Mark Pryor, author of the Hugo Marston mysteries, kicks off a new series set in occupied Paris with Die Around Sundown. Those of us who are Americans seldom think about the people who lived through or fought in the Great War against the Germans, and then had to face those same Germans occupying their beloved Paris.

The Germans had only rolled into Paris a month earlier, in June 1940, when Inspector Henri Lefort had to deal with them. Sturmbannfuhrer Ludwig Vogel has an assignment for Lefort. A German officer cataloging items in the Musee de Louvre had been murdered. Vogel gives Lefort a list of five suspects, a description of the crime, and one week to solve it. However, Henri isn’t allowed to see the scene of the crime because the French are not allowed in the Louvre, not even the police. Lefort knows it’s an impossible task, and he’ll be a scapegoat if he doesn’t solve the case in one week.

While Henri Lefort is an intriguing police officer whose story intersects with Marie Bonaparte and Pablo Picasso, there were too many odd twists to his story. I found some of his personal background to be unlikely. And, the mystery itself lost its appeal early in the book.

What I found interesting wasn’t the case itself, or even Henri’s account of his experiences in wartime. It was something we never really think about, the reaction the ordinary French people, forced to stay in Paris, had when confronted with German invaders. There were small acts of sabotage. Henri delights in disparaging remarks. The people refuse to enter cafes when Germans are eating in them. I found the day-to-day reaction to occupation to be compelling.

If you want to try Die Around Sundown, appreciate the details of the daily life in Paris. The mystery is secondary.

I great book, could not put the book down. Well built characters, great plot, twist and turns and wonderful setting of the scenes. I enjoyed the character building and the story, some great twist and turns and enjoy the background of WW2 in daily life in Pairs shortly after France fell to the NAZI.

"Die Around Sundown" is an intriguing combination of an historical novel set in WWII Paris and a retro detective novel. The protagonist, Henri, is a police detective called to a robbery, and his bravery results in a promotion that ends up challenging him to solve a crime in a short span of time with limited investigative tools. This creates a fast-paced tale with unexpected twists, and flashbacks to Henri's service in WWI. I loved that the murder Henri is tasked with solving took place in the Louvre, and the "persons of interest" are artists, curators, and a frame-maker. The Nazis acquisition of artworks is well known, and this mystery admirably ties historical fact to an imagined crime. The Parisian setting, in the early days of the Nazi occupation, is evocative and provides a great backdrop to Henri's efforts to solve a challenging case. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this absorbing ARC!

Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor

This is a most entertaining and fun book, and I challenge any mystery lover to suss out any of the final twists and turns. Bravo, Mr. Pryor!

It’s 1940 in Paris, and French Inspector Henri LeFort is tasked by the invading Germans to find the murderer of Walter Fischer, a German found dead in the Louvre Museum. Henri has seven days to complete this assignment…or else.

LeFort has met and taken a liking to Princess Marie (Mimi) Bonaparte.She is determined to psychoanalyze him to uncover his innermost secrets which are causing him stress. As his confidences are revealed, the reader gets a look at his past and who LeFort truly is. This is a very vital part of the story.

LeFort meets many interesting characters as he digs for Fischer’s killer, not the least of whom is Pablo Picasso. The players are richly written and LeFort is blessed with a winning personality. Humor is everywhere throughout the story. Don’t miss it.

This is a five star read for any mystery aficionado, and I give a hearty thank you to#StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for this ARC.

By 1940 the Germans had invaded France. Several residents escaped but the ones who stayed had to deal with the cruel and ruthless Germans who would shoot in the blink of an eye. The Nazis were taking everything that was of value especially art sending it to other countries.
Inspector Henri of the Robbery Division was promoted to homicide after saving Princess Marie 'Mimi' Bonaparte and his colleague from a criminal in her home.
When one of the Nazi soldiers is murdered at the Louve museum the German commander gave the French Inspector one week to solve the case or he would suffer the consequences by the Gestapo. A list of five suspects were given to him.
As pieces of the puzzle started to fall in place there was only one person he knew who would be the killer which put his life in danger.
Sigmund Freud, a phycoanalyst, was Mimi's mentor. She had convinced Henri to take part in her study. As he slowly began to tell his heartbreaking story of his life over the course of days he had to reveal his secrets and guilt. I was blinded.
This author's books will grab you from the beginning and keep you intrigued throughout his stories. I highly recommend his books.
Thank you Netgalley and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own..

1940, Paris, occupied-France, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, misdirection, secrets, lies, veterans, friendship, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, history-and-culture, integrity*****

Great read! A solid murder investigation while under duress from the occupiers of France. This is the same enemy that the people of France (with help from Allies) defeated in the 1914 war, back again and even more vile. The diligence is meticulous even though the detective is being told who to name and is under personal threat. Several historical personages make meaningful appearances in the story and there is a convoluted story within a story. The publisher's blurb is a sneaky hook but effective. Don't miss this one!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

DIE AROUND SUNDOWN by Mark Pryor is a thoroughly enjoyable story. Set in Paris soon after the 1940 German invasion, Inspector Henri LeFort is assigned at the invaders’ req—well, no, it’s not a request, it’s a demand—to investigate a murder without being permitted the ability to do so. How he does it and avoids being made the scapegoat for his anticipated failure would make an interesting tale all by itself. But it’s the atmosphere and the cast of fascinating characters that make DIE AROUND SUNDOWN stand out. Henri could be just another chain-smoking, cynical, middle-aged French detective. Instead he has as many layers as an onion and almost as many secrets. If you like twisty mysteries set in other periods, this book will catapult you back to occupied France and keep you reading. It’s due to be released August 16, 2022. I hope this is the beginning of a series.
I received an ARC for my fair review.

A delightful beginning to a new series from Mark Pryor. An interesting mystery with great likeable characters. Considerable time is devoted to establishing the back story which will serve further books well. Great stories. Can't wait until the next.

320 pages

5 stars

It is the summer of 1940 in Paris. The Parisian citizens both fear and hate the German invaders in their beautiful city.

Irreverent robbery detective Henri Lefort wants nothing but to be reassigned to the homicide squad. While investigating a robbery, he meets Princess Maria “Mimi” Bonaparte. When he realizes one of the robbers is still in the palatial home, he becomes a local hero for saving Mimi’s life.

Henri gets his chance to investigate a murder when news of his actions at Mimi’s home reach the Nazis. A ruthless major assigns Henri to investigate the murder of a German who was assisting in the “repatriation” of artwork from the Louvre “back” to Germany.

He is given a list of names of possible suspects and is not allowed to visit the scene of the crime - the Louvre. Further, he is given one week. If he fails, he forfeits his life.

What a deal!

The list of suspects all work for the Louvre in one capacity or another. Henri sets about meeting them one by one. When the dead man’s body is found to be at the jail, Henri and his sometimes partner Nicola find a valuable drawing in the lining of his coat. Nicola recognizes it and it leads them to the studio of Pablo Picasso.

Meanwhile, Mimi was a student of Sigmund Freud and wants to use her training on Henri. She feels, as a veteran of WWI and with his odd predilections, he would be a good study. He very reluctantly agrees. She has been dispossessed of her home and has moved into an apartment below Henri.

Their sessions are very revealing.

While interviewing the “suspects” and investigating the case as best he can, Henri ponders the notion of patriotism. He remembers the first war and the conditions now in Paris as some citizens begin to disappear.

This book is well written and plotted as are all of Mr.. Pryor’s novels. The characters were very real, especially Henri. I really felt as though I got to know him. The state of fear running through the Paris populace was very real. I appreciated the little acts of defiance exhibited by the citizenry. I truly enjoyed this stand alone new hero. I hope to see more of Henri Lefort and Nicola.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very engaging book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

This novel explores an exciting perspective of the beginning of World War II in Paris while incorporating a murder mystery. The murder mystery involves a lot of twists and turns that include a few actual well-known names from that time period. An added bonus is a subplot from World War I that provides insight and repercussions on the characters, including an exciting twist that I did not see coming. I look forward to reading this book again with a better informed perspective so that I can enjoy and soak in more of this World War II story, which is from one of my favorite time periods, as well as focusing more on my part so that I can better follow the story. I loved reading this book very much but often found myself having to read in small blocks to accommodate my busy daily schedule, so I am quite sure that I missed a lot of details that I needed to better grasp the storyline. Also, since I am not fluent in French, I often found myself having to really analyze a passage to grasp what was being said. I was excited to get an early copy of this novel and I am even more excited for this novel to lead to a promised continuing series with the same characters whom I have grown to love.

First and foremost, thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for allowing me the ARC of this book. As always, I provide a fair and honest review of the titles that I read and rate.

Wrapped by the early years of World War II, this book provides a great mystery for fans of historical fiction. Have patience through the first half of the book, as it seemed to really pick up for me in the second half.

I was unfamiliar with the author before I read this book. Based upon the quality of writing and foundation of characters, I look forward to reading more.

Set during World War II, this novel tells the story of a Paris police officer who is tasked with solving a murder mystery involving a Nazi officer. The greater challenge is that the Nazis give Henri a list of suspects and just 5 days to solve this one.
A separate timeline told through flashbacks tells the story of Henri’s experiences in the trenches of World War I. And that story is as intriguing as the murder mystery.
Readers will be rooting for Henri and his friends as they work to find the real killer. And there will be a few surprises along the way.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.

5 stars all the way.

This is the first in a new historical mystery series. Detective Henri must solve a murder in a week. It is set in Paris during WWII.

What an awesome read, found I couldn't put it down once started. This is my first book by Mark Pryor but I am already looking forward to his next novel in this series. Die Around Sundown comes out Aug 16th, if you like WWII fiction and detectives and mysteries, this is a can't miss novel.

This book is the first in a new series - always a great find!
It is historical fiction , detective fiction , a murder mystery and so much more.
We meet Henri Lefort a WW1 vet who is a policeman in Paris during the German occupation of France during WW2. He is presented a murder to solve (by the German occupiers) in 1 week. The book flashes back between present day with his investigation and his own life , including his participation in WW1.
There are many interesting characters in this book including Pablo Picasso and Mimi (an aristocratic Parisian who is a psychoanalyst in the school of Freud. Mimi provides an interesting device to allow Henri to tell his backstory , tantalizingly revealed in their sessions.
There are so many twists which keep the plot very interesting. The writing itself has a great flow and I really powered through the book, abandoned some other reading and could not put it down.
This is a great book to get a feel for what it would have been like to live in occupied France and to go through the horrors of war in general. I did appreciate that there was not overly gruesome detail meant just to shock. The fear the characters felt very real to me.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and was grateful to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the offer to preview and give an honest review. Publication date planned for 8/16/2022.
I look forward to more in the series! Now I'm inspired to read the author's previous Hugo Marston series while I'm waiting for Book 2 in this series.

This book contained a fun, quirky cast of characters. The dialogue, for the most part, is well done, though there were a few lulls. The pacing was a bit off at times, but it balanced out in the end. The horrors of war (including the trenches of WWI) are clearly detailed. This is a solid mystery overall.

The book includes well-known peoples. The detective from Paris is under the Nazis authority is forced to identify while under a time deadline and restrictions. The story in Paris is realistic for environment under the German authorities after Paris has been captured. The story of the detective is revealed as his secrets as he tells of his stories for he is forced to a new friend trying to help him.. Well known in actual actions are drawn into the book. The character4s are very realistic in both fiction and real people. As secrets are revealed the book becomes more exciting and engrossing. The environment of Paris under the Nazi authorities creates a fascinating and suspense book. This is definitely a book needs to be reread.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the privilege of reviewing this captivating historical fiction murder mystery in return for my honest review.

I have never read a book by this author, but I love historical fiction set during the WWI and WWIII time period plus a mystery sounded interesting.

I was blown away by the detailed character descriptions and setting. The book made me feel like I was right there witnessing the story play out. It was fantastic.

Just can't say enough about this book. It was fantastic. The plot, setting, characters, writing. Everything about it was great

It is a must read. One of the top 5 I have read this year and I read a book a day!!?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor.
I have read most of Mr. Pryor's books starting with the Bookseller starring Hugo Marsten and Paris. This book is the first in a new series that is set in the very early years of WWII in Paris.

Henri Lefort is a French detective who is ordered by the Nazis (who have just taken over Paris) to solve a murder of one of their own that has taken place in the Louvre without being allowed to see the scene of the crime. He is given five days to find the murderer and it is made quite clear to him what will happen if he fails to do so. At the same time, a Bonaparte moves into the apartment below him and offers to help relieve him of stress through psychotherapy. Through the talk hour, we, the reader, learn about Henri's time in WWI.

The book seamlessly moves back and forth between the two wars. The sense of Paris darkening under the insanity of the Nazis is well evoked. There are so many books about Paris under the Nazis yet Pryor makes it new and scary and very real. As he does with WWI and the uselessness of it, the death and the horror of that war.

Secrets emerge and we learn a lot about Henri. For one, he has a smart mouth on him. He reminded me a bit of Bernie Gunther of the Philip Kerr series. And I would love it if this series had the same sense of fun and danger that the Kerr series had (I still am not over Kerr's death).
I look forward to the next book in this interesting series.

My two favorite genres are detective novels and WWII historical fiction. This book is a wonderful blend of both. Henri and Nicola make great MCs. During the initial setup, I wondered how Mr Pryor was going to make me care that a Nazi had been murdered. In the big picture, why did I care about one murdered Nazi? I needn't have worried. That's not to say that the story made me care, but the story was intriguing enough to capture the "I need to know!" of the classic who dunnit. I also worried about the introduction of Mimi and that too much was going on. It seemed a weird plot device to make it a dual timeline. Again, a needless worry. As Henri told his truth to Mimi, the stories begin to braid themselves together in a way that left me in awe. I only figured out the twist about 30 seconds before Mimi did. This was my first book by Mr Pryor, but will not be my last. I will be anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and the author for the ARC and the opportunity to give feedback.

I absolutely loved this book. Mark Pryor is a new author for me, so I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a thrill ride of a novel set in Paris during the occupation in 1940. Inspector Henri Lefort is tasked by the Germans with solving the murder of one of their own who was found stabbed in the Louvre as he oversaw the looting of priceless art for the Reich. Lefort has just 5 days to solve the crime or he will be interrogated or worse by the Gestapo.

The plot has more twists and turns than the Paris sewers. Lefort is savvy, smart -mouthed and hiding a few dark secrets of his own. Needless to say, he solves the crime in the nick of time with the help of a few famous persons (Picasso) along the way. But, that ending. I never saw it coming, then boom, there it was! Die Around Sundown may have been my first Mark Pryor novel but it won't be my last.

5 stars and two thumbs up!