Mark Pryor's "The Dark Edge of Night" opens in 1940, in Paris. A Nazi bigwig orders Henri Lefort to find Viktor Brandt, a German doctor who has vanished. If Henry fails in his mission, he is likely to face dire consequences. The author describes the melancholy mood in the French capital, with swastikas displayed everywhere, and Germans eating heartily while ordinary citizens struggle to put food on the table. Henri and his sister, Nicola Prehn, are fortunate in that their neighbor, Princess Marie Bonaparte (Mimi)—Napoleon's great-grand-niece—has connections that enable her to procure and share decent quality food and drink. Mimi is also a psychoanalyst who tries to use her expertise to help Lefort, an intensely private person who prefers to be left alone. Adding to his woes, Henri is a veteran of WWI who suffers from misophonia, a disorder that causes him to become enraged when he hears repetitive noises such as loud tapping and celery-chewing. This novel has the lively wit, humor, and sarcasm of its predecessor, "Die Before Sundown." Henri diligently follows up every lead in an effort to locate Dr. Brandt. In addition, he is saddled with two murder cases that might be connected with the physician's disappearance. Lefort, who is used to living on the edge, faces death on more than one occasion. He has to tread a fine line between conducting a thorough investigation and avoiding the wrath of his enemies. This entertaining and suspenseful work of historical fiction demonstrates what happens when oppressive and violent occupiers take over a country and forcibly bend the populace to their will. We admire Henri's chutzpah, courage, and resourcefulness, and fans of historical fiction will appreciate this seriocomic novel's evocative writing and absorbing plot. Pryor alludes to the efforts of the French resistance to undermine the Germans; the Nazis' lack of mercy for those they consider inferior; and the fear of ordinary citizens that each day could be their last. (read less)

Mark Pryor's "The Dark Edge of Night" opens in 1940, in Paris. A Nazi bigwig orders Henri Lefort to find Viktor Brandt, a German doctor who has vanished. If Henry fails in his mission, he is likely to face dire consequences. The author describes the melancholy mood in the French capital, with swastikas displayed everywhere, and Germans eating heartily while ordinary citizens struggle to (read more)

Heavy times It’s 1940 and Paris is in the hands of the Boche. Inspector Henri Lefort is a policeman who’d fought in the first war and remembers the Germans well. They haven’t disappointed this time around. Still arrogant, demanding, bullying and terrifying. Henri has been commandeered by the Gestapo to find a missing doctor. Not your usual sort of person to go missing. The doctor is found, run over by a train and disfigured beyond recognition. Here’s the strange thing a second unrelated person has been found with similar injuries. Coincidence or design? As well, his neighbour and fried, Princess Bonaparte is upset about French disabled children being seized from orphanages, supposedly to work in a munitions factory in Rennes. All clues are pointing towards Rennes and Henri needs to discover what’s there. When he does he’s appalled. Now how to solve the problem of giving a report to the Nazis that won’t compromise him. Based on brilliantly handled shocking truths, Henri Lefort looks like quickly joining the ranks of Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther—one of my favorite war time detectives. Good cop meets immovable fanatic overlords is a great trope and this makes a resounding addition to like works. The noir feel is palpable and I loved it. A Minotaur ARC via NetGalley. Many thanks to the author and publisher. (read less)

Heavy times It’s 1940 and Paris is in the hands of the Boche. Inspector Henri Lefort is a policeman who’d fought in the first war and remembers the Germans well. They haven’t disappointed this time around. Still arrogant, demanding, bullying and terrifying. Henri has been commandeered by the Gestapo to find a missing doctor. Not your usual sort of person to go missing. The doctor is found, (read more)