Review by Terrance McArthur
Details at the end of this post on how to win a pdf copy of the book and links to purchase it.
The Lambourds are a rich, French family, so important that the matriarch’s husband had to change his family name to hers. They meet once a year for a dinner in the museum that was their home. This year, assault, art theft, and murder are on the menu in Mark Pryor’s The French Widow.
Into this family gathering comes Hugo Marston,
regional security officer at the American Embassy, because the young woman who
was garroted and left for dead was American. Marston is a sudden celebrity in
Paris because he stopped and killed a park shooter…but the shooter’s identity
might be a problem for the Embassy and the Ambassador…and for Hugo.
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Image Source Seventh Street Books |
This ninth Hugo Marsten book continues to please, thrill, delight and mystify. The City of Lights is a character, more than a setting, as Parisian sights influence each chapter. The Lambourd family is more of a setting than characters. A matriarch who may have killed her husbands, siblings who hate each other for many reasons, the super-rich who have to sell off possessions, a grandson who is often bailed out of trouble, all of them are part of the tapestry. They are rich, consider themselves beyond the rules of the little people, and dine extravagantly. Thankfully, some recipes are not included. As it is said, revenge is a dish best served cold.
Jumping in when a series has had eight installments of history might seem difficult, but most of the backstories are understandable without a map to guide you. Starting at the beginning (The Bookseller) would be enjoyable, but not necessary. Spending any time with the pleasantly irritating Hugo, who notices the small things of attitude and fact, is well worth the visit, and saves the price of trans-Atlantic airfare.
To enter to win a pdf copy of The French Widow, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "widow,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 19, 2020. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:
Terrance V. Mc Arthur is a Librarian in Fresno County, California. He is also a storyteller, puppeteer, magician, and maker of pine needle baskets. On top of that he writes stories that range from rhymed children's tales to splatterpunk horror. He's an odd bird, but he's nice to have around.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Sounds interesting! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteCount me in as well!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent series, I recommend it highly.
ReplyDeletekaren94066 at aol.com
Enjoy a story about "loving" families.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read.
Might be a new series for me to follow.
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
We have a winner!
ReplyDelete