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. He had responded to a robbery at Princess Marie Bonaparte’s home, and realized a robber was still in the house. He was too late to save a fellow policeman who was shot, but he did shoot the robber/killer. Unfortunately, that action brought him to to the attention of the Germans.
Because of his actions, Henri finds himself promoted to the murder division. 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.
Despite the near-impossible assignment, Henri is an honest policeman who doesn’t shirk his duty, and he proceeds to investigate with the help of a police secretary. At the same time, he tells the story of his youthful career in the army during the Great War. Marie Bonaparte is a psychotherapist who is interested in Lefort’s misophonia. He suffers from a disorder that provides decreased tolerance to specific sounds, such as someone chewing gum or crunching on foods. Bonaparte hopes to find the cause of that disorder somewhere in Lefort’s past.
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.
Mark Pryor’s website is http://www.markpryorbooks.com/
Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor. Minotaur Books, 2022. ISBN 9781250824820 (hardcover), 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley to review for a journal.
I’ve noticed this in some contemporary books, the mystery becoming secondary. I find it tends to happen in historicals or books with a keen interest in characterization. My guess is the writer is just more interested in capturing the history, pushing in the daily life they so painstakingly researched; I noticed this in a few of the Purveen Mistry books. And then you’ll often find a writer who actually wants to write a literary novel, the character-driven narrative or study like The Maid, and found the mystery genre as a handy way to either sell the book or get around the somewhat arduous task of actually selling a literary novel. Even though I sympathize with any writer wanting to get a work out there, I have felt so let down when writers cross genres like this and neglect the solid work of plotting. They obviously are not interested in actually writing a mystery. I feel like the writer is trying to pull the wool over my eyes, fool me into buying their literary, romance, or historical book when I really want a well-plotted mystery. I get it — plotting a traditional mystery is really hard! The book should then be marketed as a historical with a mystery element.
Becky, I’ve heard authors say they didn’t know they were writing, or had written, a mystery, until their agent/editor/someone at the publishing house told them so. They may have even thought they were just writing a literary novel, and ended up having the publisher market it as a mystery. I don’t think that’s what happened here, but it always surprises me when an author says I didn’t know I was writing a mystery.
That’s really interesting. Yeah…I can totally see that if you are writing a literary novel by inspiration…and then some one loves it, chooses you and your book to represent, and then has to sell the thing. I’m afraid it sets up the reader for disappointment sometimes. I think of The Family Chao, which I gave up on fast but I will try again with this in mind.
You’re right, Becky, especially if you’ve had those experiences. I’m sorry.
What a terrific review, Lesa!
Mark Pryor is, IMO, one of the best writers writing today.
While I was initially sad that his new book was not a Hugo Marston book, I got over it. I went back and read this one a second time.
I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction about this time period and have come to really appreciate and enjoy the research needed to get it right.
Highly recommended!
Thank you, Kaye. It wasn’t the mystery that appealed to me. It really was all the history, and reactions of the people in this book.
Interesting how reactions vary on this book. But, you read it twice, so I really respect your opinion.
There have been other series set in this time and place. The late Canadian author J. Robert Janes had a long (16 book) series about Ch. Insp. Jean-Louis St.-Cyr who was forced to work with Gestapo Inspector Hermann Kohler on a series of murders during the Occupation. (Let me add that though Wikipedia doesn’t say so, Mr. Janes died earlier this year at 86.)
Jeff, thank you. I really do appreciate your interesting tidbits about authors and books. You have such a vast knowledge. Thanks!