While the third book in Mark Pryor’s Hugo Marston series had a fascinating two hundred year old mystery, it was also a tragic book. The Blood Promise introduced a new character, but the killing of another one was shocking. I made it through the murder, but I cried during the funeral procession. And, Hugo’s talk with the widow was emotionally tough for the character and the reader to get through.

In Paris in 1795, an elderly man writes a letter and encloses proof of the letter’s importance in a sailor’s chest. But, a death changes the course of history. Two hundred years later, as Hugo protects an ugly American Senator, that box surfaces again. The senator, sent to France for negotiations between the U.S. and France, is staying at a chateau, but causes a ruckus when he insists someone was in his room one night. But, French police aren’t too concerned about those complaints after they find the box and fingerprints are linked to a murder. Now, Hugo must juggle his responsibilities to the embassy and the senator with the search for a killer. Then, a killer strikes again.

Hugo Marston is an appealing hero, and his Paris is a wonderful setting, almost a character in Mark Pryor’s books. The cases Marston undertakes are personal to him, which is why he steps in. He works closely with recurring characters. As I said, there is a tragic death in this one, one that deeply affects Hugo. That depth of feeling, and his connections and loyalty to friends influences this reader’s feeling about the characters and the mysteries. The Blood Promise is not a fast-paced action-packed story. These are deep, thoughtful books worth investigating if you like meaty police procedurals.

Mark Pryor’s website is http://www.markpryorbooks.com/

The Blood Promise by Mark Pryor. Seventh Street Books, 2014. 287p.

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