The Bookseller was another book written for book lovers and quickly turned into a mystery surrounding the kidnapping of a Parisian bookstall owner. The bookstalls of Paris are as iconic to me as the Eiffel Tower, but largely ignored in books and movies. I thought it was clever that Mark Pryor used them as the focus of this story, which opened with a flurry of excitement but then quickly lulled.The absolute best aspect of the book was the descriptions of Paris! I enjoyed following Hugo around the streets of the French city as he investigated the disappearance of his friend and bookseller. The plot became kind of cheesy with the inclusion of elaborate and mysterious dinner parties, sinister ambassadors, and drug lords. The conversion of these multiple and ridiculous plots ended well but was too far fetched for me. The writing was overly focused on the mystery, rather than Hugo and his personality. I also found the dialog a little corny.This was an amusing story but I don't think I would read the rest of the Hugo series. I enjoyed The Bookseller for its window into Parisian life and for the background it provided of the bookstall owners. I've seen so many photographs of the bouquinistes, yet this is the first time I've read anything of their history. It was fascinating.Unfortunately, the rest of the book wasn't on par with its insights into Paris and one of its institutions. Having deduced what was happening to the booksellers and why very early on, I wondered how long it would take Hugo Marston to put the pieces together. Too long, as it happens. Moreover, Marston himself never really clicked as a main character for me, and neither did his friend Tom Green. Both have promise, but both lacked that indefinable spark that would bring them to life.Now that I've said all that, I will say that this is a promising debut mystery, and I am more than willing to give the next book in the series a try.
Do You like book A Könyvárus Rejtélye (2013)?
I have a new favorite character to follow. I like Hugo almost as much as Bruno chief of police.
—Ashley
Amazing first novel, can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
—addy
Enjoyable crime thriller. Good holiday reading.
—jaquedimbu
