! I’d like to thank the author, St Martins Press and Net Gallery for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Merci ❤️

Paris, July 1940: After being called to a robbery at the Paris home of Princess Marie Bonaparte, detective Henri Lefort manages to get himself promoted from robbery to the murder division due to a crime scene realization. After having a write up and photograph in the newspaper, German officers request his assistance on the murder of a German soldier at The Louvre. He has one week to solve it before The Fuhrer visits and he is not allowed in the museum as a French citizen. The dead body has also been removed from the crime scene and placed in the coldest cell of the jail in the police building.

With time ticking, Henri also finds that when he isn’t investigating the murder, he is being psycho analyzed by Bonaparte. Bribed with fine wine, Henri finds himself spending an hour each evening sharing things about himself and his time in World War I that he hasn’t spoken to anyone about. He also finds he is being followed by someone hired by a journalist who saw his picture after he rescued the princess. While it seems at first like a confusing set of storylines, the slow burn weaving of how it is all connected keep the reader intrigued.

As one who enjoys a good World War II historical fiction book, it was refreshing that this one was written about a detective solving a crime in the midst of the fresh occupation of Paris. Yes, there was references to what was happening to Jews and restrictions that Germans were placing on those they now were controlling, but the focus of the story was a murder. So if like me, you not only like historical fiction, but a suspense/thriller, this book has everything you want in a book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #diearoundsundown #markpryor

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins/Minotaur Press for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

I had read good reviews of this author before I got this book. It is the first book of a new series that features Paris Police Detective Henri Lefort. Had no idea what to expect and I must admit that I was blown away by this first book. So well done, such a fascinating plot and well-defined characters. It was a joy to read this book, and the way it was written tells us so much about the characters backgrounds. Just Superb!!!!
Lefort is a Robbery Detective in Paris during the beginning of the German occupation of WW2. The events take place about 6 weeks into their overthrow of France and we can feel the anger and resentment in most all the Parisians. Lefort is called to investigate a burglary at the home of Princess Bonaparte, yes the distant relative of Napoleon. Lefort makes a big discovery and impresses everyone, so much so that the next day he promoted to be a Murder Detective and is given the unenviable task of having to solve the murder of a German Officer. The officer had been assigned to The Louvre, and was deciding what works of art should be “repatriated” to Germany when he was killed. Lefort is given, by other German officers, a list of suspects, as well as being directed that he is not allowed to enter the Louvre in order to solve the murder. Not only that, he has been given a one week time limit to resolve the case!
He enlists the help of the leading secretary in the police office, and together they try and find a killer. Along the way the Princess has her home coonfiscated by the Nazi’s and has to move into an apartment, from which she contacts Henri and advises him that she studied and worked with Sigmund Freud and that she herself is a psychoanalyst. Henri was in WW1 and still has much emotional baggage and so she helps him begin to get over those matters. This is a marvelous way that Pryor gives us the backstory of Henri Lefort and we learn much about his life, his service in WW1 and is great way to tell two separate stories in one book and set up so much more for future books. You can hopefully see Henri, his secretary Nicola, and Princess Mimi Bonaparte in future books.
Suspects are killed, the mystery deepens, and the motivating factor for Lefort is that if he cannot solve this case in a week, then Lefort himself will be tortured and killed.
This is a great read, a fast read and one that will most likely explore much of the French/German relations of WW2 in future books in this series. If you like history and detective novels this is a great book for you. I was so impressed that I have already gone out and purchased the initial book of his first series. This is a quality writer and a book that most everyone will thoroughly enjoy and not want to put down until the very end. Oh, so good, and oh so many fascinating characters and plotlines. Great job, Mr. Pryor!

Excellent first in a hoped for new series. Paris the beginning of the German occupation and police detective is given one week to solve the murder of a German officer at the Louvre. Great twists and surprises in the book with very good characters throughout. A very good read.

This fine historical mystery has a mix of fascinating elements. The setting of occupied Paris in World War II is one; the city comes alive with all the associated dread that comes with the Nazi presence. The main character is a detective with secrets and a bitter, witty edge that recalls Bernie Gunther. This is a series to watch!

Henri Lefort is an intriguing character with a dry sense of humor and great taste in wine. This book had a classic black and white mystery feel, and I loved that WWII was the backdrop. Setting the mystery during the French occupation provided a unique viewpoint on the war. Henri fought in WWI as well so there is an intriguing WWI mystery as backstory. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Nicola and Mimi, and there were a number of shocking twists--always great in a mystery. I'm looking forward to reading book two!

Mark Pryor's newest novel, Die Around Sundown, is the first in a new series about a French detective, who is working in 1940 Nazi occupied Paris. Since I had not read any of Pryor's earlier novels, I didn't know what to expect, but the plot sounded interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I have now discovered a new author, whose work is both interesting but also clever and nicely plotted. Die Around Sundown revolves around a list of possible suspects for a murder case that must be solved within a week. The author devises a clever way to provide the background information that readers need to know about the protagonist. Because of the time limitations, the action moves along quickly, with each day filled with new discoveries. The characters are nicely described, as is 1940's Paris, just after the city has surrendered to the German army. The Germans, whom readers meet, are not simply the enemy. Their personalities are more distinct and complex than just classified as the enemy.
I am looking forward to the next novel in this series. I appreciate that the author and publisher made Die Around Sundown available as an ARC. This review is my own response to Mark Pryor's Die Around Sundown. I also appreciate that NetGalley made this book available and that they are introducing me to so many new and wonderful authors.

Quite different from Mr. Pryor's other series which also takes place in Paris. This one, however, is set in the 40's and the Nazis have recently taken over The City of Light. The protagonist is a police officer with an attitude, a pure hatred of Nazis and will be an interesting new character to follow.

Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor is a fabulous historical fiction murder mystery that is the first in a new series that I can’t wait to continue!

This is a WWII-era police procedural that takes place mainly in 1940 Paris, France. We are introduced to the main character Henri Lefort, a French Detective that is a complicated, fascinating, sarcastic, and intelligent man that has a conflicting past and secrets of his own. As we learn more about him through his interactions with other characters, his memories and flashbacks, and his actions and actually impressive and promising conscience and moral compass, we get to learn so much about this intriguing and likable character. He may have a mouth full of wit, sarcasm, and dead-pan one-liners that occasionally gets him into trouble, he is a patriot and a positive soul at heart and honestly tries to do his best in his professional and personal life. Far from perfect, but someone I would want on my side.

Henri is thrust into a murder/mystery involving a German officer that is murdered in the Louvre. Henri is given an impossibility tight timeline to find the killer, solve the murder alone, and all within a week with limited information given by a high-ranking SS officer before Hitler himself returns to Paris on a second tour…or else.

Feeling the pressure, Henri uses all of his intelligence and resources (including his partner in crime secretary Nicola) to find the culprit and save his neck.

I really enjoyed this first installment. The author did an amazing job wrapping this fictional story into true facts, timelines, events, and even included historic figures. It blended seamlessly and sets us up for many more books.

I loved the twists, turns, and also the way he created an avenue to present some of Henri’s WWI experiences sprinkled throughout. It added to the plot and also into the psyche of Henri himself. The author balanced all of this serious and heavy matter nicely with the occasional witty banter, dialogue, and the laugh out loud but subtle one-liners. I found myself chuckling every now and then at a comment that was tossed almost under the radar here and there.

I liked the pace, the progression, and the satisfying and realistic ending. Can’t wait to read more.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Minotaur/St Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/16/22.